Like all grasp of their craft, Julian von Oheimb has a particular model that makes his work straightforward to determine. His sultry Harley-Davidson bobbers have put his workshop, One Approach Machine, on the map—they usually’ve secured a number of wins and podiums on the prestigious AMD World Championships. However the German {custom} bike builder has been working exterior of his consolation zone currently.
This practice Road Bob is the largest departure from his signature aesthetic but. Based mostly on a model new Harley-Davidson Softail Road Bob 114, it eschews One Approach Machine’s typical traditional bobber vibe for a extra aggressive, streetfighter-inspired look.
It’s additionally notable for being a contemporary Harley-Davidson, fairly than a traditional one. For the primary decade of operating One Approach Machine, Julian solely labored on older bikes—however he’s added the Motor Co.’s modern Milwaukee-Eight Softails to his remit in recent times. Regardless of these variations, Julian’s hand continues to be evident in each inch of this tradition Road Bob.
The idea for this construct first began percolating in Julian’s head within the early 2000s, when an episode of the tv collection, Biker Construct-Off, featured a Harley-Davidson streetfighter from Exile Cycles. Julian hated it at first—however discovered himself admiring it by the top of the episode. When a picture of that bike popped up on the web just lately, he felt impressed to construct his personal Harley ‘streetfighter.’
As luck would have it, Julian was between buyer tasks and had time on his fingers. So he purchased a brand new Harley Road Bob from his native supplier, choosing it over its stablemates for its punchier motor, barebones format, and light-weight(er) weight.
Since this was a private challenge, Julian had full inventive freedom. He began sketching out his concepts and rapidly determined to denude the bike of its inventory bodywork. However remarkably, there was no must hack into the Road Bob’s body; a testomony to how versatile it’s as a platform for personalization.
A brand new gas tank is perched atop the Harley, handmade by Julian. Set skinny and slim, it’s juxtaposed in opposition to the swooping, flared tail part.
Common readers ought to acknowledge the tailpiece. It comes from Winston Yeh’s Taiwanese store, Tough Crafts, and bolts to the OEM strut mounts on any Harley-Davidson Softail. The seat wears a trendy Nappa leather-based cowl, courtesy of normal OWM collaborator, Spirit Leather-based.
There’s extra {custom} metalwork up entrance, the place Julian fabricated a brand new entrance fender, headlight nacelle, and fork shrouds. A pair of recessed LED projectors mild the way in which, coated by a custom-made grill. It’s a riff on the grill-covered headlight design that dominated OWM’s early work, however with a contemporary twist.
The inventory forks and 19” entrance wheel are nonetheless in play, however the forks have been lowered by means of a equipment from Thunderbike. It’s a distinct story out again although, the place Julian needed to run one thing burlier than the inventory 150-wide tire, with out going overboard.
The answer got here within the type of a stable 18” Harley-Davidson rear wheel, which was machined down to suit the Road Bob’s slender swingarm. The setup can accommodate a 200-wide tire; large sufficient to get the look Julian needed, however slender sufficient that the bike can nonetheless be thrown round. “In any case,” says Julian, “what can be the purpose of constructing a fighter that you may’t bang by way of corners?”
Metzeler ME 888 Marathon Extremely tires supply sporty grip, whereas Zodiac brake discs and Probake hoses enhance the Road Bob’s stopping energy.
The bike’s completed off with an enviable record of aftermarket elements. OWM handlebars are fitted with Wunderkind levers and Tough Crafts grips. Tough Crafts provided the footpegs too, together with the ribbed handlebar clamps that double as a housing for the Road Bob’s tiny digital speedo.
The engine wears a Thunderbike air filter, a cam cowl and rocker packing containers from EMD in France, and a blacked-out exhaust system from MCJ. The exhaust is especially artful, with a change that prompts an electronically-actuated valve to regulate its quantity. An OWM radiator cowl and Kellermann LED flip indicators spherical out the package deal.
Though Julian intentionally opted for a up to date search for the Road Bob, he might resist including a number of classic touches. His affinity for older machines is tough to shake—particularly since he spends each Saturday engaged on pre-1960 Harleys and Indians along with his father.
The Mooneyes sizzling rod gas filler cap and Nineteen Twenties Harley-Davidson logos are apparent nods to the previous, as is the bike’s timeless livery. Julian opted for a mostly-black format, with double pinstripes added by Chiko’s Pinstriping.
The result’s a purposeful {custom} Road Bob that’s surprisingly lithe for a cruiser, fantastically completed, and begging to be ridden in anger. If that is OWM’s new path, we are able to’t wait to see what Julian cooks up subsequent.
One Approach Machine | Instagram | Photographs by Pixel Fetisch
