Like any grasp of their craft, Julian von Oheimb has a particular type that makes his work straightforward to establish. His sultry Harley-Davidson bobbers have put his workshop, One Way Machine, on the map—and so they’ve secured a number of wins and podiums on the prestigious AMD World Championships. But the German {custom} bike builder has been working outdoors of his consolation zone currently.
This {custom} Street Bob is the most important departure from his signature aesthetic but. Based on a model new Harley-Davidson Softail Street Bob 114, it eschews One Way Machine’s typical basic bobber vibe for a extra aggressive, streetfighter-inspired look.
It’s additionally notable for being a contemporary Harley-Davidson, somewhat than a basic one. For the primary decade of working One Way Machine, Julian solely labored on older bikes—however he’s added the Motor Co.’s up to date Milwaukee-Eight Softails to his remit lately. Despite these variations, Julian’s hand remains to be evident in each inch of this practice Street 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 Build-Off, featured a Harley-Davidson streetfighter from Exile Cycles. Julian hated it at first—however discovered himself admiring it by the tip of the episode. When a picture of that bike popped up on the web 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 palms. So he purchased a brand new Harley Street Bob from his native vendor, choosing it over its stablemates for its punchier motor, barebones format, and light-weight(er) weight.
Since this was a private undertaking, Julian had full inventive freedom. He began sketching out his concepts and shortly determined to denude the bike of its inventory bodywork. But remarkably, there was no must hack into the Street Bob’s body; a testomony to how versatile it’s as a platform for personalisation.
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.
Regular readers ought to acknowledge the tailpiece. It comes from Winston Yeh’s Taiwanese store, Rough Crafts, and bolts to the OEM strut mounts on any Harley-Davidson Softail. The seat wears a trendy Nappa leather-based cowl, courtesy of standard OWM collaborator, Spirit Leather.
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 gentle the best way, lined 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 package from Thunderbike. It’s a special story out again although, the place Julian wished to run one thing burlier than the inventory 150-wide tire, with out going overboard.
The resolution got here within the type of a strong 18” Harley-Davidson rear wheel, which was machined down to suit the Street Bob’s slender swingarm. The setup can accommodate a 200-wide tire; vast sufficient to get the look Julian wished, however slender sufficient that the bike can nonetheless be thrown round. “After all,” says Julian, “what would be the point of building a fighter that you can’t bang through corners?”
Metzeler ME 888 Marathon Ultra tires provide sporty grip, whereas Zodiac brake discs and Probake hoses enhance the Street Bob’s stopping energy.
The bike’s completed off with an enviable checklist of aftermarket components. OWM handlebars are fitted with Wunderkind levers and Rough Crafts grips. Rough Crafts provided the footpegs too, together with the ribbed handlebar clamps that double as a housing for the Street Bob’s tiny digital speedo.
The engine wears a Thunderbike air filter, a cam cowl and rocker bins from EMD in France, and a blacked-out exhaust system from MCJ. The exhaust is especially artful, with a swap that prompts an electronically-actuated valve to regulate its quantity. An OWM radiator cowl and Kellermann LED flip indicators spherical out the bundle.
Although Julian intentionally opted for a up to date search for the Street Bob, he may resist including just a few 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 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} Street Bob that’s surprisingly lithe for a cruiser, superbly completed, and begging to be ridden in anger. If that is OWM’s new route, we will’t wait to see what Julian cooks up subsequent.
One Way Machine | Instagram | Images by Pixel Fetisch
Source: www.bikeexif.com