Germany’s One Way Machine takes a break from its usual fare to convert a 2001-model Harley-Davidson Softail Deuce into a chopper for the open road.
Julian von Oheimb’s signature style is as consistent as it is inimitable. The Harley-Davidson bobbers that roll out of his workshop, One Way Machine, are low-slung, compact, and sleek. Long forks and sissy bars are not part of his repertoire.
The German craftsman is flexible, though. So when a long-time friend and returning customer asked for a classic chopper built for road-tripping, he obliged. Meet the Edelweiss Chopper: a Twin Cam Harley Softail that eschews OWM’s usual aesthetic, while maintaining the level of quality that has bagged the shop multiple awards.
Starting with a 2001-model Harley-Davidson Softail Deuce, Julian stripped the bike down to its nuts and bolts, leaving just the engine and transmission intact. He had in mind to narrow the rear of the bike, but also had to include space for a passenger seat at his client’s request. So he hacked off the original fender struts, designed new ones using CAD software, and had them laser cut.
Next, he ordered an array of aftermarket fenders to see which would work best—but none did. So he rummaged through his father’s Harley collection and borrowed his Softail Slim’s front fender. It turned out to be the perfect fit, so he returned it to its rightful owner and bought a new one.
With the new fender struts welded on inward from their stock position, and the new fender heavily altered, everything came together elegantly. Spirit Leather took care of the rider and pillion seat pads, covering them in swanky crocodile leather. Julian then finished the tail off with a hand-bent sissy bar with laser-cut mounting plates welded to it.
To fine-tune the Softail’s stance, Julian ordered narrow 21F/18R wheels from TTS Motorcycles, with a 4-inch-over springer front end from W&W Cycles to prop up the front. He also installed a pair of rear shocks from Progressive Suspension for all-day comfort.
The front brake was upgraded with a six-piston Beringer caliper, mounted on a bespoke bracket. Out back, Julian converted the final drive to a chain and added a KustomTech sprocket brake.
The cockpit wears a cocktail of carefully selected parts. The handlebars are Biltwell Inc. items, the controls come from KustomTech, and the risers and grips are Rough Crafts parts. Lighting the way is a sharp-looking headlight from Alleyway Kustoms in the US.
Julian also added Thunderbike forward controls, Rough Crafts passenger pegs, and a Zodiac kicker. Kellermann in Germany supplied the turn signals and three-in-one taillights, while the license plate bracket and engine mounts came from OWM’s catalog.
Other changes include a modified oil reservoir and a Paughco fuel tank. Julian tweaked the latter by welding in a new filler neck, along with mounting brackets to hold his signature art deco-style OWM tank badges. He also specced the bike with EMD rocker box covers, which were customized with milled adornments that recall old Knucklehead motors.
The Deuce’s silhouette was made complete with up-swept Paughco exhaust headers, terminating in fishtail mufflers from MCJ.
The Edelweiss Chopper sports a monochromatic color scheme, with a focus on polished parts and intricate details. BK-Lack GmbH laid down the Porsche Ice Silver paint, while Chiko’s Pinstriping added lettering to the oil tank. Finally, Carsten Estermann engraved the gas cap, primary cover, rocker boxes, and cam cover with elaborate illustrations.
OWM buttoned the shimmering chopper up just in time for a six-day, 2,000-kilometer (1,243-mile) trip, where his client rode it over Alpine passes and through heavy rainfall. Despite not having a proper shakedown first, the Edelweiss Chopper performed flawlessly.
Julian’s client isn’t quite satisfied, though. He’s a tall guy—so he’s sent the bike back to One Way Machine’s workshop to raise the handlebars and sissy bar even higher.
One Way Machine | Instagram | Images by Clave Rodriguez
