Many custom motorcycles have been inspired by automobiles. Very often the wrong way when the motorcycle ends up looking like a car. Occasionally the right way, when the car is inspirational for class, fluidity of lines or attitude. Julian Von Oheimb, owner of Germany custom shop One Way Machine remembers very well his first trip to the US with his father when they visited a friend who showed them his rare and very elegant 1958 hand-built Cadillac Eldorado 4-door coupe, one of the first cars with air suspension system, previously owned by actor Clark Gable. To build a custom motorcycle with as much class, without imitating it, became Von Oheimb’s new obsession.
“Brougham” is born from a 2001 Harley Deuce found on the show floor of an official Harley-Davidson dealer languishing with only 900 km (660 miles) on the speedo. A “new” 2001 bike that few builders would have touched and modified without first putting serious miles on it. Didn’t matter to Von Oheimb that all parts were as shiny as when they left the Milwaukee factory. He stripped the Deuce to bare frame and swingarm, cleaned and polished the welds, cut off all the factory brackets he knew he would not use. Then he built a mockup of his project, using a very modified Dyna front end, a set of rims (21” front, 19” rear) from the H-D Smooth Series wrapped in vintage Firestone tires.
Regarding bodywork, the most interesting part is probably the 30’s DKW gas tank, a big contributor to the stylish, vintage look Oheimb was after. For a sleek look modifications (new tunnel with new brackets welded to the tank base) had to be performed to make it sit low on the frame backbone. An old car hood ornament (provenance unknown) adds a final classy/upscale touch. Rear fender is a spare modified aftermarket part attached to the swingarm via 2 thin steel rods.
The lamp mask was fabricated by Julian and the grille headlight housing was cnc machined after his own sketch. The pulled back bar is a brand new product design offered by One Way Machine and that you can order right now in chrome or black. Both the instruments and the front brakes are from Beringer. The rotor-brake is a product from SSC. The air filter and the ignition cover were sourced at Mooneyes USA. The horizontal dual pipes were hand made at the shop. Seat was ordered in the USA and set in position to follow the gas tank dropping line. With sober lines, few accessories and a dark robe, Brougham is probably one of the most classy modified Harley Softails I have seen this year. One Way Machine (Photography copyright Steffen Theis for Cyril Huze)
Builder Name: One Way Machine
Owner’s Name: One Way Machine
Bike Name: Brougham
Year/Model: Softail – 2001/2014
Time to build: 500 Hours
Engine Make/Size: Twin Cam modified
Displacement: 1450ccm
Cylinder: Twin Cam
Top End: Twin Cam / Pan Style
Cams: Twin Cam
Carburator: CV
Exhaust system: One Way Machine
Transmission Type: Twin Cam
Gears: 5
Clutch: Twin Cam
Primary: Twin Cam / EMD
Frame Make/Type: HD Softail / One Way Machine
Rake: OEM
Front End: Dyna modified
Swingarm: HD Softail / One Way Machine
Shock absorbers: OEM / One Way Machine
Brake Discs Front: CCE
Brake Discs Rear: Rotorbrake
Caliper Front: Beringer
Calliper Rear: ISR
Front wheel: HD / One Way Machine 2,15” x 21”
Rear wheel: HD / One Way Machine 2,5” x 19”
Tire Front: Firestone / 3.00”-21″
Tire Rear: Firestone / 4.00″-19″
Accessoires:
Risers: Roland Sands Design
Handlebar: One Way Machine
Rear fender: One Way Machine
Seat: Danny Grey
Forward controls: OEM / One Way Machine
Tank: DKW / One Way Machine
Oil tank: OEM / One Way Machine
Electrics: Michael Schmidt
Paint Idea: One Way Machine
Paint: BK-Lack GmbH / ACK2
Very nice. Will still look good in 20 years.
Nice.
Does kinda remind me of a Brough or maybe a 1920’s Rudge-Whitworth.
Julian,
Gute Arbeit! Gute Gemacht! Later Jay
Gas tank is gorgeous.
Always enjoy a bike that makes me look twice. Couldn’t imagine the countless hours put into this bike.
Excellent work.
Elegant lines and clean details. I could see a market for the Deek tank.
Beutiful bike, would look good in any museam
I am not a fan of the Flintstone tires (aka Firestone), plus not sure the pipes will remain that shiny for long (ie discolour with heat), but the rest is gorgeous.
High gloss black is a perennial favourite, but it is often ends up bland and not very interesting (typically over large flat surfaces), yet when it works it is absolutely beautiful.
The gas tank takes center-stage though – as it should.
Nice timeless look, I like the racing inspired details like drilled out brackets etc. The knock-off style hub fasteners are cool, I don’t remember seeing that before. . .
Fantastic looking bike. I’m speechless this bike looks just that good… holy cow
Considering what it started as
that’s one damn fine looking cycle !!!
Tastefully done. Very nice.
Nice exercise in design
Very tasty indeed….!
-nicker-
A high class old school looking black bike… 2 very difficult tasks..impressive piece..
Absolutely love it, the lines are perfect, it is a bike that looks like a motorcyclle not some outlandish cartoon or a bizarre space craft, has a 21 on the front not a huge heavy look rear tire up there, as some of the Europeans are wane to do. The tank is killer, this is maybe the best looking custom bike, for my taste, I’ve seen in a long time. Definitely a rider. Bravo!
Well done!
Nice primary cover
A stunning example of marriage between vintage elegance and old school design. Done thoughtfully and tastefully. As it should be. Kudos.