Long Live Buell Motorcycles

Sad sad news on the American motorcycle front, Buell Motorcycles is ceasing operations on new bikes and products. I am in absolute love of my Buell and seeing the sad video from Erik Buell announcing the decision is truly heart breaking. Just as Buell was clawing its way to the top of the sport bike racing circuit the plug has been pulled. Buell motorcycles are bitchin' to ride because of all the torque and power to weight ratio. The smooth flow of racing into turns and accelerating from zero to one hundred feels as if you are taking off in a jet. Its a bucking bronco with a growl all its own. My only wish is that since Harley also acquired MV Augusta, why didn't they push Buell and MV out into their own dealerships to build the sportbike brand? The average Harley rider is not a Buell aficionado and in my mind they limited the growth as Buell could never step out into its own. Surely there have been huge discussions on this in Milwaukee and with market share dropping for Harley, I am guessing they are pulling back to focus on their core brand. At the end of the day, it probably looked best on paper to shelve Buell, but maybe a privateer type company can come in and breathe new life into the American sportbike that was on its way to the top. Also below is a random selection of gorgeous Buell models from a random "Buell" search in Google.


Buell Motorcycles

I Love Metal!

Working on a new project here in the Rusty Knuckles laboratories and had to run over to the local steel warehouse to get some material. The warehouse simply fascinates me with its unlimited possibilities of the metals for sale there. Any type of metal you could possibly think of they have it, full racks of aluminum, sheets and plates of huge sizes are everywhere. Yeah, alright, I am a nerd for all things metal. Will post the project as soon as its done, the only hint I can give is that its huge and barely fits in my shop.

Unknown Hinson

For some reason as I was checkin' email and sippin on some coffee all I could think of was how I missed the last Unknown Hinson show here in town. Wasn't happy about that at all, as I have yet to catch his shows and keep hearing all about them. So I can only do what everyone does in our media soaked existence, but to look on youtube and watch the master at work.

Unknown Hinson - myspace

I'm Burning Diesel, Burning Dinosaur Bones

"I'm Burning Diesel Burning Dinosaur Bones", is a bad ass song lyric from the old Soundgarden song, Rusty Cage. Being that its a rainy and dreary day why not empathize with Seattleites and get down with some of their finest citizens rockin' sounds. Was great to see them live way back in '92 and hear this song when it just came out. Ouch, does that date me or just make my music street cred more validated? hahah! Rock on!

Photoshoot with Crank County Daredevils

Working on the new album with Crank County Daredevils and we have been going through a lot of ideas to visually portray the vibe of the songs. Its a dirty rock n' roll record for sure and all the album art and current merchandise is heading into a distinctly southern sleaze direction. Many bands claim to have a southern vibe but how many are truly southern in their ideology and approach, not many. This album is going to turn some heads and be quite a big year for the fellas in 2010. Can't wait to get on the road touring starting in early January in Europe along with a big tour announcement for the early spring. Will post more news soon. This is a photo of yours truly, Rusty Knuckles, working on the photography with the band on a back country road out in Old Fort, NC.

Crank County Daredevils - Myspace

Port City Rumble - Wilmington, NC

Just wanted to say thanks to the gracious folks from the Maulers car club outta Wilmington, NC for putting on the Port City Rumble. Truly was a great event and then the bands that rocked the house across the street and put the icing on the cake. Cannot wait for next years Rumble and to hang out and see some familiar faces. Here are a few photos from throughout the day, extra shout outs to the Dielectrics and Tommy Ray and the Rayguns for kickin' the crowd's ass that night!

Long Live Hardcore!

Hardcore punk has come in a lot of variations and styles. I know that amongst my friends there is a huge strata of what everyone digs and considers to be true hardcore. Whether it is the quick bursts of energy from the early 80's that defined the genre to what is considered "punk" on the poppy Warped Tour stages of today. What I consider hardcore, is music with a positive anger instilled within it. Raybeez of Warzone said it best, "don't forget the struggle, don't forget the streets". A defining of the spirit to grow and become something better and learn through the struggle. Here are a few bands that forever cemented what hardcore music is and was. Older to newer and some of our favorites...

2000 Buell Cyclone - Next Street Fighter Chop Build

This here is the next project to soon go under the knife in the Rusty Knuckles laboratory. Ultimately the bike will stay relatively the same but the look will be altered in the utmost way. The bike handles like a dream and will make you feel like you are pullin' g's when you drop it into curves, but changing a few lines and breathing new life into it as a choppified street fighter will turn some heads. Going to fabricate a new swing arm assembly that doubles as the oil tank, create a new slim line gas tank holding about 2 gallons of gas, whole new rear section to slim it up and lower stance and finally a whole new front fairing/gauge dash mount. That's it for the custom parts, then add in new part additions and this will be a killer street fighter/chop. Hopefully I can create the time to have it done before the Smokeout next June but with a lot of managing tour dates coming up for Crank County Daredevils and Rusty Knuckles at chop shows its going to be a tough deadline. Will post the sketches for the build soon...

Lost & Found: The Road To Mt. St. Helens

Witnessing a volcano spewing a geyser of smoke into the air while you are watching from a few miles away is a surreal feeling. I had that rare opportunity a few summers ago. I decided to embark on a nine day, three thousand mile solo run up through California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho. It was one of those trips that is a chapter in the book of life. Whether it was freezing my ass off in the snow at the top of Crater Lake or witnessing Mt. St. Helens spew her gases I was simply humbled by our beautiful country and the wondrous landscapes available for anyone to view. From all the folks I met along the road to staying a couple of days in Lewiston, Idaho and learning about Lewis and Clark, that was a trip of a lifetime. Only sketchy part about the whole trip was after being at viewing area for the volcano, my stator took a dive on the bike. So yeah, being stranded in a state park, full of bears at dusk wasn't too pleasant, but hey, neither is thinking about cool things to do and not doing them. Go make life happen!

Port City Rumble - Wilmington, NC

Hey dirty south folks, if yal are looking for a good time on Saturday and would dig celebrating all things chopper and hotrods, come on out to Wilmington, NC for the Port City Rumble. We will be over there for the day slingin' our Rusty Knuckles merch and talkin' trash with all our friends in the Maulers Car Club. After sticking around for the day, your efforts will be rewarded with a punk rockin' good night of music by Los Gatos Locos, Tradesmen, The Deadneks, Tommy Ray & the RayGuns, The Dielectrics, The Go Devils and Blood Red River.

Port City Rumble