Scott Marks' 1947 Knuckle

when Scott Marks was four years old, he got his first taste of two wheels, riding with his brother-inlaw Kenny Hill on Kenny’s brand new 1962 Panhead.

That was all it took. He had the fever.

That first ride when he was a wee lad might’ve given him the fever for two wheels, but Scott didn’t acquire his first bike until he was in the Navy, at the ripe ol’ age of 19. It was a 1938 Flathead Chopper. Of course, before he bought it, he took it for a test ride. He told me that he popped that foot clutch, ran the bike right into a chain link fence, and then told the guy, “I’ll take it!” Unfortunately, much to his dismay, Scott no longer holds the papers to his first chopper and begrudgingly refers to it as the “one that got away.” However, Marks proudly reports that it was the ONLY one to get away.

When it came time to put this

47 Knucklehead EL build was inspired by Kenny, a Korean War vet. Scott thought about what Kenny and his buddies would have done to the bike when they came home from the war and had it sitting in their garage. He feels this is what they would’ve done.

Marks started with a basket case Knucklehead engine he acquired back in the 80s and started gathering swap meet parts. It literally took decades for him to collect everything to build it. He tried to stay with all American Made parts for this project, but the speed has eluded him, so if anyone is holding onto an Americanmade speedo, he’d sure like to strike a deal!

The taillight is off a 1950 Ford. He figured that if Kenny would’ve had a Knucklehead, he indeed would’ve had

a 50 Ford sitting around somewhere. The frame is a 1957 straight frame that at one point was raked into a chopper frame and then brought back to stock rake. He used a lot of old 60s and 70s parts, whatever he could find that he thought would be period correct or something his Brother-in-Law might’ve used or had access to. The bike has been converted to 12 volts. Scott says it’s definitely a rider. He can ride it all day long at 65-70 mph.

Mark has six bikes in his stable, including this Knuck, a Flathead Servicar, two Panheads, a Shovelhead, and an FXR. Oh, and his wife’s bike makes a total of seven. I asked him which is his favorite, and of course, it’s the Knuckle. It’s also the one he rides the most. He is currently building

Owner: Scott Marks City/State: Chandler AZ Builder: Scott Marks Year: 1947 Model: EL Value: Priceless to me Time: 30 years acquiring parts, 2 years to build ENGINE Year: 1947 Model: EL Knucklehead Builder: Lower end Russ T. Heads Robert Hernandez assembly by owner Ignition: points Displacement: 61” Pistons: med compression Total Seal rings Heads: stock 47 Carb: M35T Cam: Sifton “lightening” Air Cleaner: stock Exhaust: Paughco/Fubar Primary: stock TRANSMISSION Year: 47 Make: HD Shifting: tank shift FRAME HD Year: 57 Model: FLH Rake: chopper frame was de-raked to stock Stretch: Forks Builder: HD Type: Springer Triple Trees: Extension: WHEELS Front Wheel: 21” star hub Size: Tire: Avon 3.25X21 Front Brake: HD Rear Wheel: HD Size: 16” Tire: Goodyear Eagle copy Rear Brake: HD PAINT Painter: Ed Smoot Smooth Engineering Color: Flight Red Black Type: NOS HD Flight Red Graphics: Classic scallops Chroming: Metro Plating ACCESSORIES Bars: Faber Cycles Risers: Dog Bones and Risders Hand Controls: internal cables Foot Controls: HD Gas Tank(s): HD Oil Tank: HD Front fender: What fender? Rear Fender: 47 HD fender Bobbed Seat: Heathers Leathers deluxe solo Headlight: Bates kd-12 Tail light: 1950 Ford Speedo: Photographer: Missi DeBord the Shovel, and one of the Panheads is a project bike. He says he gets distracted easily, and they sometimes sit a while but eventually will get finished and put into the riding rotation. Scott is, of course, already thinking about the next one on his wish list. Marks said he wants to build a long bike and has started gathering the parts. He hasn’t decided what engine yet, but who knows may just be a big ol’ flathead…

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ell, we made it through another Sturgis Rally, and man, what a hot one it was... No, really, w

I mean like hot, jungle kinda hot!

Some idiots say global warming isn’t happening. Well, I can honestly say that in all my years of being in Sturgis in August, this year was not like the others. I’m not sure there wasn’t a day that didn’t get to at least 100°. Now, I’m from Texas, where you can cook an egg on the blacktop, so you’d think I’d be able to deal, but man, there were days when it was insane.

Despite its temperature, the Black

Hills Classic did not disappoint this year, that’s for sure. Providence

Cycle Worx and the High Seas Rally were set up at Black Hills Harley-

Davidson along with many of the industry’s finest manufacturers,

Article By: Xavier Muriel

including Ohlins, Klock Werks, Hard Drive, Performance Machine, Trask, Hoffman Designs, and Thundermax, to name a few along with many others. The crowds

started showing up on the first Thursday, and I knew it was going to be a good year. By Saturday afternoon, the parking lot was jammed packed with bikes and attendees looking to get a lil of that culture and experience we always talk about.

I got out a little more this year than the previous year. It was really nice to get some much-needed wind time. One of my favorite events is the “Run to the Line” held by the Source Media Group. It’s a ride that takes you through Vanocker Canyon and all of its scenery to a cool ass little place called the Nemo Guest Ranch, where you’re greeted with a sack lunch like we had when we were kids and have a few minutes to chat it up with your buddies. My FXR had some problems on the ride, well, a few, to be honest, but after getting it sorted me and my Hermano, Rick Bray, hauled ass to catch up to the pack only to be caught up to by Mr. and Mrs. Callen! It was so awesome to ride again with my dearest friends; we don’t get to do that nearly enough. After all, that’s what it’s all about. Not the

shows and trophies (now, don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with that, I was fortunate enough to bring home a few myself). The most important thing to me are the memories of doing what I love with people I love that I get to keep inside my rattle can of a brain

Seeing some cats I haven’t in a while and catching up like no time had gone by was awesome. A few times, Rick and I were working on a bike in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn and didn’t worry about having to be somewhere. We were present right then and there for that moment, sharing something we can tell our kids about. It was what I call priceless.

I have to take a moment to shout out to Scott Gardner, Glen Hylton, and Tim, all of these gentlemen stopped when I was broken down on the side of the road when no one else would. As I sat beside my bike on the side of the road in gratitude for being able to be in Sturgis with one of my creations, even broke down. Scott and Glen pulled over to ask if I was ok. My reply, “I am, but my coil took a dump”... Scott

then said, “Well, I’ll stay here while Glenn takes you to get your van, so your FXR is safe.” Now, anyone would think the worst at that point, you know… come back and the bike is gone, etc. But I had faith. So, off I went. I got the High Seas Rally van and returned to find the FXR and Scott still there. After having a few laughs about how they loved my bike that wasn’t running, I loaded her up. After a quick pic and many thanks, I asked them why they stopped. To my surprise, he said, “Cause that’s what we do, brother. We take care of each other.” I can’t remember the last time I was caught off guard like that. I told them both, “Thank you for restoring my faith in this culture that I love so much.” There’s a lot of bad shit and people out there, but if you look hard enough or just wait for it, the good ones show themselves as well. I think that’s all I need to say... Take Care of Yourself and one another. God Bless. X.