I understand waiting is not the common practice in todays day and age, but also nor are things that are made well anymore, to be frank.
Before ButterScotch I watched the change in the market many years ago and I couldn't sign up for the direction it was moving. I set out to try to do my part in combating the fast paced, fast fashion, down, cheap, and dirty industry that is the "Fashion" world by working with brands that take pride in hand made, quality items that are built to serve a purpose and last. With that said I need to address that those types of things take time to produce, often by hand, by skilled craftsmen that take years alone to harness the craft by learning a trade. A trade that unfortunately is slowly disappearing. Boot making, leather tanning, cutting, sewing and a slew or other hands on skills are going by the way side.
With that said I'm here to address delivery dates for Pre-Ordered Rolling Dub Trio Styles that were placed back in March 2023. I'm calling this "Early 2023 Pre-Orders" Additionally I'd like to note that this update does not apply to those who pre-ordered during our November (late) 2023 pre-order window. Those styles will come later in 2024 and a separate update will give you expect delivery dates.
ButterScotch currently has two rounds of pre-order production that is still outstanding and in the process of being made by Rolling Dub in Japan.
We understand it can be a bit confusing and also even a little frustrating waiting for your items to to be completed and ready to ship. We here at Butterscotch are in the same boat as you the customer is waiting for product to complete. Many of these styles we also place our own shop stock orders against and we have to wait just like you to receive stock to sell in season. we are all in this together and we have to remember good quality hand made items take time to produce.
As of right now Rolling Dub Trio wait time for orders to complete is about 12 months (this is a general statement some styles are plus or minus time based on other circumstance.) Ourselves and RDT understands this is not ideal but this is the current state of things due to many factors in the production chain. We do our best to stay on top of these delivery windows but ultimately we have to be patient for the orders to be completed.
If you ordered your boots during the March 2023 pre-order window here is an outline for estimated deliveries by style and color for all styles that were pre-ordered during this early 2023 Pre-order window.
If you head over to the COMING SOON section you will see a list of all RDT styles ButterScotch will be receiving shop stock against that will be available for first come first served customers. This stock can not be reserved for this hoping to secure a size before stock comes available. We highly suggest you take a look at the sizing notes ans sign up for a re-stock notification on the size that best works for you. You will be instantly notified as soon as we upload inventory when the production order lands.
]]>Created by Peter Middleton, Wythe was built in the search for icons of the past — the perfect oxford shirt, an authentic denim pearl snap, the grey sweatshirt worn to perfection. These were all things that could be found in any shopping mall, but the soul of the garment had been ripped out. With Wythe they wanted the oxford shirts that Miles Davis wore, the denim pearl snaps that James Dean wore, and the sweatshirts that Paul Newman wore. All icons we know and love for their prfectly simple and Timeless iconic fashion.
This dream of a lost Americana became Wythe. The bygone heirlooms of the past, remade to fit well and last long enough to be passed down to the next generation of dreamers.
Due to the western Influence of WYTHE, clearly a play on cowboys is an easy target, but we wanted to give it the proper ButterScotch twist for a brand that pulls from icons of the past to recreate and or reintroduce them to a whole new audience base. Digging into my own past times and my appreciation of westerns, horses, pony cars, and menswear classics. I thought it could be fun to theme this lookbook as a 21st century cowboy with his trusty steed and a whole slew of looks to play the part.
I give you the ButterScotch WYTHE Fall 2023 Look Book entitled:
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A collaboration and exclusive piece by Viberg Boots for ButterScotch.
Made from C.F. Stead's Black Box Calf leather and utilizing the rugged and well rounded versatility of Viberg's 2030 Last we got to cooking up the Midnight Chelsea Build.
Now I know what you are thinking, "Oh cool another Chelsea boot and how original... it comes in black..."
In a sea of what I am sure are a ton of other options out there, visually, nothing quite compares to the build quality and construction of that of an Viberg Boot. Maybe this is a biased opinion, but giving the track record of our boot partners and our collaborative builds of the past, I would like to think I know a thing or two about well made boots and what I don't know I turn to the experts to help craft some of the best made and best looking pieces out there.
Let us start in the beginning, When I launched ButterScotch back in 2017, it was a dream of mine to create a rugged Chelsea that could kick ass and take names day-in a day-out. To create a boot that looks just as good in a pair of denim or flip the script and throw them on with a suit and tie. When I create I am all about creating items that can equate to a "cost per wear analysis." I understand we are not only creating items that stay in your closet for years if not decades to come but with that comes the cost of goods. What we all have to pay out of pocket from our hard earned monies. This is not something I take lightly and with that said the cost per wear analysis comes into play.
$5 bucks in a jar every time you wear something, when does it pay for itself? I really think about this when creating our unique pieces for the shop and I would hope with that thought in mind it helps paint a picture of the real versatility I'm aiming to create with things like the Midnight Chelsea. I understand a lot of our product is not for the faint of heart when you see the price tag, but building something of quality with the intention of having an item withstand the test of time and the endurance of wears really starts to outweigh the cost. When you have one of our unique items for years if not decades its in partly thanks to the quality materials, build construction and overall high quality of the item due to the skilled craftsman we partner with in each category and with every one of our brands.
So anyways back to the beginning. It's 2017 and I'm looking to create a versatile Chelsea, after many attempts and even a few prototype samples later, it's now 2023 (yes, almost 6 years later) I find myself in Paris sitting down with the team of Viberg discussing our partnership and what our two brands working together looks like. I'd like to think I have a knack of creating interesting and detailed boot make ups. To note, some of these builds or ideas have been bouncing around in my brain box for years. Six years and half way around the world I have the pleasure and opportunity of sitting down with one of the best boot makers in the world and his last name just happens to be the name of the company.
I sit down with Brett Viberg and his Sales Manger to discuss what 2023 looks like for our two brands working together as well as special projects I have been personally looking to develop. I pitch a few ideas of things and styles I'm looking to create and I revisit the idea of a rugged, all purpose Chelsea. Brett uncrosses his arms leans forward and says "lets talk more about this"
Now I know what you are saying, "Why does the world need another Chelsea boot?" And my answer, well because after searching and searching I have still yet to find one that checks all the boxes that isn't full dress or for a lack of better phrasing... total garbage. It's either too dressy, or the shaft height is too short, maybe it has double pull tabs that hang up your pant leg, the leather squeaks, or the sole is beyond lackluster. Honestly the list goes on and on here of what I was looking for. With all these things in mind I wanted to set out to create one with exact specs I was looking for.
(NOTE: This is not to discredit current Chelseas we carry, each of those check specific boxes but still have left a couple unchecked due to production restraints and restrictions.)
The Midnight Chelsea is inspired by simplicity. A boot that can handle an all nighter if need be (while your back thanks you for the support). Something that looks good with denim or a pair of dress slacks and can with stand rain, snow, or any other elements mother nature wants to throw at them all while maintaining a sturdy grip. This is the important part, you'll hear me say "rugged and refined" a lot when I refer to development items for the shop and the Midnight Chelsea is epitome of this. Refined because well it really does not get anymore refined then that of the build quality of a Viberg boot, combining that refined fines with almost understated ruggedness. This comes from a fully blacked out silhouette. With a closer look the MNC it has the following build specs that separates the boys sections from the mens.
The Black Box Calf Leather sourced from CF Stead's tannery is a sturdy rough and tough leather that is pretty unforgiving when it comes to daily wear. We choose this thanks to natural wax finish. It is Heavily plated for a smooth grain aspect and fully aniline (black all the way through) with a rich, deep pull-up
From there we move down to to the welting process where we chose a stained black Goodyear storm welt process that is 360 degree stitched for a rain / snow "gutter" wrapping all the way around the boot to keep your feet protected from the elements. The storm welting adds a small lip vs a traditional flat welt process to aid in in keeping the wet out. Storm welting also lends itself well to the Commando sole which is what we have chosen for the Midnight Chelsea.
Before we jump to the sole of the boot we need to take a moment to address the midsole. This is something we took some time to deliberate on to create a more 'hefty" overall Chelsea. Midsole is something that usually is optional on boots and in some instances I really like what the additional of a midsole does for the balance of a boot, especially if adding a more robust sole. With the MNC I wanted to add a bit more to this boot so I opted to not go with the standard 3mm midsole but to double it using a combo of cork and rubber for a 6mm midsole. The cork helps keep the weight down while the rubber adds a little more height all while keeping underfoot weight in the scope of build design to make sure two things.
1. Weight - The boot was not overly heavy and feeling like a brick under foot. For reference the MNC weighs the same as Viberg's 2030 Service boot.
2. With the addition of the cork vs all rubber the boot still has bounce and does not murder your lower back from all day wear. The Cork is a natural support that can help conform to your foot shape during wear this plus the all leather foot bed helps mold to your feet for natural orthopedic support.
Last but not least, the sole of the boot, and some could argue one of the most important details of the entire boot. I opted for the Commando Sole. A sole to juxtapose the rest of the beautifully refined build.
A sole forged during war times in the 1930's, the commando sole was built as an absolutely utilitarian vehicle of sorts. The bottom star pattern or "Lugs" as they are called, not only create grip / traction in almost every condition but they also provide additional shock absorption and cushioning underfoot. Typically a smooth leather sole would be used on a dress application like something of a Chelsea or oxford, but leather over time in wet conditions will saturate and the use of something like Dainite sole just wouldn't do the heftiness of this build justice. Stylistically the chunky lug of the commando sole was the perfect balance of aggressive and practical while also sleek. I could have opted for Vibam's 100 lug which brings the chunky lug pattern to the very edge of the welting of the front toe box of the boot but I liked the Commando sole due the lug pattern being recessed back roughly 1/4 of of an inch for the entire front 270 degrees of the boot. Another detail the really captures the balance of rugged and refined elements that make up the Midnight Chelsea. The rear heel stack lug matches that of the rugged aggressiveness for just the right amount of sole angst with the lug coming all the way to the edge.
On a bike, in the office, an airport security line, red carpet event, or on the morning coffee run, there is no denying the simplicity of something so formal yet so casual in a pull on Chelsea boot. The Midnight Chelsea is here to take on whatever you want to throw at it and its built to last. How ever you want to wear a pair of these every thought and detail was put into these so you don't have to think about it. Just wear them
Enjoy!
The Midnight Chelsea is exclusively built for ButterScotch.
Click HERE to shop now.
photo credits to the following:
Kevin Pak (Night Time Shots)
Sterling Reed (Lifestyle Shots)
Viberg Mfg (Factory Photos)
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It's been over a year since our last blog post so that tells you we've been a little busy around these parts.
With post pandemic craziness and trying to navigate what owning a brick & mortar looks like in a digital age where you can click a button and have an item at your door step within the same day from some vendors has been a challenge to compete with.
Now do we consider those types of shops and vendors our competition...? Well no, but it does set a baseline expectation for consumers that can be very hard to compete with.
Same day delivery, endless returns, no restocking fees, 24/7 outsourced customer service, sales, gimmicks, paid influencers, and everything else under the sun to bait you into shopping more from the comfort of your own home.
No this isn't a sob story post about "woe is me the small business owner" more of highlight of the challenges of running a business that is a VERY small operation, self-funded, self-motivated and a sole proprietor.
Owning a business is not for the faint of heart, especially when it comes to retail these days. It is very much a labor of love and anyone that has traveled down this path can agree. When starting ButterScotch I wanted to create something, as cliche as it may sound, something unique, to call my own and to share with all whom can appreciate it. For me not only was it to work with some of the best brands from all over the globe, it was to also share my love for finely made goods and create a space to allow myself to nerd out over the finer details of better made goods. These types of things get me super excited and I love to quietly nerd out over what's to comes and usually cannot wait to share the next item, collection or shop exclusive product that is landing in the space.. With that said, unique one of kind product deserves a unique one of a kind space to showcase, not only our assortment of brands, but a fully immersive space of the lifestyle I live and breathe. A place to stimulate the senses.
ButterScotch, to me isn't just a fad or a flash in the pan. Take one look at our offering and you can see the "Keep It Simple" motto is key around here. This is something that has been engrained into me from a very young age and the Brick and mortar is just a glimpse of that. Which leads me back to the title of this post....
We MOVED!
(as of May 1st, actually marks the 1 year anniversary since we decided to undertake our move. We signed the papers and started construction on our new space as of May 1st 2022.)
But don't worry we are just around the corner from our original 900sqf location on Broadway to a new whopping 2000sqf space at 132 Linden Ave.
With this move, I wanted to take "the ButterScotch Experience" to the next level. To create a brick and mortar experience that entices you to want to close that laptop, put down your phone get off that couch (put your pants back on) and make the drive to come see the beautifully curated new space nestled into our new home and historic landmarked building of the East Arts Village in Long Beach, California.
When I say ButterScotch is a part of me, it truly is, and I wanted that to translate into the design elements of the new space. Merging areas or memories of my own into the space to make it truly unique. Just like the items we sell that look at designs of the past for influence as does the furniture, the fixtures, lights, countertops, and a bunch of other details within the space.
Why it has taken me a year to put these words down is beyond me, maybe it was a bit of burnout, maybe it was a bit of brain fog, maybe it was a bit of an overwhelming feeling that has lingered since the move and navigating the ever changing landscape that is retail in 2023, but they always say when you are feeling overwhelmed some of the best therapy to start writing. So here I am writing to you all to share the fruits of labor and the fruits of all of your support over these past 6 years. I wouldn't be able to sit here in the office of ButterScotch HQ without every single one of you who have taken the time to support near and far. So thanks for sticking with us and appreciating what I, we are doing here at ButterScotch.
With all of that said I wanted to share with you guys both the build out phase and some new cozy corners of the new space we call home. Along with those photos I'll share some inspiration as to what made me choose the design and direction and inspiration behind it.
** Disclaimer ** I lost all of the photos of the space before we took ownership, but let me tell you when I say the space was an absolutely dump. It sat vacant for almost 2 years where they decided to demo holes in walls and cut basically all the power into the unit. Wires hung from holes in walls and ceilings, floors were completely trashed. HVAC was completely dismantled. The landlord starting a rehab project (that never got passed the demo phase) to turn the unit into working offices for a local politician and I STRONGLY urged them to not allow such a location in a major retail corridor to be turned into an office space where it would impact foot traffic. Ultimately it would be a dead zone after 5pm and on weekends when retail can thrive. With that said we took over the space and went to work.,
-Below -
A view of the soon to be boot wall that I wanted to create the feeling of a old time bookshelf but also utilize the original window shapes that were hidden behind walls from the original 1903's art deco structure. I chose to keep the top of the window arches empty to back light them to create the feel of indoor and outdoor "natural light"
- below -
Original 1930's poured concrete beams that have not been exposed since the late 40's
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Fitting rooms - Located in the rear of the shop I’ve loved the use of light throughout the space and pulling from times as a recoding musician I wanted to create light boxes for each fitting to be illuminated during shop hours like a recording booth as well as a fun nod to old telephone booths
- below -
Original Arch windows were covered up in the late 70's when drop ceilings somehow became all the rage for decades our 20 foot ceilings were concealed by not 1 but 2 drop ceilings and away from adoring eyes. We opened everything up and exposed the beautiful structure that is now home. Much like the product in the shop I wanted to keep the design simple and elegant to let the space really breathe and be its own "piece of art" in the most subtle of ways.
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Myself more than likely planning, replanning, and planning again final design details, elements and dealing with weeks and months of delays that riddled our build out process.
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Me and the right hand man, pops on sight game planning. with 20' ceilings and lots of prep work going into, electrical, HVAC, light grid planning, paint, concrete repair and everything else you can imagine the restoration and build out process takes 3 times as long due to having to utilize a roller scaffolding system to reach.
- below -
a view of the space after roughly 30ish days of work into the space.
- below - selecting the final powder coat color for our metal fixtures. Wanted to use a hammer tone color like old shop shelves and industrial machinery to the overall space an elevated shop feel.
Prepping the final layout of the leather world. I wanted to create a show piece of a built in display for Leather World. Being that we carry so many unique and one of kind leathers they deserved a massive shadow box of sorts to do them justice. I was inspired by an old cabinet I found in a warehouse as the original concept idea, but i wanted it to be more inline with the shop esthetic. Old original design mixed with a modern cleaner take. The final spec also takes nods from TRON and the light cycles in the final display that you will see below in final presentation.
Measure, measure, measure, make a jig and cut.
We have flooring...
9x5'
We called our friend Nat to come back and put the window touches on the 2.0 location. with a 24k white gold leaf window treatment.
Cash Wrap inspired by our original 1.0 Shop.
- below - as mentioned lighting is always a big deal and an inspiration for me. I wanted to use an overhead light that reminds me of formative years in high school gyms and using that athletic vibe that also can translate into our product. I’ve always loved athletic styling in our own collection. Choosing a light that would look great in a gym or at home in our retail location as well as give off up-light to accent and fill in the art deco ceilings within the space
- below - In the home stretch.
Each display was built off site, to our custom dimensions. The custom painted, wired, finished and installed on location to give our product a show worthy presentation.
- below - When the window paper finally comes off.
more build photos to come...
After 90 days of basically all out mode May to August here's what we turned 132 Linden into.
Neon.... Always meant to live in Neon.
Light filled corners of old and new.
- below - When the requirement calls for more denim.. you give in and take up 18 vertical feet tall by 15 feet. I've always loved the look of library ladders and the mission was to have a proper one in the 2.0 space.
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- below - our fully dedicated Ladies section.
- below - It was my goal in the display design to allow the product to breathe a little and try to be able to showcase the collections without making it feel as if we are just cramming as much product as we can into a double the square foot location to capture more sales. I wanted each piece and category to have a place to call home. So i dedicated each section or space within the shop to a different clothing category.
- Wovens
- Knits
- Leathers
- Footwear
- Bottoms / Denim
- Accessories
- Denim Repair Station
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Stephen and his brand story were always a huge inspiration to me a maker and creator. I remember watching a Video about Stephen's brand over a decade ago and loving the inspiration behind the brand of creating his furniture. It truly inspired me as a self proclaimed creative on making something / doing something you are passionate about. Having shop 1.0 it was always a dream of mine to have an AK piece and one day Stephen, a fellow rider came into the store to shop and my fanboy moment could not contain itself. Life came full circle there and became friends with Stephen and his wife and business partner Beks, who are some of the nicest people on the planet. Moving and shaking in the design world as well as cultivating a community in the LA scene. Which makes it even more special they allowed me to create one of kind unique furniture pieces for our conversation / coffee table sitting section in our shop. For meetings, hang outs, coffee talks and just a place to wind down for all who want to visit the space with a comfortable place to relax.
We have the pleasure of being an SK showcase for their pieces.
Feel free to come see them in person and we have all the material samples in house for you to be able to create your very own.
- below - even at night she shines.
Hope you enjoyed the read.
Cheers,
-tommy
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Now this is the first time for all of us to get these R18's out on to the open road. This video comes after a other couple of videos thanks to some movie magic but this was the first time for myself, Kate, Thor, and Tori to ride these bikes on unrestricted roads without a bunch of camera and crew telling us what to do and where to go.
Thor and Tori own SEE SEE Motorcyles in Portland and we had the pleasure of meeting up with them in their neck of the woods to ride some roads see some sight and it was all part of BMW Motorrads Heritage Adventure program called 'The Great Getaway'
BMW Motorrad will launch T.G.G. in 2022 and will be a fully curated motorcycle riding experience from sun up to sun down with plenty of twists, turns, and adventure. Stay tuned for more to come.
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Each season Addict Clothes has out done themselves time and time again with their every growing collection of absolute must have pieces. Addict started as a niche leather brand here at ButterScotch, Specializing in horsehide leathers and quickly grown to almost a full collection brand.
Addict's knits are heirloom pieces that will quickly become some of your favorites in the rotation for good reason. the 2021 fall collection ranges from Henleys to thick constructed waffle knit layers, sweaters, overcoats and of course leathers. Each one of these items is heavily designed with thought and intention behind each piece and how they can be worn together. The knit collection is built to be worn upon itself. From heavy cotton tees, to 2nd layer waffle knits or sweaters to your final outwear layer ranging from a classic leather like the Double Riders or baja style BMC Jacket.
The entire collection is thoughtfully designed, with fit and finish at the forefront as well as care and longevity to each piece.
Many of the pieces can be one alone of paired together for simple style and confidence that each item works effortlessly with one another without fuss or a clashing of fits.
(Black)
(Olive Green)
(Black)
Ink Blue
Please Join me along with the BMW crew on our thirteenth episode of #ABavarianSoulstory, I join up with Shinya Kimura, a legend when it comes to customizing and building one of a kind motorcycles. He opened his doors to his 'Hallowed Ground' of a workshop in Azusa California and shows us his own take on the R18 appropriately named "the Wal" as well as what makes the man that is Shinya Kimura
Shinya is an absolute legend in the bike circuit and I have to say it was a total treat to get to meet him in his element and see how he goes about his build process. I remember watching youtube videos about Shinya and his builds so is was a real pleasure to be able to be apart of his most recent work on the R18. Not only do we take you into his shop and learn a little about his back story in bike building and personal life, but we take that final build up to Canyon country and put these R18's through the twists and turns.
(scroll below the video player for some behind the scenes photos from our episode!)
Enjoy the Ride!
Cheers, Tommy
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now its been a while since I've been in front of the camera so I called in a little extra help from a special guest my big brother Joey. We take you to the epic Sturgis Rally in Sturgis South Dakota in USA. Here at the Rally we're bringing you tow brand new R18's.
The R18 Bagger and the R18 Transcontinental. Two brand new cruisers that look like they have been coming to this world famous cruiser / bagger rally since the begining. This is the first BMW cruiser bagger to take this rally by storm and we made sure to put these bikes through the paces on the roads of South Dakota.
Follow along on another great episode of B.S.S telling stories about brothers, road trips and first times.
As always thank you to BMW Motorrad for this incredible expirence and bringing myself and Joey along for the ride.
Enjoy episode 12!
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Built in collaboration with Oak Street Bootmakers out of Chicago. We wanted to create a Oxford for those summer months when wearing a 6" or 8" boot shaft just simply will not do. Inspired by the Trench boot built on the elston last from OSB the Trench Oxford is basically just a low boy very of their Trench Boot. A style and fit we are very familiar with around here at ButterScotch.
The Trench boot is one of our favorite silhouettes, since we've used it for 3 previous colabs, when deciding on an oxford or derby this was our first choice. Turning to OSB for some guidance since the Oxford / derby world is something a little new to us, we sat down to the drawing borard to hash out the details of what will ultimately be our LO-FI Trench Oxord.
We wanted it to be sleek, yet sophisticated, easy to wear and comfortable for all day wear. Lastly since this was our first dip into this world we wanted to make this a pair of oxfords that were easy to wear dressed up or down. An Oxford that could pull double duty.
With all this in mind the build details were to follow.
The Trench elston last is intended for a more comfortable roomy toebox for all day wear and comfort. 1 part workwear / 1 part dress shoe the Trench silhouette was an easy pick for over all shape and design.
Since this is the first time building an oxford, the obvious choice was black. These can go with just about any color and make them as timeless as can be, we landed on a smooth Horween Chromexcel leather upper for a clean, classic, sleek look that can always been polished up to a brilliant shine. Horween Chromexcel is known for its rugged wearability and also its luster when properly care for.
Matte black hardware was selected to keep this monochromatic build simple. 5 eyelets accompanied by your choice of flat waxed lace or rolled leather lace for two different looks.
For traction we chose the Vibram Christy wedge sole in black for two reasons. This is a sole that has been loved by all and well its not a common sole used in a more dress silhouette.
Again since this was our first dance in the world of dress shoes and oxfords why not do it our way and make it a little rugged. The Vibram sole is still sleek and does not feel chunky at all under foot. Actually it feels more sturdy and substantial and really gives a great balance to the LO-FI that makes this a welcomed option in a sea of hard soles out there. Lastly the Vibram Wedge is known for its comfort, so it you were a boots or sneakers guy now you have a third option. the LO-FI gives you all the breathing room of a sneaker, the comfort of one and the build quality of your boots with a nice classy twist thanks to the Oxford silhouette.
(shown here in a 2 years worn Nudie Lean Dean Japan Selvedge )
The LO-FI can be purchased online in shop while supplies last.
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The whole gang is finally back together and it's an episode and experience that will stay with each and every single one of us for the rest of our lives.
Motorrad debuts the newest R 18 Classic to the R 18 line up and its truly a rolling piece of art. Tune in to episode 11 while #TommysFriends takes you on a breathtaking road trip from the Mountains of South Africa to the coast line.
Tons of twists, turns, fuel, and passion with some good laughs, good times, and great friends along for this journey!
Make life a Ride.
-tommy
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That was the simple thought process and incarnation of the TRI jacket, Our first Ever Collaboration Leather with Addict Clothes Japan.
A bit about ADDICT Clothes Japan first off. Addict has been creating Leathers for a decade and has done everything to their own standard. Inspired by vintage British style and is known for creating pieces with Japanese skills. Just like made in america holds value ADDICT is proud of the hard work, dedication and mastering of the craft that has gone into every single style created. From their own leather tanning formulas, to custom hardware repurposed vintage inspiration to 30 plus styles, ADDICT is Made in Japan using Japanese Skills
Ok so back to the Jacket, Why did we name it "TRI"
TRI meaning three was where the name comes from. I wanted three simple design and or construction elements to this jacket.
1. Cafe Collar
2. D-Pocket
3. Horse Hide
Now the list didn't just stop there but those were the 3 major components that set the TRI jacket apart from the pack. I myself in all my searching has never seen a cafe collared leather that featured a D-Pocket. With that said I reaching out to Satoshi of ADDICT to request we build this perfect combination of details, design, and production.
ADDICT is the gold standard for fit, finish, and production quality when it comes to Japanese Leathers. Here at ButterScotch we love the european tailored fit to these classically inspired leathers so it was a no brainer to turn to ADDICT for the TRI jacket.
The Shop has great success with the Double Riders jacket from Addict so we choose to use that fit as a base fit for the TRI and making our fitment changes and tweaks to it from there.
Working with Satoshi we collected a punch list of details that were incorporated into the final product that is the TRI Jacket.
That punch list consisted of the following elements:
Behind the design process we created a paper pattern with these above details and moves to a wool tailoring body here are some images of that process:
This wasn't too difficult since ADDICT'S original recipe for their horsehide is absolutely fantastic. Having the Double Riders Jacket in which uses 1.3mm Horsehide. It ages beautifully and breaks in like no other Horsehide I've ever seen. I say its "off the rack comfortable from day one" unlike no other 1.3mm leathers on the market. Now lets take a moment though to credit ADDICT since they have done all the leg work to create their very own leather used for the Horsehide and Sheep Variants. They have created their own tanning process to create and quote "horsehide that was soft and tactile" The leather was created tested, recreated and tested some more for the absolute best wearing and aging possible. This is no simple process and this sort of time and attention can be seen when you wear your very own ADDICT leather. the 1.3mm Horsehide wears and breaks in like no other leather.
Leather has been selected, details have been ironed out, and the fit has been perfected. 9 months later we have our first ever sample and top of production and it's nothing less than extraordinary. Introducing the TRI Jacket in the Living Flesh.
All of the hard work, planning and waiting was well worth.
The TRI Jacket is Available for Pre-Order now through the end of September 2020. All Jacket orders will deliver the end of JAN 2021.
You can Pre-Orders yours here
]]>We're back with Roland Sands and his crew to get our minds completely blown with the R18 Dragster.
]]>We're back with Roland Sands and his crew to get our minds completely blown and I hope you packed a change of underwear because you may or may not pee yourself when you see what these guys cooked up (trust me I did)
BMW Motorrad let these boys loose in the garage with an R18 and the results are absolutely INSANE. We have done some crazy stuff in our Soul Story adventures but this is by some of thee most crazy to date. Lets just say this on this episode you really are in for one hell of a ride!
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All items are now live on the website HERE.
]]>This time the story line take myself and a team of friends along with the BMW team and camera Crew to Sunny South Africa.
Why South Africa? Well south Africa is pretty much considered the California of the other side of the world. A vast amount of terrain, roads, cityscapes, and plenty of sunshine.
Again myself and the team were sworn to absolutely secrecy. No Phones, no photos, we weren't even allowed to tell people why we were here in South Africa to avoid spy cams and spoilers for the rest of the world
This was by far the most top secret of the top secret mission along with the biggest production yet and man was all the work worth it. We met up with a crew of 75+ people to film over 11 days and the results are absolutely incredible. Without making you wait any longer Ill keep this short and sweet and just say thank you to the BMW Team, US & Germany, the production crew that helped these stories come alive and all of you watching and folowing along on this epic journey. NOw the moment we have ALL been waiting for here is the BMW Motorrad reveal of the production R18 Model.
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The N&F SS2020 collection is a mix of fun aloha prints, gauzy fabrics, dyneema woven denim and last but not least white denim. This is really well rounded collection of timeless pieces that really see no expiration date from a style perspective. Aloha shirts, yes you can pull them off, are iconic and with the right bottoms and a game changing power move. Take them to the pool or a fun date night, just don't be too loud. All conditions denim is the second version of guardian selvedge that we ran last season that featured a similar slide protection. Now new for this season is the improved dyneema selvedge for all the riders out there looking for simple clean denim that provides protection. the 19% Dyneema fibers are 10 times stringer then steel and ready to protect yo booty.
Finally is the array of wovens for this season. Coming in two fits the Aloha shirt and the easy shirt.
The Aloha is a fun classic take on the fuller slightly boxer fit of yesteryear and the easy shirt is a modern true to size woven that features a curved hem and button down collar. Both tops are fantastic fits and have been updated to fit right in all the places. We hand selected which prints and fabrics made the most since in which fit and we hope you enjoy the entire collection.
All denim photographed are available in both Super Guy(slim) and Weird Guy(Tapered / fuller) Fits
These pieces are timesless, and fantastic go to's that might seem loud but trust me when i say you go this. Just put on the damn shirt or pants and own.
Jungle Vacation Easy Shirt
All Conditions Selvedge - Super Guy Fit
Gauzy Slub Easy Shirt
Kimono Circles - Easy Shirt
Natural Seed Denim - Super Guy Fit
Koi Aloha Shirt
Head online HERE to shop the Naked & Famous SS2020 Collection.
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In episode 8 we find ourselves here in SoCal and in the states talking to shops like Roland Sands Design, Mustang Seats, and Vance & Hines Exhausts.
These shops are all key players in the Individualization of what the R 18 will be once it hits the market.
Individualization will be the KEY after market parts and accessories that will be offered for the R18. Sure, most all bikes have these options to customize your bike but there are a few reasons why this is such a big deal for not only the R18 production bike and BMW but what this means to the end consumer as well.
1. All parts will meet DOT and Euro regulations giving you 100% bolt on compliance globally. Meaning BMW Motorrad has done all of the leg work and had almost 1000 different part options tested, retested and approved for road capability. Why is this such a big you might ask? Globally, modifying bikes is actually much much much harder then it is in the USA. Take Germany for example, you can hardly change your levers without getting a fine or slap on the wrist from their Version of the Department of Transportation. We take for granted how much we can do to our bikes in the US without much pushback. Motorrad and the rest of the aftermarket parts production partners for the R18 have assured all parts are compliant and legally approved to be bolted up in a simple weekend.
2. These options are going to be available at lunch and are BMW branded after market options. Which means they have the BMW logo and seal of approval on them. Motorrad knows a thing or tow about german efficiency so they went to the best of the best here in the US to partner with those who know a thing or two about aftermarket parts and are having them produce unique parts that will be available to make the R18 a fully customizable bike that will be as unique as the rider.
The amount of thought and detail that went into this segment is also important. My interview with Roland Sands really hits upon how big of an idea the R18 is to BMW that not only was the bike and its heritage important to capture but they looked at the long game here entering the cruiser segment and this is just the beginning for Motorrad.
The bike,
The details
The aftermarket category
You wont have to wait months to make this bike your own, you'll be able to go right up to the parts counter at day of purchase and snag a whole bunch of goodies to transform the R18 into your own,
Wheels, levers, bars, seats, begs, casing covers, you name it all branded back to and approved tested and green lite by BMW so you know the quality and craftsmanship is there.
I personally can not wait to see the variety and style of each bike people are going to put together themselves and that is also a KEY component to why the R18 is such an important step for Motorrad. The experience is the same but also different person. Yes we all know that feeling of starting the bike up and take off for that ride. But the difference is unique person, the jacket we wear to the boots, to the bars we have on our bike to the paint, levers, etc etc etc. We, ourselves make it unique and BMW recognizes that and the importance it is to give us that option and ability to take a mass created bike then to tweak it and mold it into our own. That shows the dedication, passion and ultimately the care Motorrad has for their riders and helping them create a machine thats going to keep us grining ear to ear every time we see it, ride it, or fill it up for gas.
Without much more here is Episode 8, clocking in just at half hour long jam packed full of a ton of really awesome stuff.
I Hope you enjoy!
-tommy
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We're Back with another episode of A Bavarian Soulstory.
This time in episode 7 we meet with Edgar Heinrich, Head of Design, and the rest of the design team to discuss the molding and shaping and over all design of the R18 and we dig down to the smallest of details.
This was a very special episode as we go into the top secret design studio of BMW Motorrad.
A place never seen before on Camera. Motorrad has never before granted a camera crew access to this very special building on campus. We have a limited but full access to this Vault that is where the magic happens.
Edgar walks us through the top secret location, only after they lock our phones into a black box and give us all a full pat down and camera check to ensure no secrets are taken with us.
We got to see things we are not allowed to talk about but just know this lab of motorcycles has TONS of secrets to come for the years that follow. Part garage, part design studio, and part picnic area the overall vibe in here was overflowing with creativity and excitement.
Getting to sit down with Edgar for my one on one was a fantastic experience. I was a bit nervous to talk and interview the head of design but i had a light buld moment within the first moments of the interview when i realized we are all the same. Bike riders with a passion for the process and experience. Off camera Edgar started talking about personal bikes and pulling up photos on his phone and we instantly started nerding out and sharing personal stories about our own bikes.
Since this episode was very much a top secret mission we were not allowed any BTS stills or images so I'll leave the reveals to the episode so with out further delay here is our extended look at the magic makers that is the design team of Motorrad.
Enjoy!
]]>In this episode we find ourselves back in Germany.
We jump from big city Munich headquarters to small country side cottage and secret workshops tucked away on sleepy roads. Something very special we look at in this episode is to the the past of Motorrad. Yes this has been a common theme in many of these episodes but we sit down with past Master technicians of the BMW Motorrad assembly line as well as a man who uses touch, feel and emotion to fine tune the boxer motors of today in partnership with the Motorrad team to bring new models together for future offerings.
Why is this so important? It shows the values of the Motorrad embracing the past, respecting the roots and people who have helped create bikes of the past as well as a company that still keeps the passion and the "feeling" of riding a motorcycles alive. It is at the forefront of development though and though in the storyline of the R18. Off screen I can't tell you how many conversations were had pertaining to the feeling of riding a bike, the feeling of a boxer motor, the feeling you get going through the gears or firing up the motor. The passion in each persons voice you can really feel the sincerity and how much soul has gone into this bike.
Not just soul went into the boxer motor tho. This was a completely new motor that was designed with simplicity. It's a simple work of art as a stand alone piece out of the bike, but its built to perform while maintaining beauty and grace. No plastic, no fake covers, no dummy plates. It's all the real deal and each piece was designed to serve a purpose, to look good and perform to its best ability.
This is important because it's talked about in a later episode but everything on the R18 including the motor was designed conceptually and passed off to the engineering team to make it work. Usually existing parts are used from other models to keep costs down and why reinvent something if its already working? But with the R18 the Motorrad team flipped the script on how the bike was to be built. Usually sepcs are passed from engineering and design is restricted based off those specs and current production possibilities. This can really hinder the overall design of the bike. But in the R18's story line, the design team along with outside help from Lazlo and Helmut who you meet in this episode along with minds like Roland Sands, Petter Nettesheim and others sat down together to bring important design details into the scope of what this bike would look like and all these notes, sketches and specs were passed to the engineering team to make it happen.
Passion, design, and feeling were the key components in the beginning, middle, and end product of what the R18 will be. Additionally I think it's respectable that the Motorrad team goes outside of the box and outside of the internal team to work with people like Helmut who has been building race engines out of the boxer motor for 35+ years. This is a man who has relied solely on feel. With all the money, computers, dyno rooms, etc at Motorrads disposal they took it back to their roots and remembered you can still have a motor built to have soul and passion pumping through the valves.
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In Episode 5 we find ourselves stateside in Long Island New York Visiting Peter and Kate Nettesheim.
Peter Nettesheim has been collecting BMW motorcycles for over 42 years and his daughter Kate has been along for the journey since she was a small child. Peter and Kate were kind enough to invite myself and the Motorrad team out to their home / museum while we were in attendance to the Barber Vintage show.
Now lets a take a minute to focus on a few things here. Peter has amassed a collection of motorcycles that has made him world renowned. Peter is not only a collector, but a historian and a restorer. Peter himself has painstakingly preserved, restored and cataloged all of his bikes he has collected over the years. A collection that is estimated in the almost 1000 bikes.
His collection is 100% museum fit and finish quality and I can whole heartedly say this brief 10 minute youtube video will not capture the aww and beauty within the walls at the Nettesheim Meusem. Furthermore in this video you are only seeing about 1/3 of the entire collection.
But how do you get to such a place? Well that's just it, you really can’t. Peter’s collection is both personal and private. The museum is actually an extension of Peters home and well this is a place for him to restore and enjoy. But lets get one thing straight this isn’t your average man cave or spiced up garage this is a legit museum quality display and for the lucky few invite only.Peter was gracious enough to let us bring the cameras though a place that the likes of Jay Leno and other VIP people have only seen. This was one of the VERY few times Peter has openly talked about his collection and let people through the doors to feast upon this treasured and priceless collections of rarities and beautiful bikes.
Now I’m sure you might be asking ok but who is Peter Nettersheim? Well Peter is a man who has dedicated his life to history of BMW Motorrad. He is someone who even Motorrad themselves has called upon from time to time for help looking for parts or even identifying bikes and parts of history for the preservation of the rich history of Motorrad.
(Remember Fred from episode 1? Yeah he and Peter are texting buddies!)
Peter also comes into play in the R18 story line because he was part of the small team of people who helped consult on the creation and overall design of what the R18 concept would eventually be and some of the key elements that were not only the style icons but the identity of this new Cruiser.
I have to say though there was so much footage from our 3-4 days of shooting in Long Island that was left on the cutting room floor. Peters knowledge is as vast as his collection and this man dropped so much knowledge on us that our minds should have exploded. I was able to shoot some of my only personal images and behind the scenes photos for you all to enjoy to just try and show case how incredible this collection and experience truly is. As mentioned we have so much footage and imagery that unfortunately did not make the cut something things I’m sure I’m not legally allowed to discuss here but other things like peter’s garage and his original Porsche 911 up on the lift, or that Complete second story annex of parts Peter has amassed over the years he had to actually create his own MS-DOS program to serial number and organize it all. Yes, the man has his own parts department with full blown computer system to basically build any bike from scratch. His collection has some of the rarest bikes on the planet and some so rare that Motorrad doesn't have in their own collection.
Peter’s hospitality and allowing us access to the museum was an honor and I want to say thank you to Peter and his family for allowing myself and the Motorrad team full access to their home for 3 days while we captured a story of what could be described as a tall tale it was almost too good to be true.
The collection, the hospitality, and the sunset ride are all things that will be truly remembered for all my days.
I hope you all enjoy this very special look at the Nettesheim Meseum and the role Peter plays in the R18’s rich history of becoming a reality.
Enjoy!
Cheers, tommy
Please feel free to leave any comments or feedback regarding episode 5.
]]>Episode 4 of A Bavarian Soulstory takes us to Milan, Italy where we meet up with Justin Benson who was the lucky cat to get to ride the R18/2 which is the second concept bike of the R18 series. Justin meets up with us outside of the EICMA event and we let him do some of the heavy lifting for the day as we explore the show and all that the BMW Motorrad booth had to offer. From bikes on display, VR, race simulators and meeting up with some old friends along the way.
I also got to be a guest presenter on an R18 panel(since I'm only 1 or 4 people who have ridden this bike) where we talked about the bike and answered some of the publics questions along the way.
EICMA was a fun time and a really great experience for someone who has always followed along with the show from afar aka on the other side of the world. I have to say it was fun to get to be apart of the show and many thanks to the BMW Motorrad global team for allowing me to be guest of the show and panel.
Without further delay here is Episode 4.
enjoy,
-tommy
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The Museum is open all year long and is open to the public. The Barber Vintage show is now in its roughly 16th year and still going strong.
Myself and the Motorrad team were here to showcase the R18 Concept for the first time to the US public. We brought the Germans over to the US to attend the show and see firsthand the Barber Vintage show. This is basically a one stop shop from the incredible bike museum, to the swap meet fair, track racing and 20,000 bikes that accumulate in the park grounds for different showcases and enjoyment. We also hosted a panel at Barber Vintage to share more info on the R18 concept as well as a Q & A with the public about the bike. I take you guys throughout my days with the Motorrad crew talking shop, exploring the museum, sharing stories, talking with the general public and meeting some really great people along the way. Myself Edgar, Roland met up with Nate Kern, Peter Nettersheim, and infamous bike builder Dirk of Kingston Customs. Shoutout to my boy Jared of Brother Moto out of Atlanta for his guest cameo.
If you love golf carts, motorcycles, Hawaiian shirts, 100 degree heat, and good times then you'll love this next episode.
enjoy!
-tommy
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I have heard tales of Pure & Crafted but I, myself, had never before been. After getting to attend this show/event it is has made other bike shows in the US just feel like the same old some old. The event was a great mixture of moto culture, bikes, builder showcases and just a really cool vibe. I was just as inspired by the fashion and culture walking the show as the bikes and builder there showing. It was nothing like i had ever been to in the states. People from all different walks of life here to enjoy the moto culture for all it has to offer. From factory bikes and vendors to fully custom builds and punk band Pure & Crafted had something for everyone.
I do also have to note Amsterdam was the perfect setting for the second episode of the series talking about the R18 concept bike and the history behind it came to be.
I didn't realize it till 3/4 of the way through the trip how many similarities this city and Motorrad shared. This was a city rich in history with beautiful architecture, classic buildings that had been restructured and repurposed into modern live / work spaces with influences of both the past and the present much like the R18 and the new chapter of motorcycle design BMW Motorrad is working on. Being in Amsterdam it made me appreciate the story much more and I could have thought of a better place to continue the story of the R18 and overall experience the Motorrad set out to achieve with the launch of this new bike and Heritage line of clothing.
Here is episode 2 of a Bavarian Soul Story,
Enjoy!
-tommy
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Let me take a moment to say, I've never before done anything like this is my life. I'm not a YouTuber nor have I ever done any on camera work like this, especially hosting any sort of video segment. This was 100% a step outside of my comfort zone but it was absolutely worth it. I have gotten to travel all over the globe with the BMW Motorrad team to bring you guys a deep dive look at the rich history behind Motorrad and their new approach at creating amazing motorcycles.
I throughly enjoyed every single moment of this journey and I hop you guys do as well!
Here is Episode 1 of A Bavarian Soulstory titled 'The Roots'
Shot on location in Munich Germany at the BMW Global Headquarters.
Please feel free to leave any comments or questions in the section below! If you are enjoying the series Motorrad allows you to sign up for their news letter to be able to see all episodes early.
More to come - to be first in line for the second episode register here: https://www.bmw-motorrad.com/r18
Hope you enjoy!
-tommy
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In the Early summer of 2019 I received a phone call and the caller on the other end of the phone said: "Hi Tommy this is BMW Motorrad in Munich and we wanted to know if you want to come to Germany and ride a top secret motorcycle for us?"
I paused, thought to myself "this has to be a joke", but I played along and said "hell yes!" Next thing I know I'm sitting down with the whole global marketing team and it hit me that this was the real deal. I have to take a moment and say through this entire process I still sit back and ask myself how I got so lucky to get to be a part of this amazing experience. I do need to say thank you to BMW Motorrad for the opportunity and letting the little guy be the "face" of their newest concept bike. BMW Motorrad let me know this project was nothing like they had ever done in the past, and that it was going to be an entirely new segment of motorcycles for them. They said this concept would be a cruiser - and to be honest I instantly envisioned giant plastic fairing and more bags then you have things to store in them. I mean this is the same company that gives you the GS...and nothing against the GS, but I personally don't see myself on one anytime soon unless I magically end up in the alps or back country 1000 mile trek. So needless to say, I couldn't envision the end product, but I was eager to see it.
With meetings done, hand shakes and hugs aside, I signed all the top secret non-disclosure agreements and away we went. But first, I want to pause and say that I went on behalf of myself and ButterScotch. I only agreed to be apart of this epic project with one stipulation: that myself and the brand ButterScotch were represented in a true light that we were there to work together. I did not want to be just a talking head for a huge corporation. The BMW team responded to exactly the point I was saying: "this is the exact reason we wanted to work with you. The brand you have created and the following that is there is true and this is precisely the reason why we chose you. So please reference the brand, talk from your point of view and perspective and most importantly be yourself."
I try very hard to keep the ButterScotch Identity authentic, true, and transparent to the public - from projects we are working on and the day to day life I live not only as myself but as the brand I represent and am creating along the way. However, I had to keep the BMW project hush hush as this was for a never before seen concept bike and the whole project was sworn to secrecy until the concept project was officially launched a few months later. This was something new for me as I always try to report in real time what is going on in life and the ButterScotch brand.
Back to the "top secret mission". The plan was to head off to Germany to film in locations such as Munich, Stuttgart and Hamburg. First stop, we landed in Hamburg and headed straight to an abandoned airstrip to meet up with the rest of the BMW Motorrad team to finally see "the bike". I have to admit I was a bit nervous because I wasn't sure what to expect. I even had a bit of a panic moment again thinking on the plane "what if the bike is just terrible?!"
After what felt like a 2 hour drive, we got to the air strip and the box van finally arrived shortly after us. A team hopped out of the van, and a man with a long gray pony tail lit up a cigarette and cracked open the back doors of the van. Next thing I know there is a crowd of people around the van and I see wheels touch the ground but I can't see the bike yet and my first thought was "wait they must not have it with them," as I didn't see a tall cruiser, or giant windscreen. I got closer and my jaw literally dropped. There it was, the concept R18. When I tell you I was completely floored, I honestly mean I was completely floored. The man with the ponytail, cigarette still hanging off his lips, threw a leg on the bike, flicked two switches, and fired it up.
Not only did the bike look incredible, the sound and crack of the throttle hit everyone in the group and we all started grinning ear to ear. The circle of people started to cheer and we all looked around at each other in awe.
The R18 Concept is out in the wild and this isn't your Dad's BMW...or maybe it is)... but I will get back to that. One thing is for sure - this bike is not something you would expect coming from the same guys that produce the GS or the RR bikes. This is a bike that is continuing the story of heritage and soul. This was a passion project and the 2nd part to a story that started with the R9T. The R18 is a Big Boxer motor that is already shaking things up and is keeping people on their toes to say the least. It is a beast of a bike, excellently crafted, standing tall and proud as a German engineered piece of art that is ready to rip.
Back to the circle of people standing at the air strip - I'll never forget what happened next. The ponytail man with the cigarette came up to me and said "You're a professional rider, correct?" I thought to myself, "well I am a professional and I am a rider... so hell yes I am". I looked back to him, nodded my head and said: "I sure am". He then handed me the keys.
Now lets hold the phone right there, a total of 2 people have ridden the bike: Edgar the head of design and the master mechanic himself. Meaning, I would be the 3rd person ever to ride this priceless, one of one, bike. No pressure at all. I geared up, grabbed my leather, gloves and helmet and just like that I was twisting the throttle and into 4th gear, blazing hell down the runway. The feeling of the big boxer motor under me is familiar and exhilarating. It just kept pulling and I was out of runway.
I brought the bike back to the tent to call it for the day, and all I could do was sit there and smile like a little kid on Christmas. The whole group is excited as we start filming the following day and you can feel it in the air.
5:30am Call time,
the Sun wasn't up and we arrived at major down intersection of Hamburg, Germany. This was the first location for the day, where we were shooting both still and static images that would later be the posters and launching content of the R18 Concept storyline. No easy feat to close down major intersections let alone in a busy city like Hamburg. We had to act quick and everyone had to work a single unit. We were shooting both still images and recording video, but we had to be aware of 2 crucial things. First, the bike is still top secret and it needed to be kept hidden from the public eye, spy photos and basically anyone with a camera phone that could leak images and throw a wrench into the campaign launch. So we had to move quickly, get the shot and bring the bike back into its protected tent until the next setup. Second, it was almost 6:30-7am and rush hour was in full effect,so we were only able to close down the roads for 3 minutes at a time to avoid getting the whole production shut down. (Trust me when I say there was actually a City official there with a stop watch making sure we kept time.)
We got about 4 setups, and then suddenly: rain. The road started to get slick and everything was wet.
We had captured the most perfect sunrise between the buildings on the last round and then we needed to get a little more B reel for the video. So next, we had a chase truck and camera rig on a boom, I was fully geared up, the bike was running great, and I had a head set in my ear inside the helmet with about 4 different people yelling different directions. Some in English and some German ( I don't speak German). We took off out of the tent, the boom truck was out front, and I heard in my headset "OK TOMMY PUNCH IT". So I nailed the throttle to catch up to the camera for a takeover maneuver and at that exact moment the whole bike gets loose and we go side ways...(oh yeah the rain).... I heard the entire microphone crew simultaneously take a deep breath and hold it....as I quickly remembered growing up on the East Coast in the mud and water of single track riding with my brother, I shifted my hips, adjusted the throttle and slid the back tire back to the proper behind the bike location and rode it out back to the tent. Everyone in the tent was white as a ghost and I was just kind of smirking like a little kid. One of the bike wranglers came up to me and said: "ok you can ride..." . This was the final shot:
Next stop was back to the the airstrip for more filming. I have to say this was a blast getting to take the bike back to the air field and ride on a closed set. Doing dynamic movements with the camera crew was so much fun and really getting to ride the bike. We shot both film and still imagery at this location and it was amazing getting to work with the film crew and the BMW crew. Taking breaks, hanging out in the tent and just getting to become friends with the team as we were crafting the story that was going to be the R18 concept. There was always so much of a personal element to this whole project and that was just one of the many reasons I really enjoyed my time with the BMW team. It didn't feel like I was working for big brother, but with a group of friends that were all equally excited about their new bike.
Welcome to Stuttgart, our second shooting location within Germany and probably one of my favorite locations in all the filming we did. A semi-small town that is home to the Porsche and Mercedes-Benz museums. We shot at an awesome location that was an old auto garage turned into event space that now hosts high end fashion shows, automotive shoots, and pretty much anything else you could think of. It was a perfect location for the R18 Concept, a place rich with history. A family owned garage that restored classics cars for decades that now has a second life of hosting events from creatives all over the globe. Very much inline with the R18 Concept. A bike that looks back to the past of BMW Motorrad, using bikes like the R23 and R5 that are direct style icons the helped create the R18. The R18 re-introduces BMW back into the cruiser segment and creates a whole new experience for new generations. I use the phrase "re-introduces" because looking at the history of BMW they created cruisers long before this was such a widely used term from other manufacturers. This is something we dove into in a much deeper way with episode 1 of "A Bavarian Soul Story" which was a direct spin off of the R18 Concept shoot I am telling you about now in this blog post.. so yes there is more to come. ;)
Ok, back to Stuttgart: We were in Garage 229 and one of the things I have to highlight throughout all of this project is that BMW Motorradd is investing not only into the bike but the overall experience with the bike. From the clothing you are wearing to the look feel and sound of the bike. This is important, and BMW has taken note of the new era of rider that identifies with this lifestyle on and off the bike. This is one of the reasons I was selected for this project. ButterScotch solidified that we are not just a bunch of ill dressed bike riders. We are professionals, with careers, that have interest in not only the bikes we choose but the items we wear on and off the bike as well. This is why I created ButterScotch: to outfit you in your daily life on and off the bike. If you ride, awesome, you have those pieces that will work on and off the bike equally and effortlessly for the full experience. If you don't ride, thats 100% fine with us, you can still care about what you wear, with good denim, boots, leathers, and quality basics that will never go out of style. #ClassicsNeverDie and it is true. This is something BMW Motorrad can agree with.
At Garage 229 we not only used some of the ButterScotch items in this shoot we also mixed in some of the early BMW Heritage collection into the shoot to showcase the full experience that is this new chapter of the BMW Motorrad story. It was the perfect location to show off the bike and the lifestyle we all live on the day to day. Meeting up with friends, grabbing a coffee, and then heading out for a meeting or weekend ride.
Land of Windmills was the last of the locations in Stuttgart and the last round of shooting for the R18 Concept project. Myself and the BMW crew found ourselves in this fun back country winding road a few hours before dusk in the hills of Stuttgart, where the road was lined with fields of massive windmills. The production crew locked down the road and it was all ours until sundown.
The camera truck was locked and loaded, and the bike wranglers had the R18 concept fully fueled waiting for me at the tent. It was bitter cold this day and the sun was going down, but I couldn't wait to get the bike out on this road and put it through the paces on the twisties.
Away we went and I'm back with the crew in my headset shooting dynamic movements. The small sprinter in front of me and a cameraman hanging out the back on a rig that looked like it belonged in a mission impossible movie. "Ok now Tommy, over take us and punch it." Running through the gears and the R18 concept was just getting more and more fun. We were chasing each other through the back country of Stuttgart and it honestly felt like something out of the movies... maybe because it basically was. I can still feel the big boxer motor pulling through the turns an upshifting into the higher gears into the straight aways.
The sun was almost down and myself and the crew were waiting at the very most southern point of our two landed closed road when over the mic I hear "ok guys lets get that martini shot" and this was by far one of my most favorite scenes from the whole shoot - not because it was the last take of the day and overall production - but because of what happened next both on screen and off. We took off into the now dusk covered woods, with rolling hills and open fields of windmills. Headlights were on, the wooded area had a small layer of fog rolling in, the camera truck out front then broke to the left to capture us weaving through the tree lined road and into the snake turns of the country road. To our left the sun was now cresting behind the hills and the amber colored hills were outlined in the most perfect colors. It was the martini shot. We rode towards the hills and the crew came over the mic again "ok guys we are not stopping, we are heading straight to the staging point for the final capture." I looked out to the left and the rest of the crew parked at the end of a country road a few yards past a massive windmill base. We pulled up and I parked the concept bike beneath this giant windmill in the middle a field in Germany and it was the picture perfect ending to this wild ride. The R18 Concept shoot was a wrap and it couldn't have ended any better. We got the last light and the ride to get there was perfect. It is something I call a "Unicorn Moment" when everything just lines up perfectly.
The production went perfectly, the scenes were epic, the bike far exceeded my expectations and honestly the crew and I now call each other friends.
The R18 concept project changed my life, and this project was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I'm grateful to have gotten to be a part of this production and for what was still yet to come (stay tuned). At this time I had no idea there was more in the pipeline for this project but I was just excited to have been able to say yes and push myself outside my comfort zone for it. We did a small interview segment during one of our shooting days where we talked about my background a little bit, my history around bikes, my up bringing and things that inspired me. That segment along with getting to know the team was just the beginning of an awesome look into the past and present about telling the story that was to come about bringing this concept bike to reality with the series "A Bavarian Soul Story." I'll touch upon that story line in later blog posts, but for now take a look at the video below that is the first look at the BMW R18 Concept and final version of the back story from above. I hope you enjoy and please feel free to leave your comments below!!
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This slogan is on every box of Rolling Dub Trio boots and before we dig in to who Rolling Dub Trio is and where they come from lets breakdown that phrase real quick to understand it and what it means to a company who makes art like quality footwear.
I think we all know what a Boot is and how it or pairs can come in all different forms but the key word in this phrase is the word "Sincerity."
Heres the actual meaning of the word:
SINCERITY
Honesty, genuine, integrity, trustworthy, now those are all words I want to see when I'm investing my dollars into a product. Investing not only as a consumer but as a shop owner, seeking the best of the best out there for ButterScotch and our customers. A big portion of the job here at ButterScotch is bringing in product that is a unique and distinctive item you can add to you wardrobe that is a "life time piece." Some times we call them investment pieces because it is an item or items we invest in for the long haul, and it goes back to the saying quality over quantity. I look at Rolling Dub Trio as one of the brands in the closet that are life time pieces and are only going to get better with age and wear.
Also dropping in the Summer 2019 Eat Dust Collection are the following:
All photos shot by Sterling Reed.