There is so much to be said for someone with the ability to draw you into a world you know nothing of. Regardless of whether you’ve ever ridden a motorcycle, built a motorcycle, or have no intention of doing either, Dave Mucci’s passion for his craft transcends the subject matter and commands your attention. And if you are a gearhead, well you know this guy is the real deal.
Trying to sum up a multi-faceted New Original like Dave is a nearly impossible task. The word passion doesn’t seem to scratch the surface. Reading through his posts on motomucci.com or delving into his Instagram, @motomucci, transports you to a completely different world. A better world. A world where complex problems are carefully solved through thoughtful design, where a custom motorcycle allows you to see nature in a totally new way, where commitment to craft reaches a Zen-like level.
His photography inspires us, his knowledge and application of industrial design educates us, and his philosophy on all of it is just plain enlightening. When seeking Dave’s advice on how to design and build a machine, you realize it can be applied to much outside of the shop— “Never modify anything without fully understanding how it functions and, most importantly, its relationship with everything it comes in contact with. The more you mechanically understand the more you can modify.”
Never modify anything without fully understanding how it functions and, most importantly, its relationship with everything it comes in contact with.
Mucci’s bikes look as though they come together effortlessly, which is a clear indicator of how much actually goes into the design.
“My typical process is: Research, Concept, Refine, Develop. It’s the same sequence of stages whether I’m in the shop or the design studio. I’m the type of person that needs to have a calculated plan formulated before ever touching a wrench. With a bike build research is usually in performance and geometry modifications. From there I’ll put together a foundation to design around and start sketching out ideas. I’ll refine in 2D until I have about 70% of the design direction worked out. The rest will come with hands-on development.”
This is how you redefine Made in America.
