Mark Dugally is an avant-garde artist and custom-bike builder known for his project “Project Somma.” He owns MADercycles, a renowned shop located in the Los Angeles area.
“Project Somma” was inspired by Dugally’s visit to Pompeii, the ancient Roman city destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
Dugally’s background in graphics artistry has allowed him to work with unconventional materials such as steel, aluminium, and carbon fibre, enabling him to create extraordinary handcrafted machines that push the boundaries of custom-bike building. The bikes he creates are described as unique, infused with badassery, and a touch of raw ferocity.
Key features of Mark Dugally’s “Project Somma” include:
- Unique Concept: “Project Somma” is an avant-garde creation inspired by Dugally’s visit to Pompeii, resulting in a one-of-a-kind representation of a custom-built Aprilia bike.
- Unconventional Materials: Dugally’s background in graphics artistry allows him to work with unconventional materials such as steel, aluminium, and carbon fibre, pushing the boundaries of the traditional custom-bike building.
- Line-X Bodywork: The bodywork of the bike is entirely covered in Line-X, a robust material commonly used to line pickup truck beds, providing an aura of strength and durability to the bike.
- Metal Accents: The addition of metal accents treated with a bronze-type finish or left to weather naturally contributes to the impression of archaic armour-plating, adding to the uniqueness and visual appeal of the bike.
- Aprilia RST1000 Futura Base: The project is built on a 2002 Aprilia RST1000 Futura, a sport-tourer featuring a powerful Rotax 1000cc V-twin engine producing 113 horsepower.
More key features
- Preservation of Core Elements: While the engine and alloy frame remain largely untouched, the defining feature of the bike lies in the distinct hump-shaped bodywork and the use of unconventional materials.
- Fusion of Historical and Contemporary: “Project Somma” merges historical inspiration from Pompeii with contemporary materials and design, showcasing Dugally’s innovative approach to performance art in the world of custom-bike building.
- Handcrafted Masterpiece: The bike is a handcrafted masterpiece, demonstrating the artisanal skill and creativity of Mark Dugally in bringing his unique vision to life.
- Impression of Strength and Ferocity: Dugally proudly claims that his creations are infused with badassery and a touch of raw ferocity, making “Project Somma” stand out as a bold and distinctive artwork.
Project Somma
These key features collectively contribute to “Project Somma” being a remarkable and unparalleled representation of an Aprilia bike, making it a standout piece of performance art in the custom-bike building world.
For the “Project Somma,” Dugally chose a 2002 RST1000 Futura, an Aprilia sport-tourer featuring a powerful Rotax 1000cc V-twin engine producing 113 horsepower. While the engine and alloy frame were largely unchanged, the defining feature of this project lies in the hump-shaped bodywork.
Robust
The bodywork is covered entirely in Line-X, a robust material typically used to line pickup truck beds, giving it an aura of strength and durability. Metal accents are added to the bodywork, treated with a bronze-type finish or left to weather naturally, contributing to the impression of archaic armour-plating.
Conclusion
Mark Dugally’s “Project Somma” is a one-of-a-kind creation, representing an Aprilia bike unlike anything else in existence. Its fusion of historical inspiration and contemporary materials showcases Dugally’s innovative approach to performance art in the world of custom-bike building.
