I Crashed My Vespa
"It looked ultra nasty, like something the Sisters of Mercy would ride around Rome with Audrey Hepburn as their…
The Current: Here Comes Vespa’s Elettrica e-Scooter!
Finally, Vespa enters the electric scooter market with the new Elletrica model, with the classic shape and modern…
The Art of the Motorcycle: The Wrapped Vespa
'You're an outrage!' How Christo's 'Wrapped Vespa' almost got into the Art of the Motorcycle exhibit at the Guggenheim…
Vespa Streamliners
In the 1950s, fierce competition between Vespa and Lambretta created an 'arms race' of top speed scooters, with Vespa…
The Lost Empire of Leathertogs, Part 5
Leathertogs garments are the stuff of legend. Rare, coveted, and exceptionally valuable, collectors refer to them as…
Lost in the Supermarket
They’re parked right by the checkout line at Mega, eclipsing the candy bars for my impulse-purchase attention. Even…
Beyond the Outlaw: Americade and the Battle for Public Image
Americade is a different kind of rally. Yet a single arrest, crash, or disturbance generates more attention than all…
Autoerotic Infatuation
Men ran out of cafes and restaurants into the street to talk to me. I never bought my own drinks again. Nobody can…
An American in Rome – Harley-Davidson in Italy
Some described riding a Harley as a way to slow down and enjoy the scenery. Others enjoy the attention that comes from…
Unibus: the World’s First Scooter
The new Ladies Model was the legacy of Boultbee’s Unibus: the scooter. It took another generation to finally bring the…
Sonia Delaunay and the Invention of the ‘Art Car’
Today it is Sonia Delaunay who gets the lion’s share of exhibitions, as a new generation discovers her remarkable…
Looking for Matadors in Madrid
In Madrid near the historic bullrings, men in bullfighting bars drink strong Marianito cocktails and eat tapas…
AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days
Friends had told me about it, but nothing quite prepared me for the vastness and chaos of the AMA’s Vintage Motorcycle…
Mike Blanchard: One Good Idea Well Realized
“When you make something, it’s an act of love but you also learn. It is about constant problem solving. And you always…
The Quail: A Watersports Gathering
Gordon McCall's takeaway statement on the difference between car and bike people was "If this was a car show, it would…
Moto Craft: Where Speed Meets Art
"Motorcycles are important in broader culture, whether that be in fashion, movies, or art. They punch way above their…
Mike’s Ride in Rome
What to see, and what's special in the Eternal City, through the eyes of our globetrotting correspondent Michael…