"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all."
Hello, I am Markus. For over 30 years I have been infected by the scooter virus. What began in 1992 with a small Lambretta J50 has become a way of life that has taken me over 150,000 km through 60 countries across 4 continents — almost always on 10-inch wheels powered by old two-stroke engines.
For me the Vespa is not a fashionable accessory or a hobby. It is a symbol of freedom, emancipation and real, unvarnished adventure.
My path was never straightforward. I was a paratrooper sergeant, studied foreign trade, and built careers in marketing and management. But in 2014, after a burnout and a painful separation, I made a radical decision: I quit my job, gave up my flat, and simply rode away.
What began as a 130-day break through Europe became a lifelong passion. I learned that you do not need a €25,000 motorcycle to explore the world. You need determination, a willingness to suffer, and a small touch of madness.
A Lambretta J50 at age 16. The scooter virus takes hold — and never lets go.
Burnout as Vertriebsleiter. Job, flat, certainty — all gone. Night shifts driving trucks finance the dream.
Madalina — 1979 Vespa P200E. 130 days, 32 countries, 22,450 km through Europe and Morocco.
Most km in 24h on a stock 125cc. Most countries in 24h on a stock 125cc. Both records still stand.
8,290 km through Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, Switzerland. 42 days. EUR 25,000 raised for children with cancer.
Madrid to Istanbul to Vladivostok to San Diego to New York to Madrid. Fastest solo Vespa circumnavigation in history.
Faro to Kempten on a Piaggio Ape 50 forgotten on a farm for 15 years. Pure slow travel.
25,000 km through 40 countries in suit and tie on a 1971 50cc Vespa. EUR 88,000 raised.
Grense Jakobselv to Nordkapp to Portugal on a 125cc T5. 3-part feature in ScooterLab UK.
Circumnavigation of the Iberian Peninsula together. First major ride as a duo.
Trans-Africa. Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Senegal. The road does not end.
80 Days Around the World (2018)
The centrepiece of my travels. In exactly 80 days I circumnavigated the planet solo and without a support team — 27,113 km from Madrid to Madrid, always heading east.
Vespa Gentleman Giro (2021)
6,300 km in a suit and tie on a 1971 50cc Vespa. Together with the Vespa community we raised over €88,000 for children's cancer foundations.
The Penistour (2023)
16,500 km to the Nordkapp and back on a 125cc Vespa T5.
Slow Way Home (2020)
A 3,600 km journey from Portugal to Germany on a Piaggio Ape 50 that had been forgotten on a farm for 15 years.
Today I share my experiences as a keynote speaker on international stages — from the Vespa World Days to specialist travel events like the Overland Event in Oxford. I do not tell fairy tales. I report on real challenges: typhoons in Siberia, storms in Montenegro, and the moments when you are standing naked and freezing in a Siberian bus stop wondering why you are actually doing this.
In my books — 10 Zoll Geschichten and my autobiographical novel Out of Office — I process these experiences in black and white. Unvarnished, honest, and without AI assistance.
In a world full of influencers and AI-generated glossy images, I remain a defender of the real. My photos are taken with a smartphone at the roadside. My bed is often the floor of a petrol station or a tent in the middle of nowhere. I am not an Instagram model — I am a traveller with oily hands and a story in my luggage.
My goal? To inspire you to stop treating your dream as a pub conversation topic and start treating it as a priority. The world will not come and collect you from your sofa — you have to take the first step yourself.
See you somewhere on the road. Ride — Eat — Sleep — Repeat.
Every Vespa has a name. Every name has a story.
Who is Markus André Mayer?
Markus André Mayer, born July 27, 1976 in Kempten, Germany, is the only German-speaking Vespa world circumnavigator. He has ridden over 150,000 km across 45 countries on 4 continents, set 3 unofficial world records and raised €113,000 for children with cancer. He is based in Barcelona and works as an author and speaker.
What is La Vida Vespa?
La Vida Vespa — the Vespa life — is the brand, philosophy and project created by Markus André Mayer. It began with a 2014 Europe tour and has grown into a global adventure travel brand with books, speaking engagements and an international community.
What is Don Calvo?
Don Calvo is Markus' nickname — acquired during his time as a party organiser in Málaga, Spain in 2007. It stuck.
Where is Markus André Mayer based?
Barcelona, Spain — since April 2024.
How can I book Markus as a speaker?
Via email: markus(at)la-vida-vespa.com — or visit the Speaker page.
Where can I buy his books?