About Markus André Mayer
Vespa Adventure Rider | Speaker | Author
"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.
From the Office to the World
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.
My Scooterist Life
The Beginning
A Lambretta J50 at age 16. The scooter virus takes hold — and never lets go.
The Turning Point
Burnout as Vertriebsleiter. Job, flat, certainty — all gone. Night shifts driving trucks finance the dream.
La Vida Vespa Begins
Madalina — 1979 Vespa P200E. 130 days, 32 countries, 22,450 km through Europe and Morocco.
World Record #1 & #2
Most km in 24h on a stock 125cc. Most countries in 24h on a stock 125cc. Both records still stand.
Giro Germanica — Charity #1
8,290 km through Germany, Austria, Luxembourg, Switzerland. 42 days. EUR 25,000 raised for children with cancer.
World Record #3 — Around the World in 80 Days
Madrid to Istanbul to Vladivostok to San Diego to New York to Madrid. Fastest solo Vespa circumnavigation in history.
Slow Way Home
Faro to Kempten on a Piaggio Ape 50 forgotten on a farm for 15 years. Pure slow travel.
Gentleman Giro — Charity #2
25,000 km through 40 countries in suit and tie on a 1971 50cc Vespa. EUR 88,000 raised.
Penistour — Nordkapp and Back
Grense Jakobselv to Nordkapp to Portugal on a 125cc T5. 3-part feature in ScooterLab UK.
Vespaseo Iberico
Circumnavigation of the Iberian Peninsula together. First major ride as a duo.
Next: Barcelona to Banjul
Trans-Africa. Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, Senegal. The road does not end.
12 Years. 4 Continents. One Vespa Life.
Every adventure. Every kilometer. Every moment from 2014 to 2026.
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.
Author & Speaker
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.
My Philosophy: Real Over Fake
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.
The Numbers
- 150,000+ km on a Vespa
- 60 countries total — 45 on a Vespa
- 4 continents
- 3 unofficial world records
- 2 charity rides — €113,000 raised for children with cancer
- 2 books published in multiple languages
- 1 Vespa club founded — Blechrollerbande Kempten Allgäu
The Vespas
Every Vespa has a name. Every name has a story.
- Madalina — 1979 Vespa P200E. The first. Europe & Morocco 2014.
- Susi — Scomadi TL 125cc. World Record 2015.
- Rosinante — Bajaj Chetak 150cc. Madrid → Vladivostok 2018.
- Betsy — LML Star 150 2T. San Diego → New York 2018.
- The Frankenscooter — Self-built from 6 Vespas + Suzuki tank + helmet cockpit. Utrecht → Madrid 2018.
- Eleanore — 1971 Vespa V50N 50cc. Gentleman Giro 2021.
- Captain America — Vespa PK XL2 85cc. Alpine Tour 2023.
- Tamara — Vespa T5 125cc. Penistour 2023.
- Valentina — 1967 Motovespa GS150. Barcelona 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
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?
Club Memberships & Honorary Titles
Honorary Members
- Garajeros Moscow 🇷🇺
- Barcelona Scooter Club 🇪🇸
- Storhaug Scooterclub Stavanger 🇳🇴
- SC Madrid 🇪🇸
Club Members
- Blechrollerbande Kempten Allgäu — founded by Markus André Mayer 🇩🇪
- Vespa Club Hannover — member until end of 2026 🇩🇪
Frequently Asked Questions — Vespa Travel
Which Vespa is best for long distance travel? If you want it easy, have no mechanical skills and plan to stay in Europe or North America: a GTS 125–300. If you want a real adventure and plan to truly ride a Vespa: PX 125/150 or T5 125.
Can you travel long distance on a Vespa? 150,000 km across 45 countries on 4 continents says yes. Several Vespa adventurers — including myself, Ilario Lavarra (Vespanda), Stergios Gogkos (Worldvespa) and Gianluca Pellegrinelli (Vespup) — have shown that you can travel the world on a classic Vespa, depending on your time, budget and willingness to adapt and improvise. Nobody needs a €25,000 GS Adventure to have a real adventure. The Vespa is light, simple, repairable by hand, and universally recognised. People wave at you, invite you in, and help you fix things. Nobody does that for a BMW GS.
How much does a Vespa world trip cost? This depends on many factors — the level of comfort you need, the speed you want to travel at, which countries you visit, how many kilometres you plan to cover and which vehicle you choose. My 2018 world circumnavigation — 27,113 km across 18 countries in 80 days — cost approximately €18,000 all in, including three scooters, intercontinental flights for the bikes, ferries, shipping, visas, accommodation and food. For European touring, budget €40–60 per day camping, €80–120 with hotels. Eastern Europe and North Africa: €20–35 per day is realistic if you camp and cook.
What spare parts do you need for a Vespa long distance tour? It depends entirely on tour length. For a weekend 500 km run: one spark plug, one clutch cable, one set of brake cables. For 10,000+ km: spare tyre, voltage regulator, piston with rings, full cable set, CDI. The complete breakdown by tour length is in the free packing list PDF.
How do you plan a Vespa expedition? Direction first, route second. I pick a destination and a rough direction — everything in between is negotiable. The planning that matters: paperwork (Carnet de Passages for non-EU travel, international driving licence, green card insurance), bike preparation (cables, tyres, electrics), and a budget buffer for the unexpected. I spent three years planning the 2018 world trip. The actual route changed constantly once I was riding.
Is a Vespa reliable enough for world travel? A Vespa is very reliable when maintained properly and you know what you are doing. I had 57 technical issues on my 2018 world circumnavigation — and fixed all of them myself, roadside, within 80 days. I once repaired a carburettor jet needle in Istanbul using a strand from an iPhone headphone cable. The engine ran fine for the next 800 km.
What documents do you need to travel internationally on a Vespa? For EU riders going outside the EU: Carnet de Passages en Douane — a customs passport for your vehicle, issued by your national automobile club. Without it, several countries will not let you cross with the bike. Additionally: green card international insurance (check the country list before departure — it changes), international driving licence (from your automobile club, costs almost nothing), and copies of everything stored separately from the originals.
How do you carry luggage on a Vespa for long trips? The Sea n Sand bag goes in the footwell of the Vespa — that is the best position for heavy items and keeps the centre of gravity low. Two additional waterproof roll bags go on the front and rear luggage racks. Balance is key: heavy to the front, light to the rear. Every Vespa ever built prefers this weight distribution. Total loaded luggage weight should stay under 25 kg if possible. The complete gear list is here.
Club Memberships & Honorary Titles
Honorary Members
- Garajeros Moscow 🇷🇺
- Barcelona Scooter Club 🇪🇸
- Storhaug Scooterclub Stavanger 🇳🇴
- SC Madrid 🇪🇸
Club Members
- Blechrollerbande Kempten Allgäu — founded by Markus André Mayer 🇩🇪
- Vespa Club Hannover — member until end of 2026 🇩🇪