Vespa Books by Markus André Mayer
Two books. One life on two wheels. No AI. No ghostwriter. No filter.
10 Inch Tales
A Collection of Memories from 150,000 km of Vespa Adventures
Published: April 2025
This is not a travel diary. It is a collection of short stories and anecdotes from over 11 years of adventure riding — from the Elefantentreffen at -14°C to the Russian border, from Death Valley to the blue streets of Chefchaouen. Unvarnished, honest and written entirely without AI assistance.
What is inside: Stories from 150,000 km across 45 countries on 4 continents. The bizarre, the mechanical, the human. The deep community of the international Vespa family. And the quiet moments between the chaos that make it all worth it.
Written by: Markus André Mayer with Martina Gödert No AI used in writing or translation.
Out of Office — A Vespa Midlife Crisis
A Novel
Published: February 2026
"No good story ever started with a man sitting in his ergonomic office chair drinking a cup of fennel tea."
Kai knows how to optimise an Excel spreadsheet. He has forgotten how to live. A final, cryptic message from his deceased friend Miguel pulls the freshly separated office drone out of his midlife crisis and onto the rusted saddle of an ancient Spanish Vespa.
What follows is a bizarre road trip through the blistering sun of Spain and the technical pitfalls of Italian engineering. Kai loses his dignity, his wallet and his patience — but somewhere between the grease under his fingernails and the freezing rain of the Alps, he realises that the best stories begin where the plan ends.
Based on real experiences and real tours. Because the best fiction starts with the truth.
No AI used in writing or translation.
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Also by Martina Gödert
Vespaseo Ibérico — Zwei-Takt, Flamenco und Pastéis de Nata
The same 6,390 km around the Iberian Peninsula — told from the pillion seat. A completely different view of the same journey. Frequently funnier.
Coming Soon
- Slow Way Home — the full story of Anita the Ape 50 and 3,600 km from Portugal to Germany
- 80 Days Around the World — the complete account of the fastest solo Vespa circumnavigation
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the books available in other languages? 10 Inch Tales is also available in German (10 Zoll Geschichten) and Spanish (Anécdotas de 10 Pulgadas). Out of Office is available in German and Spanish. More languages are planned.
Was AI used in writing or translation? No. Not in writing, not in translation, not in editing. The Spanish translation of 10 Inch Tales was done with the help of Nacho Panero Gonzalez. Martina Gödert pushed the project over the finish line after years of procrastination.
Where can I buy signed copies? At live events — Vespa meetings, speaker appearances and tours. Follow on Instagram for upcoming events.
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