A 3000km Scooter Ride From Denmark to Italy

In the early summer of 2024, Thomas joined a group of classic scooters on a ride from Denmark to Italy and back. The idea was perfect—classic Vespa and Lambretta scooters traveling 3000km through Europe. But the trip didn't go entirely as planned.

There's always that one person with a camera at every function, right? Well, in the Danish classic scooter community, Thomas was "the video guy". From small rides to large-scale events, he was the man behind the camera, so much so that his videography became a staple of the event itself.

So when it was time to set out on what was his longest trip on the back of a scooter, there was no doubt he was going to document the adventure. His weapon of choice? Insta360 X3 and Insta360 ONE RS.

A man standing next to his Vespa looking out at the Alps.

With X3 and the Invisible Selfie Stick mounted on the scooter for sweet 360º shots and a ONE RS mounted on his chin ready to get some helmet POVs, it was time to head south. Starting outside Copenhagen at Peter's Garage, the only real classic scooter garage left in Denmark, the gang started their adventure by crossing into Germany.

After driving day and night, it was time for a rest in Frankfurt before one of the main events of the trip: SIP, a huge supplier of scooter parts, was celebrating its 30th anniversary, and the Danish crew wasn't going to miss seeing hundreds of classic scooters from all over Europe.

Two classic scooters next to each other at an exhibition.

The next day took them south to Austria—a jaw-dropping experience with the Alps rising in the distance, particularly compared to a rather flat Denmark. Arriving at Innsbruck, this is where Thomas meets his first bump in the road—the rear wheel axle snapped. Bad news for his scooter. Parts are not easy to come by, especially on a Sunday. Just as Thomas was getting ready to accept this as the end of his trip, they found a local guy, or guardian angel, who had the part and a garage they could borrow to fit it. With the community banding together, Thomas' scooter was up and running again.

"You take some risks Riding a 40–60-year-old scooter for such a long trip. I know there's a chance of breaking down, but this is all part of the adventure, and you know that you're surrounded by great friends who have the will and knowledge to help out if something breaks."

With a few more side-of-the-road fixes along their way, they made it to Italy, which was nothing short of fantastic views and winding mountain roads.

The view of Gudon, Italy. — Gudon, Italy

The group ended the first half of their journey outside Bergamo, before turning north again to head home.

A line of classic scooters parked outside a hotel. — Outside the hotel in Bergamo, Italy

Unfortunately, lightning really can strike twice. North of Bergamo, his scooter broke down again, and this time it was serious. After much deliberation and many attempts to fix it, he came to the tough decision to let the rest of the group ride on. Thomas was now stranded with a broken-down scooter, and it was time to make an even harder decision—to leave the scooter behind and take a plane home.

A man surrounded by classic scooters, bent down trying to fix one.

Back home in Denmark, he quickly started to look for how to get his scooter back home. Options were few and far between and very expensive, but Thomas' luck hadn't run out just yet. He stumbled across a Danish guy who was already on his way to Italy to collect some vintage mopeds, and there was space for one more scooter in his van. After a few weeks, his Italian scooter was home, repaired, and running again.

A man taking a selfie with his classic scooter in front of the Alps.

When all the excitement from the trip had settled, it was time to relive it through the footage captured by his trusty Insta360 X3 and ONE RS. Hours were spent pouring through all the incredible footage—there was so much to tell, and so many amazing shots to tell it with!

"One great upside to reviewing all the footage was that it reminded me of all the fun and good times we had on the trip. This helped me remember that my trip was not all breakdown and worries—but beautiful scenery, adventure, and great fun with like-minded scooter nerds."

A group of men posing and taking a selfie. — The so-called "Scooter nerds"

Thomas posted the video to YouTube, where he received tons of comments and feedback from people around the world who could relate to his experience or were interested in traveling. You can follow Thomas' journey for yourself here:

"The trip for 2025 is already planned and I'm looking forward to documenting it—for myself and anyone who would like to be a part of it."

We can't wait to see what 2025 brings—hopefully a few fewer breakdowns this time round!

This article was submitted to Insta360 Community Stories by Thomas Hollaender. Got a story to share? Email yours to communitystories@insta360.com and win up to US$50! Learn more here.

Keen to keep up to date on Insta360 stories? Keep an eye on our blog and sign up for our mailing list. Got a story to share? Email yours to communitystories@insta360.com and win up to US$50.