Matthew Skwarczek started blogging in 2015 and focuses his writing on motorcycles and engineering science. A graduate of Northwestern University, where he earned his Master’s in Chemical Engineering, Matthew served as an applications engineer for BASF before joining MotorBiscuit in 2019.
In Matthew’s words, the visceral nature of riding requires you to be in the moment. Combined with his fascination in the analytics surrounding the building and designing of cars and bikes, both modern and classic, you’ll find his voice blends functionality and phenomena. He rides motorcycles and bicycles often, photographing them as well.
Matthew has contributed to Oppositelock and is now an alumnus. He plays Dungeons & Dragons and reads sci-fi and fantasy in his spare time, and appreciates the works of Peter Egan, Sam Smith, Brandon Sanderson, and Alex Goy.
The A4 has come some way in the last few years. One of Audi’s most affordable models went from a Consumer Reports ‘never buy’ to a reliable, recommended entry-level luxury car. And for 2021 the Audi A4 gets several updates big and small. So, how have these changes affected it? What’s new and what carries …
Given that you can now get a 797-hp sedan, today is arguably a second heyday for muscle cars. And thanks to modern engineering, the four-cylinder models can blitz past their classic predecessors. But not every model survived the march of time. One of the most prominent examples is the Bandit’s and the Hoff’s chariot of …
Changing up your wheels through the aftermarket is one of the most common vehicle modifications. But all too often these non-factory wheels end up being more trouble than they’re worth. However, that’s usually because people buy them for the wrong reasons. Done properly, aftermarket wheels can be beneficial. The best aftermarket wheels lower unsprung weight …
Trying to bring car owners into the motorcycle world has led to some interesting products. For example, the Polaris Slingshot, the 3-wheeler from Indian’s owner. And there’s the Morgan 3-Wheeler, which has an actual S&S bike engine. But some brands attempted to tackle the task from a different angle. Rather than build a bike-like car, …
Winter, or at least the onset of cold weather, usually spells the end of motorcycle season. But some continue to brave the icy landscape regardless, especially if there’s little-to-no snow. And even when spring comes, the chill lingers for some time. So, it’s crucial for motorcycle riders to have cold-weather gear and know how to …
The luxury SUV market gained a major rival with the launch of the Genesis GV80. It’s an affordable model with a design often compared to Bentley’s products. But how does the GV80 actually stack up to Bentley’s SUV, the Bentayga? Specifically, a used one that’s gone through some democratizing depreciation? That’s what YouTube team Throttle …
Turbos aren’t limited to high-end performance cars like Porsche 911s anymore. You can find turbocharged engines in pickup trucks, luxury cars, hot hatches, and entry-level sedans like the Mazda3. But as with any technology, automotive or otherwise, someone had to help bring it on a mass-market level. And in the late 70s, that car was …
With the sheer variety of motorcycle types available today, it’s often easy to forget that some are fairly-recent creations. The adventure bike category, for example, didn’t exist until BMW launched the 1981 R80 G/S. Others, though, evolved from older designs, such as how UJMs fostered standards. And BMW has some familiarity with this as well. …
When just an oil change on a Bugatti costs $20k, the term ‘unobtainable’ springs easily to mind. Especially for the Chiron, which is technically the most expensive production car in the world. I say ‘technically’ because there’s an even pricier car based on the Chiron: the Bugatti Divo. And Doug Demuro recently took a look …
Fancy features aren’t always enough to keep buyers interested in some luxury cars. For every Jaguar and Rolls-Royce, there’s a Duesenberg and a Packard. As a result, there are a number of fascinating brands that time and fortune simply left by the wayside. One of those made high-end French ‘hybrids’ bought by some very famous …
Maintenance isn’t the only thing you can do to your motorcycle outside of riding it. Like car owners, many riders customize and modify their bikes to suit their needs. Someone going off-roading, for example, will likely fit skid plates and crash bars. Those interested in touring will start looking into luggage racks. And so on. …
The Mazda Miata is still one of the most affordable convertible sports cars on the market. But it owes its success to several classic British roadsters, such as the Austin Healey-Sprite. However, there’s one model in particular that the Miata pulls inspiration from. And it’s this week’s Bring a Trailer bargain: an MG MGB. The …
While depreciation means luxury cars’ values often drop like stones, that’s often a boon for the next savvy owner. It’s a familiar situation for some of Jaguar’s products, such as the F-Type. And that includes this week’s Cars and Bids bargain purchase: a 2008 Jaguar XK. The 2007-2015 Jaguar XK is a luxury GT worthy …
For all the complaints that the M brand has been diluted over the years, BMW’s performance division can still deliver the goods. And arguably the closes to the original E30 M3’s ethos is the BMW M2 Competition. However, for 2021 it’s joined by a limited-edition version, the BMW M2 CS. But while the CS is …
High-dollar car auction sales are nothing new, especially when classics are involved. However, there’s paying a large sum for something like an Alfa Romeo BAT concept, and there’s paying $300k for a Datsun 240Z. Classic BMWs are no stranger to high price tags, as evidenced by E30 M3 values. But you can buy a small …
Even if you’re not in the drifting scene, you’ve probably heard of Ken Block. Over the years he and the Hoonigan team have earned a name for themselves with their Gymkhana videos. So much so, that there’s even an Amazon Prime show dedicated to one video’s production. And now, there’s a new one out—only Block’s …
Replicas are an excellent alternative if you can’t afford the ‘real’ classic. And then there are restomods, which elevate the original with modern quality standards, performance, and features. German firm Uedelhoven Studios, though, took a slightly different approach with its latest project. Instead of restoring a Bugatti Type 35, it reimagined the classic racer for …
‘Supercar’ and ‘affordable’ are rarely paired together, especially when classic and/or used models are involved. It’s a similar story—or at least, some think it is—where reliability is concerned. However, some supercars buck that trend. For example, the Dodge Viper. Although it has a reputation as a ‘widow maker,’ when it comes to buying and maintaining …
Extreme rawness is a key part of the original Viper’s appeal. But Dodge’s supercar evolved a bit over the years, gaining a few creature comforts along the way. All of which culminated in the final-gen model, the SRT Viper. However, while the last Vipers lost a bit of crudeness, they never lost their bite. The …
Because the ‘self-driving’ automobile doesn’t exist yet, all cars rely on their drivers to guide them. Which means they need steering wheels and, thus, entire systems. Some cars can even steer all four wheels. And when it comes to sporty cars, oftentimes reviews mention how fast or slow their steering is. But what does that …