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.
Although there are plenty of exciting, stylish, and fast motorcycles on the market, some are priced more like cars. And considering how affordable used cars, even sports cars, can be, it can be difficult justifying a bike purchase. Especially for something like a sport bike. The Suzuki Hayabusa may be fast, but it’s not exactly …
Although not quite as good off-road as dual sports, scramblers’ lighter weight and smaller size make them nimbler than adventure bikes. And some, particularly the Triumph Scrambler, can genuinely venture beyond the pavement. For Triumph, the Scrambler is part of neo-classic bike lineup which includes the Thruxton café racer and Bonneville standard. However, there’s another …
Sharing its name with a beloved JDM icon, the Toyota 86, aka Subaru BRZ, was the first sign Toyota was seriously embracing performance once more. True, some critics complained about a lack of power. However, like the Miata, the 86’s true qualities weren’t based on outright speed. But, with a refreshed version on the horizon, …
Besides Porsche’s cars having a deserved reputation as premium high-performance vehicles, many of the company’s products also have an extensive off-road history. The 959 supercar was partially developed for rallying, and the Cayenne SUV competed in a few. So has the 911, and even now, valuable air-cooled 911s are regularly converted into dirt-drifting Safari builds. …
Many countries have a strong motoring heritage. The UK has iconic brands like Aston Martin, MG, and Brough-Superior. Japan’s given the world everything from Suzuki and Honda bikes to the Autozam AZ-1. France’s cars range from the Citroen 2CV to the original Bugattis. There’s Italy’s Ducati and Ferrari, and muscle cars, Indian, and Harley-Davidson from …
Although we can’t get the Mazda2 in the US, we can get the Toyota Yaris. It’s not only one of the cheapest new cars you can buy, but it’s also fun to drive. However, we can’t get the best version, the AWD GR Yaris, and the Yaris crossover is best avoided. Also, there’s another inexpensive …
Although Jaguar’s EV production has been hit by COVID-19 and battery shortages, its I-Pace crossover has garnered high marks. While some early models had issues, Jaguar has genuinely used racing to help improve its EV. However, while it offers sports-car-like performance, the Jaguar I-Pace isn’t necessarily someone’s first choice for an off-roader. But increasingly, EVs …
Although the Jeep Gladiator isn’t necessarily the best work truck, it is undoubtedly a competent off-roader. Especially in Rubicon trim, though all but one model bear Jeep’s ‘Trail-Rated’ badge. However, the same things that make the Gladiator and its SUV cousin, the Jeep Wrangler, good at rock-crawling also make them less refined around town. In …
Retro is big right now, especially with motorcycles. Honda’s brought back classic models like the Super Cub, Hunter Cub, and Monkey, for example. Indian has the Scout Bobber. And British manufacturer Triumph has a whole line of neo-classic bikes. Now, Japanese brand Suzuki has also joined in. Although Suzuki still sells cars like the Kizashi …
Even before the latest-gen Ford Ranger was tackling overlanding routes and working commutes, the midsize pickup was a popular truck. But, although classic trucks have risen in value, not everyone’s prepared to deal with some of the frustrations that come with the rugged, old-school design. Fortunately, restomods offer a solution. Both OEMs and independent shops …
It can be nerve-wracking to consider driving a high-end car on a daily basis. And true, some are notorious for nightmarish reliability. But bargain pricing doesn’t always mean problems. There are quite a few used high-performance cars, like the Porsche Cayman, Ferrari 360, and Audi R8 that can be both relatively-inexpensive and reliable. And there’s …
Despite, or perhaps because of its performance-symbol status, the Subaru WRX hasn’t always proven to be the most reliable car. Or even the most reliable Subaru, for that matter. Then again, even well-regarded icons like the Nissan Skyline GT-R have their good and bad years. And, just like there are reliable BMWs, there are some …
Ostensibly, car safety is getting better every year. More and more cars, SUVs, and trucks have advanced driver-assistance features like emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and so on. This has culminated in 2019 being the third straight year of decreasing traffic deaths. However, there are signs that our current crash and safety standards have fallen dangerously …
Although you can find some real bargains in the used market, especially in recent times, new cars do have their advantages. More features, for one, as well as the peace of mind of a warranty. And it is possible to find some fairly inexpensive new cars on sale today. However, some of these cheapest new …
Although the Dodge Neon SRT4 was flawed, it was one of the few early-2000s American performance cars that could hang with the tuned imports. Remember, this is years before the Mustang GT500, and the Dodge Challenger and Charger Hellcats. Muscle cars were only starting their recovery when the Neon SRT4 debuted. However, in the 80s …
Amphibious cars and vehicles are usually the purviews of military organizations or eccentric one-offs. To be sure, there are some wheeled vehicles that can cross water. However, while the Sherp ATV can genuinely drive across a river, it costs $100,000 and isn’t street-legal. And while the Rokon Trail-Breaker and Ranger motorcycles can float, you can’t …
While the Bugatti Veyron isn’t exactly practical, as a feat of engineering, it’s extremely impressive. And while the list of motorcycles that can even approach 200 mph is extremely short, some at least match the Veyron’s engineering effort. Especially when it comes to massive engines. The Lazareth LM847, for instance, was a 4-wheeled motorcycle with …
Fans of no-nonsense midsize trucks often turn to the likes of the Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier. Although it’s had some rough years, the Tacoma is one of the most reliable trucks available. And while the Frontier’s simplicity can understandably drag, that’s why customers buy it. However, it appears rugged utilitarianism can only take the …
Although used car prices are expected to drop, especially with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it’s not like every single one will be universally affordable. True, a used Porsche Cayman or Audi S4 is a great deal, especially compared to a new model. However, they’ll never be truly cheap. Trying to find a car under $5000 …