Every month I post links to the most recent research into motorcycle culture, subcultures, clothing and identity, along with the biggest events in the motorcycling calendar. Here’s what caught my eye this month.
It was a quiet month for peer-reviewed work. I couldn’t find a new journal article squarely on motorcycle subculture or dress published in the last four weeks, so this roundup is shorter than usual and leans towards books, photography and events.
Motorcycle Life: Stories, Wisdom, and Obsession from Riders Around the World — Eric Hendrikx
Published by Artisan on 29 September. Hendrikx trained in anthropology before turning to journalism, and the book collects interviews with 107 riders from builders and racers to everyday commuters, asking each what riding has taught them. Read it as a snapshot of how riders talk about identity, grief and belonging in 2026 rather than as a history.
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/eric-hendrikx/motorcycle-life/9781648294310/
Still Running: The Grampian Motorcycle Club — Charlotte Croney
A documentary photo series on vintage riders in north-east Scotland, published by The Vintagent. Croney sets out to photograph older club members against the usual rebel-and-masculinity tropes of biker photography. Her focus is on ageing, nostalgia and what happens to a rider’s identity once they can no longer ride.
https://thevintagent.com/2026/09/29/still-running-the-grampian-motorcycle-club/
European Bike Week 2026, Faaker See
Europe’s largest Harley-Davidson gathering ran from 8 to 13 September in Carinthia, with police estimating tens of thousands of visitors. This recap covers the custom show in Villach, where Slovenian and Polish builders took most of the prizes. It also reports the noise checks introduced after complaints from residents, a small sign of how rally culture is negotiated with the communities that host it.
https://www.motorcycles.news/en/european-bike-week-2026-review-lake-faak/
That’s it for this month. If you’ve come across research I’ve missed, feel free to email me.