A map can make a long ride look simple. Draw a line between San Francisco and New York, then imagine everything along it. Jack Smith decided to find out what was really there.
In 2024, he crossed the country on a Vintage Scrambler 2.0, inspired by George Wyman’s 1903 journey across America on a motorized bicycle. The connection was a natural one: a modern electric bike with a silhouette that spoke to the machines of Wyman’s time.
A rider with a plan
Jack was already an experienced traveler. As Loup Power District reported during his journey, he had crossed America by skateboard and traveled in an electric-converted Volkswagen bus. For this next adventure, he reached out to our founder, Andrew Davidge.
He left San Francisco on June 4 with a trailer carrying gear and an extra battery. Early on, the route took him over Donner Pass, where he pedaled to help conserve energy. Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, and Nebraska followed. This was a ride made one day at a time, with the conditions in front of him shaping the decisions.
The road has its own timetable
Heat and flooding interrupted the trip in Nebraska. Jack paused, then returned to finish. His friend Burt Beavers joined with a support van for the second half, helping with gear and charging an additional battery along the route.
According to Tannus’s interview with Jack, he completed more than 3,000 miles in 42 riding days, excluding the weather pause. Tannus Armour was fitted in the bike’s tires; Jack reported no bike-tire flats during the journey.
More than a distance
What we love about this story is the commitment behind it. Jack had an idea, prepared for it, and adapted when the road asked him to. The accomplishment belongs to the rider, the people who helped, and all the decisions that kept the journey moving.
You do not need a coast-to-coast plan to recognize that feeling. It might begin with a road you have been meaning to explore or a ride you keep putting off. A bike can be your reason to make the time.
To explore the next chapter of the bike Jack rode, meet the Scrambler 3.0. Tell our team what you have in mind. We love a good ride story and helping the next one get started.