Jupiter's Motorcycle Rental

Profile

Chris Miles traveled to China in 2006 under the pretense of conducting research for a master’s degree at NYU, but after reading Ted Simon’s motorcycle memoir Jupiter’s Travels, he set out on a peripatetic motorcycle journey from Beijing to Shanghai. (He later named this motorcycle shop after the book’s title.) After riding across Europe, Miles returned to New York to open this Gowanus motorcycle rental garage, tagging the exposed pipes and worn brick with amateur graffiti and a logo featuring the astrological sign for Jupiter. The spot offers daily, weekly, and seasonal packages, with bikes from brands such as BMW and Harley Davidson. Clients choose from the BMW 650 GS, BMW 800 ST, BMW 1200 GS, or Harley Davidson Sportster XL. — Ross Kenneth Urken