DEUS DO A DEAL – BANDUNG

Dec 31, 2020

Indonesia is a vast archipelago, over 17,500 islands and nearly 5500kms wide she requires cheap, fast and easy transportation to move her people. You don’t get a Nobel to guess that the motorcycle fits the criteria for most of her two hundred and seventy million odd inhabitants.

Speak to someone in the know and you will find out that Bandung is the Indonesian city that boasts the largest collection of unique motorbikes. Even by world standards, we are talking rare and rarely found on other cities streets. No surprise then to hear that the number of motorcycle communities in Bandung is far greater than just about any other city in Indonesia.

To celebrate these groups, and motorcycles in general, we recently we got together with our friends from BBQride Bandung, they’re a Bandung based group of girls and guys who host a variety of motorbike events throughout the year. Obviously, 2020 threw a massive proverbial spanner in the works of their event schedule making them very interested to do a collaborative event. After a few months of lockdown, we also wanted to do a spot of flag-waving and add a bit of buzz at our store. Out of that first meeting was born the Deus Do-A-Deal Parts and Cycle Swap Meet. The idea was to create an event where people could come to find and hopefully buy, some hard to get motorbikes or rare as hens’ teeth spare parts. Government restrictions on numbers within our store meant we had to keep this refined and elite and not a hoi polloi free for all.

We drew a circle on the calendar, two days 11-12 December 2020 where we chose to invite motorbike hobbyists or seekers of dream bikes. We had it all from small to large engine capacities. Fullsize to miniature motorbikes and a room full of parts.

We ended up with nineteen curated sort after cycles on display. In a straight and great line through the centre of our store they were proudly parked and displayed.

Our Bengkel area was filled with mechanical finds and hard to finds, motorcycle frames, engines, exhausts and every other imaginable part or accessory unique to bikes.

The idea was to let the visitors wander about and interact with the sellers, exchange information and hopefully for everyone there, see some money and registration papers change hands.

Each afternoon, saw some of the various communities come, parking their bikes in front of the shop. Hot coffee brewing and the smell permeating our shop is the perfect accompaniment to our event. Bandung’s weather had been getting colder in the afternoons of late so that helped make the whole thing seem cozier and comfortable.

The atmosphere warmed the afternoons, people mingled and exchanged their stories whether buyer, seller or just motorcycle enthusiast.

Apart from the diehard motorcycle lovers, we also welcomed some visitors who had heard the noise we were doing a little something-something and wanted to stick their head in and see what all the fuss was about. They came alone or with families which we thought was great and added overall inclusiveness to the event. Besides, as most people in Indonesia do ride cycles or scooters, everyone knows a little or a lot.

Two days was not enough to fulfil all the wishes of the plethora of motorbike lovers that call Bandung home. Our restricted capacity added another dimensional operational challenge to everything, hopefully soon the restrictions will lift and we can return to holding bigger and longer events like this soon.

Deus Ex Machina Bandung is very grateful to all the different community friends who came to enliven and the committee from BBQride Bandung who have helped in the continuity of this event.

ENGLISH TEXT BELOW

Setiap tahun, teman-teman kita Tasix Adventure—penyelenggara petualangan ban berlumpur dan adrenalin berbahan bakar terbaik di Bali—mengadakan acara akhir pekan berkemah yang sangat dinanti-nantikan. Mereka menamakannya “ The Wild,” dan jujur saja, tidak ada kata yang lebih pas dari itu.

Ini bukan sekadar acara; ini adalah petualangan wajib bagi siapa saja yang mencintai tanah, tantangan, dan persahabatan yang hanya bisa terjalin saat tertawa melihat teman lain terjatuh.

Hal tentang The Wild adalah misterinya. Kamu tidak tahu ke mana akan pergi, bagaimana sampai di sana, atau apa yang akan kamu temui—seperti hidup, tapi dengan lebih banyak asap knalpot.

Tahun ini, The Wild yang berlangsung pada 7 Desember 2024, mengumpulkan 135 pecinta motor enduro, trail, dan cross di Desa Kopi, Tabanan. Tepat pukul 9 pagi, kami berangkat menuju Desa Gesing, Singaraja. Rute tetap dirahasiakan hingga hari acara, meningkatkan sensasi penasaran dan antusiasme. Dengan dibagi menjadi beberapa kelompok kecil, kami melengkapi diri dengan perlengkapan motocross lengkap untuk menghadapi tantangan musim hujan.

Perjalanan? Murni magis. Jalur berkelok melalui permata tersembunyi Bali, di mana setiap tikungan menawarkan pemandangan yang memukau atau hampir membuat jantung berhenti. Rute tahun ini menghadirkan medan tanah liat merah—dijuluki tanah "keramik" karena teksturnya yang licin dan keras saat basah. Untuk melintasinya, diperlukan teknik khusus yang disebut “paddling the throttle,” sebuah manuver yang mendebarkan dengan motor yang sering bergoyang liar. Dari kejauhan, mungkin terlihat lucu, tetapi saat di atas motor? Ceritanya berbeda.

Setelah menempuh 68 kilometer petualangan liar, kami tiba di perkemahan di puncak bukit yang sudah dipenuhi tenda-tenda peserta lain dan deru knalpot. Destinasi selalu mencuri perhatian, dan yang satu ini tidak terkecuali—tempat tinggi dengan pemandangan 360 derajat yang menakjubkan dari laut, gunung, hingga kota.

Saat hujan turun, tenda-tenda didirikan, dan malam itu diisi dengan berbagi cerita tentang penyelamatan heroik dan kecelakaan yang menggelikan. Dan tentu saja, ada balapan. Bayangkan sekelompok pengendara penuh semangat meluncur di perbukitan dalam kekacauan yang terkontrol. Balapan tahun ini termasuk duel 1 lawan 1 yang seru di sekitar puncak bukit, dengan peserta menyelesaikan dua putaran penuh adrenalin.

Bukan soal menang; ini tentang hadir, tertawa, dan menikmati momen. Para pemenang dan peserta tercepat yang mencapai puncak bukit dirayakan dengan hadiah, tetapi senyuman, persahabatan, dan kebersamaan membuat semua orang merasa seperti juara.

The Wild tahun ini benar-benar sesuai namanya, bahkan lebih. Petualangan, tawa, dan cukup banyak tanah di gigi untuk menyebutnya otentik—kami tidak akan menginginkannya dengan cara lain. Terima kasih yang sebesar-besarnya kepada semua peserta yang menjadikannya pengalaman tak terlupakan. Sampai jumpa di petualangan berikutnya!

Every year, our mates over at Tasix Adventure—Bali’s finest purveyors of muddy tyres and fuel-driven adrenaline—host their much-anticipated camp-out weekend. They’ve named it “Wild,” and honestly, there’s no better word for it.

It’s not just an event; it’s a pilgrimage for anyone who loves dirt, daring, and the kind of camaraderie you can only forge while laughing at someone else’s wipeout.

The thing about Wild is that it’s shrouded in mystery. You don’t know where you’re going, how you’ll get there, or what you’ll find—kind of like life, but with more exhaust fumes.

This year’s Wild, held on Saturday, December 7, 2024, brought together 135 enthusiasts of enduro, trail, and cross motorcycles at Desa Kopi, Tabanan. The route was kept a secret until the event day, heightening the thrill of the unknown. At exactly 9 am, they shared the destination, Desa Gesing, Singaraja, Divided into small groups, we geared up with full motocross kits to tackle the rainy season’s challenges.

The ride? Pure magic. Twisting trails through Bali’s hidden gems, where every turn promised either breathtaking views or breathtaking near-misses. This year’s route featured red clay terrain—nicknamed "ceramic" soil for its slick, hard texture when wet. Navigating it required a special technique called “paddling the throttle,” a nerve-wracking maneuver that had bikes swaying wildly. From a distance, it might have looked hilarious, but on the bike? It was a whole other story.

After 68 kilometres of this wild adventure, we arrived at the hilltop campsite already alive with the buzz of activity and the roar of exhausts. The destination always steals the spotlight, and this one was no exception—a high-altitude perch offering stunning 360-degree views of the sea, mountains, and city.

As the rain came down, tents went up, and the evening was all about swapping stories of heroic saves and laughable crashes. And then there were the races. Picture a pack of overexcited riders tearing up the hillside in what can only be described as controlled chaos. This year’s races included thrilling 1-on-1 duels around the hilltop, with participants pushing through two laps of sheer adrenaline.

It wasn’t just about winning; it was about showing up, laughing, and embracing the moment. The race winners and the fastest hilltop arrivals were celebrated with prizes, but the smiles, the camaraderie, and the shared triumphs made everyone feel like champions.

This year’s Wild lived up to its name and then some. Adventure, laughter, and just enough dirt in your teeth to call it authentic—we wouldn’t have it any other way. A massive thank you to all the participants who made it unforgettable. See you on the next adventure!