DGR 2022 - From home to the hills and back, Bali Style

May 25, 2022

If you are into bikes and haven’t heard of the Distinguished Gentlemens Ride, your either off the grid or living in some sequestered spot of the globe.

Bali may be far-flung from the western world, but we’ve not only heard of DGR, we’ve been participating for at least eight, if not nine years. DGR has been running since 2012, it is a ride that unites custom, classic and vintage style motorcycle riders across the entire globe to raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer research and men’s mental health. This year they were set to have over ninety thousand riders in almost every country in the world, including three rides in the Ukraine.

Here in Indonesia, there was sixteen rides, but for the most part the country is rather light on when it comes to the riders seeking donations, however it is into raising awareness. Not to mention that everyone in Indonesia loves a good excuse to go for a ride.

Over 150 passionate partakers gathered at the Temple of Enthusiasm last Sunday morning. We soaked up delicious coffee while taking in the continuous parade of Dapper Gentlefolk as they arrived on their bikes. Friends were greeted with a laugh and chat. New ones made with just as much ease. Smiles and laughter are the wonderful currency of these events.

At ten in the morning, Dirk from Malamadre grabbed up a mic, jumped on a chair and welcomed the diverse group of participants. Dirk has been the DGR Bali organiser for more years than I can remember. Working with his right hand woman, Elo and his team from Malamadre Garage. This year they spread the organising workload with Treasure Garage, Nuel, Nugra and their squad and Errico, Ano and the Deus Canggu crew.

Dirk ran through the do’s and more importantly don’ts. Presented our ride captain and his back branding that was to be looked out for and touched on where we were headed. Because the Bali ride is more about the ride, and we can have terrible traffic congestion on the rather average road system, we were headed into the mountains. Our destination, a place called Kampung Kopi Camping and while it may only be about thirty five clicks out, Bali’s less than terrific traffic made it so we’d be lucky to do it under an hour and forty five.

The route took in villages and hills. Built up areas and expanses of ricefields. We slowed for Hindu ceremonies, broken away asphalt with potholes aplenty and a traffic jam of trucks we came upon up on the highway. We made it to the rustic residences of the destination, but first needed to safely navigate the four hundred metres of lead in track, so rough and slippery that we saw several people take a tumble just trying to get up and into the parking.

We flowed into their restaurant as quick as the beer was soon flowing down out throats. Orders for Nasi Goreng could be heard and smelt for the entire time we were there. Shuffling off to take in the bikes and have a chat, you couldn’t help but be gob smacked by the beauty of the location. We were on a hill in the highlands, Mount Batukaru, Bali's second-highest mountain at 2,276 m., was just off to the east, its summit unseen as it disappeared into the clouds. You could literally turn 360º with nothing but a colour pallet of green. We really had arrived in one of the most picturesque places to do a ride of this sort.

Without any rush, after an hour and a half had past, we finished up and paid our bills before ambling back into the carpark and threw a leg over our bikes to head back the way we came.

There’s not much more to say than thanks for all the participants.
Thanks to all the organisers and the marshals on the day.
Thanks to the guys that pre-rode the course, damn, you definitely done good.

And an indescribable amount of thanks to Mattia and his Blacksand Brewery. These guys gave us a destination to ride back to, while also putting a couple of hundred of their delicious Kölsch beers on ice for our arrival that we collectively drank to wash the bugs out.

If you still want to donate, hit the LINK
See you all next year.

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!