DIRT DAUBER

Nov 21, 2020

TW, comes from the abbreviation of ‘Trail Way’, Yamaha’s motorbike they dubbed the “Adventure Machine," a bike built to blazing across the uncharted roads. The TW became infamous in its associated with the great motorcycle adventurer, Shinji Kazama who rode a TW200 to the North pole in 87.' Another wonderful Trivial Pursuit moment is that Kazama is one of only a few to ride a motorbike to both poles.

In Japan, the TW is more synonymous with the early 90’s “Suka-Tune” era of custom bikes. The style of stripping off the fairings and covers of a bike to expose everything underneath, making them appear as it were. ‘Sukeru’ is Japanese for transparent or see-through. At that time the youth of Japan scrambled to tweak and present their best rendition of the new style.

Despite Japan falling into its historic recession after the burst of the Economic Bubble in the early 90’s, Yamaha saw motorcycle dealers nationwide experiencing months long waiting lists for the fat-tire Adventure Machines. It was the popular and affordable choice at the time and “TW’ers” (custom TW’s or riders of..) were spotted all over the streets of Japan. The Suka-Tune, therefore, became strongly associated with the TW and you could see young riders tearing through town on these bikes, glancing sideways at adults wandering confused amidst the “uncharted roads” of economic stagnation.

It was around this time, Deus founders Dare Jennings and Carby Tuckwell came to Japan for a visit and experienced ‘Ura-Hara’ (the back streets of Harajuku) The area was humming with hordes of motorcycles and their subcultural fashion. What they saw, this cultural buzz, was definitely something that became part of the ideas and inspiration that eventually gave life to what we today know as Deus Ex Machina. Apparently, TWs were ubiquitous during their visit. Which isn’t surprising as these motorcycles definitely represented that era.

According to Deus Japan Bike Builder, Tomoyuki Soeda, whose ridden more than his fair share of bikes over the years, there is no other motorcycle out there as functional or perfectly sized than the TW. And if he were to go out today to buy a functional bike for quick rides around town, he’d definitely be choosing one of these. Of all the Yamaha greats, Soeda reckons this bike is the best of the best and that fact weighed heavily on his decision to re-create a little of this subculture classic in our DIRT DAUBER.

In the midst of the global pandemic, citizens are reconsidering their methods of commute. Many are enrolling in driving schools to get their motorcycle licenses. Maxi scooters and other convenient two-wheeled rides are great too, but in the spirit of the great motorcycle adventurer, Shinji Kazama… how about getting out and about on our customized TW “adventure machine”

DIRT DAUBER /ドロバチ

車名TWの意味は、Trail Way（トレールウェイ）から由来しており、道なき道を走破する「アドベンチャーマシン」を意味している。車名、由来とは裏腹”裏原”にスカチューン、ティーダバーたる言葉が生まれたのは90s半ばバブル崩壊後だった。

バブル崩壊とは裏腹”裏原”に若者達は幅の太いタイヤが特徴のTWをこぞってカスタムオーダーし、納車まで数ヶ月待ちとなる販売店が続出。道なき道を右往左往する大人たちを横目にカスタムバイクで町を疾走していた。

ちょうどこの頃、DEUS創始者デアジェニングス、カービータックェルは日本を訪れていた。裏原には多種多様なバイクとファッションが賑わいを見せていて、DEUSと言うブランドをイメージする要素になったと語っている。とりわけTWは多かったと….
そんな時代を象徴するバイクと言っても過言では無い。

DEUS JAPAN BIKE BUILDER 添田智之曰く、チョイ乗りの足として自身が所有するとしたら間違いなくTWだ。殆どのバイクを乗ってきたが、これほどサイズ感、機能性に優れたbikeは無い。数有るYAMAHAの名車の中でも一番だ。と豪語している。時に氏はそんな事言った？とはぐらかすことがあるが…

コロナ禍の今、バイクの免許を取得しに教習所通いを始めてる人が増えている。ビックスクーターや便利な乗り物も良いが、「アドベンチャーマシン」をカスタムし試してみてはいかがですか？

冒険家、風間深志氏の様に….

Built by Tomoyuki Soeda
Photos by Toyohiro Zenita

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!