Sunday, Heading High Up The Hill! – Deus Kumpul-Kumpul Ride 2

Jun 24, 2021

It's another Sunday and there's another forty riders who converged on Deus for an eight am 'breaking of the fast' and then a ride to places unknown.

For the second Deus Kumpul-Kumpul Ride, we stuck to the format we had on the first. A select few know the coordinates and the rest put their faith in the few to not lead them astray. Misguided, I'd never say it to their face!

Full bellys and gassed tanks later we wheeled out of the carpark and hightailed it in the direction of Tabanan. We took the scenic route of course, shying away from the main road as our fanfare of fun slid through one village after another. Straight ahead at Krambitan Market, then we paralleled the Tukad Yeh Ho River roughly north until we came upon the main road.

There was no reason to linger on that diabolical and deadly asphalt ribbon that ties Denpasar to the port of Gilimanuk though. We used it only to get us safely to the other side of the bridge that spans the wide river before throwing ourselves in front of the oncoming traffic with a quick right and resumed our trajectory north but this time we seemed to also be headed sky wards.

Batu Karu, Bali’s second highest mountain, sprawled ahead of us, we navigated the bit of blacktop that wound fifteen kilometres straight up her side before doubling back. A slew of twists and turns upon little motored roads. Mind you, two years of little or no maintenance had wrought havoc on more than a couple of sections but for the most part it remains a motorcyclist’s dream.

In Dalang, we circled our long posse up around a big fork in the road, the guys and gals dismounted. A little down time to smoke kreteks and allow everyone for stretching their legs. The view back down the hill towards the coast, nothing short of spectacular from up there. It took more than several minutes to look uphill and realise that we were in the shadow of a less than salubrious chicken hatchery. A couple of the lads huddled around a troublesome two stroke doing running repairs but mostly people just sat about. The van arrived and water was distributed to the chin wag.

The call went out to saddle up and move on and we did. Our way lay upwards for another six kilometres. The trees were filling in now and the twisted road was dappled with shadows as we ambled ever upwards. At one point we climbed through a markedly cooler layer, an atmospheric thermocline, regardless of whether you wore a jacket or not you felt it. This mountain, Batu Karu, rises up to over twenty two hundred meters above sea level and just shy of a thousand we went around to the left as the road curved off and as quick as we’d come up, we went down.

You could shut off your engine if you wanted to and coast. Spinning silently through the bends and a blur of small villages. Lulled by the passing landscape and return of warmth then about seven clicks down, suddenly having to pull up for a hard right as we were gestured off onto a mountain pass. The road went from what you would call ‘twisty’ to downright ‘gnarly’. Wasn’t for long though and we popped out on the Pupuan road and a short drive to lunch.

We ate, talked and laughed a lot. We met new best friends and were reacquainted with past mates with whom we’d shared rides in the past. A perfect lunch spot perched, literally, on top of a rice field. Wonderful hosts and delicious food made for an exceptional punctuation point in our Sunday ride. As we were leaving we grabbed everyone together to pose for the obligatory group photo.

Back up the main road, we headed a few hundred meters up hill to a spread of dirt and grass we’d earmarked for the competition area, a place to hold our ‘go slow’ races. You know the drill, riders line up in smaller groups, or heats, to try to be the slowest across the carpark without letting a foot hit down. It’s the perfect anodyne sidesplitting shenanigans made more interesting after we opened the vans doors and introduced a little ice cold Bintang lubrication to the throng. Nothing too serious as to inhibit the journey back but enough to put smiles all round and unbalance one or two trying to ride at point zero, zero, zero, five kilometers an hour across the patch of dirt. After several hilarious heats we’d whittling the audience from nearly forty to the last five who were all gifted a Deus prize.

The ride back is always a funny one, isn’t it? You’re in this loose pack that’s headed on a more direct route for home. But home has multiple destinations. They are all similar but each unique. You wave to people as they peel off to the left or right on their personal routes until you are the one doing the peeling off. Coming into my carpark mid afternoon Sunday, switching off the bike I paused. I sat there a moment and without thinking, just listening to the new sound of silence from home. Neighbours dogs barked, there were bikes in the distance, always birds about and you could even hear my exhaust creak a little as it cooled down, I experienced this fabulous warm feeling of knowing that was one great ride under my belt.

Can’t wait for Deus Kumpul-Kumpul Three… it’s bound to be huge.

Photos by Didit Prasetyo Adiwibowo

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!