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A BIKE OF MANY FACES

May 11, 2016

Custom bikes invariably have a story; previous owners, previous homes and previous lives that are rarely known, often untold, but ingrained indelibly in their personality. Deus ex Machina breathes life into old steel (many are new), whether it’s boring out the engine, handcrafting a custom alloy tank or even as simple as a fresh lick of paint. But the journey of the Bali Dog not only encompasses all of that, it also goes far beyond. In 2008, looking for a hobby to take his mind off of the high-pressure life of a fashion photographer, the soon-to-be director of Deus Indonesia Dustin Humphrey began tinkering in his garage. His passion for vehicles of the two-wheeled variety soon intoxicated his friends and, coming to him with a stock-built, plastic-dressed Yamaha Scorpio, his friend Steve Titus asked Dustin for a makeover worthy of a California princess. Coincidentally, around this time, Dustin joined forces with Dare Jennings and Carby Tuckwell and launched the Deus Temple of Enthusiasm in Canggu, Bali. What started as a personal project became the first bike to emerge from the bengkel of Deus Bali – and the Bali Dog was born. Based on the Deus Australia Drover’s Dog model, it stripped off the gaudy plastic and standard components replaced it with bespoke fenders, custom fittings and a bunch more class. The daily commuter became a sleek, custom bike built for the diverse Indonesian terrain and the mongrel roared to life. But, as with so many of Deus’ reinventions, this wasn’t the end of the Bali Dog’s story. Since those early days of Frankenstein creations, the Dog has been reimagined more times than can be counted, repurposed for long road trips across the archipelago, remodelled for off-road terrain and ridden in a hundred locations across the Indonesian island chain. Seats have been swapped out, bars have been replaced, tanks have been hand-built and redesigned and in each guise it has become unrecognisable from the beast it was before. But the heart of the Dog beats on. Though its disguise may have changed, it is one of the most publicised, documented and photographed creations of the international Deus stable. Short films, road trips, getting grubby on enduro or sliding a berm at the track have placed the throttle in the hands of myriad riders, each taming the Dog in their own ways, bringing their skills and styles to a bike that is anything but predictable. From Lombok to Java, the Bali Dog has marked its territory, lines in the dirt, not trickles on lamp posts, tracing its tale from north to south and featuring in the Deus cinematic library. When the fresh tyres roll from the grimy floor of the bengkel and feel tarmac beneath their treads, so a new chapter begins, a dog with nine lives and more. In its latest incarnation, the Bali Dog has adapted once more. Featured in the upcoming Deus film, Dust, the bike has been given yet another overhaul, allowing it to venture into new realms, as an off-roader for enduro and mountain trails, yet retaining road bike functionality for long days in the saddle. The Deus Temple bengkel taught the old dog new tricks, kitting it out with Duro nobbies, off-market plastic fender for durability, 21-by-1.6 rims, Suzuki TS bars and a vintage lamp and one-off seat and tank purpose built to complete the sleek and sexy, matt-black fit out. With Forrest Minchinton straddling the two-stroke, the horizons opened once more for this faithful hound, to the black-sand slopes of Batur, the diverse terrain of Lombok and innumerable spontaneous trips to Bali’s endless beaches. Faithful to its new temporary master, the Bali Dog was given another new lease on life, exploring virgin territories and tracing the words of a whole new story. The Bali Dog remains the property of its original owner, the sole stipulation for its continued use that it is ready with a purring motor and a full tank of gas whenever it returns to his hands. Until then, the Bali Dog will continue to evolve, different purposes, different riders and different adventures to pursue, but always with a canine heart. Watch out for the upcoming Deus Temple of Enthusiasm short film, 'Dust', featuring the Bali Dog and Forrest Minchinton.

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!