Deus Swank Rally 700

Jul 03, 2019

The Deus Swank Rally of Sardinia.

The “Swank Rally 700” on a Yamaha XSR700 base is 100% Deus, and would also have the chassis radically transformed in order to face the challenging off-road track at a special test pace. The first test during the Rally of Sardinia was a success. It was ridden by our friend and olympic MTB rider Marco Aurelio Fontana, he enjoyed it so much who we had a hard time getting the bike back from him. A few weeks later we couldn’t say no to take it to the Swank Rally Wheels and Waves in Biarritz.

The first job of the customisation was therefore to significantly increase the suspension length, in addition to switching to a 19” front wheel that is more suitable for off-road use. A complete front end from the Yamaha Super Ténéré 1200 was therefore mounted: fork – complete with plates – upside down 43 mm for 190 mm of length, with softer springs and revised internal calibration to fit the lower weight of the bike, 19” wheel spokes for tubeless tires, double hydraulic “daisy” disk Ø310 mm

At the back, a new Ohlins mono-shock absorber with increased stroke was installed, along with new suspension levers that bring the rear to about 180 mm. The rear wheel is a Kineo tubeless spoke wheel, again a 17” but with a narrower channel in order to mount a 150 mm tire, more suitable for off-road than the original 180 mm. Metzeler Karoo 3 tires have been fitted.

The tank is in hand-beaten aluminum; the saddle is handmade with a new design; the front and rear fender, and trim are from the Acerbis range, made of plastic suitable for intensive off-road use. The hand guards are made from vintage plastic hand guards mounted on Acerbis aluminum supports.

An aluminum skid plate has been built by hand. The foot pegs are in metal, for off-road use. The exhaust has been replaced with a unique custom made SC, 2-in-1, entirely black; it is significantly lighter than the original, and lends a very racing feel.

Photos: Filippo Maffei, Marco Renieri, Monti Smith
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La sua prima assoluta sarebbe stata una vera gara, il Deus Swank Rally di Sardegna.
La Swank Rally 700 su base Yamaha XSR700 doveva essere dunque una Deus al 100%, ed essere radicalmente trasformata anche nella parte ciclistica per poter affrontare il fuoristrada impegnativo ad andatura di prova speciale.
Prova superata a pieni voti in terra sarda, guidata dal nostro amico e olimpionico di MTB Marco Aurelio Fontana a cui non è stato facile separarsene. Per questo non abbiamo potuto rinunciare alla presenza della Swank Rally 700 qualche settimana dopo, in occasione dello Swank Rally Wheels and Waves a Biarritz.

Il primo target della customizzazione è stato quindi aumentare sensibilmente l’escursione delle sospensioni, oltre a passare ad una ruota anteriore da 19′ più adatta all’utilizzo off-road. E’ stato quindi montato un avantreno completo proveniente dalla Yamaha Super Ténéré 1200: forcella – completa di piastre – a steli rovesciati da 43 mm per 190 mm di escursione, con molle più tenere e taratura interna rivista per accordarsi al minor peso della moto, ruota a raggi da 19′ per pneumatici tubeless, doppio disco idraulico Ø310 mm a margherita.

Al posteriore è stato istallato un nuovo monoammortizzatore Ohlins con corsa maggiorata, unitamente a nuovi leveraggi per la sospensione che portano escursione posteriore a circa 180 mm. La ruota posteriore è un cerchio Kineo tubeless a raggi, sempre da 17′ ma con canale più stretto al fine di montare un pneumatico da 150 mm, più adatto al fuoristrada rispetto all’originale da 180 mm. Sono stati montati pneumatici Metzeler Karoo 3.
Il serbatoio è in alluminio battuto a mano, la sella è realizzata a mano con disegno inedito, il parafango posteriore, anteriore e mascherina sono pezzi del catalogo Acerbis, in plastica adatta ad un uso fuoristrada intensivo. I paramani sono ricavati da paramani vintage in plastica montati su supporti Acerbis in alluminio.

È stata costruita una piastra paramotore in alluminio, realizzata a mano. Le pedane sono in metallo, per utilizzo offroad.
Lo scarico è stato sostituito con un SC custom made in esemplate unico, 2 in 1 completamente colorato in nero; risulta sensibilmente più leggero dell’originale, ed ha un timbro molto racing.

Foto: Filippo Maffei, Marco Renieri, Monti Smith

Enquire about the Deus Swank Rally 700

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!