Swede

Oct 18, 2016

Every once in a while a project comes around that gets us chomping at the bit and thats exactly what happened with ‘The Swede.’

If we start the story from the beginning it goes a little something like this. We had noticed for some time that all you needed to do was stand out on the road for half an hour to see that Canggu has the highest number of ‘custom’ bikes per capita than anywhere else in the world. Don’t get us wrong, we love custom bikes, but they have all started to blend together here, becoming very cookie cutter and run of the mill, so we decided to edge away from that part of the scene over the last couple of years. We had stared to ride more and more on the dirt, from beaches and motocross tracks to volcanic lava fields and single track trails. We had finally stumbled across our happy place, you know the one that makes you feel like you are a kid again? and that place was well and truly in the dirt. If you take a look at the last handful bikes we have created, you will see that there is more of a dirt inspired feel to them, not just taking a normal custom and sticking knobby tires on it, but full ground up builds that pay homage to the motocross bikes of old. Think 18inch wheels in the rear and 21 up front with suspension to handle as much a punishment as the Indonesian terrain could throw at them all with the aesthetic that would make it hard to pin point what era they were built in if you were shown a photo of one.

So when our friend Agi Agassi, 3 time MX2 Indonesian champion and great enduro rider, asked us to build him a bike using one of his own, we welcomed on the opportunity with arms open. The donor bike was a Husqvarna WR250, a 2 stroke enduro bike made for tight twisty trails and navigating forests at pace.

To pay tribute to the company’s Scandinavian roots, we decided to name this bike build ‘The Swede.’ We wanted to make sure the bike to kept 100% of its functionality, but longed to give it a really good Deus once-over. So for starts we rebuilt its subframe, gave it a custom seat and a hand made an alloy tank. The engine was already pretty solid from the factory floor, we just tweaked it a bit to get a little more low end torque. The exhaust was hand made and bent to allow navigation of the new subframe. We also had to fabricate up a couple of alloy radiator guards since we had removed it of all its protective plastics. Then it got stripped of everything it didn’t need…tabs, loops and anything plastic, all gone. To complete its transformation, we threw on a set of vintage style Acerbic fenders and sent it on its way to the motocross track to put it through its paces. (You’ll notice that that some of these photos and the video are not from the movie but from the aforementioned testing session at the motocross track)

As the testing on ‘The Swede’ got wrapped up it so happened, like many things do here at the Temple of Enthusiasm, to line up perfectly with the filming of the moto portion for South to Sian. So Agi joined the boys on their volcanic mission and his brand new bike, paired with his skills on it, quickly made ‘The Swede’ the star bike of the film.

Theres something about hearing the sound of a two stroke hitting its power band paired with the smell of its fumes that really sums up motorcycling in its purest form, a visceral feeling of knowing that there are controlled explosions going on underneath you, propelling you forward as you pull back that throttle. This is the feeling we got from ‘The Swede’ as it effortlessly carved lines into the side of a volcano and in moments like that, we are pretty damn pleased with ourselves!

South To Sian is now live on iTunes, click HERE to download your copy.

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!