The Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride, Bali style.

Sep 27, 2017

Bali is a very special place to do the Distinguished Gentlemen’s Ride and there are a couple of reasons why. As you would expect, the most common form of transport here is two wheels in one, way, shape or form. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, there would have to be more custom bikes per capita here than anywhere else in the world. Wasn't long after the Temple opened it's doors that the people here took to bike modification. Like the proverbial, fish to water. It gave them a new form of self-expression that they hadn’t had before. Nothing was too over the top, nor no bike safe, as they chopped and changed what they had. The ability to individualise their rides isn’t restricted to the more common bikes. They will modify anything with two wheels. Sunday last saw a whole mess of these ladies and lads put on their dapper duds, despite the tropical weather that was in full force, and pull up at a beach side bar to register and ride in a massive pack. Sure, there was some bikes there on Sunday that wouldn’t have passed the normal DGR scrutineering in other parts of the world but hey… It’s Bali, with its inclusive laid-back approach to everything, well it was all cool and smiles from the get go. Same went for the dress code. Let’s not lose sight of the fact that shorts and a tee shirt are de rigueur here so anything up from there… It might not seem to the outside it was dapper but it did say resoundingly that they had made an effort. The carpark was spilling out into the street by the time it came to head for the hills. And by hills, I mean the Jatiluwih rice terraces. A valley set high on the side of Bali’s second highest mountain, Gunung Batukaru. The UNESCO listed area is a hell of a picturesque place with a foot in yesteryear and the other in a bludgeoning tourist industry where people are bussed in to gaze on the photogenic tiered rice fields cascading down her gentle fertile slopes. The ride out through Bali’s normal hectic traffic was a hell of a lot of fun with all of our new best friends. As we left town the traffic lessened and we were able to open up the throttles and as a long drawn out mobile mass we slung shot around slower traffic like an armed force on the assault. An hour and a half later and we were perched in a restaurant with either a water or a beer in one hand, gazing out over one of the most beautiful vistas Bali has to offer. The air is cooler in the mountains and over dressed as most of us were, welcomed. Our time up there flew as everyone took a drink and sat down to a buffet of chatting, laughing and being a part of an all encompassing bunch of blokes & babes. The spirits of this mystical island came forth and men spoke openly and freely with each other. Perhaps not about the days topics but there was a crossing of cultures and ideas. We moved slowly back to the bikes, reluctant to leave, en-masse we located our rides and saddled up There was some jostling as we all maneuverer back into our previous pack formation and then we were gone. The ride down to the coast got hotter the lower we got. The traffic denser and denser until we were wrapped around the myriad of Sunday drivers. Just as it became unbearable we arrived at our destination, the Deus Temple. The front carpark was bursting at the seams with custom bikes. The Temple backyard filled with people and their chatter as the sausages sizzled and they turned to each other and mingled. Words By Ano Photos by Harry Mark & Ano

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!