Nighthawk

May 08, 2019

There's quite the twisted tale that's followed this Nighthawk since it arrived in the Isle of the Gods and finally made its way to us. The CB 650 is a bit of a rarity, with its inline four, DOHC and a shaft drive the bike was only produced from '83-85. But it's the fact that there is one at all in Indonesia is what makes it unique. Indonesia is a place where big bikes themselves are a major family asset. And for one of this vintage to survive from the early eighties is a massive chance in itself. The donor bike was purchased in Jakarta four year ago on a whim and upon receiving it in Bali, the client bought it around to the Deus Bengkel for an inspection on it and what could be done. We opened it up to have a sticky peek and we didn't like what we saw. A lot of the internals were shot so basically, he'd bought himself an expensive, big pile of Ä¶ After us, the client took it to another Bengkel to get that all important second opinion. Unfortunately for him, they too suggested a new improved use for the bike might be as a large garage paperweight or door prop. With no other option, he took it home and the new use for it was something to take up space in his shed. Wasn't until a mate of his came over and said, "let's get it going ourselves‚ that they did anything with it." Unfortunately, on the first test drive, the gearbox seized up tight only 200 m down the street. They rolled it home, pulled it apart and with nothing, not even a spring, locally available, they had to jump on the internet ordering all the parts from the US, Japan, and Europe. As the bits and bob arrived, the mate who had offered to help him get it back together, began the arduous task of building the bike up from scratch. They bought the bike back to Deus a couple of months ago. It was rolling, in fact rolling bloody well, for most of the innards in the engine and drive train were brand spanking new. Someone had attempted to style the bike with are designed subframe and seat and a few items like smaller indicators, which in fact remain to this day, however, what was really needed was a unified theme rather than the hotchpotch it currently was. Pak Arthur worked with the head of the Bengkel, Arwin to come up with a simple and clean look for the bike. The subframe was removed and reimagined. A handmade aluminium tank complete with key lock hatch covering the fuel cap. Hand-fashioned was to be a big part of the build for us with aluminium cowling, side covers, seat pan, and tail, turned aluminium pegs and even an aluminium rain shield to protect the four pod filters hooked up to the carbies were all part of the list of bits to be made. The leather seat with a small embroidered logo is in fact generous enough for two, however, if you are wanting that solo look, an aluminium tail cover, held by a rear flange and two side crews fits flush to the rear. All the electrics were tossed and done from scratch, new loom, LED rear lighting, LED headlight, and those original front indicators. The bike didn't come with an airbox, that had been removed in a previous incarnation, so we rebuilt and re-jetted the carbies for the very different airflow. While the bike was in bits we took the opportunity to clean, rebuild, replace the fittings and fixtures across the bike with stainless steel and repaint every bit needing it including a baked wrinkle black on the heads and block. The colour scheme was something that was difficult until it happened yet so obvious once it was done. With a name like Nighthawk, this bike didn't need some carnival sideshow sounding name tacked on at the end of the build. And that dark rich blue that night exudes became the perfect accompaniment for this feast of handmade aluminium parts. The client has the bike back and is loving it. And other than the occasional tweak to keep the inline four's carbies tuned, it hasn't acted up once. We are not expecting to see that bike back here anytime soon.

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!