Rufus

Nov 15, 2021

Bike customisation is about being reborn, just applied to a mechanical, mostly inert object. You start off with a complete strip down and then head down the arduous one way road of rebuilding it culminating in an altered apparition. Hopefully better, more in tune with what the requirements are. A lot of time, it’s about what the client wants.

Case in point, Rufus, as we now affectionately call this red headed step child of a 2014 Kawasaki KLX250. A bike that until now, no one really seemed to want. We first customised this bike back in 2016. Then it sort of just hung around the Temple, never quite fitting the bill of anyone’s wants, needs or requirements. It was a great bike to have because it was always there to be ridden by friends and family that blew into town asking for the use of a reliable steed. Probably why we never thought much about it.

World shutdown happened and the bike began to collect a little dust. Enter Ricardo. He was after something to move him about the island, from surf spot to surf spot and home again. Something that had a good squirt of power and could handle the lumps and bumps of the islands less than pristine infrastructure.

He wanted simplicity and refinement. Subtle and efficient. He also had a few personal requirements; a little rear rack to strap on a day’s worth of gear, discrete rear foot pegs to enable his son to ride pillion with him, a bigger rear cog to make the long rides to Uluwatu a little less punishing and tyres with more road than off in them.

To attain the desired simplicity, we dug deep during the design phase, and is often the case, simple actually translated to a slew of work. In lay terms, we needed to make a pile of perfectly fabricated handmade aluminium body parts and panels.

Standing back and taking it in, now it’s all done, the final shapes and styles of the tank, fenders, guards and side covers are more reminiscent of a bike from a different period or era. Add to that a little discrete branding atop the deep red killer paint job, and we gotta say, it’s fantastic to see this red headed step child finally have its place in the world.

Rebuilt in 2021.

Custom subframe, seat and removable rear aluminium day-pack rack.
Hand fabricated - alloy gas tank & badges, alloy side covers, alloy headlight housing, alloy fenders, alloy chain guard, alloy fork guards, alloy radiator shrouds, & alloy engine guard.
US Import FMF POWERCORE4 exhaust & header.
US Import handlebars, Biltwell hand grips & embroidered DXM Canvas covered foam bar pad.
21” TK Racing front rim, 19” TK Racing front rim, with Shinko 70/30 Track Master tyres.
LED headlight, cast rear LED stop light & bullet style indicators.
New OEM larger front and rear sprockets and chain.
Proprietary removable surf racks.
Polished engine covers and crankcase covers and polished swing arm.
Deep red paint work.

Rider: Dylan Kaczmarek
Bengkel Boys: Arwin & Koko
Photos: Didit Prasetyo Adiwibowo

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!