W.T.S Guzzi

Feb 19, 2020

AKA the Westlake Tagand Special

A 'Bitsa' short for 'Bits of everything' is a term often reserved to describe a mongrel dog who could have any number of breeds in its blood line. When you take a Moto Guzzi T3, strap a Dresda Triton seat to the back, BSA cans underneath, Manx Norton fairing to the front and finish it all off, paint it in Porsche's Miami blue, a 'Bitsa' is exactly what you have.

The owner of this beautiful machine is no stranger to custom motorcycles, Roger has had more motorcycles than we have fingers and toes, all receiving the Deus treatment‚ But the affectionately named 'WTS' or Westlake Tagand Special is the pice de' resistance of his fleet.

After purchasing the donor bike from Guzzi guru, John at Motociclo, Roger brought the tired T3 to Jeremy at the House of Simple Pleasures in Sydney, describing exactly what he had in mind. And after ironing the finer details of the build Jeremy got to work, prepping the build while Roger started scouring the web sourcing parts from every inch of the globe.

Jez stripped the bike down to only the frame and motor, first step was to get the stance just perfect. Both wheels were sent to Ash's Spoked Wheels for a complete refurbish, the rear rim was upgraded to a wider unit to accommodate a larger tyre, the hubs and rims were powder-coated black and laced with stainless spokes and wrapped in classic Metzeler Lasertec rubber. The bike is supported in the rear by Matris shocks courtesy of Terry at Shock Treatment, while the forks were spruced up with all new internals, shaved outer tubes, Tarozzi brace and the triple clamps polished within an inch of their life. Lastly, Tarozzi rearsets and a set of Ace bars to put Roger in the optimum seating position for hitting well cambered corners.

With the bike now sitting levelled, the next task was to get the various body parts to work in unison. The first piece of the puzzle was the new polished alloy tank, Roger brought Jeremy a Dresda Triton seat base that he'd had in storage for the past 30 years, which was modified to fit the Guzzi's frame. The side covers were originally designed for a Triumph 'Thruxton', fitting took a little persuasion. Along with a short front fender and polished alternator cover. Finally, the gorgeous bikini fairing, taken straight from a 'Manx' Norton.

Once the bike looked the part, the performance needed to match. The carbys were upgraded to 30mm Dellorto units with alloy velocity stacks, giving the engine plenty to inhale. Roger then delivered a set of BSA Rocket Goldstar mufflers, which the guys at Hi-Tec Mufflers transformed into a 2-into-2 stainless headers system. The Guzzi was then brought into the twenty first century thanks to an electronic ignition system, Acewell speedo, and some super classy Kellerman bar-end and Atto DF indicators.

Finally the bike was stripped down one last time, brackets and fiddly bits sent off to PCS for powder coating. The motor and body work sent off to Dutchy's Motorcycle Spray Painting to work his magic. Roger chose to keep the paint simple yet sophisticated with this build, 'borrowing' the blue from the new Porsche 911 and the WTS emblem reminiscent of the A.J.S logo. The engine was blacked out and the fins and valve covers polished to a mirror finish.

While we're on the subject of paint, we'd like to thank Dutchy for all his incredible work over the past 10 years, making our dreams a reality and constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible with a spray gun. The WTS is his final job for the House of Simple Pleasures, but talk about going out with a bang!

The last piece that we're sure you haven't missed is the crocodile seat cover stitched together by Dave at Badarse Trim Co.

After re-assembling the motorcycle the result is what you see before you, a classic British styled racer with an Italian power , German sports car colours and a seat fit for Mr Dundee himself. Talk about a real Bitsa

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!