If I were looking for a lifestyle change, hanging out in Bali building custom bikes and surfboards would be near the top of my list. The guys at Deus have obviously been thinking along the same lines, because they've just set up the Deus Canggu bengkel (workshop). And this bike is one of the first fruits of their labors.
Called ‘Inari’, after the Japanese Shinto spirit of fertility and success, it’s based on a humble 1976 Honda CB 100—one of the most popular bikes in Indonesia. Virtually nothing of the original machine remains, though: the engine has almost doubled in size to 180cc, and the front and rear suspension is from a Yamaha 225. And despite the CB 100's diminutive size, she carries her Bratstyle influence well.
Yes, she's a lightweight bike, but the motorcycling environment in Bali is very different to what most of us are used to—and the local custom scene reflects that. Here, Deus is creating smaller bikes with robust suspension and simple mechanicals that don’t require a degree in electronics to fix.
According to their Bali guys, "We are currently building 'The Deus Temple of Enthusiasm' in Canggu. This 2000m2 site will be a clever combination of new and 100-year-old traditional Indonesian wooden houses, taking reference from a Kampung, or traditional Indonesian home village.
"This somewhat eclectic collection of buildings will house the showroom, art gallery, workshop facilities, photographic studio, artists studio, and even a surfboard shaping bay. Connected by a wide veranda full of tables and chairs is the Deus Cafe, where eventually Canggu locals, pro surfers and artists will rub elbows with riders gassing up on caffeine whilst out on their Bali excursions. A melting pot of ideas and ideologies, a Warung (stall) of Knowledge."
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