By Ian Mathis
So, in this article we travel to Indonesia to check out some of the world’s most extreme Vespas. The extreme DIY Vespa community of Indonesia takes pride in turning the humble Vespa into a form of crazy, mobile art; the more unique, the better. So what drives this Extreme Vespa community? In the 2000s the extreme Vespa community, Vespa Ekstrimists, entered the scene. So, whether you’re building fantastical extreme Vespas, mastering your chess game, or picking up a new hobby, there’s probably a community out there ready to welcome you with open arms.
AdvertisementEvery year, Indonesians from teens and grandads, to mechanics and students, gather in eastern Java to celebrate their love of the iconic Italian Vespa scooter. Vespa enthusiasts ride their bike. Extreme Vespa enthusiasts drive near the site of a weekend scooter festival. Julia attends a weekend scooter festival. Story "Extreme Vespa guys, we stick together.
“JAF is one of the most passionate Vespa and motorcycle riders I know. He is a role model for many including myself and his positive attitude and drive is impressive. The absolute professional approach towards his travels is unique. I would literally ride to the moon and back next to him! ”Markus Andre Mayer Vespa Rider from www.la-vida-vespa
The scooter has been a signature on Indonesia’s streets since the 1970s, both manufactured and distributed in Jakarta until 2001. Though still unattainable for many, high costs have spurred creative solutions: Scavengers are transforming iron sheets, plastic bottles, metal drums, and fallen trees into modified Vespa extremes. “We construct it together, and we ride it together.”The modern Vespa culture boom started 16 years ago when large-scale events were broadcast through social media. 1 of 8 Scooterists from Indramayu, West Java, gather during the Java Scooter Rendezvous. The annual event attracts Vespa enthusiasts from across the Indonesian archipelago, including Java, Sumatra, Borneo, and Bali.
Then there are the ‘Vespa Ekstrimists’ – a renegade faction of clubs that champion mutant forms. Members of Indonesia’s Vespa Ekstrim community bend, saw and weld old Vespas into unique forms never dreamt of by Piaggio. Indonesia’s more strait-laced Vespa societies call these bikes Vespa Gembel (‘Junk Vespas’), but the builders prefer to simply call their creations ‘extreme’. The Vespa Ekstrim culture bears the hallmarks of punk, sharing its commitment to freedom – both of thought and self-expression – as well as a sense of solidarity among outsiders. He rode from his home in Bogor (about sixty kilometres from Jakarta) to hang out with his Vespa Ekstrim buddies.
