English Corner

Antique Motorcycle Club, United In Brotherhood

On the roaring antique motorcycles they are always together in good and bad times

Yogyakarta in the end of the year of 2003 had been raining all day, but that did not happened when I met the members of Yogyakarta antique motorcycles club. It was a clear dark saturday night in jalan Kaliurang km 7, Sorwaru last December. The chiming of the clock showing that it was ten o clock. But the street still crowded and Sugeng’s shop looks alive. I was sitting in front of Sugeng Pojok shop when I met Sugeng and R. Sudianto whom members of antique motorcycles club. Sugeng and R. Sudianto were my chatting friends in the begining I arrived to that shop. Sugeng who is a chairman of this club, said that the later the night, the more crowded and alive his pojok shop becomes. His shop is regarded as a meeting place for the members of Yogyakarta branch of antique motorcycle (MAC). He also added that the members can meet each others at almost each Saturday night, although they can also meet in other days.

The antique motorcycle club was not really a new community. There was a process to become established like now. In the cool relief of night, Sugeng tried to describe its process. His strong old hands come alive, flying to give explanation. His face become elastic, stretching with lively expressions that keep time with his narratives. According to him at the beginning, in 1989, this motorcycle lovers just met on the street. “ It began by just saying hello on the street, step by step we talked and got closer to each other,” said Sugeng who has been very keen of this hobby since 1980. Chatting and sharing with each other about their hobby are the background to form this community. In fact, this hobby  had positive respond from another antique motorcycles lovers from other cities such as Semarang, Surabaya, and Jakarta. Because of the enthusiasm, finally in 1993 The Indonesian Antique Motorcycle Club (MACI) was founded.

At eleven o’clock that night one by one other members were coming on their antique motorcycles. Of different sizes, forms, and brands that made the club look exclusive. Harley Davidson, Norton, AJS (Albert Joe Stevens), BSA (Birmingham Small Arms) are the well-known brands of the antique motorcycles, which stood in front of the shop.With friendly smile, Sugeng and R. Sudianto, who is usually called Aan, warmly welcomed their friends to  join us.  Their interaction seemed dynamic and there were no barriers between one member to another. “ The community consists of many people who have varied education levels. They also come from different family background. The poor and the have are united,” Sugeng added. Brotherhood is one thing that stands out in this club. We can see it from the activities they have already done.

Sugeng, a middle-aged man with three children, continued his explanation about their efforts to hold touring every year.  For them, touring is like the highest point to satisfy their adventurous spirit. Because of that, they will do anything to make the tour succeed. “ Selling a chicken during the touring day is an anecdote to describe our effort,” said Aan, a young man who has curly hair that touches his shoulders. On the roaring antique motorcycles  they explore Indonesia, from one city to another, from one island to another, they face a lot of obstacle likes flat tire broken a machines and help to each other “ For many ordinary people, overhauling and welding a machine are difficult to do, but for us it is a piece of cake,” with a bottle of tea and a single cigarette, Sugeng continued Aan’s story. If one of the members has some difficulties, the other members are glad to give their hand. Now all their efforts to overcome the obstacles become unforgetable memories.

They have extra-ordinary devotion to antique motorcycles. That is the reason why they can still run their motorcycles for many years even for decades. The full moon hung luminously over Kaliurang street when I got the opportunity to meet and talk to Beni K.S., another member in antique motorcycle club. For him having this kind of motorcycle as collection is like having a blood relative. This fat-sympathetic man with a black leather jacket stated that his father, uncle and brother’s hobby to collect motorcycles influences him. Beny realized that this hobby needs a sacrifice. Trying to dig up his memory, Beny told to us that he got an accident when participated a touring in Bali in 1990. This accident prevented him from participating anymore in touring for almost 2 years. But it does not made him quit getting in touch with his motorcycle. “ Sometimes my neighbours  are really amazed with my sacrifice. In rainy days the first priority is to save the antique motorcycle in garage and I put my car in front of the house,” said this visiting lecture in Indonesian Art Institute (ISI) in Yogyakarta. Aan, whose Harley Davidson WL produced in 1942, added that it may sound funny, but sometimes it really happens to antique motorcycles lovers. He told to us that sometimes he feels hard to buy a car-handle door which the costs only Rp. 75.000, but ironically, buying a tire for the motorcycle which costs Rp. 900.000 is not a big deal for him. “ Because of that sacrifice, antique motorcycles lovers are like mentally sick people” Aan roared with laughter. According to Aan, antique motorcycle lovers treat their bikes as their first wife, who must be given prime attention. They always take care their antique motorcycle with serious attention.

Collecting antique motorcycles gives some satisfaction and pride to the owner. Its limited and scarce production are the causes of their satisfaction. When I asked what they feel riding on their antique motorcycles, Beni answered, “ Becoming the only man who lives in the world is my feeling when I ride on it and stop by near the traffic light which sign its red light.”

After hearing their experience and looking closer to MAC members interaction, a big question keeps nagging in my mind : are there other activities besides touring which can unite them and break the exclusive image of this community? No wonder that there is an opinion like that because the price of that motorcycle can reach up to a hundred million Rupiahs.  But if we can see details, not all of antique motorcycles are of a high price. Some antique motorcycle likes BSA and Mattles are not too expensive, the price is approximately 20 million Rupiahs. Even the price of smaller motorcycles likes DKW and Sundap is only 8 million rupiahs.

According to Aan, with MAC they do not only develop this hobby for them-selves, but also for the society. He added that beside touring from one city to another, each year this club hold some social activities, such as blood donor, sports, even sometimes they are invited to participate in Yogyakarta Art Festivals (FKY). All that activities are some efforts to make this community get closer to the society and more down to earth. I have learned precious lessons about brotherhood from them. With touring and social activities the members are united in good and bad times.

Written by: Rias Andriati

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