Interview by Stephanie Moon
Varooom, rooom! Start your engines boys and girls. Our next Faces of Bali is Dirk Goetz, the owner of MalaMadre Motorcycles.
Having only discovered Bali three years ago on a ten day surf trip, he has already established himself and his brand MalaMadre Motorcycles as fixtures around town.
Passion, freedom, and a drive for authenticity are the forces behind the brand. It doesn’t take too long to figure out where his inspiration stems from.
Once you sit down with Dirk, he himself embodies just that to the core. The streamlined procession of the design, the mechanical reliability, and the tight, tailored, clean lines of his motorcycles are a reflection of this. These are some serious, mean machines!
Ocean Tribe asked what Dirk some big questions: Why Bali, why motorbikes, and why Canggu and bikes?
What inspires you?
Passion. Authenticity. Silence!
What drives your passion ?
Freedom! Freedom to do what you want to do, when you want on your own time. “The richest are not the ones who have a lot of money, but the ones who own their own time.”
Why Bali?
I traveled to Bali for the first time in 2014 to surf and it was my first time in Asia. I had just turned 41, I was looking for a change in my life: something new, undiscovered. I spent 10 days here. I was touched by the spirit of Bali the first day I arrived. I knew I’d be back. There was this energy pulling me here: the magic of that Bali magnetic force. (Four months later, after returning to Europe, on a flight from Paris to Barcelona he met Elo, who became his GF, now fiancée and Creative Director at MM. They came back to Bali, to Canggu on a surf trip on her suggestion. It was then and there they decided to change everything and move to Bali.)
What was it about Canggu?
Community. It’s a crossroads of many paths both local and foriegn. Plus it’s a great place to surf and build bikes.
How did MalaMadre begin?
I had wanted a bike to tour Bali and to get me out to the surf break points but couldn’t find the right one. After 20 years in the automotive industry, I decide to build one myself. ( He was on the suit and tie side of VW and Ford. Yes, really!) I’ve always been good with my hands, so I found this GL Pro 150. I think I paid around 10 mil for it. Four days a week in the garage with it morning and night…the rest is history.
How did you come up with the name MalaMadre (Bad Mother, for those of you who don’t know)?
Over a poker game! MalaMadre is the name of the main character in a Spanish movie called Celda 211, a relentless, bad mother fucker. Elo was the one to put it on the table.
When did the passion for custom bikes begin?
When I was a kid. I wasn’t allowed to ride motorbikes back then but I remember sneaking rides on a neighbor’s bike without my parents knowing. The thrill was amazing! MM in one word (Ok, actually two, or three)? Authentic. Passion. Reliability.
What do you think is the appeal of MM?
Authenticity and passion, maintaining that essence. We are fulfilling dreams. You have to be true to what you’re putting out there
What are your favorite bikes to customize?
The Honda CB is my favourite. With this bike, the possibilities are limitless. From the CB 50 to the 100, the 150…750.. and on. It has a clean frame, a reliable engine. Its build gives you so many options.
What’s your favorite bike?
The Triumph TR-6 Trophy 650CC from The Great Escape. My favorite bike and one of my favorite movies.
What would you like to reincarnated as?
A vampire. They live forever and have multiple lives.
Desert island hit?
R.E.M Losing My Religion
Favorite sound?
Silence!
When did you get your first tattoo any why?
18. It’s a dolphin in the sun…really! ( It’s true. He let us see it!) I can’t live life with out sun and the water. Plus, they’re really smart creatures.
How many tattoos do you have?
I’d thought I’d stop with seven, but now I have too many to count.
Name a favorite thing outside of motorbikes?
Surfing.
One thing many people might not know about you but you’re okay to share. Tell us a hidden passion?
Golf! (He has a handicap of four and he only started playing six years ago.)
Who are you heros?
People who have the capacity from nothing to create everything… People who live outside of the box.
Do you have a dream bike destination?
Anywhere in Bali!
After that? Pan-American Highway from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego.
How would your friends describe you?
Serious …hahaha…loyal.
One word to describe yourself?
Precise!
What do you believe in?
Life, love and that you do indeed manifest your destiny!
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