'Extreme' Vespa enthusiasts rev up at Indonesian festival

'Extreme' Vespa enthusiasts rev up at Indonesian festival

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Every year, Indonesians from teens and grandads, to mechanics and students, gather in eastern Java to celebrate their love of the iconic Italian Vespa scooter.

For some, it's an 'extreme' kind of love, where the vehicles are customised to resemble metallic monster bikes straight out of a Hollywood dystopia.

. Semarang, Indonesia. Reuters/Darren Whiteside
A rider wears a modified helmet and mask.

Hundreds of enthusiasts travel to the festival in Kediri to show off their creations – ranging from restored vintage Vespas to Mad Max-style tanks fitted with fake machine guns, a dozen extra tyres, or eerie stuffed toys as hood ornaments.

To enter into competitions at the festival, every customised vehicle must have a Vespa engine and most contestants try to retain the brand's iconic fairing - the curved front of the scooter.

. Kediri, Indonesia. Reuters/Darren Whiteside
A mechanic works on turning an old Vespa bike into an extreme tank.

But other embellishments are up to the owners and their budgets. While many can only afford scrap metal or reused material found at a junkyard, some others splash out.

Peded, a 43-year-old grandfather who has been modifying Vespas since the 1990s, says he likes his scooter to "tell a story".

. Semarang, Indonesia. Reuters/Darren Whiteside
Vespa enthusiasts ride their bike.

"I love decorating Vespas to the extreme, but I don't like using trash," said Peded, whose Vespa sports massive buffalo horns from the Toraja tribal land on Sulawesi island.

The three-day festival, now in its third year, is one of several held across the country. Highlights include a contest to pick the best-looking entry and dirt-track races for the speedier bikes.

. Kediri, Indonesia. Reuters/Darren Whiteside
Extreme Vespa enthusiasts drive near the site of a weekend scooter festival.

The enthusiasts attract glances and smiles from locals because of the designs of their elaborate Vespas.

As the vehicles are often unlicensed, many travel at night to avoid traffic police. Mechanical trouble is common, with some of the more ramshackle machines often breaking down.

Mostly, the gatherings are about catching up with fellow Vespa-lovers and having fun.

. Kediri, Indonesia. Reuters/Darren Whiteside
Julia attends a weekend scooter festival.

"We are independent, but we gather like a community," said Julia Ningsih, 19.

"Extreme Vespa guys, we stick together. If we have trouble on the road, they will wait and help us out until we can ride again," she added.

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Slideshow

Extreme Vespa enthusiasts drive their bike near the site of a weekend festival.
. Semarang, Indonesia. Reuters/Darren Whiteside

Extreme Vespa enthusiasts drive their bike near the site of a weekend festival.

An extreme Vespa enthusiast sits with his friends while attending a weekend scooter festival.
. Kediri, Indonesia. Reuters/Darren Whiteside

An extreme Vespa enthusiast sits with his friends while attending a weekend scooter festival.

A stuffed toy mascot is tied to the back of an extreme Vespa.
. Semarang, Indonesia. Reuters/Darren Whiteside

A stuffed toy mascot is tied to the back of an extreme Vespa.

Vespa enthusiasts watch a concert from the roof of a truck.
. Kediri, Indonesia. Reuters/Darren Whiteside

Vespa enthusiasts watch a concert from the roof of a truck.

Extreme Vespa enthusiasts drive near the site of a scooter festival.
. Kediri, Indonesia. Reuters/Darren Whiteside

Extreme Vespa enthusiasts drive near the site of a scooter festival.

An extreme Vespa enthusiast rides his bike after attending weekend festival.
. Semarang, Indonesia. Reuters/Darren Whiteside

An extreme Vespa enthusiast rides his bike after attending weekend festival.

Extreme Vespa enthusiasts ride their bike.
. Semarang, Indonesia. Reuters/Darren Whiteside

Extreme Vespa enthusiasts ride their bike.

Vespa enthusiasts take part in a Vespa-cross race.
. Kediri, Indonesia. Reuters/Darren Whiteside

Vespa enthusiasts take part in a Vespa-cross race.

A toy mascot is tied to the front of a modified Vespa.
. Semarang, Indonesia. Reuters/Darren Whiteside

A toy mascot is tied to the front of a modified Vespa.

An extreme Vespa enthusiast sits on his bike as he watches a concert.
. Kediri, Indonesia. Reuters/Darren Whiteside

An extreme Vespa enthusiast sits on his bike as he watches a concert.

Yogi Hermawan Saifullah, 28, owner of a workshop that builds extreme Vespas poses for a photograph.
. Kediri, Indonesia. Reuters/Darren Whiteside

Yogi Hermawan Saifullah, 28, owner of a workshop that builds extreme Vespas poses for a photograph.

Vespas are displayed in a Vespa club and workshop.
. Kediri, Indonesia. Reuters/Darren Whiteside

Vespas are displayed in a Vespa club and workshop.

Extreme Vespa enthusiasts sleep during a weekend scooter festival.
. Kediri, Indonesia. Reuters/Darren Whiteside

Extreme Vespa enthusiasts sleep during a weekend scooter festival.

Vespa enthusiasts dance at a music concert at a scooter festival.
. Kediri, Indonesia. Reuters/Darren Whiteside

Vespa enthusiasts dance at a music concert at a scooter festival.