After Marlon Brando debuted his Triumph Thunderbird 6T motorcycle in 1953 bike gangster flick The Wild One, Triumph quickly became the symbol of speed, youth and the bad-boy image.

Now, more than 50 years after the movie was made, dozens of Triumph riders in Jakarta are revving up their engines to bring back the golden age of the British motorcycles in Indonesia.

In December last year, 13 Triumph riders initiated the Riders Association of Triumph (RAT) Indonesia following the establishment of an official Triumph dealership in Jakarta in February 2014.

The move makes RAT Indonesia the latest member of RAT worldwide, which has previously been established in 57 countries.

Yohana, one of initiators and the association'€™s sole female member, says the club has created a great opportunity for her to ride her Scrambler motorcycle, a modern classic 865 cc motorcycle with dual exhaust pipes, along with other Triumph riders.

'€œLast February, I took part in a RAT riding event to Pelabuhan Ratu, West Java. It took four-and-a-half hours to reach there. The Scrambler is a perfect fit for my posture and performs well on smooth, muddy and rocky roads. Design-wise, I love the bikes'€™ dual exhaust pipes, which point sharply upward,'€ she says.

Yohana, whose husband owns an Italian motorcycle showroom in Jakarta, purchased her Scrambler in 2013, but her admiration for Triumph started long before.  

'€œI had been longing to have a Triumph motorcycle since I was in junior high school. I admired James Dean and Marlon Brando,'€ she said of two late American actors who were known as Triumph enthusiasts.

'€œAnd I feel that British bikes are classier than those of the US.'€

For Aji, a 40-year-old contractor, one of the perks of joining RAT Indonesia was having the chance to befriend young riders.

'€œI feel younger,'€ he chuckles.

Aside from its iconic bikes, Triumph is also known for its racing and off-road motorcycles with edgy designs, which have grabbed the attention of youngsters.

'€œUnlike some other big-bikes clubs, RAT has younger members. Most of them are in their 40s and 30s, but we also have university students,'€ he says.

Aji, Yohana and 26 other RAT members regularly gather at Triumph'€™s authorized dealer showroom in Pejaten Barat, South Jakarta, to exchange views and tips on Triumph motorcycles and accessories.

For some RAT members, Triumph is not merely a motorcycle, but also a fashion statement. Aji loves to wear a fitted t-shirt bearing the Triumph logo, while his friend Dhafi collects Triumph black leather jackets and checked shirts.

'€œTriumph'€™s fashion items are quite casual, so I can wear them daily,'€ Aji says.

Aji, also an RAT initiator, says that RAT is aiming to recruit more riders into the club, which currently has 28 members from Jakarta.

'€œThe main hurdle in the recruitment process is that we don'€™t have data on Triumph riders in Indonesia. So, what I do is find them on the streets. I once saw someone riding a Triumph at Senayan City shopping mall. I immediately approached them and informed him about the club,'€ says Aji, who has owned a modern classic 800 cc Bonneville bike for two years.

Indra Dwi Sunda, marketing manager of PT Triumph Motor Indonesia, says RAT Indonesia will soon have bases in more cities following the company'€™s expansion.

'€œThis year, we are planning to establish five to six showrooms in Java and Bali, where our largest market can be found. And later, we may expand to other regions, such as Medan and Makassar. '€œ

'€” Photos courtesy of RAT Indonesia

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