'Extreme' Vespa enthusiasts rev up at Indonesian festival

Extreme Vespa enthusiasts drive their bike near the site of a weekend festival for extreme Vespas in Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia, July 22, 2018. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

KEDIRI, Indonesia (Reuters) - 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 customized to resemble metallic monster bikes straight out of a Hollywood dystopia.

Extreme Vespa enthusiasts ride their bike after attending a weekend festival for extreme Vespas in Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia, July 22, 2018. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

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. (Click https://reut.rs/2PAoAGT to see a picture package of 'extreme' Vespa enthusiasts at the festival.)

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

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.

Yogi Hermawan Saifullah, 28, the owner of a workshop that builds extreme Vespas poses for a photograph while sitting on one of his tank Vespa designs at his shop in Kediri, East Java, Indonesia, August 2, 2018. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

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

"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.

Vespas are displayed in a Vespa club and workshop in Kediri, East Java, Indonesia, August 2, 2018. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

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 problems arise, with some of the more ramshackle machines often breaking down.

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

A mechanic works on turning an old Vespa bike into an extreme tank to sell at a workshop in Kediri, East Java, Indonesia, August 3, 2018. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

"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.

An extreme Vespa enthusiast rides his bike after attending weekend festival for extreme Vespas in Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia, July 22, 2018. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

(Writing by Kanupriya Kapoor; Editing by Karishma Singh and Neil Fullick)

A rider wears a modified helmet and mask while attending a weekend festival for extreme Vespas in Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia, July 22, 2018. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

Extreme Vespa enthusiasts drive near the site of a weekend scooter festival in Kediri, East Java, Indonesia, August 5, 2018. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

Extreme Vespa enthusiasts drive near the site of a weekend scooter festival in Kediri, East Java, Indonesia, August 5, 2018. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

Vespa enthusiasts dance at a music concert at a scooter festival in Kediri, East Java, Indonesia, August 4, 2018. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

Vespa enthusiasts ride their bike after attending a weekend festival for extreme Vespas in Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia, July 22, 2018. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

Vespa enthusiasts take part in a Vespa-cross race at a scooter festival in Kediri, East Java, Indonesia, August 4, 2018. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

Extreme Vespa enthusiasts drive near the site of a scooter festival in Kediri, East Java, Indonesia, August 4, 2018. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

An extreme Vespa enthusiast sits on his bike as he watches a concert at a weekend scooter festival in Kediri, East Java, Indonesia, August 4, 2018. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

A stuffed toy mascot is tied to the back of an extreme Vespa at a weekend festival for extreme Vespas in Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia, July 22, 2018. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

Vespa enthusiasts take part in a Vespa-cross race at a scooter festival in Kediri, East Java, Indonesia, August 4, 2018. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

Local girls take pictures of their friend sitting on a modified extreme Vespa while briefly visiting an extreme Vespa festival in Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia, July 21, 2018. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

Vespa enthusiasts dance to a live band at a weekend scooter festival in Kediri, East Java, Indonesia, August 4, 2018. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

Vespa enthusiasts watch a concert from the roof of a truck at a scooter weekend festival in Kediri, East Java, Indonesia, August 5, 2018. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

Extreme Vespa enthusiasts sleep during a weekend scooter festival in Kediri, East Java, Indonesia, August 4, 2018. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

Extreme Vespa enthusiast Julia Ningsih, 19, attends a weekend scooter festival in Kediri, East Java, Indonesia, August 4, 2018. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

A stuffed toy mascot is tied to the front of a modified Vespa at a weekend festival for extreme Vespas in Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia, July 22, 2018. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside