‘Fear Factor’ in South Cipatujah

Banana village: Villagers park their motorcycles loaded with bananas. The cost of banana delivery is Rp 80,000 (US$9.40) as far as a downstream village, a nominal value incommensurate with the difficulty in transportation.Banana village: Villagers park their motorcycles loaded with bananas. 

The cost of banana delivery is Rp 80,000 (US$9.40) as far as a downstream village, a nominal value incommensurate with the difficulty in transportation. In the 1990s, anxiety prevailed in various villages in South Cipatujah, 80 kilometers from Tasikmalaya, West Java, as locals had to meet increasing daily needs. The hilly rural area and its rough terrain forced one resident of Cipangsa village, Cecep bin Saidi, to modify his motorcycle to transport his bananas to market. Strong ride: Apart from requiring its rider’s brawn, a Motor Palang is strengthened with 4 chassis supports at the rear.Strong ride: Apart from requiring its rider’s brawn, a Motor Palang is strengthened with 4 chassis supports at the rear. Since then, Cecep’s idea has inspired more than 100 villagers in the area. They have followed in Cecep’s footsteps to create extreme vehicles to facilitate their trade in agricultural produce. Now Motor Palang, as these vehicles are known, are among the most popular means of transport in South Cipatujah. A “Fear Factor” sticker seen on one of these customized motorcycles was appropriate in more ways than one. More than one Motor Palang riders has died after falling off their vehicles on the tricky terrain. Several others have suffered broken bones, but apparently this is the only means of transportation available.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/photo/view/328381