The history of the Borneo Island International Big Bike Festival (BIIBBF) could be traced back to the history of biking itself in Borneo. Twenty years ago, big bikes were almost unheard of. In fact big bikes could only be seen on television and so rare that a 250 Kawasaki virago caught everyone’s notice.
Today, a 250 virago is considered an antique, as bigger bikes make their way in the market and pave their way into the BIIBBF history. Not many bikers know of how BIIBBF came to be.

Freddy Sirun, one of the original BIIBBF participants so many years ago, explained how BIIBBF started. Fourteen years ago, the Darussalam Motorcycle Association (PEMODA) was established along with other biker clubs, such as Miri Bikers Club who had already established themselves. Other clubs were not formed yet but there were individuals or groups who started to ride together.

The idea of forming an association in Borneo was not yet popular. PEMODA in its eagerness to promote biking unity travelled far and wide, to Sabah, Kuching and Pontianak. The biking bug caught on as bike enthusiasts started to ride in packs and formed their own biker clubs. Most clubs in Borneo formed did not last and faded away.

He said at that time making a trip to Kota Kinabalu was not as easy as it is today. It was all dirt roads, like some of the logging trails found in the interiors of Borneo.

As bikers from Brunei, Sabah and Sarawak met up with more frequency, a travel agent had suggested that the bikers from Brunei Sabah and Sarawak, meet once a year in a regular basis as a festival.

Hence the first BIIBBF was suggested. It wasn’t called the Borneo Island International Big Bike festival at first. It was called the Pan Borneo Rally. That was back in 1997. The Pan Pacific Borneo kicked off in Kuching, and bikers toured Sarawak, Brunei and Sabah. The Pan Borneo, which had ended in Sabah, had taken bikers two weeks over paved, dirt and gravel roads in all three states.

The Pan Borneo Rally gave birth to the idea of bikers meeting up every year rotating in each of the participating states of Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei Darussalam. After a year of contemplating and planning, biker clubs from the three states had agreed to meet each year as a tribute to the first ever Pan Borneo Rally.

In 1999, the Borneo Island Big Bike Festival was born. Three states took part – Brunei, Sabah and Sarawak. As the years roll by, word of the Borneo Island Big Bike Festival (BIBBF) started to catch on. Each state would take turns hosting the event. Eventually, Labuan joined as a member of the Bike festival.

The first state to host the BIBBF festival was Kuching, Sarawak. This was a historic moment for bikers. However, tragedy followed while returning from the success of the first ever BIBBF Festival. On the return trip home, Miri bikers, PEMODA, and Sabah bikers, met with an accident causing a pile-up of bikes ramming into each other during the convoy. There were no fatalities, the experience taught bikers a better system while riding in a convoy, for safety.

In 2005, during the 6th Borneo Island Big Bike Festival held in Brunei, there were participants from Europe and Australia and it was the biggest ever festival. Hence it was decided to add “International” to the Borneo Island Big Bike festival Franchise.

Completing the Borneo Big Bike fraternity was Kalimantan, when they had joined as host state in 2008. Kalimantan, Indonesia joined in, making the BIIBBF officially Borneo’s own International big bike festival complete, uniting the whole of Borneo through the love for biking.

For the past three years of the BIIBBF, Philippines had been sending participants to view the biggest event in Borneo. There are other countries such as Singapore, West Malaysia, and Indonesia, which have been a strong supporter of the event, and have been sending representatives throughout the years. Their support for the event has been invaluable.

In 2010, a tragedy tarnished the BIIBBF festival when a photographer was killed during a ride organised by the host. It was a solemn moment to be a biker at that point of time. Yet, the BIIBBF festival endures.

The BIIBBF festival transcends borders, creates partnerships and promotes brotherhood and solidarity between the member states. It has been an icon for how a hobby can unite countries and states through their passion and with it forges stronger ties and understanding between the states.

For 11 years now, the BIIBBF is a strong force in uniting the four states of Borneo. The Borneo Island International Big Bike Festival is not only just a festival, but it is one of the few festivals in the world, where three countries and five states unite under a common cause – their love for bikes.

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