Voge debuts new 525R and 250RR
By Ben Purvis
Voge is one of a new class of Chinese brands targeting a higher bracket of the motorcycle market. Having recently launched in select European markets (such as the UK), there's a good chance that its latest new models will eventually reach the rest of Europe too.
Owned by established Chinese bike maker Loncin, a company that's had a long-standing relationship with BMW (having built both engines and complete bikes for the company), Voge has been building a model range in China for some time. While the company's initial Europe/UK offering is a single model, the 500DS adventure bike, the two additions to the range that have been unveiled at the CIMA show in China could be well suited to European markets.
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| 525R |
The first is the 525R, which will replace the 500R that's currently sold in much of Europe as well as China.
Where the current 500R, like the 500DS, has a 471 cc parallel twin that's clearly a close relative of Honda's CB500 engine, the 525R gets a capacity hike and more power. Despite the name, it isn't taken to 525 cc but to 494 cc, upping peak power from 47 hp to 53 hp.
More significant, perhaps, is the bike's weight reduction, dropping from 198 kg to 188 kg wet, and improved specifications including a new TFT colour dashboard and revised styling, including a new seat unit and tail, plus redesigned side panels either side of the radiator.
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| 250RR |
The second new Voge to debut at CIMA is the 250RR, an out and out sports model that pushes into a new market for the company. Although Voge already makes a full-faired 300RR with a similar frame and engine, it's not as serious a sports model as the 250RR.
Despite its smaller 248 cc single-cylinder engine, the 250RR makes fractionally more power than the 300RR - 29 hp at 9,750 rpm instead of 25 hp - and it's a much lighter machine with a kerb weight of only 147 kg, down from 165 kg for the 300RR. The bike's styling is also a step forward, with Italianesque looks, while the chassis is uprated to include a new aluminium swingarm and a radial-mount front brake caliper.
There's no word yet on how soon the 525R or 250RR will reach production, but the bikes have been type-approved for the Chinese market already, suggesting they're likely to start rolling off the lines sooner rather than later.
