Voge 525DS and 525AC
Voge is one of the newer Chinese brands to reach the market in Europe, but already two of its key models are set for updates, with the launch of big bore versions of the machines in China.
The company is the high-end brand from Loncin, one of the stalwarts of the Chinese bike industry and the company that BMW chose to manufacture its single-cylinder engines and even some complete models, including the C400 scooters. As such, it is a business that understands the expectations of European customers.
At the moment, Voge sells an extensive range in some European countries, including Germany, while its UK line-up is limited to four models - the 500DS, 500DSX, 500AC and 650DSX. The first two are adventure bikes, with the 500DSX simply a more off-road biased version of the DS, while the AC is a retro-inspired roadster. Apart from the 650DSX, which has a single-cylinder engine, all use a 471cc parallel twin that's very similar in design to the Honda CB500 unit.
Now, Voge is launching a range of '525' models in China to replace the '500' models, although the number isn't quite representative of their capacity. Based on the existing twins, the engines rise to 494 cc, offering a boost in power and torque in the process.
The power increase, from 48 hp to 53 hp, is less useful in Europe than in China, as it pushes the bikes out of the 'A2' licence category that they currently inhabit, so Euro versions - as and when they're launched - are likely to be retuned to meet A2 limits.
