Driven's very own John Marcar tests the New Middleweight ADV bike from Voge
REVIEW | Voge DS625X - An Adventure Bike for under £6k
It costs £5,999 +OTR
The Voge DS625X I'm currently riding to test has a price tag of £5,999 + On The Road taxes. Once you're rolling out of the showroom having signed all the necessary paperwork, you will have parted with just shy of £6,200 for a brand new twin-cylinder adventure bike that happens to have quite an impressive list of standard equipment and an especially impressive engine.
A Familiar Powertrain
A 581cc parallel twin water-cooled engine powers the DS625, and it's an impressive little unit that packs quite the punch. The DOHC four-stroke pushes out 63 BHP at 9,000 rpm and 57 Nm of torque at 5600 rpm.
The engine is impressive, but it should be because the people who built it have quite the record of engine building to date. Voge is a Chinese brand under the Loncin Motor Group. They're also known as Viper Motorcycles and Katana elsewhere in the world. What makes the Loncin Motor Group significant is that it's responsible for building engines on behalf of BMW Motorrad. To date, Lonchin has built engines for the BMW LX650, F750GS, F800GS, and F850GS, as well as the engines in the new C400X and C400GT BMW scooters.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Loncin has decided to take its engine-building expertise and broaden its horizons by building its own bikes for the global market. In the UK, they're calling themselves Voge (pronounced Vou'sch - rhyming with nose).
A Big List of Standard Kit
Despite the 'friendly' price tag, the Voge DS625X includes a very impressive list of standard features. A Rear luggage rack, switchable daytime running lights, LED lighting, a sump guard, a 12V charging port, a USB charging port, backlit switch gear and even a built-in dash camera are all included before needing to glance at an optional extra tick list. Other standard features include switchable ABS and Traction Control and live tyre pressure monitoring data displayed on a colour TFT screen.
KYB Adjustable Suspension
Beyond the parts that most would expect to see as extras, the brakes, suspension and grip hardware are equally impressive. The suspension is a fully adjustable KYB system with 41mm front forks, allowing for 174mm of travel. At the rear, a KYB multilink fully adjustable mono-shock with 181mm travel soaks up the bumps and helps keep everything in check.
Wheels and tyres
Spoked wheels give the DS625X a rugged look but are also purposeful, with a 19-inch wheel at the front and a 17-inch wheel at the rear for navigating the lumps and bumps of your favourite green lane. Wrapped around the spoked wheels are semi-knobbly Metzeler Tourance Tyres, which are more than capable of tackling mud, grass and loose gravel without compromising road comfort or performance.
Brakes
Two twin-piston Nissin calipers paired with two 298mm discs provide the stopping power on the front wheel, while a single-piston calliper and 240mm disc manage the rear.
Size and Weight
The DS625X is a reasonably large bike, sitting at 2230mm tall, 850mm wide and 1395mm long. The seat height is non-adjustable at 835mm but is surprisingly versatile. For shorter riders, it offers stable footing on the ground, yet for taller riders (such as myself at 6'1 / 186cm), I found the seat height and riding position extremely comfortable.
Road Riding
The DS625X handles road riding with ease. An adjustable front screen can be switched between a low and raised position, but at my height, neither position offered much noticeable aero protection for anything north of my shoulders.
The engine grants a pleasant, smooth power delivery with surprising poke, too. The 581cc parallel twin is very happy to be revved, and you'll be rewarded for doing so, as the power band works all the way through to the top end. The 6-speed gearbox is smooth and precise and works through a slipper clutch, which is exceptionally light through the handle. The Voge doesn't have a quick shifter system. However, clutchless shifts can be achieved by rolling on and off the throttle (if that's your style).
At times, the brakes can feel slightly underpowered on the road, but not to the point of concern - it's something you quickly adapt to. At times, the ABS and Traction Control can feel a little too safe with intervention where it's not needed or wanted, but both systems can be switched off to suit personal preferences.
There are no luxuries on the Voge, such as cruise control, heated seats or grips, but heating can be specified as an optional extra for those considering a bike for colder climates.
All in all, the Voge DS625X rides brilliantly. The bike feels like a quality bit of kit that is assembled to a very high standard. I've experienced the bike on a mixture of roads, including town centres and country lanes, and at motorway speeds; in 6th gear, the bike will happily hum along at 70MPH without fuss.
Off-Road Riding
For riders considering the Voge for some occasional off-roading, you'll be hard-pressed to find anything else as easy, capable and well-equipped for the price. Crash protection bars are fitted as standard, protecting the engine and fuel tank in the event of the bike toppling over, and for the times you need a break or to carry out any maintenance, a heavy-duty centre stand is also included on the standard kit list.
Oversized footpegs and raised handlebars enable easy riding while standing, and at 203kg (including fuel), the bike is light enough to bounce over challenging obstacles and, crucially, pick up again in the event of a fall.
When off-roading, I found that disabling the TC and ABS was essential; the systems are set up for a safe road ride, meaning power delivery and stopping power were both compromised unless the systems were turned off. A key point to note is that disabling the ABS simultaneously cuts power to both the rear and front brakes. The absence of ABS on the front wheel may take some getting used to for newer and inexperienced off-road riders.
I enjoyed a few sections of very uneven lanes without needing to adjust the compression or rebound settings on the KYB suspension. However, for those who want to set the bike up according to their personal preferences, the adjustments are easily made with a screwdriver or the ignition key.
Comparisons and Competitors
Voge has managed to produce a bike with almost no competition in the sector. The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 comes close in terms of style and design purpose, but with only a single 450cc engine and far less in the way of standard equipment, the Voge takes the prize for value despite being £550 more expensive. The DS625X also feels marginally better put together in build quality over the Himalayan.
Conclusion
The Voge DS625X is an impressive package at a very competitive price. As a further financial bonus, PCP deals are likely to resemble the rate of a posh mobile phone contract, making the Voge ideal for riders of all ages and experience levels who don't want to break the bank on a do-it-all motorcycle. I foresee plenty more Voge models becoming commonplace on UK roads soon, and rightfully so. It's a good bike at (dare I say it) an excellent price point.
Check out the full review here - https://driven.site/words/review-voge-ds625x
words by John Marcar
photography by Henry Faulkner-Smith
