It’s been a while since I toured on a motorbike – 2013 to be precise. That time, me and my buddy Spiny rode down through Spain to the Mediterranean, then onwards through the Pyrenees & South of France to the Alps.
We were supposed to meet up with Lizzie and some friends for some cycling in the Alps but our Gyp the collie became ill and so sadly that didn’t happen.
Instead, Spiny and I managed a stop off in Provence to hire road bicycles and ride the fabled Mont Ventoux in classic windy and cold conditions.
I remember well the long ride back from Bourg-d’Oisans to Calais as we did it in a single day and it pissed down all the way!
The bike at the time was my trusty old Yamaha XJR1300 with so much torque and power that you could practically drive everywhere in top gear! Super reliable and steady handling, the Yam has looked after me for well over twenty years – my only complaint relates to the mighty wind blast at speed that results from the ‘naked’ (non faired) streetbike design.
But all there was in the way of electronic tech then was an early iPhone plumbed into the bikes electrical system. Still, that was far better than the previous Spanish trip in 2004 when we used a mix of paper maps and an antique hand held Magellan GPS unit.
Spin forwards to 2025 and on the Voge DS900X there’s keyless ignition, cruise control, tracking, phone mirroring, sat nav, traction control, ABS, rain, sport & enduro modes, rear radar, blind spot monitoring and even a heated seat and grips. You almost need a university degree to switch the flipping thing on!
But once the technology’s mastered, this is the bike for those like me of advancing years. Protection from the elements is great, particularly after adding a windshield extender, and the upright riding position is a boon for a bad back.
There’s plenty of power from the fairly agricultural sounding parallel twin 95hp engine although it’s not in the same league as the silky smooth warp speed grunt of the Yam.
Weight could be daunting at times but only when manhandling the bike around – once moving the handling is as sweet as anything I’ve ever ridden. To my eyes, the 21 inch skinny front wheel raised a bit of concern until I hit the first rough road. I needn’t have worried, think about going from a 26 to 29 inch wheel mountain bike – the effect is similar and confidence inspiring.
In my opinion, as far as bang for buck goes, the Voge is a fantastic modern day introduction to how far motorcycles have come in the forty odd years I’ve been riding.
Now let’s see if she can look after me on the Long Way Roond…