One look at the 500AC (Advanced Classic) is enough to know that the Voge’s build quality has been taken care of. Take the headlight, for example: not only is there that special design, the LED lights also have a very special arrangement inside. The concave turn signals stand out, while the tank and saddle fit very neatly to the frame and to each other.
There is absolutely nothing to criticize about the finish, there is not even an annoying play on the levers. The dashboard is actually a TFT copy with connectivity, which must be something unique in this class. The only thing that I find less successful is the exhaust. However, the competitors present have a different opinion, so it’s just a matter of taste. In any case, the Voge certainly doesn’t sound wrong.
The 500AC features the same block as the 500DSX. As explained in that test, the Voge 500 is built in the same factory as the Honda CB500 series. The block is identical to that of Honda’s CB except for a few details (and a small difference in power figures). The 471cc parallel twin squeezes out one less with 46 hp than the CB500, but you have to be hypersensitive to notice that difference.
You could only feel it on the basis of the throttle response, because it ensures that the block of the Voge picks up a bit jerky; but otherwise I wouldn’t be able to feel the difference with the Honda counterpart with a blindfold on.
There is also a mustache on the control surface. The Japanese suspension specialist Kayaba is working hard in KYB form to build a solid reputation on the road (on the dirt their good name had long been established) and that is clearly noticeable on the 500AC. You do feel that you are not on the road with top material in terms of damping, but for a bike in this price range that is aimed at riders who still have to learn the trade, the non-adjustable upside-down does its job more than properly; just like the monoshock behind. The Voge 500AC therefore sends a nice tight and predictable light, with an extra compliment for the stability. And if we are still waving praise, there is nothing to complain about on the brakes either.
Conclusion
I’m a bit shocked when I include the price. At 6,599 euros (NL: € 7,399), the Voge is barely 250 euros cheaper than its Honda CB500 counterpart … but if I think about it for a while, I can’t say that that price is not correct, because the Voge is at exactly the same level in terms of finish and ride quality.
Pros and cons
+ Honda quality
+ Drives as it should
+ Equipment
– Throttle response
– Unknown/Unloved
– Small price difference with Honda (although justified)
Read the full test Motorcyclist June 2022†
Voge 500AC
Engine: 471cc, 4 k./cyl., liquid-cooled parallel twin
Bore x Stroke: 67 x 66.8 mm
Compression Ratio: 10.6:1
max. power: 46.2 hp @ 8,500 rpm
max. torque: 42 Nm @ 7,000 rpm
Weight: 194 kg (curb)
Seat height: 790 mm
Tank capacity: 19 l.
Colors: gray, black
Price Belgium: € 6,599
Price Netherlands: € 7,399
Text Pieter Ryckaert • Photography Jonas Roosens
#Briefly #tested #Voge #500AC #Motokicx