One month with a… Voge DS625X (Verdict)

Planning some adventures for your summer riding? There’s no shortage of bikes to choose from whether you’re headed on- or off-the-beaten-track, the ever-popular adventure class gaining a new generation of affordable, accessible machines open to those on on restricted A2 licences or perhaps recognising smaller, lighter machines are just that bit more manageable on mixed terrain. It’s certainly a diverse spectrum of bikes, ranging from the likes of the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 we’ve been living with through to the ‘enduro bike with a fairing’ KTM 390 Adventure R we tested recently, as well as new players like the eagerly anticipated BMW F 450 GS. All do variations of the same thing for around six grand, and into the thick of it comes a wave of new and impressively affordable Chinese bikes like this Voge DS625X. We were impressed with its DS900X big brother, which we lived with last winter, and this seemingly offers much of the same vibe but in a more manageable size and at an even more tempting price. We’ve got a month with it to find out how it sizes up.
Skip to: First impressions – Adventure bike right-sizing Verdict – A convincing performance

“Mid-life convert to motorcycling making up for lost time by riding as many bikes as possible to figure out his riding tastes! Rides to work on a mixed commute of moorland, motorway and city roads Monday to Friday and takes advantage of living up north to head out at the weekends into the Yorkshire Dales, Peak District and North York Moors.”

Being new to bikes means I come to them without any emotional baggage about the brands or what they represent, so I’m perhaps more open-minded than most about the influx of new Chinese names to the market. Right now any motorbike is an exciting novelty, and I have no snobbery or preconceptions!
That probably makes me the perfect target audience for brands like Voge, and others from China like CFMoto, QJMotor, Kove and many like them, all of which have tempting looking adventure bikes at the six-grand pricepoint at which this DS625X operates. I’m familiar with Voge after running a DS900X over last winter, and being impressed with its incredible standard equipment, performance and apparent quality. This is basically the same deal, but even more affordable and with a 64 horsepower 581cc twin at its heart. For those on a budget this should also help running costs in terms of fuel, maintenance and insurance, though the standard power output rules it out for younger A2 riders. As luck would have it I’m running it the same time as having a Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 on long-term loan. Given the Enfield revels in its old-school simplicity as much as the Voge celebrates its tech they might look very different bikes, but in fact they both cost the same and could, in theory, serve a similar purpose of daily commuting with the versatility to serve as a mixed-terrain tourer for longer summer trips. If that’s your aim the option to add a full set of quality metal luggage for just £699 (at the time of writing) looks a no-brainer.

Jumping from the Himalayan to the Voge it’s like moving forward a generation in motorcycle engineering. The big, bold TFT display and adjustable screen take centre stage, the ‘office’ including such novelties as a built-in dashcam, tyre pressure monitoring, snazzy back-lit controls and full LED lighting while dual front brakes and fully adjustable KYB suspension are a level up from the Enfield.
Given the relatively small capacity of the engine the DS625X feels a substantial bike as well, with a commanding riding position and stature not far off that of the 900 I rode previously. Side impact bars, tubeless wire wheels and a high-level exhaust shout ‘adventure’ but the real off-roaders will probably prefer the more off-road optimised DS800X Rally for its bigger 21-inch front wheel and longer travel. While dressed for the outdoors this DS625X feels more like a chunky all-rounder and tourer than the more back to basics Royal Enfield but pays your money and takes your choice. The DS626X makes a strong first impression, the relatively small-capacity twin firing with an impressively bassy bark and greater smoothness than I recall from the more powerful but somewhat characterless 900. On the move it feels nice and smooth as well, and impressively punchy for a heavy bike with a relatively modest 64 horsepower. A clunky, mechanical shift from the gearbox inspires confidence in the engineering, the fuelling is smoother than I remember from other Voges I’ve ridden and for the kind of mixed commute I do with its combination of desolate moorland roads, a bit of motorway and then some low-speed urban filtering first impressions are that it strikes a winning balance, with a bit more refinement than the 800 Rally. Could it be the pick of the Voge line-up? I’ve got a month to find out! Back to top

Dan says: “If you’re to ride any bike in these conditions an adventure bike is the right tool for the job”

While the weather is now looking up my loan with the DS625X coincided with some truly rotten weather, and grim trips over Saddleworth Moor from ‘my’ side in Yorkshire to Manchester in any-which-combination of fog, rain, sleet and even snow. If you’re to ride any bike in these conditions an adventure bike is the right tool for the job, and as I know from riding the DS900X through the same last year, the Voge bikes fit the bill with their combination of plush suspension, comfy seating, fog-blasting LED lights and degree of bodywork to hide behind. True, the DS625X lacks the heated grips and seat I appreciated so much on the 900 but, with the right kit, (shout out for the Merlin heated gloves I’ve been testing!) I’ve felt as comfortable as I can be. Nor have corners been cut on the important stuff like tyres, brakes and suspension, the sight of twin Nissin calipers up front, Metzler Tourance rubber and the quality KYB forks and shock (the latter with a natty remote reservoir) all helping the confidence when the conditions are sub-optimal. True, the switchable ABS and traction control are basic systems rather than the latest IMU-monitored lean-sensitive equivalents seen on the likes of the KTM 390 Adventure R I’ve also been riding. And figuring out some of the menus in the TFT screen required Googling a manual and translating some garbled ‘Chinglish’ instructions for even basics like setting the clock and trip. But the Voge still feels positively luxurious compared with the raw charms of the Himalayan, which I love but feels somewhat out-gunned against the smoother, more powerful twin of the DS625X. Worth reiterating, these two bikes sell for pretty much the same money, the aforementioned KTM and starting price for the F 450 GS also in the same ballpark. Along with many others!

Any niggles? Well, for some reason I’m struggling with the indicator switch, which never quite seems to ‘engage’ and is a distraction just when you don’t need it mid-manoeuvre on a roundabout or at a junction. As with the 900 the visor wipe on my winter gloves keeps catching the full beam switch on the left cluster as well, so for all its neat back-lighting I’d say there are some ergonomic issues with the switchgear. While there are no complaints about the way it picks up the 625X also feels a chunk heavier than its listed 206kg suggest it should be. Which is reassuring in its way, but it doesn’t feel as fun to chuck around as even the Himalayan, let alone the much lighter KTM. If you gave me motorway miles to rack up I’d be taking the Voge, though, no question.
Overall, though, another very positive experience on a Voge. Fit, finish and build quality feel over and above what you’d expect for the price, the engine feels smoother and more characterful than either the 800 or the 900 and – on the road – doesn’t give as much away in performance as you might expect from the stats. On the flipside like many Chinese brands shorter than average service intervals are an important consideration when comparing against better supported mainstream manufacturers, especially if you’re going to be racking up the miles and live a distance from your nearest dealer. Back to top