VOGE 300 RALLY (2023 - on) Review

Highlights

  • Rally-inspired styling
  • Switchable ABS
  • Impressively priced

At a glance

Owners' reliability rating: 4.3 out of 5 (4.3/5)
Annual servicing cost: £120
Power: 28 bhp
Seat height: Tall (36.2 in / 920 mm)
Weight: Low (348 lbs / 158 kg)

Prices

New £3,999
Used £3,300 - £3,800

Overall rating

Next up: Ride & brakes
3 out of 5 (3/5)

Dual sport machines are incredibly popular in the UK due not only the fact that they’re cheaper than a middleweight adventure bike, but their also easier to manage off-road, while still retaining an element of on-roading ability too. Where Honda’s CRF300 Rally is the class-leader for Rally-style trailees, it finally has some competition from Chinese brand Voge and their Rally 300.

For those of you who haven’t heard of Voge before, it’s a subsidiary of the heavyweight manufacturer, Loncin, who produce millions of bikes a year, and even play a part in the supply of certain BMW engines too. With over 30 dealers nationwide and a two-year warranty, you do get some peace of mind as well.

The Rally 300 is by no means a bad looking bike, with its tall, Dakar-esque stance. The finish isn’t amazing and the paint is not only fairly thin, but also looks like an 80s Honda Dominator in our test bike’s colour scheme. Although you get some goodies such as wrap-around handguards included, they’re incredibly flimsy and cheap, which is representative of the sub-£4k asking price. Yes, that’s a whopping £2,500 less than its closest rival, the Honda CRF300 Rally.

Voge Rally 300 off road wheelie

Although the price is incredibly reasonable it is reflected in the riding experience, with the engine being the main drawback. Not only does it feel laboured in terms of its power delivery above third gear, but on our test bike the gearbox is incredibly unpredictable, the clutch drags and it’s incredibly vibey too, to an almost un-rideable extent for any period of time above 65mph.

It's also incredibly unstable at those speeds with a weave that feels like a combination of the budget Timsun rubber with the chassis and softly-sprung suspension. It also has a large turning circle and lacks the poise to have a decent low-speed balance.

Although the Rally 300 is incredibly tall with a 920mm seat height and 280mm of ground clearance, due to the softly sprung budget suspension it doesn’t handle riding off-road particularly well either, with a sense of clumsiness and a lack of feel on dirt.

Voge Rally 300 cornering on the road

Ride quality & brakes

Next up: Engine
2 out of 5 (2/5)

Sitting at under 160kgs and being incredibly tall as well, you might expect the Rally 300 to have Supermoto-esque nimbleness about it. And it does to an extent, although it’s incredibly limited by both the amount of pitch and lack of damping from the suspension, alongside the lack of feel and feedback from those Timsum tyres.

The brakes are incredibly weak with no real bite and give a frankly awful lack of feel through the lever, while the rear brake lacks any real power too. Even with the switchable ABS turned off, it takes a big kick to get the rear to lock up.

Even though it’s dubbed as a ‘Rally’ bike, I wouldn’t want to spend more than a few hours in the saddle, as although the riding position is nice and roomy with a fair amount of wind protection from the screen, the seat feels thin, both in terms of thickness and diameter, making it incredibly uncomfortable after a few hours, without mentioning the sheer amount of vibration through the ‘bars and ‘pegs above 40mph.

Voge Rally 300 wheel spin

Engine

Next up: Reliability
2 out of 5 (2/5)

Packing 28.2bgp and 18.4lb.ft of torque the Voge’s engine seems (relatively) impressive on a spec sheet, yet it doesn’t quite translate to the riding experience. Although that 292cc single cylinder motor is smooth, it feels underpowered in the Rally’s chassis and really needs to be revving to be going. This means that constant gear changes are needed, which isn’t ideal considering the gearbox is not very positive and has a tendency to jump out of gear.

The gear shifter is in the wrong place too, sitting too close to the footpeg. I’ve only got size 7 feet, and in both enduro boots and road boats, it was uncomfortable getting underneath to shift up.

Although it will do a snip over 70mph, the motor is very vibey at anything above 45mph, and to sit at motorway speeds it’s at the very top of the rev range, which is highly frustrating if you were planning to do some slightly longer journeys.

Voge Rally 300 engine

Reliability & build quality

Next up: Value
3 out of 5 (3/5)

Taking the price into account, it feels a bit unfair to complain too much when it comes to the build quality. Sure, the paint and stickers aren’t great, the swingarm and frame look cheap and the wiring is still fairly exposed around the cockpit, but it’s actually not too offensive.

Although there have been a few issues that we’ve heard about with the higher capacity Voge models, we’re yet to see how the smaller capacity machinery will fare in terms of reliability.

Voge Rally 300 rider warning

Value vs rivals

Next up: Equipment
4 out of 5 (4/5)

In terms of value, the Voge Rally 300 excels, even with its simplistic spec. Sitting at £3,799 (or £3,999 OTR) it comes equipped with a screen, crash bars, hand guards and switchable ABS.

To put that into context, it’s £2,500 cheaper than Honda’s CRF300 Rally for a similar style of machine and spec, even though the Honda does out class the Voge in every single aspect, especially dynamically.

Alternatively, the Royal Enfield Himalayan occupies a similar spot in the market (although with more character and style and less performance) and starts at £5049.

A KTM 390 Adventure is more road biased but can handle some light off roading and is a far more grown up and better-equipped option than the Voge, not to mention the added power and excellent suspension. At £6299, it's significantly more expensive, though.

Voge Rally 300 wheelie off road

Equipment

2 out of 5 (2/5)

Voge claim that ‘less is more’ in terms of technology, and they certainly practice what they preach. On the one hand, there are a few nice touches such as the included hand guards, but they’re incredibly cheap, and of poor quality. The dash is a simple LCD design that doesn’t even show a fuel gauge, while the only riding aids or equipment come in the form of ABS.

Although it’s handy that ABS is switchable, the button and lighting on the dash isn’t the most intuitive unit that we’ve ever tested, feeling very cheap in action.

Voge Rally 300 ABS switch

Specs

Engine size 292cc
Engine type 4v single cylinder
Frame type Tubular steel
Fuel capacity 11 litres
Seat height 920mm
Bike weight 158kg
Front suspension 41mm USD forks
Rear suspension Monoshock
Front brake 265mm disc with two-piston caliper and ABS
Rear brake 220mm rear disc with single-piston caliper and ABS
Front tyre size 80/100 x 21
Rear tyre size 120/80 x 18

Mpg, costs & insurance

Average fuel consumption 88 mpg
Annual road tax £55
Annual service cost £120
New price £3,999
Used price £3,300 - £3,800
Insurance group -
How much to insure?
Warranty term Two years

Top speed & performance

Max power 28 bhp
Max torque 18.4 ft-lb
Top speed -
1/4 mile acceleration -
Tank range 185 miles

Model history & versions

Model history

2023 - New model introduced

Other versions

None

Owners' reviews for the VOGE 300 RALLY (2023 - on)

13 owners have reviewed their VOGE 300 RALLY (2023 - on) and rated it in a number of areas. Read what they have to say and what they like and dislike about the bike below.

Review your VOGE 300 RALLY (2023 - on)

Summary of owners' reviews

Overall rating: 4.6 out of 5 (4.6/5)
Ride quality & brakes: 4.2 out of 5 (4.2/5)
Engine: 4.4 out of 5 (4.4/5)
Reliability & build quality: 4.3 out of 5 (4.3/5)
Value vs rivals: 4.6 out of 5 (4.6/5)
Equipment: 4.3 out of 5 (4.3/5)
Annual servicing cost: £120
5 out of 5 Is the reviewer high? Can't believe how wrong he is.
01 October 2024 by K.O

Year: 2024

Annual servicing cost: £20

The bike is probably the most surprisingly great bike to come out recent years. Absolute bliss to drive, and my favourite after riding many 'greats' like the Ducati Desert X, Tenere700, and Honda's. The reviewer must have had a very bad day, or is very biased. Just look online to see actual user reviews. I hope he gets back to this review to change it, because although everyone's entitled to their opinion, in this case he's just downright wrong and it definitely hurts the MCN brand. Yes it's a Chinese brand, but it is absolutely propoer. In any case, this bike is the perfect balance between Enduro and Street, for people who take their adventure serious without wanting to break the bank. Lightweight, cheap, amazing, and easy to maintain. I'll pick this one over my big bulky T7 anytime.

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5

We take it on rough enduro terrains, and long adventures into the deserts and wildlands of Africa. It's perfect for this, but won't be very fast on European/American roads.

Engine 5 out of 5

Power delivery is not very strong on the road, but on rough terrain that's where this bike shines. The balance on it is unparalleled.

Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5

It's been through a lot of (mis)use; dunes, sand, water. Just be sure to grease the bearings, as they don't come greased out of the factory.

Value vs rivals 5 out of 5

Cheap to maintain.

Equipment 5 out of 5

Many customization options through (yes...) Aliexpress. Benefits of owning a Chinese bike I guess.

5 out of 5 Class of the field for small off-roaders
13 October 2023 by Matt

Year: 2023

Annual servicing cost: £100

I am not sure if the reviewer just had a bad bike or just decided it was Chinese so crap, but it's a great little bike. I would have bought this in preference to a CRF300 Rally even without the price differential. It is also cheaper, lighter, and more powerful than the RE Himalayan. So if you want a lightweight offroader, that you aren't going to worry about dropping, this is the class of the field

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5

Contrary to the review, I find it fits my 6'1 frame well. The suspension is not as wallowy as the CRF (I weigh about 85Kg and found the Honda far too soggy) and the saddle is good for most trips, but a decent cover makes a difference on longer trips The brakes are a little weak, but with these off-road things, the forks dive a lot, so stronger brakes don't help much and the last thing you want off-road are overly aggressive brakes, so they suit the bike and purpose

Engine 4 out of 5

Not going to win many traffic light GPs but it'll hold 70mph (although I wish they used the 6th gear as an overdrive to get the revs down a touch at this speed) It also pulls well for a little lump and is pretty frugal - really well suited to an off-roader

Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5

A few bits of rust on some bolts etc, and the switchgear is functional but not BMW-like, but perfectly good for a cheap bike like this

Value vs rivals 5 out of 5

The service intervals are very short, but it'll go beyond them and they are pretty cheap

Equipment 4 out of 5

It comes with better suspension than the CRF300 Rally (or better for me anyway, the CRF was way too soggy! ) racks, engine bars, etc that you don't get with the Honda either. It is also lighter and faster than the RE Himalayan and cheaper too.

Buying experience: I bought it new from Oakley Motorcycles in Maidstone, and got a small discount (but this seems to be the quoted price from many dealers) All very easy

5 out of 5 Little beauty
04 October 2023 by Black Country Custom Bikes

Year: 2023

Annual servicing cost: £200

Overly harsh review from MCN I feel but don't take my word for it go and ride one. Great little machine does everything you need for a small adventure bike great on road even better off road I had a Honda crf 250 and the voge is a better bike for me all round and is ready to take you anywhere straight out the box, ok the front brake is weak and it doesn't really like over 75mph but she handles great and is super comfortable and for under £4k otr for a brand spanker you really can't go wrong with these

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5

Really comfortable bike plenty of room brakes not great but you learn to live with it

Engine 4 out of 5

Surprised for a 300 not bad at all perfectly adequate upto 75mph

Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5
Value vs rivals 5 out of 5
Equipment 3 out of 5

Basic but less to go wrong I suppose

Buying experience: Awesome service from Jones and Alcock Stafford delivered to my door really friendly and approachable set up would definitely recommend (speak to jim)

5 out of 5 Much better than I expected it to be
13 September 2023 by Graham G

Year: 2023

Unbelievable bike. I jumped on this straight after the CRF and it was faster, more comfortable and much better suspension. Even better when I found out it was over £2000 cheaper!

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5

I’ve been on it all day today. Started to feel it about 5 hours in.

Engine 3 out of 5

It’s ok for a 300cc bike but does vibrate a lot when you go over 65mph

Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5

I’ve had it a few months. Used in wet and dry. Every this still looks and works like new.

Value vs rivals 3 out of 5

First service is early and then 3000 miles. But it’s one of a few bikes I have so probably won’t do 1000 miles a year on it.

Equipment 4 out of 5

The only thing it hasn’t got but should have is a fuel gauge.

Buying experience: I bought from In2Moto in Warrington. Great service. I will definitely go back for my next bike.

4 out of 5 Cracking small Trail Bike
12 September 2023 by ChrisfromWales

Year: 2023

Annual servicing cost: £180

Great little trail bike, reminds of an XT I used to own. For me this is a 2nd bike to go with an older BMW GS. Where I live in rural Wales the shear bulk of the big BMW can by a liability on small hilly single-tracks. A 300cc trail bike has more than enough go for these types of roads and is much easier to handle. I haven't missed the extra power of the GS at all and the ability to follow my nose down small lanes without worrying about meeting other traffic on rough sloping surfaces has added to my riding enjoyment. A smaller, lighter bike like the Voge has reinvigorated by desire to explore.

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5

The one road handling is surprising and it corners really well for a bike with a 21" front wheel. The suspension has coped well with the road riding I've done, but I've not had it off-road yet. I'd say it is harder than I was expecting, especially when compared with the some other softly sprung bikes in it's class. The tyres grip well on dry roads. In the wet I'm more circumspect with my cornering, but have had no issues so far. The brakes took a few miles to bed in, but now they work as I'd expect for a trial bike of this weight, no complaints with the stopping power.

Engine 4 out of 5

At first I thought, it was vibey, but as the miles built the engine has smoothed out nicely. After 1000 miles 60 mph on back roads is pretty smooth. Bursts up to 70 mph or more do blur the mirrors and make me think I'd be happier back down at 60. I am expecting things to smooth out further as the miles build, but back roads is where I'm staying on this bike, motorways are not the place for a 300cc trial bike anyway. Back-road riding and some gentle off-road tracks is why I bought this bike in the first place and the engine has enough torque and power to make things fun.

Reliability & build quality 3 out of 5

I've only had it a few months so can't comment yet on long term reliability. Quality is generally better than I was expecting for the price. The gearbox is slick, switchgear fine, my only niggle is that the dash is so reflective it is sometimes hard to read when the sun is overhead. For now I think 3 is a solid enough rating. Will revisit after a year of ownership.

Value vs rivals 5 out of 5

You really can't fault the value. I've only had it serviced once at the main dealer and their prices were very steep.

Equipment 4 out of 5

Rack, engine protectors, pretty good hand guards, all you really need on a trail bike. Some complain there is no fuel gauge, but I just use the trip meter as a guide as I do on bikes with an unreliable fuel gauge anyway! I do wish there were more factory aftermarket luggage options, such as pannier rails. The bike has been out over a year worldwide and you can get stuff from your favourite Chinese ecommerce site if needed. I've added a mesh seat cover an a support bar for a sat nav and have been happy with the quality of those.

Buying experience: Can't say I was impressed with my dealer (a large chain based in Wales). The service department have been helpful, but the pre-sales and after-sales experience was lacking. I paid the full asking price, but wasn't expecting anything different at £3799+OTR

5 out of 5 Outstanding value for money.
12 September 2023 by Lynton Webb

Year: 2023

It's amazing they have produced this little bike for such a low price.

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5
Engine 5 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5
Value vs rivals 5 out of 5

Cheap to service compared to Honda.

Equipment 5 out of 5
5 out of 5 Really Great bike, top marks to Voge !
12 September 2023 by Andy jackson

Year: 2023

What a great bike for not a lot of money, suspension is excellent and soaks up the bumps of the off road terrain easily and on the road gives a lovely comfortable ride ! Engine is great for general country lane use and off road, it’s not great for motorways as the bike is geared for off road use, some people fit a 15 tooth front sprocket but I like the bike as is ! Headlight is excellent, handling is light and responsive and the engine goes really well for a 300cc bike ! Really pleased with my purchase !

Ride quality & brakes 5 out of 5

Great green leaning machine and general road use, I Have just done salter fell from slaidburn to Wray on it and it was a joy to ride !

Engine 5 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 5 out of 5

Good all round build quality

Value vs rivals 5 out of 5
Equipment 5 out of 5

Comes with hand protectors, crash bars and rear rack

Buying experience: Bought from a dealer for £3800 plus otr costs

4 out of 5 Lord
12 September 2023 by Elvisburger

Year: 2023

Annual servicing cost: £200

Rides better than Honda equivalent. Nice height. Has the feel of a bigger bike. Good suspension and again feels better than Honda equivalent. Price is good . Good light weight trail bike.

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5
Engine 4 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5
Value vs rivals 4 out of 5
Equipment 4 out of 5

Comes with small rack in the back.

Buying experience: Very good Poole moto

4 out of 5
12 September 2023 by Γιάννης

Year: 2023

Very good bike!

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5
Engine 5 out of 5
Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5
Value vs rivals 5 out of 5
Equipment 5 out of 5
4 out of 5 Great little bike and amazing value
12 September 2023 by Cosmik Debriis

Year: 2023

Probably the best feature of this bike is the price. Pretty much half the price of it's nearest rival Honda CRF300 Rally and the Voge has better suspension out of the box. Those of us who've owned and regularly used the bike both on and off road are surprised at how well the bike behaves on the dirt. The KTM has the better engine but (as an owner) I'd suggest is next to useless off road so I would seriously consider what you really intend to do with the bike before you decide. It's a bit low geared and most owners either add a tooth to the front sprocket or loose a few from the rear which makes a huge difference (IMHO). The engine can be "Vibey" at higher revs but nowhere near as low as the reviewer here seems to suggest. Neither do I (or have heard any other owner complain of) any issues with the clutch which is very light and not given me any problems whatsoever. It's hard to find a weak point as you need to view the bike as a whole. So far, the suspension has coped very well indeed, the engine has coped, not overheated on the trails and nothing has dropped off. As I push it more I'm finding the brakes are adequate but could be better, I would guess some better pads would help. Likewise, depending on use, better off road tyres would be an option and one I am actively pursuing. I would suggest that it's a very balanced bike in as much as there's no obvious "thing" that lets everything else down (Like the suspension on the Honda or the off road ergonomics of the KTM). All in all, it just works for what it is.

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5

Ride quality is actually surprisingly good, better then the Honda straight out of the box. I've also found it comfortable for all day riding. It has a very natural "off road" riding position especially compared to something like the KTM which I found awful stood on the pegs. On or off road the bike is light and nimble. Tall but that's the trade off you expect to pay for decent ground clearance and "proper" wheel sizes. The brakes could best be described as adequate for the limitations of the bike, switchable ABS is nice though. My guess would be some decent aftermarket pads would help considerably and I would fully expect to find out as I can't imagine my pads lasting very long the way I treat them.

Engine 4 out of 5

So far, seems pretty bullet proof and God knows I've pushed it. There's a lot of talk about it being "buzzy" at high revs but I tend not to attempt 70mph on the road (although the bike is capable) so it's not an issue for me. The power delivery is very reasonable and quite tractable in the dirt making it quite a forgiving ride. Ideal for both novice but good enough for more experienced riders who are prepared to accept this is not a full blown Enduro bike (nor does it cost anything like as much).

Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5

Hard to evaluate on such a new bike But I've thrashed it, drowned it and pretty much pushed it to its reasonable limits and, so far, no issues. Indeed I'm mightily impressed. One thing I would say though that, I've a hunch the dealers of these bikes may be a little below the standard of some of the bigger, more established brands and my personal experience hasn't been great. I had to sort a few things out on my brand new bike that might not have slipped through the net elsewhere. For more info check out "Nathan the Postman on Youtube who has ridden one of these down to and round the Alps and, as I type, is currently riding around the Pyrenees. Brave man indeed.

Value vs rivals 4 out of 5

The OTR price of this bike is simply outstanding. There's nothing currently on the market to touch it. However there is a trade of in service intervals. I would guess most of us who are likely to "use" their bikes to their limit will likely take the first couple of services for warranty reasons then do it themselves. I should imagine the way I treat my bike would obviate any possible warranty claim anyway.

Equipment 4 out of 5

You get a lot of standard equipment you want such as rear carrier, crash bars, "Bark busters" screen, switchable ABS (rear) and decent sized footpegs, that you would have to spend quite a lot of money on as extras on the competition. It's a bit let down in other ways such as a fuel gauge where you only get a small orange (and hardly visible) petrol warning light. Can be a bit annoying if you're in the middle of nowhere. My only real complaint actually but a small price to pay for the other. advantages.

Buying experience: This is where I think the quality of the dealerships will likely vary considerably, so it may be a bit hit and miss in your area. My personal experiences were not great but that does not mean others will be the same. I would like to think Moto GB would keep an eye on such things and make sure their dealers are up to scratch. Somehow though...

5 out of 5 Love it
12 September 2023 by James

Year: 2023

Love the Voge Rally as a lightweight adventure bike that is happy to cruise the roads and motorways, taking you to and from the more interesting riding. It's not a sport bike but is light, agile and with more than enough power in the lanes and backroads. It's not a tourer but can cruise the motorway at 75mph in relative comfort. It's not an enduro bike but is good enough to take on the challenging 'off road' sections and have you grinning.

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5

Good ride quality in a variety of situations.Pretty much good to go stock however a common mod is to change the rear sprocket from 48t to 45t which is a better all round gearing and allows the bike to cruise at 75mph on the motorway

Engine 5 out of 5

Good fuelling, tractable power at low RPM off road and good consistent power through the rev range

Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5

Still early days on long term reliability but the plastics, included handguards, crash bars have all proved to hold up to multiple drops

Value vs rivals 5 out of 5

Exceptional value

Equipment 4 out of 5

It's has switchable ABS which is all you need on this type of bike and a USB socket for powering navigation.

5 out of 5 I don't think this reviewer has actually ridden a Voge Rally 300....
12 September 2023 by Voge Rally Adventures Youtube

Year: 2023

As a package- this bike is incredible. And not just for the price. Its best features are the ergonomics, the engine and the suspension. The worst features are nothing more troublesome than a lack of clock. Who bothers with fuel gauges anyway?

Ride quality & brakes 4 out of 5

12h days no problem. Biggest surprise is its road manners. Genuinely fun in the twists. Brakes are more than good enough for off road suspension. Don't be lazy with using the rear! ABS is generous enough to allow cheeky skids.

Engine 5 out of 5

Getting smoother with every passing mile and puts a big grin on my face. On stock gearing this will tractor up a brick wall.

Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5

My bike has been off-roaded from day one and is soaking up the abuse. Loctite your faring bolts or check them regularly and you'll be good to go. Paint is rubbing through from my MX boots but who cares- it's a sign it's been ridden as intended.

Value vs rivals 4 out of 5

The only downside is the insurance at the minute. Hopefully the insurers will realise what this is and will drop to similar to CRF levels.

Equipment 5 out of 5

Stock tyres last well and ride brilliantly wet or dry. A little tame for the mud-plugging this bike encourages you to do but enduro sizes mean rubber is cheap enough to have multiple sets.

Buying experience: Delivered direct to my house for free with fuel and a years tax from MotorbikesForAll.

4 out of 5 Make your own decisions - Test ride one
12 September 2023 by Rick Trengove

Version: Black

Year: 2023

Annual servicing cost: £45

I've been riding bikes for over 50 years. Up until very recently had fallen into the "biggest is best" trap. I've owned just about every big ADV except a KTM over the last 12 years trying to find the "right" machine after having to sell my LeMans that I'd owned for 37 years due to carpal tunnel issues.. I can honestly say that I've had more "fun" and "adventuring" on this bike in the week I've owned it than anything else. It's so light, I find handling excellent around the lanes and trails of West Cumbria where I live. The MCN review bears no resemblance to the bike I own. Soft suspension? I'm 16 stone and have no problems. Ever tried a stock CRF? Hand guards are included and perfectly adequate for drops. You want to see bad build quality take a look at a Pan America. - delivered new with a flat battery and tank breather blocked with glue.The last two new Triumphs I've bought had electrical faults from delivery. I've learnt my lesson. Never believe what you read in the press. The Voge just does what it's designed to do. No fuss or bother. If I was going to Morocco or the Arctic Circle again I'd take this and enjoy the "adventuring" part a lot more, than I did on my Multistrada 950 and GSA1200. They were both great bikes but they don't inspire that "wonder what's down there" urge due to worries about damage to self or bike. Suddenly life is "fun" again.

Ride quality & brakes 3 out of 5

As standard front brake is not a brembo put perfectly adequate if used with the rear. I'll probably get some sintered pads. I have no trouble with the rear unlike the MCN tester, but I've got size 12 feet not size 7 so a leverage advantage. Handling very stable and very "chuckable" especially compared with my MGX-21 and also the ST1100 I traded in.

Engine 4 out of 5

Pulls well, definitely under geared. Have a 42 tooth rear sprocket on the way so should allow slightly less buzziness and more relaxed cruising. I am totally at a loss why anyone would want to take this type of bike on a motorway so can't comment about it's performance in that respect. Absolutely no problems with gear change and I have size 12 boots. I personally find it very slick. Clutch light and smooth. 200 miles range.

Reliability & build quality 4 out of 5

Difficult to quantify this rating. Using VFM as a base line should be 5 stars. Using smiles per pound it should be an 8. Compared directly against a £27000 V4 Ducati a 2 or a 6. Depends whether having simplicity or more tech than NASA is your priority

Value vs rivals 5 out of 5

Look on MotoGB website for parts prices . Should have 1986 prices not 2023 prices on the top. These bikes have been out in Spain, Italy and other European countries for over a year. Loads of YouTube videos and no major issues that I can find.

Equipment 4 out of 5

Only items I've added phone/gps mounting bar, pannier frames to keep soft bags off the bodywork and exhaust. An AliExpress £10.00 aero seat cover worked a treat yesterday in 25. Degrees. Standard hand guards are fine for everyday use, engine bars seem solid and rear rack is useful. USB socket kept my phone fully charged using Drive Mode Dashboard all day. I find standard tyres fine good manners on the road and no problems on rocks and gravel. It's not rained since I've got the bike so can't comment on mud or wet roads

Buying experience: Bought from Dave Milling in Whitehaven. Excellent service. Bike prepped ok at least compared to my experience with the 2 new Triumphs and 1 new HD I've bought and sold in the last 5 years from "big" dealers.

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