2024-on Voge DS900X review: Mid-sized adventurer ticks all the option boxes and comes in under £10k

A 270° crank gives the Voge a dash of character at idle thanks to its uneven firing order, and a blip of the throttle indicates that it’s eager to get rolling. Electronic rider aids include four power modes, Road, Sport, Rain, and Enduro, and it’s equipped with a quick shifter too. Around town in Road mode, the fly-by-wire throttle feels comfortably connected to the motor, but accelerate off a roundabout with any degree of gusto, and the traction control system abruptly curtails progress.

It seems as if the threshold is set too low, and although switching to Sport solves that issue, it only serves to introduce another. At low revs, throttle action is best described as a hair trigger, feeling decidedly snatchy and making slow speeds a twitchy process. Switching between modes can only be done at a standstill, and that can be a bitter pill to swallow as the riding environment changes.

The DS900X actually feels quite at home bagging bends, due in no small part to a well-set-up KYB shock. It’s fully adjustable, so there may have been an element of potluck on my part, but it delivers enough of a firm ride to carve out a smooth, confident line, without sacrificing the plushness required to soak up bumps.

The combination of a 21” front wheel and fairly soft USD forks robs the front end of pinpoint accuracy on anything other than a smooth surface, but the Scorpion Trail IIs are rarely short of grip (despite what the TC thinks), keeping the Voge suitably settled regardless. Give the brake lever a good squeeze, and the Brembo calipers are quick to demonstrate the 198mm of travel. Feel and feedback are good, though, making braking controllable enough so that you don’t have to visit the full range of movement every time you come to a stop.

The riding position should be more than a match for transcontinental travel. It encourages a slight forward lean, but that increases the effectiveness of the adjustable screen, and creature comforts like heated grips and a heated seat would make it a breeze at any time of year. A three-piece, quick-release, fully lined luggage set gives it plenty of load space too.

Keeping the engine busy in the upper half of the rev range makes life a whole lot better, though, and on twisty roads it’s not difficult to make smooth, enjoyable progress. That’s further enhanced by a quickshifter that lets your toes snick neatly up and down the gears, and a slipper clutch which effectively stops the rear wheel skipping under committed deceleration.

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Although it feels peppy and wants for little in terms of power, the engine does lack finesse when compared to its BMW-badged cousin. It’s vibey at the bars and footpegs, sounds a bit clattery, and is rather unrefined in general. The throttle action in Sport mode is unforgivably erratic at low revs, however, like most of these issues, it could probably be sorted with a software upgrade.

As an overall package, the Voge DS900X is as honest as the day is long; however, it’s not perfect. We have yet to hear of any reports from owners detailing specific issues; we will be sure to document any here if they do arise. The fuelling and traction control need sorting out, and it could benefit from an uplift in execution, but if your criteria is bang for your buck, then it delivers by the bucketload.

When you consider that BMW’s entry-level F900GS is £11,995, and that’s before you start adding toys, then the £9,199 DS900X starts looking like a bit of a bargain. Sure, it doesn’t have the same feeling of integration as the BMW, the motor’s not as polished, and there’s an extra 20kg to bear in mind, but those compromises could easily be justified.

If you are not smitten by the Voge package, you could also look at the Honda XL750 Transalp for £9499 and Suzuki V-strom 800DE for a little more at £10,655, for that little more refinement and recognised dealer network.

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Electrical accessories include cruise control, heated grips and seat, a dash cam, and RADAR blind spot warning. In terms of hard parts, there’s a three-piece luggage set, centre stand, and crash bars to name but a few. Like the engine, the DS900X’s 7” TFT dash has a hint of BMW about it. That’s good, because it’s easy to read and simple to navigate. Switches are backlit too, it’s just a shame that they lack a quality feel.  Fully adjustable KYB suspension keeps the big Voge in check. It’s got plenty of travel, 194mm front and 198mm rear, with a ground clearance of 190mm, just in case you fancy taking it off the beaten track.

The DS900X comes equipped with a dash cam in the front fairing that records your ride via the dedicated Voge app. There’s also a ‘shutter’ button on the right-hand switchgear so you can take stills on the go. RADAR detected blind spot warnings appear in the relevant mirror, and the cruise control reacts quickly enough to up/down adjustments for real-world riding.

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