In case you’re available in the market for a light-weight, nippy and affordably priced bare, VOGE’s AC350 could possibly be simply the ticket. Andy Bell fills us in…
What’s it?
Earlier than beginning, I’m conscious that not everyone seems to be in control with the title VOGE. Briefly, VOGE was established in 2018 as a subsidiary model to Loncin, which itself started producing bikes in 1983 in Chongquing (central-southern China). The VOGE vary is aimed toward producing a extra premium-feeling bike with the next degree of efficiency utilizing the newest know-how.
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The AC350 here’s a machine I can see interesting to a large viewers of potential consumers. To start out with, its low value makes it extra inexpensive to the vast majority of the market, whether or not you might be searching for a lighter/smaller capability bike to get began on or one thing to make use of as a every day workhorse to commute to work on while not eager to forgo a good degree of high quality.
Speaking tech…
The powerplant of this mannequin is a 322cc parallel-twin which is predicated on Yamaha’s YZF-R3 sport bike and produces a bit of over 40bhp. Concerning the type of the AC, it has some classic-looking options comparable to a blacked-out body and exhaust, while additionally leaning in direction of a streetfighter presence.
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On the suspension facet of issues there’s a pair of chunky-looking USD forks up entrance with a monoshock on the rear which, regardless of not being branded, needs to be able to providing sufficient of the proper assist to the light-weight bike at solely 165kg. It has trendy LED lights with a traditional spherical headlight up entrance and a tidy, but modern-looking, rear taillight tucked neatly beneath the seat unit, with the compact indicators additionally doing their bit to not stand out till wanted.
The 7-inch color LED show panel is super-clear and specified by a style that you’d count on for a fast look, with the vitals most outstanding and like so most of the options of the bike, it doesn’t give off a ‘price range really feel’.
Cracking on…
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With two color choices (gray and yellow), I need to admit I used to be questioning if I’d go for the yellow that was provided for the take a look at ought to I purchase one for myself. Nevertheless, I really feel it nods in direction of its playful facet as I’ll come to say, and because it occurs the color did really develop on me.
Climbing aboard could be the flawed time period to make use of a lot as swinging your leg over as a result of low seat top of 780mm, that means each toes could make good contact with the ground when stationary. With out realizing the figures forward of the experience, it was clear from the beginning that this bike was mild and the burden it did have felt fairly low, which is all the time a bonus for dealing with and management, and even confidence in case you are new to bikes.
The ergonomics have been a bit of unusual to start out with. The bars felt barely too slim, and the pegs had my toes tucked a bit of additional again and better than I anticipated, while additionally placing my physique weight additional forwards than I had hoped for from a unadorned bike. The handlebar grips had a cool raised diamond sample within the rubber that added a unique degree of grip that I by no means thought was mandatory however I`ll take it. There was nothing sophisticated or clumsy with the switchgear, with all of the controls evenly spaced and super-easy to function.
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Inside the first few miles it was apparent that the engine was going to be fairly a robust level of the AC, pulling properly by way of the gears while additionally in a position to sit fortunately on the town site visitors, not needing to be ridden flat out throwing gears at it on a regular basis. The motor gave off a bulletproof feeling and I felt that I’d be pleased with it realizing it has the power to take the bike to a twin carriageway/motorway when wanted, with out feeling like you might be in the way in which, as you typically really feel when using some smaller-capacity bikes.
One thing else I’ve skilled from bikes of the same dimension and price is extreme vibration by way of the ‘bars and pegs, however there was nothing to notice right here even when pushing in direction of the upper finish of the rev vary. When cruising at 60mph in sixth gear I typically discovered myself trying to click on up one other gear as I felt sixth might warrant being a bit of taller as a result of there was extra pull available from the robust engine. The candy spot for energy occurred across the 8000rpm mark and should you preserve it there by way of the gears then it’s a rewarding expertise, taking me again to the times of using a decrease capability to its potential in all places I went.
The only brake disc arrange with twin channel at each ends was greater than sufficient to tug the bike up when asking from them to take action, regardless of what my first issues have been of solely having a single entrance disc, even from the upper speeds. Whereas the suspension did do a tremendous job (not simply contemplating the low price total), I felt an absence of assist when breaking laborious at occasions with the entrance diving greater than I’d have preferred.
VOGE have a claimed 90mpg common for the AC and whereas I didn’t take a look at this myself, I did high up the small 12.5-litre gasoline tank in the beginning of my time with the bike, after which coated fairly a couple of miles over a few hours, and will see the quoted determine being not removed from the reality as I hardly observed the extent drop whereas out and about.
Going again to the beginning of this part, I discussed the ‘playful’ nature of this bike. The extra time I spent using the AC, the extra I bought used to the slim ‘bars and footpeg place that you just don’t usually get from a extra upright machine. When out within the open and using by way of a few of my favorite twisty roads they really added to this sensation and inspired me to push on to take advantage of from every nook, utilizing all of its agility that it needed to supply.
Price a punt?
£4k for a brand-new bike? You’d be forgiven for assuming that you just wouldn’t be getting a lot on your cash, however when you’ve got any distant curiosity then I’d say that is price a glance. That is a kind of all-rounder bikes that can be utilized to navigate a busy metropolis with its low centre of gravity and total weight, or to commute on a flowing motorway with its robust motor and huge seat for consolation. I might see a possible purchaser wanting one thing inexpensive to get to work on that additionally lets them have a blast with on the way in which house.
Rivals…
In case you are searching for a commuter then sometimes (in my nook of the nation a minimum of) many of us look in direction of the 125cc market, usually as a result of licence entitlement or prices, however with a few of the extra well-liked producers pricing their new 125s nearer to the £5k mark, I do know I want to spend my cash on a motorcycle with the additional energy.
You could possibly look to the used marketplace for one thing like a 2024 KTM Duke 390 which you will decide up for a similar value, or trying barely older, the 2017-23 mannequin for between £3,000-£4,000. Sticking to the value and cc, should you nonetheless needed a brand new bike then Royal Enfield’s Hunter 350 is available in at £3979, with extra color choices however with a drop in energy at 20bhp.
The stuff that issues…
Energy: 40bhp @ 10,500rpm
Weight 165kg
Value: £3999
Contact: [email protected]
