I know. I’ve not ridden the crf rally only the crf L which is where my comparison comes from. It’s an impressive bike and the price makes it even more impressive especially when you compare the price with the CRF L or Rally. I think I need one. 😎
@@GillyBikesthere’s quite a big difference in the L and Rally. I have a Rally and my buddy has the L, so we were able to compare. I definitely have about 100 miles more in fuel capacity. And no body really realizes the extent of wind protection you get on the Honda Rally. Not only does the windshield itself serve as a wind deflector, but the lower fairing diverts the cold air around your legs in the winter, which is a really nice aspect. But, this is also a negative aspect when it comes to the brutally hot summers that we are in right now. I don’t get the airflow that my buddy gets on his L. There are days I wish I had went with the L, but those days are never during the winter. 4:43
@@GillyBikes my buddy is always holding us up at gas stations, lol. I don’t mind, but it is a thing. And even I carry a small reserve fuel bottle on my trips to the TAT. My buddy is thinking about installing that Acerbis fuel tank on his L, the black one so it looks good, and kind of keeps the stock look, but that thing is $600. Quite expensive.
It’s not the amount of foam cushion that you have that serves as comfort, but it’s the type of foam that makes the difference. As an owner of the Honda 300 Rally I know this because the replacement seat that I installed had less foam, but is extremely more comfortable. I like the look of your bike, the color scheme, tinted windshield, and a set of headlights that match in size, all of this does a lot for the esthetics. I like the look of your bike over all more so than I do my Honda. But only time will tell how durable and long lasting your machine is. We already know what to expect from the Honda, and for that reason, I was able to adapt to the appearance of my bike in no time. Of course I did have to make the necessary modifications to meet my needs, but that’s not a problem for me because I know that I will own the bike for a very long time. I truly hope that the Voge has the reliability as the Honda. That would make it such an awesome deal. But I’m sure the price will increase in due time as well. Same goes for the Kove 450 Rally. Time will tell...
@@GillyBikes that’s awesome, like I said, I really like the look of it. While I was on the waiting list for the Honda 300, I started losing faith in getting one because my initial order got canceled, and then I couldn’t find one anywhere, so I decided to start looking for a 250l Rally. And the only one that I really wanted was the 2018 model that came in gray and black. I had red Honda’s all my life, I just wanted a different color! Lol... Then at the last minute, the day before I was leaving for a road trip from Louisiana to Missouri to go and pick up my new used 250 Rally, limited edition color, I came across a 300 in Mississippi, so I jumped on it. Lol... I sacrificed the color that I wanted for the newer machine. And they even had both the L model and the Rally, plus a 450l, and even a XR650l, so I had my choice of all those bikes and I chose the 300 Rally.
La Voge has the KLX 300 engine Loncin has been making for Kawasaki since ages. The engine is a proven one, the con is that is pretty buzzy on road. Thing easy to fix as the 1st and 2nd gear are extremely short so a change of rear sprocket will not harm for the "soft" offroad . The Voge has been sold in Argentine since years and some bikes have now 50000 km and more without reliability problems. The Honda is made in China , assembled in Vietnam, no Japanese has been harmed making it.
Great review. I fully agree with you. Here are some points with regards to what came up in the comments below which I though need a bit of clarification to help people choose. The Vogue wins hands down the value for money argument in Europe. In Australia, not so much. The Honda is made and assembled in Indonesia not China or Vietnam and they are pretty good quality but it is still a cheaper bike and not as polished as the Japanese assembed 250s it replaced. You do not need to spend allot of money on the Honda Rally to get it up to full ADV spec. It is mostly ready out of the box. I bought used YSS basic suspension for it for 300 Euros. Some hand guards rear rack which again were pretty cheap second hand off the net and you are done. The bike has done over 50000 manly on trips solo fully loaded with most of the Australian hard 4x4 trails included and the basic YSS has worked very well. Yes more expensive suspension will be better but it is not necessary. I thought long and hard between the two bikes but the Honda won me over in a few but very important areas. First the gearbox on the Honda is just right. Very low first, many times i just start in second gear. This is great off road but it has a very tall overdrive 6th gear making the bike very relaxing at 100 ks per hour and alleviating the need to swap cogs on long trips. The engine is very smooth and very economical. I use an auxiliary tank and bladders which gives me a 1000 Kilometer range which no other ADV bike has come close with out overloading it and making it very hard to handle. The instrument cluster is amazing. Very accurate with three trip meters and a very accurate computer calculating fuel consumption very well. The lack of a temp reading being the only thing missing. So in my opinion both are great bikes. if you are looking for a dual sport and do big trips occasionally it is hard to go past the Vogue value for money in Europe at least. if you wand a dedicated ADV bike that will take you literally anywhere the Honda was the better choice for me and lots of other people. The cheapest and best adventure bike i ever had. I liked it so much I bough I bought another one here in Europe to do the full TET Morocco etc even though the Vogue was very tempting.
The Voge has the KLX 300 engine Loncin has been making for Kawasaki since ages. The engine is a proven one, the con is that is pretty buzzy on road. Thing easy to fix as the 1st and 2nd gear are extremely short so a change of rear sprocket will not harm for the "soft" offroad . The Voge has been sold in Argentina since years and some bikes have now 50000 km and more without reliability problems. Plenty of Spanish guys have ridden this bike pretty hard including 3500 km tours in Morocco.A guy named Mabre has taken it in with just new tires bajas and rallies competitions including the harsh Hellas Rally in Greece. As the bike is pretty cheap with far better suspensions than the Honda, it remains some money for personal improvement. As is out of the box, the Voge is better than the Honda. The Honda is made in China , assembled in Vietnam, no Japanese has been harmed making it. And has some delicacies with the front fork and the gear selection system. But after spending 2700 USD on the suspensions Itchy Boots has made 60000 km on the Honda. The Voge costs 4700€ in France and with 1000€ more you have a pretty able bike. A Honda Rally totally prepared costs in France 10000€ (7000 the bike, and 3000 for the mods including change of the rear shock and mods of the front fork) but you can buy a Kove Rally fully legal for 10000 also. And you have very little to do, just a softer seat and luggage. The Kove is sold Euro 5, can be registered, can have insurance and you can cross any frontier in the world with its totally legal documentation. There is no match between the Honda 300 and the Kove 450 which is a total bargain. If you stay in the trails with good ability offroad but travel possibility you have the CFMoto 450 MT for 6500€, very well equipped, and nothing to do. The Chinese-Vietnamese Honda is far too expensive
I agree. The Honda is far too expensive. Double the price of the Voge Rally in the UK. I’m planning a ride from the uk over to Spain and then doing loads of off roading over the Pyrenees on my 300 Rally. Really looking forward to it. So far I’m really impressed
Good points the Vogue wins hands down the value for money argument in Europe. In Australia, not so much. Not arguing with you, just clearing some misconceptions for people that are trying to chose. The Honda is made and assembled in Indonesia not China or Vietnam and they are pretty good quality but it is still a cheaper bike and not as polished as the Japanese assembed 250s it replaced. You do not need to spend allot of money on the Honda Rally. I bought used YSS basic suspension for it for 300 Euros. Some hand guards rear rack which again were pretty cheap second hand off the net and you are done. The bike has done over 50000 manly on trips solo fully loaded with most of the Australian hard 4x4 trails included and the basic YSS has worked very well. Yes more expensive suspension will be better but it is not necessary. I thought long and hard between the two bikes but the Honda won me over in a few but very important areas. First the gearbox on the Honda is just right. Very low first, many times i just start in second gear. This is great off road but it has a very tall overdrive 6th gear making the bike very relaxing at 100 ks per hour and alleviating the need to swap cogs on long trips. The engine is very smooth and very economical. I use an auxiliary tank and bladders which gives me a 1000 Kilometer range which no other ADV bike has come close with out overloading it and making it very hard to handle. The instrument cluster is amazing. Very accurate with three trip meters and a very accurate computer calculating fuel consumption very well. The lack of a temp reading being the only thing missing. So in my opinion both are great bikes. if you are looking for a dual sport and do big trips occasionally it is hard to go past the Vogue value for money in Europe at least. if you wand a dedicated ADV bike that will take you literally anywhere the Honda was the better choice for me and lots of other people. The cheapest and best adventure bike i ever had. I liked it so much I bough I bought another one here in Europe to do the full TET Morocco etc even though the Vogue was very tempting.
@@tonyrdr7207 Very interesting post. In France the CRFL 300 is out at 6000€ plus defective suspensions in front of the competition. Some examples, all full street legal Euro 5 and none mod of the suspensions to make; Fantic 250 XEF Trail 5300€. Only 21.5 hp but it weights 104 kg dry (yes one hundred four kg, a bicycle). It's almost 100% offroad oriented enduro but can go on road. Beta Alp 4.0 with the 350cc Zontes. 140 kg, good 185 mm suspensions, 35 hp. 5800€. It's a 30-70% offroad, very able in mountain. In a more adventure destination you have for just a bit more around 6500€ the well known CF 450 MT (42 hp at the rear wheel and 150+ kmh top speed measured) and the Himalayan 450. A CF450 MT test by a good pilot th-cam.com/video/953Xzvmr4RU/w-d-xo.html
@ in Australia I got one of the first ones for about 5500 euros which is still expensive but more realistic. Payed considerably more for the European one. It depends on how you want to use it. If the milder off road trails with the very occasional hard one are the intended use then the 450s even the 650s are superior. Especially given the prices. But the tighter the trail gets on fully loaded bikes the rally, Honda or cove are far easier to ride then those bikes. My rally has replaced a fully kitted 701 desert raid to good effect and is far more useful as an adv then that bike ever was. Again given the fact I like not to shy away from the tighter trails. Now given enough stubbornness any bike will work. I used to ride a bm 1150 adv on most of those trails but the rally makes it so much easier and cheaper. The smaller ones ones you mentioned above are superior dirt bikes but not adv bikes for many reasons. The only one that could be better given my use will be the new Drz if they don’t make the same horrible mistake they made with the old one regarding the gearing .
@@tonyrdr7207 Alas, alas, alas. The new 450 DRZ has only 5 speeds...So forget the over geared 6th for the road. 2hp less (only 38 have survived) and more than 10 kg more so the weight is now around 160 kg. The price is not known but somewhere between 7 and 8000€ is announced in France, that is far too expensive compared to the competition. The weight is more than the 650 DRSE 1997, and a bunch of hp less...Sad. Beginning the 2000 the old DR 400 was already overpriced, more expensive than the 600 Bandit.
This Voge 300 ressembles totaly the well known Yamaha Tenere 250 very popular in Brazil for decades! Very reliable, economic and fun!! Confort, and well balanced! Its brillant in dirt roads,, dont sell this motorcicle never! It will be a classic very quickky!!! Especialy in times we need each penny in our pockets!
I once test rode this and really liked it. I was thinking the other day though, if budget is the main selling point, why not get a used CRF 250 from a couple of years ago 🤔
Budget is a selling point and always will be. However if you put both bikes together they are very similar. In fact the voge is better in many ways. Certainly the suspension is much better. Everyone spends money changing it on the crf and you don’t need to on the voge. It’s more comfortable and I also think it looks better. I know that’s a personal thing but I do. The fact that it’s so cheap is a bonus.
It's certainly an interesting bike. One of the worst things about the Honda is the current waiting list. Maybe this bike might reduce that waiting list a little. I wonder how long it will take for aftermarket parts, racks etc, to become available? From a price view, you do also need to consider E5 fuel, more frequent servicing and resale value. I agree it's a tougher choice than it was and there is definitely room for this bike.
It's funny because in many countries it's the opposite now. No waiting list for CRF 300 rally, they even give promo price while trying to sell 2022 model which are still here.
I certainly like the colors better on the Voge compared to the CRF300L. That shouldn't matter but it does. I like black or gray. What the market needs is a small lightweight adventure bike that's more off road oriented. The big manufacturers refuse to give us that because it would confirm that their heavy mid-sized and full-sized ADV bikes are good long range touring bikes but are not very good off road. We FINALLY got small ADV bikes but they design and market them as entry level bikes for new riders that they can upgrade to one of their proper (much more expensive) ADV bikes in a year or two. Someone should make a good lightweight 300-450 cc single with a large fuel tank (around 20 liters), a large rear rack, comfortable seat, tubeless spoke wheels and a long service interval. And yes, it needs a damned fuel gauge, Voge. That's on the minimum equipment list.
Absolutely. I’ve got the voge with other bikes. For me I couldn’t have it as my only bike. I love it, but it’s engine is not big enough for long journeys. For what it is though a great bike to play off road it’s brilliant.
@@GillyBikes - I have a G310GS and while 450 cc would probably be the sweet spot for off road and highway use, the baby GS makes 34 HP and it'll sing along at 70 MPH (110 KPH) for hours on the highway. It's a bit revved and buzzy but it doesn't seem to mind and I consider it a good compromise to keep the weight low for off road riding. It needs a much larger fuel tank than 11 liters.
@@GillyBikes - Most old guys like me are OK with a 200 mile range. That's what my G310GS will do. I think an ADV bike should have a 350+ mile range. I'm currently planning a 340 mile day ride for tomorrow. My riding buddy will stop four times for food, energy drinks, pee, etc. However, I'd like the ABILITY to ride 350 miles for the rare occasions I need the range. Mostly, I like not worrying.
I’m touring Europe as I type. The bike I’m using will do about 150 miles on a full tank. I don’t mind stopping for fuel. After 150 miles I need a leg stretch. Definitely an age thing.
I don’t think any off road tyres are good for the tarmac. They do seem to have loads of grip off road though. Has your friend had any issues with the bike in the first year?
Looks like an owl from the front. Which is good if you like owls. Personally I'd rather it looked like an owl than an insect. A lot of bikes look like insects. In some ways it is better than the CRF - suspension out the crate works better & you get bits attached already that are extras on the Honda. As for sluggish it needs to be revved, after the running in period no problem. If I was in the market for this type of bike I would almost certainly take it over the Honda...
For me, I think a used crf300l is a better bet. Have seen other tests saying that the vibrations are shocking. Plus the tiny service intervals. 8000 miles Honda. 3000 miles Voge
3000 mile service intervals isn’t bad at all. Not as good as my Honda Rally, no. But at least you’re not having to stop and work on your bike halfway through a trip like I would if I owned something like the 450l. 8000 miles is just a crazy amount of time and possible wear, and I’m not going to wait that long to change my oil anyway.
lol, made me laugh, it is geared for off road but it is going to be plenty quicker than a Hunter and plenty fast enough for what use it is intended for, and it is supposed to be high up for ground clearance, and the steering is the big front wheel, lack of weight over the front and trail type tyres, not read or watched a bad review of them so far either and reliability is reportedly good
That’s why it was a shame I could only ride it on the road. Very difficult to assess a bike like this when you’re not riding it where it was intended to be ridden. I will just have to buy one. I’ve been looking for something to do a bit of green laning and this does tick the boxes.
I think I was using the crf 300L prices. It’s amazing value either way. Cheaper than loads of 125cc bikes as well. I can’t wait to take one out on the dirty stuff.
I don't think its true you get what you pay for, this bike is better than the crf 300 , just goes to show Honda make lots of profit, + standard bike has more Gizmo's, the new Honda goldwing doesn't have fuel gage its very common to have LED bars. unsure how you can test tyre grip at 32/34 mph? anyway thanks for video these bike will only be going up in price for new ones i guess
Again my point. She would have spent thousands, changing suspension and everything else. If it was good out the box she wouldn’t have changed anything.
Absolutely. I’ve seen a few people run them on E10. They will still work but I’ve seen a few saying they seem a bit rough when you put E10 in. I might have to try it with mine and see if there is a difference.
Why would you put E10 in any small engine? I noticed a huge difference in performance when using E10 in the Tenere 700, it was sluggish. We have a number of machines with 200 - 400cc Loncin engines, and always use E5 and as we buy in quantity, it goes in the chain saws too. Never have issues in starting and again the performance is far better. Worth the extra few pence. The huge bonus with Loncin, really cheap to replace should anything go wrong. We have yet to change one however, drop the oil out and always use a quality brand and they work well. I’m about to buy the Voge Rally in addition to the Tenere World Raid, use it as a great little run about, after stripping the thing down in the workshop, grease everything and it will be good to go for many years, a low cost investment providing you give it regular maintenance. If you’re travelling across the globe, what inconvenience is it to simply do an oil change?
Comments after Essais/Test ride Front brake pretty-much non existent, back brake good; Taller than I remembered; VERY short gearing, leading to 60 kph at 6000 rpm; Vibey, like riding a 125cc; Good handling:cornering on-road; didn’t test off-road; Not for me.
Thanks for sharing your test ride. I would agree with the breaks. The gearing is set up for off road riding. I’ve seen a few make changes to that because they are mainly road riding. I bought mine as an off road bike so I’m fine with it. I can’t argue with the vibration either. Especially at high speed. I’ve got used to that though. I actually like it now. Like a free massage.
I ride a huge distance on my crf250 rally or my crf, I know the distances I can get on rough terrain or road. If I'm in extreme areas I carry 1L only as in most places you can buy fuel. In modern European countries getting fuel in any situation isn't hard to plan. I've ride in many countries that have remote areas. Don't worry about the fuel accessibility.
I think irrelevant is going too far. It’s a guide that is missing. I would always want a gauge. When hot and tired in the middle of nowhere, it’s needed. You are not working out your mpg. And like you I have travelled far and wide.
@@GillyBikes In fairness 8000 mile service intervals are imho silly. I always swap out my oil every.600 miles . It holds abt 1.3ltr . its sensible on a small engine .
I don’t think they are. They are very new to the uk. I ended up buying one. As good as, if not better than Honda’s crf 300. The bonus is they are a few thousand cheaper as well. Hopefully they will bring them to the USA soon.
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This is a direct competitor to the CRF 300 Rally, not the L version, just to make things clear.
I know. I’ve not ridden the crf rally only the crf L which is where my comparison comes from. It’s an impressive bike and the price makes it even more impressive especially when you compare the price with the CRF L or Rally. I think I need one. 😎
@@GillyBikesthere’s quite a big difference in the L and Rally. I have a Rally and my buddy has the L, so we were able to compare. I definitely have about 100 miles more in fuel capacity. And no body really realizes the extent of wind protection you get on the Honda Rally. Not only does the windshield itself serve as a wind deflector, but the lower fairing diverts the cold air around your legs in the winter, which is a really nice aspect. But, this is also a negative aspect when it comes to the brutally hot summers that we are in right now. I don’t get the airflow that my buddy gets on his L. There are days I wish I had went with the L, but those days are never during the winter. 4:43
100 miles more in fuel is impressive.
@@GillyBikes my buddy is always holding us up at gas stations, lol. I don’t mind, but it is a thing. And even I carry a small reserve fuel bottle on my trips to the TAT. My buddy is thinking about installing that Acerbis fuel tank on his L, the black one so it looks good, and kind of keeps the stock look, but that thing is $600. Quite expensive.
It’s not the amount of foam cushion that you have that serves as comfort, but it’s the type of foam that makes the difference. As an owner of the Honda 300 Rally I know this because the replacement seat that I installed had less foam, but is extremely more comfortable. I like the look of your bike, the color scheme, tinted windshield, and a set of headlights that match in size, all of this does a lot for the esthetics. I like the look of your bike over all more so than I do my Honda. But only time will tell how durable and long lasting your machine is. We already know what to expect from the Honda, and for that reason, I was able to adapt to the appearance of my bike in no time. Of course I did have to make the necessary modifications to meet my needs, but that’s not a problem for me because I know that I will own the bike for a very long time. I truly hope that the Voge has the reliability as the Honda. That would make it such an awesome deal. But I’m sure the price will increase in due time as well. Same goes for the Kove 450 Rally. Time will tell...
Absolutely. The Honda is a tried and tested bike. I would have got one had this not come over to the uk. So far so good though.
@@GillyBikes that’s awesome, like I said, I really like the look of it. While I was on the waiting list for the Honda 300, I started losing faith in getting one because my initial order got canceled, and then I couldn’t find one anywhere, so I decided to start looking for a 250l Rally. And the only one that I really wanted was the 2018 model that came in gray and black. I had red Honda’s all my life, I just wanted a different color! Lol... Then at the last minute, the day before I was leaving for a road trip from Louisiana to Missouri to go and pick up my new used 250 Rally, limited edition color, I came across a 300 in Mississippi, so I jumped on it. Lol... I sacrificed the color that I wanted for the newer machine. And they even had both the L model and the Rally, plus a 450l, and even a XR650l, so I had my choice of all those bikes and I chose the 300 Rally.
La Voge has the KLX 300 engine Loncin has been making for Kawasaki since ages. The engine is a proven one, the con is that is pretty buzzy on road. Thing easy to fix as the 1st and 2nd gear are extremely short so a change of rear sprocket will not harm for the "soft" offroad . The Voge has been sold in Argentine since years and some bikes have now 50000 km and more without reliability problems.
The Honda is made in China , assembled in Vietnam, no Japanese has been harmed making it.
My Xr 250 still put a massive grin on m face and thats only got 20 odd bhp . its all abt how it delivers its power and the XR is brilliant at that .
Good review thanks - it would be good if you got a chance to take it round Cowm Quarry before it goes back 👍
I’m planning some proper off road tracks. Hopefully gets some videos out soon.
The engine is based on the Kawasaki KLX300
Great review. I fully agree with you. Here are some points with regards to what came up in the comments below which I though need a bit of clarification to help people choose. The Vogue wins hands down the value for money argument in Europe. In Australia, not so much. The Honda is made and assembled in Indonesia not China or Vietnam and they are pretty good quality but it is still a cheaper bike and not as polished as the Japanese assembed 250s it replaced. You do not need to spend allot of money on the Honda Rally to get it up to full ADV spec. It is mostly ready out of the box. I bought used YSS basic suspension for it for 300 Euros. Some hand guards rear rack which again were pretty cheap second hand off the net and you are done. The bike has done over 50000 manly on trips solo fully loaded with most of the Australian hard 4x4 trails included and the basic YSS has worked very well. Yes more expensive suspension will be better but it is not necessary. I thought long and hard between the two bikes but the Honda won me over in a few but very important areas. First the gearbox on the Honda is just right. Very low first, many times i just start in second gear. This is great off road but it has a very tall overdrive 6th gear making the bike very relaxing at 100 ks per hour and alleviating the need to swap cogs on long trips. The engine is very smooth and very economical. I use an auxiliary tank and bladders which gives me a 1000 Kilometer range which no other ADV bike has come close with out overloading it and making it very hard to handle.
The instrument cluster is amazing. Very accurate with three trip meters and a very accurate computer calculating fuel consumption very well. The lack of a temp reading being the only thing missing. So in my opinion both are great bikes. if you are looking for a dual sport and do big trips occasionally it is hard to go past the Vogue value for money in Europe at least. if you wand a dedicated ADV bike that will take you literally anywhere the Honda was the better choice for me and lots of other people. The cheapest and best adventure bike i ever had. I liked it so much I bough I bought another one here in Europe to do the full TET Morocco etc even though the Vogue was very tempting.
The Voge has the KLX 300 engine Loncin has been making for Kawasaki since ages. The engine is a proven one, the con is that is pretty buzzy on road. Thing easy to fix as the 1st and 2nd gear are extremely short so a change of rear sprocket will not harm for the "soft" offroad . The Voge has been sold in Argentina since years and some bikes have now 50000 km and more without reliability problems. Plenty of Spanish guys have ridden this bike pretty hard including 3500 km tours in Morocco.A guy named Mabre has taken it in with just new tires bajas and rallies competitions including the harsh Hellas Rally in Greece.
As the bike is pretty cheap with far better suspensions than the Honda, it remains some money for personal improvement. As is out of the box, the Voge is better than the Honda.
The Honda is made in China , assembled in Vietnam, no Japanese has been harmed making it. And has some delicacies with the front fork and the gear selection system. But after spending 2700 USD on the suspensions Itchy Boots has made 60000 km on the Honda.
The Voge costs 4700€ in France and with 1000€ more you have a pretty able bike.
A Honda Rally totally prepared costs in France 10000€ (7000 the bike, and 3000 for the mods including change of the rear shock and mods of the front fork) but you can buy a Kove Rally fully legal for 10000 also. And you have very little to do, just a softer seat and luggage. The Kove is sold Euro 5, can be registered, can have insurance and you can cross any frontier in the world with its totally legal documentation. There is no match between the Honda 300 and the Kove 450 which is a total bargain.
If you stay in the trails with good ability offroad but travel possibility you have the CFMoto 450 MT for 6500€, very well equipped, and nothing to do.
The Chinese-Vietnamese Honda is far too expensive
I agree. The Honda is far too expensive. Double the price of the Voge Rally in the UK. I’m planning a ride from the uk over to Spain and then doing loads of off roading over the Pyrenees on my 300 Rally. Really looking forward to it. So far I’m really impressed
Good points the Vogue wins hands down the value for money argument in Europe. In Australia, not so much. Not arguing with you, just clearing some misconceptions for people that are trying to chose. The Honda is made and assembled in Indonesia not China or Vietnam and they are pretty good quality but it is still a cheaper bike and not as polished as the Japanese assembed 250s it replaced. You do not need to spend allot of money on the Honda Rally. I bought used YSS basic suspension for it for 300 Euros. Some hand guards rear rack which again were pretty cheap second hand off the net and you are done. The bike has done over 50000 manly on trips solo fully loaded with most of the Australian hard 4x4 trails included and the basic YSS has worked very well. Yes more expensive suspension will be better but it is not necessary. I thought long and hard between the two bikes but the Honda won me over in a few but very important areas. First the gearbox on the Honda is just right. Very low first, many times i just start in second gear. This is great off road but it has a very tall overdrive 6th gear making the bike very relaxing at 100 ks per hour and alleviating the need to swap cogs on long trips. The engine is very smooth and very economical. I use an auxiliary tank and bladders which gives me a 1000 Kilometer range which no other ADV bike has come close with out overloading it and making it very hard to handle.
The instrument cluster is amazing. Very accurate with three trip meters and a very accurate computer calculating fuel consumption very well. The lack of a temp reading being the only thing missing. So in my opinion both are great bikes. if you are looking for a dual sport and do big trips occasionally it is hard to go past the Vogue value for money in Europe at least. if you wand a dedicated ADV bike that will take you literally anywhere the Honda was the better choice for me and lots of other people. The cheapest and best adventure bike i ever had. I liked it so much I bough I bought another one here in Europe to do the full TET Morocco etc even though the Vogue was very tempting.
@@tonyrdr7207 Very interesting post. In France the CRFL 300 is out at 6000€ plus defective suspensions in front of the competition.
Some examples, all full street legal Euro 5 and none mod of the suspensions to make;
Fantic 250 XEF Trail 5300€. Only 21.5 hp but it weights 104 kg dry (yes one hundred four kg, a bicycle). It's almost 100% offroad oriented enduro but can go on road.
Beta Alp 4.0 with the 350cc Zontes. 140 kg, good 185 mm suspensions, 35 hp. 5800€. It's a 30-70% offroad, very able in mountain.
In a more adventure destination you have for just a bit more around 6500€ the well known CF 450 MT (42 hp at the rear wheel and 150+ kmh top speed measured) and the Himalayan 450.
A CF450 MT test by a good pilot th-cam.com/video/953Xzvmr4RU/w-d-xo.html
@ in Australia I got one of the first ones for about 5500 euros which is still expensive but more realistic. Payed considerably more for the European one. It depends on how you want to use it. If the milder off road trails with the very occasional hard one are the intended use then the 450s even the 650s are superior. Especially given the prices. But the tighter the trail gets on fully loaded bikes the rally, Honda or cove are far easier to ride then those bikes. My rally has replaced a fully kitted 701 desert raid to good effect and is far more useful as an adv then that bike ever was. Again given the fact I like not to shy away from the tighter trails. Now given enough stubbornness any bike will work. I used to ride a bm 1150 adv on most of those trails but the rally makes it so much easier and cheaper. The smaller ones ones you mentioned above are superior dirt bikes but not adv bikes for many reasons. The only one that could be better given my use will be the new Drz if they don’t make the same horrible mistake they made with the old one regarding the gearing
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@@tonyrdr7207 Alas, alas, alas. The new 450 DRZ has only 5 speeds...So forget the over geared 6th for the road. 2hp less (only 38 have survived) and more than 10 kg more so the weight is now around 160 kg. The price is not known but somewhere between 7 and 8000€ is announced in France, that is far too expensive compared to the competition.
The weight is more than the 650 DRSE 1997, and a bunch of hp less...Sad.
Beginning the 2000 the old DR 400 was already overpriced, more expensive than the 600 Bandit.
Every bike I've had with lowish miles improves engine performance with miles. Run it in properly and youll be good 👍
I’m loving it so far.
This Voge 300 ressembles totaly the well known Yamaha Tenere 250 very popular in Brazil for decades! Very reliable, economic and fun!! Confort, and well balanced! Its brillant in dirt roads,, dont sell this motorcicle never! It will be a classic very quickky!!! Especialy in times we need each penny in our pockets!
It’s one I’m going to keep forever I think. My off road play thing 👍
I once test rode this and really liked it. I was thinking the other day though, if budget is the main selling point, why not get a used CRF 250 from a couple of years ago 🤔
Budget is a selling point and always will be. However if you put both bikes together they are very similar. In fact the voge is better in many ways. Certainly the suspension is much better. Everyone spends money changing it on the crf and you don’t need to on the voge. It’s more comfortable and I also think it looks better. I know that’s a personal thing but I do. The fact that it’s so cheap is a bonus.
Never had used bike......
Plus who doesn’t love that new bike feeling……
It’s my favourite. I try to get a new bike every year for that reason 👍
It's certainly an interesting bike. One of the worst things about the Honda is the current waiting list. Maybe this bike might reduce that waiting list a little. I wonder how long it will take for aftermarket parts, racks etc, to become available? From a price view, you do also need to consider E5 fuel, more frequent servicing and resale value. I agree it's a tougher choice than it was and there is definitely room for this bike.
It's funny because in many countries it's the opposite now. No waiting list for CRF 300 rally, they even give promo price while trying to sell 2022 model which are still here.
I certainly like the colors better on the Voge compared to the CRF300L. That shouldn't matter but it does. I like black or gray. What the market needs is a small lightweight adventure bike that's more off road oriented. The big manufacturers refuse to give us that because it would confirm that their heavy mid-sized and full-sized ADV bikes are good long range touring bikes but are not very good off road. We FINALLY got small ADV bikes but they design and market them as entry level bikes for new riders that they can upgrade to one of their proper (much more expensive) ADV bikes in a year or two. Someone should make a good lightweight 300-450 cc single with a large fuel tank (around 20 liters), a large rear rack, comfortable seat, tubeless spoke wheels and a long service interval. And yes, it needs a damned fuel gauge, Voge. That's on the minimum equipment list.
Absolutely. I’ve got the voge with other bikes. For me I couldn’t have it as my only bike. I love it, but it’s engine is not big enough for long journeys. For what it is though a great bike to play off road it’s brilliant.
@@GillyBikes - I have a G310GS and while 450 cc would probably be the sweet spot for off road and highway use, the baby GS makes 34 HP and it'll sing along at 70 MPH (110 KPH) for hours on the highway. It's a bit revved and buzzy but it doesn't seem to mind and I consider it a good compromise to keep the weight low for off road riding. It needs a much larger fuel tank than 11 liters.
That’s what surprises me with the voge. Apparently it will do 200 miles on a full tank.
@@GillyBikes - Most old guys like me are OK with a 200 mile range. That's what my G310GS will do. I think an ADV bike should have a 350+ mile range. I'm currently planning a 340 mile day ride for tomorrow. My riding buddy will stop four times for food, energy drinks, pee, etc. However, I'd like the ABILITY to ride 350 miles for the rare occasions I need the range. Mostly, I like not worrying.
I’m touring Europe as I type. The bike I’m using will do about 150 miles on a full tank. I don’t mind stopping for fuel. After 150 miles I need a leg stretch. Definitely an age thing.
A friend of mine has it for almost a year. He has told me that the tyres are good on dry tarmac,no problems, but they are not good on wet tarmac
I don’t think any off road tyres are good for the tarmac. They do seem to have loads of grip off road though. Has your friend had any issues with the bike in the first year?
@@GillyBikes nothing so far
That’s great to hear. Thanks.
Looks like an owl from the front. Which is good if you like owls. Personally I'd rather it looked like an owl than an insect. A lot of bikes look like insects. In some ways it is better than the CRF - suspension out the crate works better & you get bits attached already that are extras on the Honda. As for sluggish it needs to be revved, after the running in period no problem. If I was in the market for this type of bike I would almost certainly take it over the Honda...
I have. That’s why I bought one 👍
For me, I think a used crf300l is a better bet. Have seen other tests saying that the vibrations are shocking. Plus the tiny service intervals. 8000 miles Honda. 3000 miles Voge
I’ve bought one. I’ve not noticed any bad vibrations. Apparently the 3000 miles service is something motogb do with all of the bikes they import.
3000 mile service intervals isn’t bad at all. Not as good as my Honda Rally, no. But at least you’re not having to stop and work on your bike halfway through a trip like I would if I owned something like the 450l. 8000 miles is just a crazy amount of time and possible wear, and I’m not going to wait that long to change my oil anyway.
lol, made me laugh, it is geared for off road but it is going to be plenty quicker than a Hunter and plenty fast enough for what use it is intended for, and it is supposed to be high up for ground clearance, and the steering is the big front wheel, lack of weight over the front and trail type tyres, not read or watched a bad review of them so far either and reliability is reportedly good
That’s why it was a shame I could only ride it on the road. Very difficult to assess a bike like this when you’re not riding it where it was intended to be ridden. I will just have to buy one. I’ve been looking for something to do a bit of green laning and this does tick the boxes.
@@GillyBikes good luck with that, be interesting to see how you get on with it whenever you get one
"You get what you pay for" scant dealer network.Spares? Will it stand the test of time?Resale value?Reliability?
All very valid questions. I might just have to buy one and find out. 👍
@@GillyBikesGot to be worth a gamble.
Done and bought. 😎
@@GillyBikes What was the on the road price if you don’t mind me asking?
In the uk £3800
Awesome 😍🔥🔥
Absolutely 🔥🔥
It is £2700 cheaper than CRF300 Rally!
I think I was using the crf 300L prices. It’s amazing value either way. Cheaper than loads of 125cc bikes as well. I can’t wait to take one out on the dirty stuff.
Gee I wonder why it's so cheap
Where did you get the loaner from? Looks like West Yorkshire somewhere?
That was Rochdale.
I don't think its true you get what you pay for, this bike is better than the crf 300 , just goes to show Honda make lots of profit,
+ standard bike has more Gizmo's, the new Honda goldwing doesn't have fuel gage its very common to have LED bars. unsure how you can test tyre grip at 32/34 mph? anyway thanks for video these bike will only be going up in price for new ones i guess
Itchy Boots has shown me that the Honda 300rally is the best .
Hers is always breaking? That shows me it’s not so good!
Her crf has been completely upgraded from top to bottom though.
Again my point. She would have spent thousands, changing suspension and everything else. If it was good out the box she wouldn’t have changed anything.
She had to renew suspension, which is several thousand.
E5 fuel only = major oversight
Absolutely. I’ve seen a few people run them on E10. They will still work but I’ve seen a few saying they seem a bit rough when you put E10 in. I might have to try it with mine and see if there is a difference.
Why would you put E10 in any small engine? I noticed a huge difference in performance when using E10 in the Tenere 700, it was sluggish. We have a number of machines with 200 - 400cc Loncin engines, and always use E5 and as we buy in quantity, it goes in the chain saws too. Never have issues in starting and again the performance is far better. Worth the extra few pence. The huge bonus with Loncin, really cheap to replace should anything go wrong. We have yet to change one however, drop the oil out and always use a quality brand and they work well.
I’m about to buy the Voge Rally in addition to the Tenere World Raid, use it as a great little run about, after stripping the thing down in the workshop, grease everything and it will be good to go for many years, a low cost investment providing you give it regular maintenance.
If you’re travelling across the globe, what inconvenience is it to simply do an oil change?
I love my rally 300. I glad I bought one. It’s a keeper.
@@andycapp8843 I put E20 in my Yamaha660R. No issues at all. 68.000km.
4 grand for this bike? Amazing considering most 125's cost about that. mates getting one soon so I expect he will let me have a razz round on it.
I bought one. I absolutely love it. Been playing on green lanes all week. Video coming soon 😉
For a 300 it looks massive...
They are massive. Really tall bikes. I absolutely love it though.
@@GillyBikesit's not available in Canada but it would sell
It would sell. In the uk it’s over £2000 cheaper than a Honda CRF and anyone that rides it says the Voge is better !
@@GillyBikes I love it
Wheel bearings wear out at 5,000 miles, there are issues with the engine
I’ve not heard that. Mine only has a few hundred miles on it but I will keep a look out. Thanks
no fuel gauge though
No. Every ride is a gamble 😂
Comments after Essais/Test ride
Front brake pretty-much non existent, back brake good;
Taller than I remembered;
VERY short gearing, leading to 60 kph at 6000 rpm;
Vibey, like riding a 125cc;
Good handling:cornering on-road; didn’t test off-road;
Not for me.
Thanks for sharing your test ride. I would agree with the breaks. The gearing is set up for off road riding. I’ve seen a few make changes to that because they are mainly road riding. I bought mine as an off road bike so I’m fine with it. I can’t argue with the vibration either. Especially at high speed. I’ve got used to that though. I actually like it now. Like a free massage.
The fuel gauge is irrelevant as most bikes like this the fuel gauge is so inaccurate it's pointless.
I believe it’s a common thing. Out of interest if you have something similar do you take extra fuel out with you just in case?
I ride a huge distance on my crf250 rally or my crf, I know the distances I can get on rough terrain or road. If I'm in extreme areas I carry 1L only as in most places you can buy fuel. In modern European countries getting fuel in any situation isn't hard to plan. I've ride in many countries that have remote areas. Don't worry about the fuel accessibility.
Good to know. Cheers. I’m really considering getting one of these to play off road. 👍
I think irrelevant is going too far. It’s a guide that is missing. I would always want a gauge. When hot and tired in the middle of nowhere, it’s needed. You are not working out your mpg. And like you I have travelled far and wide.
Please put the wheels facing same direction when doing walkarounds
Are these available in the USA?
I don’t think they are yet. They have only just arrived in the uk.
Um. To any of these bike come with a 'launch' timer? That is timer triggered by the bike moving? Must do. It is an obvious gimmick.
Always go for the Honda . In the long run you'll always be quids in .
Maybe, but every comparison I’ve seen shows the voge to be a better bike. With it being £2500+ cheaper than the crf I’m already quids in 😎
@@GillyBikes In fairness 8000 mile service intervals are imho silly. I always swap out my oil every.600 miles . It holds abt 1.3ltr . its sensible on a small engine .
It is not better. That settles it.
I think it’s better. And cheaper. Only time will tell though. It’s all about how it rides and works in a few years.
Review without The Offroad Test is useless…
I bought one and did that 😉
How did it perform?
Much better off road than on road. I’m the dirt it just keeps going. I found it to be better than the Honda CRF and I loved that off road as well.
Just cant support China any country but China
Well they make the engines for BMW and Kawasaki so you better scratch them off your list as well.
@@GillyBikes Yes, I scratch those particular models off my shopping list, too.
Good bike , stop moaning 😅, have a go on my Suzuki drz 400 then you would complain about hight, brakes and comfort 😂.
😂 I bet I wouldn’t complain about power though 😂
@@GillyBikes I've had quite a few topple overs though, one leaving a bike night 🤭😁
Oh dear. With all those bikers to witness it as well. 🫣
Are these available in the USA??
I don’t think they are. They are very new to the uk. I ended up buying one. As good as, if not better than Honda’s crf 300. The bonus is they are a few thousand cheaper as well. Hopefully they will bring them to the USA soon.
@@GillyBikes I just learned of them today.. I'm interested just for the value as a lighter alternative to my big vstrom 800de
@gabrielkopp2036 that’s what these are perfect for. I have for the same reason.