The Newly Launched Loncin Voge 500 AC May Actually Be A Honda Underneath

Loncin Motors, a China-based two-wheeler giant, is responsible for several unique bikes that have been launched across the globe over the past couple of years. The Voge Brivido 500R being one of them. It’s, in fact, the same company that has partnered with MV Augusta to build small-capacity motorcycles for markets like India. 

The company’s most recent proposition is the 2021 Voge 500 AC. It’s priced at CNY 34,980, about Rs 4 lakh here in India. The bike’s actually already available across Asia and Europe under different names. Look closely and you'll notice certain similarities between the Voge 500 AC, the Triumph Trident 660, and Yamaha XSR700. But as is the case with most Chinese motorcycles, it's priced a lot lower. 

The Voge 500 AC has several other aspects that make it a unique case. The framework of the 471cc parallel-twin engine, for instance, is uncannily similar to Honda’s 500cc range. First of all, the motor makes 48.9PS at 8500rpm, which is near-identical to the Honda CB500F. Even the compression ratio is the same, at 10.7:1. The only difference is the torque, rated at 45Nm at 7000rpm -- 2Nm more than the Hondas.

What sets it apart, though, is a comprehensive list of premium hardware. It gets a set of premium KYB fully adjustable USD forks and a monoshock that features preload and damping adjustability. Its braking setup is courtesy of Nissin. So you have dual twin-pot calipers up front with 298mm rotors up front and a single-piston caliper mated to a 240mm rotor at the rear. Dual-channel ABS comes as standard.

Then there’s the way it looks. I must say, it does look neatly put together with some quality materials. That said, meeting our expectations in the real world is a different story altogether. You get a full-LED headlight up front, LED turn indicators, and a horizontal LED tail light. The console is a full-digital unit that can be paired with your smartphone. This puts it in the same league as the Japanese big-four. The neat upswept exhaust, neo-retro fuel tank design, and the other cast components, all come together beautifully.

The Voge 500 AC could easily compete with the Benelli Leoncino 500 and the upcoming Honda CB500F if it’s ever launched in India. Unfortunately, the chances of that happening are extremely bleak.

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