Born out of a partnership with BMW, the Voge SR4 Max aims to conquer its place in the market and show why its parent company – the Loncin group – produces more than three million motorcycles every year. With a strong presence in the Asian market with several brands, the Chinese group is now trying to make a convincing entry into Europe and the Voge comes with a lot of desire.
It’s inevitable to talk about the BMW C400, since Voge and the German brand have had a partnership for the production of the BMW scooter for a number of years (since 2015). So, naturally, the SR4 Max and the C400 share many components, with each brand stamping its signature afterwards, introducing details that set one bike apart from the other. As Voge’s own representatives have said, the brand doesn’t intend to compete with BMW, but to reach a wider audience and offer a quality product that has a proven base in the market.
GET USED TO IT, IT’S THE EURO5
This new bet from Voge is equipped with a single-cylinder engine manufactured in partnership with BMW, with 349.8 cc and 34 hp of maximum power at 7,500 rpm. Torque is 35 Nm at 6,000 rpm and although it’s not a roaring figure, it was a pleasant surprise in the way it’s available and reveals itself when you turn the right handle. The SR4 Max is very quick to accelerate and there’s no need to be afraid of getting into tricky situations, or to doubt this scooter’s ability to rev up. Up to 100 km/h, the response is immediate and the engine is very full, delivering power and torque in a pleasant way. But the story becomes a little different when we start to reach higher revs and speeds. At around 110/120 km/h, the EURO5 starts to take its toll… you feel the restrictions this engine is subject to and realize that the potential is there, but with the feeling that there’s something strangling this Voge. Therefore, low and medium speeds are clearly the territory of this scooter, which then struggles at higher speeds. But that doesn’t stop it from being enjoyable to ride, especially in the city. Above all, regardless of speed, the engine didn’t vibrate excessively or fight back when asked. It simply made you realize that at high revs it has a harder time breathing.
SOLID AND COMFORTABLE
Despite being designed for daily commuting, with 34 hp we can already think about taking this scooter on slightly longer journeys and even riding it a bit more. In this respect, Voge has not failed to pay attention to the SR4 Max’s suspension, which proved to be very well prepared to deal with the irregularities of the road surface in the city of Valencia, even though our experience was limited by the rain. Even on the open road and at higher speeds, the SR4 Max proved to have no problem absorbing irregularities; at the front with the KYB suspension with 112 mm of travel, and at the rear with the two shock absorbers, also KYB, with 127 mm of travel, the most generous in its category. The whole assembly was solid, with the frame’s behavior in line with the suspension and shock absorbers, and a very ergonomic (although somewhat stiff) seat helping out. The riding position is quite natural, with the seat being a little lower, which makes it easier to keep your feet on the ground and also to position your arms so that you don’t get tired.
SPACIOUS AND TECHNOLOGICAL
As a scooter focused on daily mobility and user comfort, the SR4 Max offers just that in terms of the space available under the seat. According to the brand, we were able to fit two helmets, one jet and one full-face. We were equipped with the Sena Outrush R – a modular helmet – and the truth is that it fitted well under the SR4 Max’s seat and we still had plenty of room. In other words, whether it’s a second helmet or your jacket, you can park this scooter and not have to carry any gear with you.
What’s more, for anyone who rides a motorcycle every day, it’s an extra comfort to be able to carry a backpack or laptop in the bike’s storage compartment and not on your back. And in addition to the space, which is very convenient for day-to-day use, there are technological additions that may please those who commute in traffic on a daily basis. We’re talking about the camera that Voge has fitted to the front of the SR4 Max. More than just an accessory for recording weekend rides, this camera can serve as an extra comfort in the event of an incident in everyday life. This sensor is capable of recording Full HD videos and it is also possible to take photos by pressing the button on the right-hand side of the handlebar. As for the dashboard, this scooter is equipped with a 7″ TFT display with good visibility and all the necessary information. Navigating the menus could be easier, partly because there are only three buttons for this. As far as technology is concerned, basically everything works electronically, from opening the seat to the fuel tank and keyless ignition. Space and technology are not lacking in this SR4 Max.
COMMITMENT
There was great curiosity to see what Voge could offer with the SR4 Max after its presentation at the 2022 Milan show. The long-standing partnership with BMW allows the Chinese and German brands to share a great deal of knowledge, and this has been translated into this new maxi scooter from Voge. The engine is lively and responsive at the speeds that matter most in everyday life. The suspension and brakes work very well and we also have the space and technology we expect from a scooter in this range these days. And while it’s true that the rain conditioned our riding experience in some respects, it did help us to pay more attention to other details, such as the good protection against the elements that this SR4 Max provides. Were it not for EURO5, irreproachable would be one of the main adjectives when talking about this scooter. With EURO5, we can say that the Voge SR4 Max is an excellent compromise between all its components and appears to be of good quality at all levels.