Voxan 1200 GTV 2008 — Specifications

Rare are the manufacturers capable of submitting their design before even selling the first unit. Voxan did so. Presented at the Paris Motor Show with a round headlight that convinced no one, the 1200 GTV re-emerged from the Issoire design office with a completely redesigned face, just a few weeks after criticism from the public and the press. Dual optics, a more taut headstock, redesigned flanks with lines that pull forward rather than backward, a less rounded engine guard. The screen itself has changed shape to integrate air vents. This is not a cosmetic detail: it is a complete stylistic overhaul, driven by listening to feedback from the field. For a small Auvergne manufacturer, this is a form of industrial courage quite rare.

The positioning, however, is clear and ambitious. Following the Black Magic and the Charade, Voxan is tackling grand touring, a segment where BMW reigns supreme with its R 1200 RT. To enter, you need solid arguments. The 72° V-twin has been revised in bore and stroke to reach 1166 cm3, a displacement gain that boosts torque by more than 20%. The announced power is around 130 horsepower depending on the markets, capped at 106 in France by regulations. The twin does without a balance shaft, a choice that lightens the mechanics but suggests that vibrations will be very present, which will not appeal to everyone on long highway stages.

What is truly surprising is the weight. 179 kg dry weight for a large touring bike is almost indecent. German competitors cheerfully exceed 230 kg fully fueled. Voxan achieves this by completely rethinking the structure: exit the usual double tubular beam, place a steel trellis fixed to two aluminum plates. This frame saves four kilos over the previous version and frees up space for a larger airbox. The result on the road promises handling unlike that of the usual behemoths in the niche.

Belt transmission breaks with the usual choices of the segment. No chain, no shaft as on the BMWs or the Honda GL: a belt, quieter and less demanding in terms of maintenance. The rear shock absorber leaves its position under the engine for a more classic Pro-link mount, with electrically adjustable preload from the dashboard. The screen is also motorized to adapt to speed. These electrical features on a motorcycle costing 16,500 euros testify to a real ambition to compete with the big players. 43-liter side cases, a passenger backrest, an adjustable saddle with a 800 mm floor complete a double-dial dashboard that clearly targets long-distance travelers.

The bet remains nevertheless risky. Voxan arrives on a structured market, loyal to its brands, and not inclined to adventure. The GTV does not technically revolutionize grand touring, it mainly offers a different personality, an unusual size for the category, and the charm of an independent French manufacturer. Twenty-five years after the BFG 1300, it is once again a tricolor touring bike that is trying its luck. We sincerely wish it a better commercial destiny than its Savoyard ancestor.