Voxan VB1 1000 2003 — Specifications

When Thierry Henriette and his Auvergne team unveiled the VB1 at the Paris Motor Show in 1999, all of France rubbed their eyes. A tricolor sportbike capable of holding its own against the Italians, with 100 horsepower extracted from a 72-degree V-twin of almost one liter displacement, a four-headlight gaze that fixes the tarmac with a cold aggression, and a silhouette that one might take for an Alpine import. Voxan Boxer Number 1, that was the code name; the ambition was up to the task.

You need to look closely at this machine to understand where the inspiration comes from. The low bubble, the carbon fiber fairings, the knife-edged fuel tank flanks, the tapered seat tip: all of this openly dialogues with the reference sportbikes of the time. The two voluminous silencers nestled under the seat also recall a certain Ducati 996, which is certainly no coincidence. At 185 kilograms dry weight for a capacity of 17.5 liters, the VB1 positions itself in the same waters as its direct competitors. The displayed price of 15,000 euros clearly places the machine in the premium segment, where the demands of buyers leave no room for mediocrity.

The engine, shared with the Café Racer, is a fine piece of mechanics. This V2 develops its maximum torque of 95 Nm at 6500 rpm, and its power peaks at 8000 rpm per minute. Between these two points, the machine truly comes alive. Below, it rumbles with a somewhat lazy nonchalance. The problem comes from the homologated exhaust systems and a gear ratio designed for the road rather than for unacknowledged pleasures. The sporty riding that the machine's lines promise is not translated into a frank adrenaline rush; it is more a matter of muscles than of high revs. The confirmed track rider will pass on by. The touring rider who seeks to distinguish himself, however, will find matter for satisfaction.

On board, there are no concessions to comfort. The seat is high and firm, the wrists nestle under the fork stems, the torso tilts forward. The VB1 demands constant physical engagement in direction changes; it does not pivot spontaneously, it steers with authority. The 41-millimeter diameter inverted fork and the monoshock housed under the engine offer 120 millimeters of travel on each side, which is standard for a sportbike of this generation. In sustained cornering, the tubular double-beam chassis does its job seriously, but the pilot who would expect the lightness of a GSX-R will leave disappointed.

In everyday use, the VB1 is an exhausting companion. The heat given off by the bicylinder rises directly towards the rider, the noise in town borders on unbearable, and the riding position prohibits any outing of more than one hundred kilometers without lower back pain. It is precisely there that the true nature of this machine is revealed. It is not a versatile tool, it is a statement. An object designed to be looked at as much as ridden, like an industrial sculpture that occasionally accepts to leave its pedestal. For the passionate collector or the weekend rider looking for a French bike with character in a universe dominated by the Japanese and the Italians, the VB1 remains a singular, coherent proposition in its defects as in its qualities.