All Reader Tests – A VB1 in Montlhery – Used VOXAN

Posted on by admin

A VB1 in Montlhery

All Reader Tests - A VB1 in Montlhery - Used VOXAN

On the occasion of the Twin Trophies, head to the legendary circuit of Montlhery for a test unlike any other: the Voxan VB1 by Boxer Design, a French jewel produced in 31 copies…

Approaching the Voxan VB1, in its gray livery, I can’t help but take a tour. This superb achievement by Thierry Henriette (Boxer Design) commands respect, so much his pencil stroke, like that of a certain 916, has not aged … The VB1 remains one of the most beautiful sports that I have ever seen. have never seen and I never tire of admiring its taut lines.

Contact. I had been warned: his pots, which have just been remade, deliver a sound that is not really approved, a melody closer to Metallica than to Mozart … Nice, but rather conducive to awakening all the alarms nearby! I let the V72 heat up, which rumbles more than it purrs, I sit on the handlebars … and plague the kickstand, which I discover is as difficult to access to unfold it as it is to store it! That said, a diva is not made to be practical but to be admired, I say to myself in petto! Let’s go ! The seat is downright sporty, the saddle is placed higher than on the Cafe Racer Voxan and the handlebars are well below the upper triple tree: no doubt, we are on a hypersport! The turning radius is long and the U-turn maneuvers must be broken down carefully. But the bike, despite its exclusive position, absorbs the unevenness of the road well and the solo saddle is less uncomfortable than one might have thought given its thickness: the comfort of the Voxan chassis is at work !

In city use, the engine is frustrated that it cannot express itself. We just want to turn the handle! But we will wait for the circuit, Mr. Sarkozy, I promise! Along the way, as the 2-wheel World Cup approaches, heads turn and fingers stretch out. I almost hear the passers-by exclaim: "saw you, it’s a VB1 !". A great success of esteem, not to mention the bikers who voluntarily remain by my side despite my appearance of a senator to admire the rarity produced in only 31 copies…

Direction Montlhery via the A6. I am gradually familiarizing myself with the beautiful Frenchwoman and the acceleration becomes sharper as soon as the traffic conditions allow it: this machine is a factory of sensations, certainly reinforced by the strong sound volume, but what does the pure performance matter? less to compete! Isn’t the main thing to feel pleasure on the handlebars? And lots of fun, and lots of it! So much so that I forget to take the right exit and have to take a free ride on the A6: my pleasure will only be longer !

On arrival in Montlhery, the sound of the VB1 was identified from the other end of the circuit! I park the beauty where she will be displayed alongside one of her fellow blue and gray livery. The morning passes quietly, to the rhythm of visits from Jacques Marchand (Hugo’s father who raced in Motegi), Philippe Mock, Anne-Marie Jumeaux, David Hailwood (Mike the bike‘s son), Mick Andrews (champion of the trials world of the 70s), Jean-François Balde, etc. I chomp with impatience until the good news is announced: we will be able to shoot on the famous circuit !

At the appointed time, the thirty or so Voxans present, including a side Cafe Racer-Choda and the two VB1s, a majority of Cafe Racer, Roadsters and Scramblers present themselves in the pre-grid. I am a little nervous, aware of my responsibility towards Philippe who entrusted me with his jewel…

Finally the doors open and we rush behind the pace car for a reconnaissance lap: end of the pit straight line then pin of the two bridges, slightly raised and slow, in first. Then, the only left of the circuit, the turn of the farm, in second. We pass under the Dunlop bridge, a slight break to the left and braking downhill to approach the Faye bend, almost a bend on an incline. New straight line, first north chicane and right-left-right pif-paf which controls the entry on the concrete of the (very) raised bend of the ring. The baffle is made of rather slippery and slightly disjointed concrete slabs, to take on eggshells. The entry on the ring forms a compression formed by the flat-raised connection. While accelerating, we can see lower and to the right the east chicane, to be taken without going up on the rather aggressive vibrators of the kind, but made of good very catchy bitumen on which we can swing without ulterior motive. Back on the ring, we go back up, quickly seeing the last southern chicane, just before the entrance to the paddocks and the straight line, faster than the previous one.

The pace car lets us go: gaaaaazzz! As if by chance, the parade turns for some into arsouille. Others, like Philippe, who takes his daughter for a ride in the Roadster, approach her more calmly. For my part, not knowing the bike, I let the fastest go and try to concentrate on my position and the braking marks, in order to gradually increase the pace without taking unnecessary risks. After four laps, I feel better and better on the bike and the pace starts to get serious. I’m surprised to see that I’m riding alone, the first three having cowardly taken advantage of my apprenticeship to go ahead. As for the others … I no longer see them when I turn around in the straight line! So much the better, I can concentrate on my actions without fear of a madman who would try to brake me! From the 6th lap I’m fine and I wring the handle.

Straight line, the rumble of the VB1 resonates in all its splendor. 3rd, 4th, 5th, just enough time to hook up the 6th, standing on the brakes and entering all gears until the first for the pin. It brakes hard, the front is riveted on the trajectory while the rear moves slightly left and right: swaying, entry by slightly releasing the brakes, rope point, net of gas, clear acceleration, the bike is clings to its imperturbable trajectory, a treat! I pull the 2, just enough time to hook up the 3, light braking to put the 2 back on, big sway to compensate for the slope of the Farm, throttle out, 3rd, 4th, a little 5th and heavy braking to come back to 1st in the Faye that I approach with caution and on the outside since a Cafe Racer with an oil hose was loose put a little oil inside. Re-acceleration, I go up to 5th and I enter the north chicane, without taking too much angle because of the poorly adhering concrete: at the exit, on the other hand, I open wide to climb on the ring and the steering becomes light when passing the raised part, it wriggles but without going to the handlebars and the motorcycle resumes its trajectory without any surprise as soon as the front wheel rests. 5th, braking on the raised part to dive – the impression coming down from the raised turn towards the chicane is really that of a dive! -, chicane is in 2, I frankly swing the bike which reacts strongly to the left then return to the ring, I go up to the 4, later braking to enter the north chicane in 3, I enter the 2 before switch left and switch back to the right to approach the straight line. It is on this occasion that I test the vibrator with the impression of crossing a railway track, but the motorcycle does not move out of the way! Straight line again and we start again. In the last laps, as the Ferme and the south chicane accelerated again, I felt the rear wheel start to slide, very gradually and perfectly controllable. The VB1 with Pilot Sports, although tires I had not liked in road use, comes back in line smoothly every time.

This machine therefore provides immense pleasure. Very healthy on a circuit that was nevertheless very tired and bumpy, her reactions were straightforward and she never made me feel the slightest heat. High fashion! As for the sound that accompanies the virile flights of the V-twin, it is simply bewitching! And of course, going back through the traffic jams on Sunday evening, despite my apprehension of damaging this splendid toy, despite its discomfort and despite the strong heating of my seat subjected to the exhausts under the saddle, I only have one desire: to start over…

Related articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *