Rare as hen’s teeth

Cheese, wine and garlic snails yes, but the French aren’t exactly famous for producing motorcycles. Jane Omorogbe tests the Voxan Street Scrambler and finds it full of Gallic charm

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FRANCE has so much to offer – steady on, chaps, we’re not talking about Carla Bruni.

One of my favourite things about France is its splendid roads – often through fine scenery connecting historic towns, and far less congested than here in Britain.

What a shame they don’t have a French motorcycle to ride on them. But wait, you may not have heard of it, but there is a French bike and, guess what – it’s just as quirky as you’d expect from our friends across the Channel.

Voxan was established in 1995 in Issoire and, while its first prototype was released two years later, it wasn’t until 1999 and beyond that its roadster, cafe racer and scrambler models were in the showrooms, with the Street Scrambler appearing in 2003.

Its styling is timeless and classic. There’s a distinctly classy air about the bike, which is perhaps why Voxan hasn’t messed with the design in the five years of its existence. Next to rivals like the Benelli TNT Cafe Racer or Moto Morini’s Corsaro Veloce 1200, the Street Scrambler looks petite and unfussy. And to ride, it feels like a chopper in comparison.

The seat is soft and low and you feel as though you’ve slipped inside the bike rather than sitting on it. As a result, the flat handlebars feel strangely high.

The instrument display consists of two circular dials perched above the bike’s headlight. Both the rev counter and speedo have an old-fashioned look about them, and yet the design suits the bike perfectly. Dual slim exhaust pipes are stacked on top of each other to one side just below seat height, and although there’s a real elegance about them, they emit a sound not dissimilar to a Harley-Davidson with full Screaming Eagle kit.

All Voxan motorcycles are powered by the same 996cc, 72-degree V-twin engine. It is very much in the Harley mould; there’s a certain degree of mechanical noise and obvious vibrations, enough to tickle your fingers, shudder the mirrors – and encourage you to keep the revs nice and low.

Tingling extremities weren’t the only reason I kept the needle below 7,000rpm, though. Despite the red line being at an indicated 9,500rpm, the bike insisted on spluttering way before that, and never at the same place in the rev range.

I’d just executed a swift exchange of ticket and euros, together with my very best smattering of French, at the toll booth and had nailed the throttle to continue my journey along the sweetest dual-carriageway France has to offer. I’d been keeping my focus firmly on the road ahead, until the power delivery suddenly felt stifled. Red line, I thought, but glanced down to see the needle swaying at 7,000rpm. It seemed odd, but I shifted up and tucked in. Another splutter – this time at 8,000rpm – as if to confirm the bike’s individuality and unpredictability.

This was clearly a random fault on this particular bike. It’s the first I’ve ever ridden, so I can’t give any direct experience of reliability or other mechanical quirks.

For everyday pottering and gentle playing, the Voxan Street Scrambler has much to offer. It’s very easy to ride and the torquey engine favours a lazy attitude towards the six-speed gearbox. The brakes do manage to bring 190kg of bike to a complete standstill, but they’re not sports-bike sharp in doing do and feel as soft as the bike’s suspension.

Push on and the Street Scrambler wastes no time in reminding you of its restricted ground clearance, among other limitations.

I was still steaming ahead on the same stunning three-lane ribbon through southern France when I became acutely aware of the bike’s handlebars swaying under the pressure of both the ride and the strong side winds. The movement didn’t appear to show any signs of slowing and, oddly enough, neither did I. As I continued my constant (and healthy) pace into the fast right-hand sweeper, the side-to-side motion of my arms progressed into a gentle, but very definite rotational twisting throughout the bike’s steel twin-spar chassis.

Needless to say, I backed off and silently apologised to my French friend. I felt inconsiderate and over-demanding, as if I’d just dragged my 90-year-old nan to an all-night rave.

This bike’s strengths are very much in the sporty cruiser mode – perhaps I’ve invented a new class there. It handles better than a Harley, but not as well as a Ducati Monster. There is only a handful of UK dealers, and the rarity value is currently part of the attraction. People tempted to buy one will do so for its character and individuality – it’s for posing, not track days.

I found it good fun, a likeable bike as long as it’s in a relaxed environment. And no one wants to live life in the fast lane forever, do they?

Model: Voxan Street Scrambler, no official UK price

Engine: 996cc, 72-degree air-cooled V-twin producing 100bhp at 8,000rpm and 68.6lb/ft at 6,500rpm

Transmission: Chain drive through six-speed gearbox

Dry weight: 190kg

Seat height: 810mm

Fuel capacity: 14.5 litres