Voge seat heights compared, model by model
Seat height for sixteen Voge models as printed in the technical parameter table of each owner manual, including the two models recorded with two different figures.
Seat height is the first measurement that decides whether a motorcycle suits its rider. Every figure below is taken from the technical parameter table of that model's own owner manual.
The figures
Millimetres, lowest first.
| Model | Seat height (mm) |
|---|---|
| SR4 Max | 761 |
| SR1 | 775 |
| SR3 | 780 |
| 500DS | 785 |
| 500R | 785 |
| FR150 | 795 |
| SR16 | 800 |
| DS525X | 810 / 830 |
| DS900X | 825 |
| 650DSX | 825 / 865 |
| DS625X | 835 |
| DS800X Rally | 850 |
| 300 Rally | 915 |
| SR450X | 795 |
| 525RR | 785 |
| 250RR | 780 |
Models recorded with two figures
The DS525X manual gives 810 / 830 mm and the 650DSX manual 825 / 865 mm. Both pairs appear in the parameter table, and no section of either manual accounts for the duality. Neither book records a seat adjustment, an optional low seat or a second specification level.
The practical consequence is that, for these two models, the manual does not establish the height at which a given motorcycle left the factory. Sitting on the machine before purchase is a more reliable measure than either printed figure.
Models whose manuals omit the figure
The manuals for the 300DS, 300R, 300AC, 525R, 525ACX, 125R, SR1 ADV and 500AC do not carry a seat height. Wheelbase, ground clearance and weight are printed; this measurement is absent. These models accordingly have no entry in the table above.
What the measurement means in practice
Two motorcycles of identical seat height can feel a size apart. Three factors account for most of the difference.
- Seat width. A narrow seat allows the legs to drop vertically. A wide seat, or a broad junction with the tank, spreads the thighs and produces an effect equivalent to 20 to 30 mm of additional height.
- Suspension sag. Seat height is measured unladen. Under the weight of a rider a softly sprung rear settles by 20 to 40 mm before the motorcycle moves.
- Boot sole and suspension setup. Both shift the figure in the rider's favour, frequently by more than is anticipated.
The decisive assessment is therefore made on the motorcycle, in riding boots, holding the machine stationary on a camber, rather than from the specification sheet.
The tallest in the range
At 915 mm the 300 Rally stands 65 mm above the next model and occupies a class of its own. This follows from its design: it is the only model in the range with a 21 inch front wheel and 206 mm of fork travel, and the ground clearance so obtained is the purpose of the motorcycle.
Where the model is otherwise the preferred choice and the height is the obstacle, 300 Rally seat height sets out the measures owners have adopted.
Source
- Parameter table of each Voge owner manual hosted here
Information only, not official Voge documentation. Verify every figure in the official manual for your exact model and model year before you work on the bike.
Related reading
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Buying a used Voge: the checklist, with model-specific points
What to check before buying a second-hand Voge: papers and service stamps against the factory schedule, recalls, a cold start, chain, brakes, tyres and steering, and the known weak points of each model.
Voge SR4 Max problems: what owners report, and what is known about each
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