Jauldes unveils a new book depicting the misadventures of a French motorcycle brand

Forget Ducati, Yamaha, or even Harley-Davidson, tonight we're going to talk about a French flop, a real dud in the hexagonal motorcycle landscape. Jauldes highlights the chaotic fate of a brand that could have overshadowed giants like BMW Motorrad or Kawasaki, but ended up crashing to the pavement with such violence that we're still talking about it. Thierry Cazenabe plants his flag with a new meticulously researched work, a mix of true history, men, and betrayals where passion clashes with bad investments. Buckle your helmets, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

A trilogy that fills you in on the lesser-known history of French motorcycles

Thierry Cazenabe doesn’t dabble in sleep-inducing technical literature. After turning over the past with two previous books on mechanically flawed but legendary bikes — the BFG with car engines and the Barigo, queen of the Paris-Dakar rally before collapsing like a soufflé — he signs a third round with “Voxan, trajectory of a comet”. Yes, a comet! Because it was born quickly, brilliantly, and crashed even faster. Established in Issoire in Puy-de-Dôme from 1996 to 2010, Voxan wanted to play in the big leagues against Honda, KTM, or Triumph. The book doesn’t seek to be technical but tells the story of the men, these wooden riders in a field where spots are scarce.

The reasons for the plunge: when the Dassault son blows it all up

Jacques Gardette arrives in his self-made-man armor loaded with cash, accompanied by Laurent Dassault and rider Marc Fontan. The brand embarks with 1000cc touring bikes that are enticing — even a purist supporting Ducati or KTM could dream of a Voxan for daily use. But here comes the Dassault son, crashing in like a bull in a china shop, creating chaos, and in the end, he bails out just a few years later. Between a bankruptcy in 2001, a failed rescue attempt in Bordeaux in 2003, and another bankruptcy in 2010, the beautiful adventure goes down the drain. Yes, we know how to make planes and trains in France, but a bike? Not the same lemonade.

An industrial drama told by a lover of two wheels

Thierry Cazenabe, born in Charente, with a grandfather blacksmith repairing bikes and bicycles, delivers a narrative that does more than screech tires. Beyond the dramatic effects and the crashes, interviews and the political-media context of the time follow one another, casting harsh light on the reasons for the shipwreck. Yes, you there, Sunday rider with your CB500 and your Red Bull bag, it’s not because we lack know-how that it’s doomed, it’s often the chaos at the top that ruins dreams — a bit like when you lose at the start on track because of a faulty clutch lever.

Voxan, a story to read for true motorcycle enthusiasts

Prefaced by longtime friend Benoît Delépine (the guy from Groland), this book revisits models that had style: the Roadster (‘99), the Café Racer (2000), and the Scrambler (2001). Sharp design, an original engine, real capital invested in the adventure. It smelled like the cream of the crop. Yet the road ended in asphalt – with a big bundle of reasons more related to a family saga than any technical fault.

The book sells out at 1,000 copies, available in a few local gems in Angoulême, Champniers or in collector shops. In short, it’s heavy reading to understand how, among BMW Motorrad, Suzuki, or even Moto Guzzi, infiltrating the motorcycle arena is a high-level sport, even when you have Dassault-like means.

So, is it worth cracking open your wallet? Not to relegate your Ducati or Harley to the garage, but if someone hands me the book, I'd carry it on a ride, to understand why France struggles to put its rubber on the pavement of major brands. The lesson? Keep the faith, grip your handlebars tightly, but watch out for who’s fiddling with your gearbox. Otherwise, you’re set to end up like Voxan: a shooting star in the firmament of national two-wheelers.

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