The electric two-wheeler industry has seen remarkable growth in India with an EV that suits every need, apart from a motorcycle enthusiast who loves the open highways. However, Ultraviolette changed that with the F77 with its styling, performance, and range.
On our first ride review, the F77 was ridden on the track and public roads, but that one day is not enough to see if the electric motorcycle is livable. How easy is it to commute on? How convenient is it to charge? And most importantly, what is the actual range in the real world?
Ultraviolette F77 review: Daily commutes
For daily commutes, a motorcycle needs to be comfortable, however, it depends on a person’s approach towards motorcycling. There are ones who choose something comfortable like an adventure motorcycle or something in between like a street naked, and then the third category who are equally at home on a sports bike. The F77 falls into the last category.
The motorcycle has clip-on bars, a tall saddle at 800mm, and aggressively placed foot pegs, where the rider is properly leaning forward, but without the protection of a windshield. The bars are wide, however, the seating position may not be up to everyone’s liking, especially while commuting. On a personal note, the seating position felt natural to me, owing to the motorcycle I ride.
Ultraviolette F77 review: Highways and twisties
Out on open roads, the F77 comes into its own, as the slightly uncomfortable position one may feel in the city turns out to be enjoyable. The only way to put is that the F77 is quick and in Combat mode (the mid setting of the three modes), the electric motorcycle is capable of averaging 90kmph on highways. However, once in Ballistic mode (the quickest of the three), the F77 is as fast as a 300cc motorcycle and achieves 147km top speed.
On twisty roads, the F77 gets thoroughly exciting. The seating posture is perfect and the in-house developed chassis along with the suspension makes the bike feel like it’s on rails. Handling is sharp, and the F77 always seems to offer that extra power when exiting a corner. The MRF tyres do a good job, but on a personal note, I would change them to more stickier rubber.
Ultraviolette F77 review: Range and charging
The F77 we tested was the Recon variant, which comes with a 10.3 kWh battery pack that delivers 38bhp and 95Nm of torque. Ultraviolette claims an IDC range of 307km, while Glide offers 261km, Combat offers 200km and Ballistic offers 171km range. On the charging front, the motorcycle can be had with the standard charger that gives 35km range in one hour, or with a boost charger that offers 75km for every hour it’s plugged in.
On our tests, we were consistently getting over 200km range with mixed riding modes (mostly Combat and Ballistic) and the boost charger was able to charge the motorcycle fully in about 5 hours — more on this later.
Ultraviolette F77 review: Is it for you?
There are two sides to look at, the positives first. The F77 is a fast motorcycle and 200km range and maybe a bit more in Combat mode is good to have. This makes the motorcycle usable on weekend rides. The dash is crisp and offers the essential information clearly. The suspension is slightly on the stiffer side but can be tweaked with the adjustability on offer, while the brakes offer a good progressive feel.
On the flipside, the boost charger is heavy and carrying it around needs a large backpack, or sacrificing the pillion altogether because the charger can be mounted at the rear of the F77. The build quality is good, but the charger flap on the motorcycle could have a lock as it tends to open and the rear fender feels delicate.
The park assist feature is something that one will use constantly, as the motorcycle is heavy for one, and when the motor is on, it’s not easy to roll the bike around. However, the catch here is the way one engages this mode, which can be quicker in my opinion. This adds more trouble in traffic when U-turns are needed and there’s not enough space.
Overall, a few niggles can be dealt with, while it would be better if some can be fixed, such as a dedicated switch for the park assist function. And then comes the pricing — Rs 4,75 lakh on-road, Delhi. If you are looking for a unique motorcycle and budget is not a constraint, the price is justified, however, for someone who uses their motorcycles extensively on highways, the F77 is better off as a second motorcycle in the garage.
