This is why the wait for the first Ultraviolette product has been so long. In fact, it’s been three years since the Ultraviolette F77 first appeared. A lot has changed since then in a constant process of evolution. And now, the F77 is finally ready to find new homes around the world. So is the wait worth it? Take a ride on the Ultraviolette F77 – India’s fastest electric motorcycle – to find out.
See: Review of electric motorcycle Ultraviolette F77
Ultraviolette F77 – New Frame & Swingarm
The production Ultraviolette F77 is a vastly different product from the one it was first introduced. The frame and swingarm have been redesigned to make the model lighter and more flexible, while the removable battery pack has been swapped out for a permanent one. With a capacity of 10.3 kWh, it is the largest battery on any two-wheeler in India. It is said to be the heaviest with a weight of 60 kg. The end result is improvements in power, performance and range but also a higher limited weight…
F77 Ultraviolet Lamp – Sharp Design
Visually, not much has changed. The jet fighter-inspired styling is largely the same but the windscreen is now a self-contained unit since there’s no longer a battery pack to remove. Ultraviolette has integrated small wings into the apron to help direct airflow towards the battery and engine for better cooling. The small wings also act as engine guards, cleverly hidden behind the body.
The overall design is sharp and quite proportionate. The wheelbase is 1,340 mm, which is equivalent to the KTM 390 Duke and ensures a compact package but still stands out on the road. The Ultraviolette hit the design language on its first attempt, and even three years after it was first announced, it continues to be a hit. There are three variants offered – Laser, Shadow and Airstrike – offering three different color options on the electric motorcycle.
Ultraviolet F77 – Quality Build
The build quality is where the Ultraviolette’s attention to detail really shines. The finished product is like nothing created by first time players. The quality levels are correct and everything is correct. Although there is a lot of plastic, especially the bodywork, the finish is great, both in terms of form and appearance. That said, we did find some gaps on the dashboard in some places, and the charging cover feels flimsy for a well-combined motorcycle.
Ultraviolet Lamp F77 – Ergonomics
There’s more room to move around the F77 as far as ergonomics are concerned. The wider grip handlebar and rear footrest are suitable even for larger riders. The saddle is quite high at 800mm but has plenty of room to slide front and back. It’s also very well padded to keep you comfortable on long rides. The overall riding posture is aggressive but not overly sporty and offers touring as well as motorcycling ability.
F77 is fast, handles really well but can get more performance even in the sportiest environment
Ultraviolet F77 – Performance
Ultraviolette organized two driving experience sessions with the F77 for the media. One is going uphill on open roads while the other is on track, both designed to give a sense of the car’s realistic handling, performance and drivability. bicycle. A lot of attention was paid right from the throttle calibration, power and performance; everything feels equal.
There are three driving modes – Glide, Combat and Ballistic. Glide mode drains power but is also intended to be more economical and maximize range. There’s a battle mode that blends performance and economy well, and those who want to commute more often will be pleased with the power output here. Then there’s the Ballistic mode.
I have two thoughts about Ballistic mode. The first is that it works as advertised. Acceleration is quick and it gives you access to all 38 hp and 90 Nm of torque which looks very promising in theory. There’s a good amount of thrust as you turn the throttle pushing you into the seat a bit. Ballistic mode feels great, and it does exactly what the company says it does.
Having said that, it didn’t let me down, and that’s my biggest problem with the F77 in general. When the KTM 390 Duke debuted almost a decade ago, it wowed us with its performance and acceleration. It’s the segment-breaking factor that nobody thought they needed until they did.
Ballistic mode is fast with strong acceleration but feels easy to control, faster than one would expect
Call it too expectant or simply benchmark but I was hoping for something similar with the F77. Moreover, consider the F77 as a rival of the 390 Duke. It is supposed to blow me away in terms of performance and acceleration. But it also feels more controllable in Ballistic mode, and that shouldn’t be the case.
Early adopters will want the novelty F77. A feeling of euphoria, if you can, as you accelerate from a standstill. One more punch in the initial acceleration makes a world of difference, and that comes from my belief that the bike can deliver. Ultraviolette says it’s keeping that performance for a balance between power and range. But for anyone who wants to experience electrical performance, not forbidden, there should be an option to do so. Can an OTA update solve this problem?
This is not to say that the F77 is not a recreational bike to ride. 0-40 kmph appears in 3.1 seconds while the 0-100 kmph mark takes about 8 seconds. The F77 feels fast to drive and will be easier to maintain at higher speeds for long periods of time with a louder hum from the engine to keep you on your toes.
However, the Recon variant’s limited weight of 207 kg is one of the reasons the performance seems a bit poor. It weighs 55 kg more than the 390 Duke, and that’s the trade-off you have to make to get a bigger battery. Since its launch, Ultraviolette has updated its software that now allows you to use Ballistic mode at 70% charge, previously only at 30% charge.
The F77 feels at home on the track with its well-designed electric motorcycle for seamless cornering
Ultraviolet F77 – Handling & Braking
The F77 has been developed on the track and it shows. It feels seamless when you push it into a corner. It does a lot of the work for you. The weight distribution is 50:50 and it’s amazing. Thanks to the lower center of gravity, you feel well connected to the motorcycle. Although the front feels heavy and can be a bit overwhelming at low speeds, the wide handlebars make maneuvering easy. You can feel the weight of the motorcycle when stationary but still moving and there is little to blame.
The 160 mm ground clearance is high enough but the cornering clearance could be a bit better. In the end, you will shave the footrests to some extent. Braking performance is sharp with 320 mm discs at the front and 230 mm discs at the rear. The F77 is also the first electric motorcycle in India with dual-channel ABS from Bosch. The overall setup worked fine and stopped the machine immediately. The MRF tires are well suited to the ethos of the motorcycle but they are a downgrade from the Metzeler tires shown on the prototype years ago.
Ultraviolet F77 – Trip quality
The F77 also strikes a good balance between handling and ride quality. USD 41 mm front fork and single shock absorber at the rear with preload adjustment. Despite its sporty stance, this motorcycle offers a well-balanced setup that handles bad situations with ease. Stability at high speeds is very good and the bike feels quite comfortable when handling undulating roads as well as slippery pavement. It’s not luxurious by any standards but much better than what we’re used to on KTM.
Ultraviolet F77 – Features
Ultraviolette has opted for an LCD digital display with a Linux-based user interface. There’s navigation, Digi lockers, smartphone connectivity via Bluetooth, and more. An eSim is embedded in the system and is part of the purchase. It’s easy to navigate using the switches, which also allow you to turn off the dual-channel ABS or adjust regenerative braking with the three modes on offer.
Ultraviolet F77 – Range & Charge
There’s more to the F77 and let’s start with the scope. 307 km on a single charge, that’s what Ultraviolette claims. IDC figures of course. But we’ll have to test it in the real world to see what it’s really capable of living with the F77. The F77 comes with a standard 3.3 kW charger that can provide a range of about 35 km in an hour while a full charge will take around 5 hours. There is an optional fast charger that can fully charge the bike in about an hour and a half.
Ultraviolet lamp F77 – Price
Prices for the original Ultraviolette F77 start at $3.80 lakh, while the F77 Recon that we are driving costs $4.55 lakh (old gallery). So yes, this is a very expensive proposition, considerably more than comparable 400 cc motorcycles.
Ultraviolet F77 – Verdict
The basis that we are looking for as a product, the Ultraviolette F77 fulfills almost 90 percent of it. Improvements can be made right from top performance to features, and since most of them are software related, making them easy to carry on motorcycles even months after launch. And that makes it a capable product to look for. It was a really long wait but well worth the wait.
Deliveries for the F77 begin in February and Bengaluru will be the first city to have the dealership. The company plans to expand to other cities later this year, while also exporting to markets such as Europe, the US, Japan and Southeast Asia.
First published date: January 30, 2023, 10:04 AM IST
