Whenever we say that we are on the cusp of transition, the future is changing rapidly; sooner or later, we must face the realities of the EV world. We tend to say this with a heavy heart as deep inside, we still want to experience the limit of an internal combustion engine, mainly with bikes. Ever since the Bangalore-based startup Ultraviolette showcased its F77 bike, it intrigued a sense of curiosity to see it in the real world. After delays and delays, and changes after changes - it finally made it into the market. Ever since it was showcased, I was pretty excited to ride it, primarily because it looked damm fast, and secondly - how well does it evoke thrilling emotions? F77 Recon puts itself in a unique proposition wherein one has no reference point to compare it against. Despite already owning a KTM Duke 390, I was drawn to the electric F77 for its striking appearance and impressive potential sporty character. I have ridden it through city confines and taken highway runs to check if the experience is yet wholesome enough to replace ICE bikes.
VERDICT
Let's put the money equation out of context and think this way - Does this bike evoke a sense of enthusiasm with its form factor? To me - Yes. But will I choose it over an ICE motorcycle? And that's where the price comes into play; at around Rs 4.55 lakh (exshowroom), the F77 Recon is a bit expensive. But for some, if money is not an issue, and they would like to own something that looks unconventional and rides differently; the F77 is the only pick. It is imperative that the brand concentrates its efforts on improving specific areas. Firstly, the braking and regenerative calibration could be better, and the fit and finish need improvement. But apart from these shortcomings, the startup's efforts are commendable in building a product that goes fast and far, handles well and, most importantly, looks excellent . Currently, the bike is only sold in Bengaluru and subsequently the brand will expand its operation across India soon. The F77 Recon has shown the startup potential in building performance bikes. Once they start their own One Make Championship, a lot of learnings and feedback will be further implemented to make this 'THE' potential electric bike for enthusiasts.
LOOKS, FEATURES AND ERGONOMICS.
The influence of aviation design on Ultraviolette F77 is immediately apparent. The bike looks unique in its own way, and the design elements it carries make it look fast at a standstill. The side body panels have nice edges and creases to make them attractive. In a neat-looking side panel, one would notice a small fin that serves the purpose of providing air to the powertrain unit. Not just that, it also acts as a safety member during a fall or crash. The suspension shroudes at the front with a tastefully designed LED headlamp unit would be hard to ignore. At every traffic signal, inquiries about the bike are inevitable. F77 was truly attention-grabbing. The rear end is also nicely designed with a cool-looking tail lamp. However, the number plate extension and the indicators look a bit more flimsy when viewed on the go. The material and paint quality is also the favourable reason that makes the bike look appealing. Everything from the design of the wheels to the swingarms appears to be distinctive. The bike needs improvement in certain areas, especially the flimsy charging cap. A sturdier cover with a button or electric control would be a better solution.
The 5.0-inch TFT display of the Ultraviolette F77 is designed to be easily readable even in the brightest sunlight. Regarding connected tech features, F77 gets a built-in 4G SIM that provides information such as navigation with real-time traffic assists and geofencing. One can store essential documents such as a driver's license, insurance and RC. All basic commands can be operated using PlayStation-inspired buttons, which users can quickly get accustomed to. The motor will not start immediately upon powering on the bike. There will be a brief delay as the display boots up before the motor can be activated. Including a parking brake is highly recommended for the sake of convenience. Relying only on the front or rear brakes to control F77 movement in traffic can be difficult.
With the F77, the rider's triangle is strategically placed forward, giving it a bold and dynamic look while still retaining its athletic personality. It was not cumbersome. However, my wrist started to hurt after an hour-long ride. The seat height of 800 mm is adequate to ensure comfortable accommodation. I (5.8ft ) could easily keep both feet on the ground. The seats are a bit firmer, but I do not find any complaints about their comfort. Agreed, cushing could have helped to make it feel better. However, in the long run, one gets used to it and finds peace with it. The weight of the F77 is on the heavier side- 207 kgs; thus, muscling it around would be a task in itself. Fortunately, it has both reverse and forward modes, but there is no clear button for activating them. It takes some time to figure out how to use it.
Battery- 10.3kWh
Power - 39hp
Torque - 96Nm
Price - Rs.4.55 lakh (Ex-Showroom Bangalore)
BATTERY AND PERFORMANCE
Ultraviolette F77 comes with two battery pack variants - a standard 7.1kWh and a bigger 10.3 kWh. We had a top-spec Recon variant with a 10.3kWh battery pack. This is one of the bravest attempts so far to provide this big battery pack with an IDC range of 307km. Not just the range, but the power figures on paper are surprisingly healthy, with around 39 hp of peak power and 95 Nm of torque. I, too, hold the bike to a high standard of performance, as its appearance and specifications suggest. However, in reality, it isn't a neck-paining acceleration. Ultraviolette says they have purposely done this to keep the traction and wheelspin in check. The bike gets three riding modes - Glide, Combat and Ballistic. Glide could be better termed as an Eco mode, wherein the bike focuses on maximising range. It feels a bit dull to use this mode; however, in stuck-go traffic, you are better with the Glide mode. Things get to change in Combat mode. It was the most suitable mode as it had the perfect character of performance that one expects from a bike like this. Then there is a Ballistic mode - it's quick but not entertainingly thrilling, it has a good quick linear acceleration rather than a sudden torque surge as one would expect from a sporty e-bike like F77.
The throttle calibration is flawless, providing a rapid surge of up to 50-60km/hr. From there, the acceleration is effortless and allows for a smooth ride. Once one gets the hang of the throttle calibration, modulating the inputs to get the best out of the bike could be satisfying. Acceleration of 0-100km/hr around 8 seconds puts it in comparison to 250-300 cc bikes. However, the feel of an EV doing this acceleration is so different. Yes, one would argue, bro - you do not know how engaging it feels to rev the engine and change gears but believe me when I say F77 also feels quite fun to throttle hard. Different does not always necessarily mean non-engaging.
In real-world usage , F77 is competent enough to give a range of around 210-220 km (switching between Glide and Combat mode according to need ) .There are three modes of regen as well - low, medium and high. However, I barely felt any resistance, even in the high mode. Better regenerative braking calibration could further enhance the real-world range. In terms of charging, customers have to pay Rs 26,650 extra for the Boost charger and Rs 42,500 to have both the standard and Boost chargers. The Boost charger is quite heavy to carry around; one can either mount it on the rear seat or carry it in a backpack, so planning a road trip will not be an easy affair. The Boost charger has a 3.0kW capacity with a max output voltage and current of 58V and 50A, respectively, good enough to serve the full charging time of around 5-5:30 hrs.
RIDE, HANDLING AND BRAKING
The weight of the F77 Recon is on the heavier side, with over 207kgs of weight - it becomes cumbersome to muscle it around city traffic. But once you gain the momentum, the weight tries to disappear. The suspension is on the firmer side for a reason. Firstly, the bike's character is sporty in nature, and secondly, to avoid bottoming out of suspensions over the bad paths that could cause damage to the battery pack. The rear mono-shock is too firm that it jerks off to its original position, thus hampering the ride quality. However, one can adjust both suspensions for preload.
Corner Carver! That's what we like to call it. Everyone from our team loved the way it holds its composure around the corners and itches one to push harder. The MRF Steel Brace tyres further add muchrequired grip to boost confidence. There is a nice whining sound of the motor to add a persona of electric performance. However, the chain noise and squeaky noises dull the experience. Another sector of improvement would be the brakes. It has a 320mm disc at the front, and a 230mm disc at the rear with a dual-channel ABS setup. The braking performance could have been better ; it does have an assuring bite, but the feedback could have been better. During hard braking, ABS kicks in, making the front end shaky, thus lowering the confidence.
