My New Electric Crush is From India, and It's Complicated
Image Credit: Ultraviolette.
Every once in a while, you're scrolling through the internet, probably looking at pictures of cats or bizarrely specific kitchen gadgets, and something stops you dead in your tracks. It's that "Ooh, what's that?" moment. It's new, it's different, it looks like it fell off a spaceship, and you immediately want to know everything about it. For me, that just happened with a motorcycle. An electric one, of course. And it's from India.
Meet the Ultraviolette F77. And yes, that's "Ultraviolette" with two T's, which is just the right amount of extra. After looking a little bit closer, it turns out this isn't some mild-mannered scooter for popping down to the shops. This thing is a full-on, angular, futuristic-looking electric sportbike that has just made its grand entrance onto the world stage. Specifically, it just landed in Germany, which is a bit like a talented new exchange student showing up at the most exclusive - and slightly intimidating - engineering academy in the world.
Image Credit: Ultraviolette.
Ultraviolette has officially rolled out its F77 Mach 2 lineup in Berlin. Through a partnership with a local distributor, this Indian upstart is now available in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy. It's a bold move, striding right into the heart of European motorcycle culture. Brave, very brave move.
So, what are we dealing with here? The F77 puts out about 40 horsepower. That's not going to win you any drag races against a superbike, but it's more than enough to give you a serious thrill. Essentially, it is a very enthusiastic electric pony that's had one too many espressos. It has the perfect amount of power to make city traffic an absolute blast.
Image Credit: Ultraviolette.
It also delivers around 73 pound-feet of torque, which is the fun stuff that gets you moving from a standstill. It's that instant shove in the back that makes electric vehicles so ridiculously amusing. Top speed is a respectable 89 miles per hour - faster than you'll ever legally go in most urban jungles. The 10.3 kWh battery promises a range of up to 144 miles. That's enough to cover your daily commute, a trip to the gym, and a detour for fancy coffee for several days before you even have to think about plugging it in.
Of course, it's packed with all the modern goodies you'd expect. You get Bosch anti-lock brakes (a must!), traction control, and even different levels of regenerative braking, so you can decide how much you want the bike to slow down on its own while putting a little juice back into the battery. It's all tied together with something they call the "Violette AI" platform. I'm not entirely sure what a motorcycle AI does, but I'm picturing a friendly, slightly sassy voice in my helmet offering navigation tips and occasionally reminding me that my riding posture could be better.
Image Credit: Ultraviolette.
There's a little snag in this almost perfect electric two-wheeler - we have to talk about the price. In India, this bike is a bit of a bargain, starting at what would be about $3,550. Unsurprisingly, it's a different story in Europe. After you add on shipping, taxes, and all the fun stuff that comes with selling things in the EU, the early-bird price for the base model is about $9,700. After the introductory offer, that pops up to nearly $10,800.
Is that a lot? You bet it is. But is it a bad deal? Not necessarily. When you look at what you're getting in terms of style and performance, it's still priced very competitively against many of its European electric rivals, which can easily soar into much higher price brackets. It's not cheap, but it offers a unique flavor for the money.
Image Credit: Ultraviolette.
One of the cleverest things Ultraviolette has done is to certify the F77 for the A1 European license class. This is huge. It means younger riders and those with a more restrictive license can hop on one. This isn't a machine built for seasoned experts with decades of riding under their belts; it's for a new generation. It's for the urban commuter who wants to look incredibly cool while silently zipping past traffic jams.
And you will look cool. The F77 has this aggressive, "hyper-naked" design. It's all sharp angles and attitude. It's the kind of bike that makes people stop and ask, "Wow, what is that?" It doesn't blend in at all, and that's entirely the point.
Image Credit: Ultraviolette.
I guess the big question is, will it succeed? Can this spicy, exciting newcomer from India win over the hearts and minds of European riders? It kinda feels like bringing a spectacular curry to a bratwurst and schnitzel party. It might be the most delicious thing there, but people might just stick with what they know. As you can probably guess, I am rooting for the curry. The electric vehicle world needs more variety, more daring designs, and more brands willing to shake things up.
Naturally, I have to wonder: will we see it in the US? It's a trickier market, but I think there's a place for the Ultraviolette F77 here. For city riders looking for something that's both a practical commuter and a genuine head-turner, this could be it. Ultraviolette, if you're listening, I have a space cleared in my garage, and my US-spec charging adapter is ready. Just say the word.
