Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2: Electrifying, yet strangely subtle
Okay, let's cut to the chase. I’m starting to develop a soft spot for electric bikes. There's just no replicating that instant, unrelenting torque these things deliver. But the Indian-made Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 adds a sprinkle of something different – a sense of quiet maturity you usually don't find in a bike that'll do 0-60 mph in under three seconds (0-100 km/h in 7.7 seconds).
At first glance, you'd swear this is just the old model with a fresh paint job. Nope! Dig deeper and you find subtle, yet meaningful tweaks. That charging port cover? Now it's aluminum, replacing fussy plastic. You get new colors for the monoshock and some cool new fork graphics. Hey, small wins can be big victories.
But what IS big is the color palette. Nine shades in total, each more sci-fi cool than the last. Think "Stellar White," "Supersonic Silver," and personal favorite, "Afterburner Yellow." Makes you want to grab a matching helmet and go find some trouble, doesn't it?
The two F77 Mach 2 variants both rock three riding modes (Glide, Combat, and the giggles-inducing Ballistic). The base model has a 7.1 kWh battery offering a decent 131 miles (211 km) of range. Want the full monty? Step up to the Recon for a 10.3 kWh pack with enough juice for 201 miles (323 km).
The Recon packs more punch too – 40 horsepower and a chunky 74 lb-ft of torque (36 horsepower and 66 lb-ft on the standard model). Ultraviolette claims the Recon will slingshot to 96 mph (155 km/h) – a sliver faster than the standard variant.
Here's where this electric sportbike gets seriously interesting. Sure, you've got the usual fancy TFT display, but the Mach 2 boasts switchable regenerative braking (up to 10 levels!) and a four-level traction control system you can completely disable... if you dare.
Opt for the 'Violette AI' package and things get even wilder. You'll unlock safety features that would make a Volvo jealous: crash alerts, anti-collision warnings, the whole nine yards.
With all those goodies tightly packed into that sexy package, this thing must cost an arm, the leg and a sliver of liver, right? Not at all. The F77 Mach 2 starts around $3,600 USD (Rs 2.99 lakh) with the Recon hitting closer to $5,000 USD (Rs 3.99 lakh). Those are introductory prices for India, so expect Western markets to get a bit of a sticker shock if they ever reach our shores.
Is it worth it? Honestly, the updated Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 strikes an unusual balance. It's got wild performance but wraps it in a package that feels... sensible? Not boring, but a lot less 'look at me!' than other electrics. For the evolving electric bike enthusiast who wants the thrill without the neon-drenched shoutiness, it might just be the perfect two-wheeled storm.
