Ultraviolette F77 proves electric motorcycles can be cheap to buy AND run

The Ultraviolette F77, one of the more intriguing new electric motorcycle options to emerge from a rapidly evolving market in India, has received its long-awaited launch in its domestic market.

First previewed back in 2019, the F77 represents an alternative approach to the majority of electric motorcycles hitting the Indian market, which has seen its EV segment grow significantly over the last couple of years.

However, while the majority of the debutants have focused on the scooter class, Ultraviolette has gone after the Yamaha R3 and KTM RC390 in terms of performance with the ambitious and competitively priced F77 sportsbike.

Harnessing the EV advantages of linear torque and rapid acceleration, the Ultraviolette F77 can hit 0-60mpg in 7.5secs en route to a top speed of 94mph, while range is a respectable 125 miles.

Aesthetically, while the F77 offers some design flair with some of the more contemporary touches in the stylised wheel trims and sculpted fairing and bison hump, alas the slab-sides housing the battery pack otherwise give it a bulky and heavy appearance compared with its aforementioned petrol-fuelled targets.

Where the F77 really makes its pitch to the public, however, is its competitive price which at a reported 3 lakh (roughly £3,200 when converted to UK directly) already undercuts the RC390 and the R3 on the forecourt, as well as of course proving much cheaper to run too.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, it’s an approach that appears to have struck a chord with curious buyers with Ultraviolette tutoring 65,000 pre-orders from around the world, according to BikeWale.

While it’s unlikely the F77 itself will make its way over to Europe, as a fairly unique option in the lower-mid capacity electric sportsbike class, its success in the world’s biggest motorcycle market could act as inspiration to mainstream manufacturers still determining which way to go on green in the near future…

You may also want to check out our Best Electric Motorcycles article.