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Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 Review: Now Even More Maniacal
The Ultraviolette F77 took nearly six years to go from an idea to the real-world electric sports bike that we've come to admire since it was first launched back in early 2023.
Now, without a pandemic to delay development, the folks at Ultraviolette have taken just a year and a half to come up with the F77 Mach 2 and it brings with it quite a few changes and colour choices galore.
But is the new Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 still as mad as the first one to ride? We took the new F77 Recon Mach 2 for a ride just outside of Bangalore and came back with quite a few thoughts that we're sharing with the EV crowd here...
Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 Review: Design & Features - What's Changed?
At first glance, the changes to the Mach 2 are not that easy to figure out. But if you take a deeper dive into the new F77 Mach 2, you'll start to notice the subtle changes.
In terms of design, the F77 Mach 2 still looks like something from the future. However, unlike its predecessor, which was offered in just three colourways, the new F77 Mach 2, is offered in nine new colourways - Lighting Blue, Asteroid Grey, Turbo Red, Afterburner Yellow, Stealth Grey, Cosmic Black, Plasma Red, Supersonic Silver, and Stellar White.
Other changes are a bit less noticeable until you actually get on the bike. These include the new aluminium lid for the charging port and the tweaked riders' triangle, which Ultraciolette claims has been tweaked to deliver a balance between touring and the ultra-aggressive riding position of its predecessor.
The major changes come in the form of upgrades to the features list. Like its predecessor, the Mach 2 is offered with 3 levels of regen braking as standard, but owners can opt to upgrade this to a 10-step setup, allowing for a bit more granular control over how the electric bike harvests the energy lost during braking.
The regen braking along with ABS setup work together as part of the new Dynamic Stability Control setup which Ultraviolette claims ensures that the wheels don't lock up and you come to a halt in a controlled and predictable manner.
There's also a new four-step traction control system, which is especially useful when riding in rather damp and slippery conditions. Also new is the Hill Hold setup, which means that you don't have to keep the brakes engaged all the time to stop from rolling forward or backward on a slope.
There are also a host of tech upgrades like geofencing/delta watch, crash alerts, Violette AI, ride analytics, charge limit, Deep sleep/vacation mode, park assist, lockdown, and a find my option.
There have been tweaks made to the powertrain as well. While the battery capacity (of the Recon) has remained the same at 10.3kWh, the IDC range has increased by 16km to 323km on a single charge. There are now faster charging options available as well with Ultraviolette's own Supernova charger allowing for a 20-80 per cent recharge in just 45 minutes.
The battery is now connected to a slightly more powerful motor producing 40.23bhp (up by 1.35bhp) and 100Nm (up by 5Nm). These updates mean that the new Mach 2 sprints from 0-60km/h in just 2.8 seconds with the 0-100km/h sprint now coming up in 7.7 seconds (both quicker by 0.3 seconds). The top speed too has increased 8km/h to 155km/h.
Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 Review: Riding Impressions - Manic Fun With A Bit More Control Added On
So what have all the changes done to the Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2? Well, the most noticeable change is when you get onto the second-generation electric bike. The seating position is a lot more relaxed than before but still ensures that the rider has to remain committed when on the saddle.
The slight upgrade in power and torque may not seem like much on paper, but they are noticeable on the road. The Mach 2 wants to go the moment you twist the throttle and feels a lot more unhinged in Ballistic mode and you find yourself doing triple digits in next to no time.
The new 4-way traction control setup is a godsend with the more manic nature of the Mach 2's need for speed. We found Level 1 to our liking as it allows for a little bit of wheelspin. If you like to be the everyday rider, then opt for Level 2, as it keeps the wheelspin under a lot stricter control.
Now the other two levels - 0 and 3 are the exact opposite of each other and will drive you mad in their own special way. Mode 3 is what we refer to as Super Nanny mode, and it will cut power to the rear wheel the moment it sniffs wheelspin forming and will gradually release it back to you in a gradual manner.
Mode 0, on the other hand, is Hulk Smash mode, especially if you have the Ballistic riding mode enabled. If you fancy a bit of balls to the balls-to-the-wall style of riding, then this is the mode for you. First-time riders and those who haven't ridden the F77 before should avoid this if only to ensure they don't end up like "Puny God" Loki in Avengers.
The 10-step regen setup works quite well and the difference in stopping power is evident as you move through the levels on the fly. This ability also allows you to modulate your braking when it comes to cornering and is quite a handy tool to have, once you get used to it.
The suspension setup is as stiff as ever allowing you to have fun in the corners but can still deal with the regular bumps and ruts with ease. The rear end feels playful but that is to be expected when you're dealing with the power levels on offer.
The brakes though left a bit to be desired. While under normal conditions they behaved quite well. However, under heavy braking from higher speeds, the weight transfers to the front a bit too sharply leaving the rear fishtailing about. This issue was weirdly sorted when we installed one of our colleagues on the pillion seat.
Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 Review: Final Thoughts & Verdict - Unhinged Electric Maniac Just Got Madder
When the Ultraviolette F77 arrived for the first time in early 2023, it felt like a mad futuristic punch to the gut of entry-level ICE motorcycles across the country. Fast-forward 18 months and the Mach 2 has arrived with an even more madcap attitude that makes us glad that we're living in times like these.
However, the issue of the price tag is still what prospective owners will have to deal with as, despite the big price drop, the Ultraviolette F77 in both its standard (Rs 2.99 lakh)and Recon (Rs 3.99 lakh) guises still feels like they're pinching the pocket a bit too hard, considering the ICE options available at those price points.
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