Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 Recon review: More for less

The F77 Mach 2 is a fine example of how EVs can be meaningfully upgraded without significant mechanical changes. The Mach 2 isn’t really a Gen-2 product but more of a second iteration, and the multiple small changes Ultraviolette has introduced have noticeably improved the experience.

Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 design changes

Not much has changed in terms of looks. The bodywork is all the same, but Ultraviolette has introduced a bunch of more appealing colour schemes, including the eye-catching yellow you see here. You could say that the one visual change comes in the form of the fresh look of the TFT dash. The unit is the same, but the layout has been revised with more of an aeronautical theme. Some of the numbers are a little too small, but the necessary information you’d want to repeatedly refer to is all easy to see. 

Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 regenerative braking

One of the reasons the TFT was redesigned was to incorporate a readout for what is probably the most relevant update this bike has received—controllable regen braking. The F77 Mach 2 now comes with nine levels of regen, with 9 being the strongest and 0 giving you free coasting on a closed throttle. 

Level 9 is impressively strong, but the company has tuned it well enough that it never feels abruptly aggressive. UV says that their regen can send up to 30 per cent of the power back to the battery pack, which is far higher than on any other Indian 2-wheeler EV, and that this can improve the overall range.  

What I liked most is how easy it is to change the level of regen when on the move—with arrow buttons on the left-side switchgear. Level 9 was great for aggressive riding in the hills, where it improved the sense of control. I imagine it will also be really nice in the city, where it would replace most of the braking you’d normally have to do. But if you want to settle into a more gentle and flowing ride, you could turn it down to level 3 or 4. And if you want maximum coasting on the highway, that’s possible, too. I like it because it not only improves the riding experience based on your mood but also adds to the bike’s character, and that’s something EVs really need.

With regen that can be so strong, UV had to develop a stability control programme that works along with rear ABS to ensure that the rear wheel doesn’t lock under hard braking scenarios or in low-grip situations. Another new feature is the inclusion of three-level traction control. We didn’t get to see how these systems work in the wet, but they did well on the dry, grippy roads we were riding on. 

Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 ride and handling

The Mach 2 updates also bring in small bumps in power and torque. The top Recon model we rode now produces a neat 40 hp and 100 Nm of torque. Acceleration times have improved slightly, and the top speed is now 155 kph. But like before, the 0–100 kph time of 7.7 seconds is more in the realm of 250–300 cc bikes. However, also like before, this is a riding experience unlike any ICE bike, and the uninterrupted torque surge in the top Ballistic mode is completely unique and quite enjoyable.  

At 207 kg, this remains a heavy machine—about 40 kilos more than the typical 300-400cc petrol rival. It is a sporty handler, and it hides its weight well on a smooth and flowing road, but there’s no escaping it in certain scenarios. These include lifting it off the side stand, making slow U-turns, and when you have to make a sudden direction change while riding. One area where the new regen really helps mask the bike’s weight is in the braking. The F77’s brakes are good, but they struggle to cope under repeated hard usage and Level 9 reduces the burden on the single 320mm front disc. 

I got to briefly ride the base F77 as well. While it has slightly lower power and torque figures, the actual performance is pretty much the same. That’s down to a 10kg weight reduction, thanks to the smaller battery pack. The effect is noticeable, and the suspension feels more composed when pushing the bike through corners. But I don’t think the improvement in dynamics is dramatic enough to justify the sizeable sacrifice in range compared with the Recon.

Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 battery, range

The magic of software optimisation means that the F77 now offers an even higher range despite no change in the battery pack size. The claimed IDC range is 211km for the base model with a 7.1kWh pack and 323km for the Recon, which has a 10.3kWh pack. These numbers will vary wildly depending on how you ride. I found myself on par to cover about 180–200km with plenty of brisk riding in a mix of the mid and high modes. Ride flat out in Ballistic (which is great fun), and I suspect that number will drop closer to 150km.

Nevertheless, the F77 is taking us to the point where an EV motorcycle can now comfortably handle a 200km round-trip ride out of the city to some fun roads. Once the company installs its fast chargers at carefully selected riding hotspots across the country, owning a bike like this will be a lot more appealing. It’s something UV is actively working towards.

As before, the F77 is chock-full of intelligent features, and new additions include a Hill Hold system that works very well. You also get things like fall/crash/tow alerts, tyre pressure monitoring, a park assist, and much more, although some of these are optional. 

Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 price, verdict

While many of these updates have improved the experience, what truly makes the F77 more appealing is the reduced introductory price. Now at Rs 2.99 lakh for the base model and Rs 3.99 lakh for the Recon, the F77 isn’t that much more expensive than some rivals, and you’ll quickly make up the purchase price difference with the running costs. Moreover, UV is now so confident in its engineering that it offers the Recon with a 5-year/1 lakh km (battery and drivetrain) warranty as standard and even has an optional 8-year/8 lakh km warranty package.

Before we end, the beauty of technological capabilities such as these is that every bike sold so far can be upgraded to Mach 2 spec. The fact that UV is going to do so free of charge means that this will be a company with some very happy and loyal customers. 

This is still a motorcycle that requires an early adopter mentality or a customer who wishes to try something different. But companies such as Ultraviolette are steadily pushing electric vehicles closer to the mainstream, and the F77 is now at a point where it makes an appealing case for itself. 

Also See:
Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 Recon video review