It doesn’t usually happen that we head to a new motorcycle ride without an idea of what it’s going to look like. With no spy shots or leaked images, the new Ultraviolette F77 SuperStreet was going to be an actual surprise for us. Anticipating its arrival, it didn’t take too long for my mind to wander into the unknown, trying to guess what this one would be like: maybe a production version of the F99 or something based on the company’s EICMA exhibit, Concept X? When the eventual unveil happened, my guesses were wrong but at the same time, it all felt a bit underwhelming. Because parked right in front was a motorcycle that could have been just about anything, but it turned out to be identical to the F77 Mach 2 save for some new stickers, liveries, a new ‘SuperStreet’ name, and a single-piece handlebar. Apart from that, this looked like the same motorcycle as the F77 Mach 2, down to the seat and the footpegs. So, was it just that, or did Ultraviolette have a surprise for us in the way this ‘new’ motorcycle rode?
Since this is the ‘street’-focused of the F77 duo, I began the test by familiarising myself with it on the road. To my surprise, the difference between the F77 Mach 2 and the new F77 SuperStreet was quite discernible. With the taller and wider handlebar, the F77 SuperStreet was easy to navigate through traffic and on bad roads. It not only rode slightly better but also had a more commanding riding position. That was because of the same seat and footpeg position as the Mach 2, but now with a taller handlebar. The only downside was that my lower half felt cramped, while my upper body was relatively relaxed. The upside was that I wasn’t putting as much load on the front, so the suspension possibly had a little bit of extra travel, and my wrists weren’t at the receiving end of the plight that uneven roads brought. It was definitely a more comfortable experience than the Mach 2.
The F77 SuperStreet offers close to 40 bhp and 9.6 kg-m, which is good enough to keep you entertained, regardless of where you ride it.
| Photo Credit: Kaizad Adil Darukhanawala
As the suspension on the two motorcycles is identical, it was natural to test the F77 SuperStreet on the track. Like on the road, it didn’t take too long for the F77 SuperStreet to show its prowess. It felt at home doing the kind of stuff the more focused F77 Mach 2 is suited to. The new handlebar setup meant going around corners felt different but never awkward. The MRF Steel Brace tyres offered nothing but good grip, and the 10-level regenerative braking was a boon. I started at level six and went to the highest level by the end of my second lap. It’s not a natural feeling not to rely on brakes to slow down, but such is the brilliance of the chassis setup that I found myself wanting a bit more regen-braking by the end of my session.
The F77 SuperStreet offers close to 40 bhp and 9.6 kg-m, which is good enough to keep you entertained, regardless of where you ride it. It has three riding modes, namely Combat, Glide and Ballistic. The latter is, of course, the most focused. A four-level traction control is also standard on the F77 SuperStreet Recon. Its 10.3 kWh battery offers an estimated range of 323 km (claimed) and can be charged from 20 to 80 per cent in 5 hours using the supplied charger or in 60 minutes on a 12 kW DC fast charger.
The F77 SuperStreet is an F77 Mach 2 but with a regular handlebar, and will be more suited to those who use the motorcycle primarily in the city and on the occasional spirited ride during the weekends. The price tag of ₹2.99 lakh for the standard version and ₹3.99 lakh for the Recon variant is the same for both F77 versions, which makes the choice even easier. It’s a solid piece of kit, this motorcycle, although it wouldn’t have harmed Ultraviolette to style the SuperStreet slightly differently.
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