Ultraviolette F77 SuperStreet Review - The Best Electric Motorcycle Just Got Better?

Can a new handlebar fundamentally change a motorcycle? That's the question that Ultraviolette proposed to us with this the brand new F77 SuperStreet. Now the F77 SuperStreet looks almost identical to the F77 Mach 2, which launched just 8 months back, and in most ways it is. But the big difference is; where the Mach 2 gets low set clipons, the SuperStreet gets a tall and wide, one-piece handlebar. But how much difference can that make?

Looks Sharp as Ever

Before we get to how much of a difference that has made, first, let’s look at what has stayed the same. The F77 SuperStreet is nearly identical in design to the F77 Mach 2. Sure, there are some slight variations in the paint schemes. But the SuperStreet still gets the same sharp LED headlight, the same fork covers and even the massive side panels are unchanged. And because the SuperSteet’s new handlebar and handlebar clamps are all black, even from a slight distance, it’s nearly impossible to differentiate between it and the Mach 2. But we still believe that the F77’s design looks good, whether it’s the Mach 2 or the SuperStreet.

The one issue we did come across is that the SuperStreet gets the exact same mirrors as the Mach 2. Now these do look good and work well on the Mach 2 when you’re sitting more leaned forward. But on the SuperStreet, the mirror mounts needed to be a bit longer, as you end up seeing more of your elbows than what’s behind you.

Just as Electrifying

Even the internals of the SuperStreet are unchanged from the F77 Mach 2. You get the same standard variant with the slightly smaller 71.kWh battery pack and 27kW (36.7PS) motor, with an IDC range of 211km. And you also have the top-end Recon variant with the larger battery 10.3kWh pack and 30kW (40.7PS) motor, which promises you an IDC range of 323km. You still have 3 riding modes - Glide, Combat & Ballistic - and these can be thought of as Eco, City and Sport. But the F77’s throttle calibration is just so good that you can pretty much be in Ballistic mode all day long. It’s very controllable and super fun at the same time.

Just like on the Mach 2, the SuperStreet also gets 10 levels of regenerative braking on the Recon variant (3 levels on the Standard variant). Now I know that might sound like too many options, but the ability to fine tune the regen braking to perfectly match your riding conditions is actually a huge help.

More Comfortable Than Ever

The SuperStreet’s one-piece handlebar has made a big difference in the way you sit on the F77. The rider’s posture has gone from a 55-degree forward lean on the Mach 2 to an 80-degree forward lean on the SuperStreet - which is almost as good as sitting upright. The riding posture has become like that of a proper modern roadster, akin to something like the KTM 390 Duke. The foot pegs though, are just as rearset as the Mach 2, which, even with the taller handlebar, makes the riding position quite sporty. But it never feels as committed as the Mach 2, which means riding the F77 SuperSteet every day around town should be really easy and comfortable.

Not Just a simple handlebar swap

You might think just changing a bike’s handlebar is a very straightforward process. But Ultraviolette tells us that in order to maintain the F77’s 50-50 weight distribution, even with the drastic change in riding position, was a fairly complex process. Ultraviolette had to reengineer the top triple clamp, and specially design the handlebar risers and the handlebar itself to work well in this new setup.

Sporty ride, but better now

What hasn't been reengineered is the SuperStreet’s underpinnings. It’s got the same chassis and the same suspension, with the same tuning too. It’s got a chunky inverted fork up front and a monoshock at the rear - both preload adjustable. And this setup is a bit on the firmer side to manage the 207kg kerb weight of the bike (Recon variant).

The new ergonomics have definitely made a big difference in comfort, because the tall handlebar and upright riding position puts a lot less strain on your wrist and palms when you're just riding normally. But even the way the F77 rides on bad roads has changed. Although the suspension is still rather firm, because now you now have less weight on the front end, the way the SuperStreet rides through bumps and pot holes is just so much smoother. When you’re riding on bad roads, it’s a lot easier for your elbows to absorb any front-end movements and you simply won’t believe you're riding a bike that weighs over 200 kilos. Which means riding the F77 SuperStreet every day is now an absolute breeze.

Quick turner

What's more shocking about the SuperStreet is the way it handles. Now the Mach 2 was already a good handling motorcycle, but let's face it… you could feel its weight in the corners. The SuperStreet, although it weighs the same - in fact half a kilo more than the Mach 2, is actually much lighter to steer in because the wide handlebar gives you lots of leverage. It turns into corners with very little effort. Of course, it’s not as eager to turn as a true lightweight sportbike, something like the Yamaha R15. But given the F77 SuperStreet’s weight, it's actually quite remarkable. And we spent a full day on a gokart track with tight hairpins and sharp corners, which the F77 SuperStreet handled just beautifully. 

Just as feature packed

Features wise too, there’s no difference between the F77 Mach 2 and the SuperStreet. The SuperStreet too gets dual-channel ABS, Hill Hold, Dynamic Stability control and even a 4-level traction control system (Recon variant). And it’s got the same 5-inch colour TFT screen too with a host of connected features. But this screen has been tilted upwards compared to the Mach 2, to make it easier to read when you’re sitting upright. And this makes the screen quite readable, even in bright sunlight.

Cuts through the wind

Now whether you're talking about the F77 Mach 2 or the SuperStreet - essentially both bikes are nakeds. There's no full fairing, there's no bubble to tuck behind. But hte little plastic panel that sits above the headlight and under the console has been made specially for the SuperStreet to deflect the air from the front right over the rider, even if the rider is sitting fairly upright. At some points in our review, I was riding at speeds of 130kmph sitting upright on the bike and I could barely get any wind noise in my helmet. That little piece of plastic looks very inconsequential but actually works wonders at high speeds.

Verdict PTC

At Rs 2.99 lakh ex-showroom for the Standard variant and Rs 3.99 lakh ex-showroom for the Recon variant, the prices of the SuperStreet are the same as the ones of the F77 Mach 2. That said, the SuperStreet is a lot easier to recommend to more people, because it's a lot more comfortable. And you can use it more often in more places. But is it enough to convince someone to make the jump into electric motorcycles? I'm still not entirely convinced. For that to happen, the way we charge electric bikes would need to be a lot faster and more convenient.

But if you're in the market for an electric motorcycle anyway, and don't mind spending the extra money considering the kind of performance you're getting from the F77, the SuperStreet makes a really good case for itself.