This Bike Sounds Like a Fighter Jet
Two weeks ago, Ultraviolette delivered its F77 Superstreet to BCB HQ for testing. With only two examples currently in the UK and the official launch still to come, we were keen to find out what this electric motorcycle could do.
Despite its sportsbike styling, the F77 is aimed at riders looking for everyday usability with a healthy dose of performance when the road opens up. That's a proposition we can get behind, but we also wanted to put some of Ultraviolette's performance claims to the test.
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First Impressions
The F77 looks great, but it's the build quality that makes an immediate impression. Nothing moves, nothing squeaks. It's a very well put-together machine. The display is sharp, with plenty of menus if you want to dig into the settings, but the layout is clear and gives you the information you need while riding.
That fighter-jet sound is something else. It's loud, distinctive and turns heads. There's a mix of turbo spooling and jet engine about it, created by the motor and its engineering rather than artificial sound effects. Ultraviolette told us there's no sound module or additional hardware involved. It's a refreshing change from the familiar electric motor hum. Although, for the record, I do like a good hum.
We didn't have access to Ultraviolette's owner app during our test, but we did have something of our own. BCB used its new electric motorcycle telemetry app to put the F77's acceleration and efficiency claims to the test. More on that later.
The SuperStreet gives riders a slightly more upright seating position than the Mach 2, but performance is exactly the same. Despite its sporty ergonomics, I didn't experience any saddle ache during our rides. The 205 kg (452 lbs) kerb weight is noticeable when moving the bike around, but seems to disappear once you're underway. The F77 feels well balanced, and the suspension takes the odd pothole in its stride. Even when you don't see it coming.
There's three riding modes: Glide, Combat and Ballistic. The names are suitably Top Gun, and there's a noticeable difference between them. Glide heavily restricts power, Combat offers a good balance of performance and usability, while Ballistic gives you the full Maverick treatment when you want it.
Beyond the Manufacturer's Claims
I'm a sportsbike fan, so naturally, I wanted to see what the F77 could do when the throttle was wide open. We set about testing its 0-100 km/h acceleration, with a clear stretch of tarmac and our own telemetry software recording the results.
Ultraviolette claims 7.7 seconds to 100 km/h (62 mph). Across eight rides over seven days, I initially struggled to get close. On the final day, I checked the tyre pressures, made sure the battery was fully charged, tucked in and gave it everything. The result was 8.47 seconds, just 0.77 seconds shy of the manufacturer's claim. Not bad considering we were dealing with a 7 km/h (4 mph) headwind and a 1.8% uphill gradient.
Efficiency was also under the microscope. Glide heavily restricts power and limits top speed to around 74 km/h (46 mph). It's not going to win any drag races, but it's designed to prioritise range. That would have been the obvious choice for an efficiency test, but instead, I relied on wrist control.
The test returned 19.2 km/kWh (12 m/kWh), comfortably within Ultraviolette's claimed range of 13.9 to 22.4 km/kWh. We used just 8% of the battery on that run. For clarity, the figure is calculated using the distance covered and the battery percentage shown on the bike's display, not a direct measurement of energy consumption.
Charging
The F77 uses an off-board charger. Like the motorcycle, it's well made, but it's heavy and clearly designed to be mounted on a wall rather than carried around. The thick cables are awkward to wrap up and don't disconnect from the main unit, making it less portable than we'd like.
The BCB Take
The F77 is a seriously well-made electric motorcycle. It's quick, handles well, delivers respectable efficiency and has one of the best sounds we've heard from an electric motorcycle. There's a lot to like here.
The off-board charger is our biggest gripe, and an onboard option would make life easier, although we'd have to see what that does to the bike's weight. The sporty riding position won't suit everyone, and while you certainly notice the 205 kg when moving the bike around, it largely disappears once you're underway.
There's still plenty we'd like to get out of the F77, not least a proper look at its real-world range. But we've enjoyed our time with it, and we're keen to see UV get these bikes into the hands of more riders. Something tells us they won't go unnoticed.
Ride safe, folks.
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