If someone had told you five years ago that companies like Harley, Yamaha, or KTM would be building electric motorcycles, you would’ve laughed and said, “Bro, get serious.” But look around now. The game has changed. Completely.  

Today, even the most petrol-headed brands, the ones that made bikes roar like wild animals, are charging (pun intended) headfirst into the electric world. And not just dabbling. They’re going full throttle. From café racers to sportbikes, from street rides to city scooters, suddenly everyone’s building electric

So what’s going on?

Why are these legacy brands, built on speed, sound, and sweat, now obsessed with lithium-ion batteries and charging cables?

Let’s take this apart like we’re stripping a bike in the garage.

The Vibe Has Shifted. Loudly.

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The old-school biker dream? You, a petrol monster, and an open road. But let’s be honest: that dream is starting to feel... outdated. Not because we don’t love it. We do. But because the world is changing.

We’ve got bigger cities, worse traffic, higher fuel costs, and more people who care about the planet and their wallets. Add to that some wild tech innovations, and you’ve got a whole new kind of rider emerging.

These new riders are shifting from gas-guzzlers. They want to know if it connects to their phone, shows real-time range stats, and charges faster than their iPhone.

Big brands? They’ve read the signs. And they’re shifting gears, fast.

Petrol Heads, Meet Power Nerds

Let’s not sugar-coat it. Petrol engines are emotional. They growl. They vibrate. They smell like rebellion. But here’s the catch: building a BS6-compliant petrol bike today is more expensive than ever. Emissions laws are strict. Maintenance is high. And petrol? Don’t even start.

Electric bikes, on the other hand, are all about instant torque, fewer parts, and nearly zero upkeep.

Also, this generation of buyers? They’re not going to wait five minutes for power to kick in. They want speed now.

Twist the throttle on a proper EV and there’s no drama — no lag, no warm-up act. It just launches. Case in point: the Ultraviolette F77. With a mind-bending 100 Nm of torque ready at your fingertips, this beast hits 0 to 60 in just 2.8 seconds. That’s not fast — that’s outrageous.

Big Brands Don’t Like Losing

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Here’s something you should know about the motorcycle industry. The giants may move slowly, but they hate losing. And lately, a bunch of smaller, sharper brands have been making some serious noise in the EV space.

Take Ultraviolette, for example. More on them later, but spoiler alert, they’re not playing.

When startups start stealing headlines, customers, and awards, the big boys start panicking. That’s when you see emergency boardroom meetings, strategy shifts, and those “all-new, all-electric” launches from companies that swore they’d never ditch petrol.

You think Harley launched LiveWire out of pure curiosity? Nah. They saw the wave coming and decided to ride it.

Tech is the New Muscle

There was a time when power meant BHP and CC. Now, it’s AI, regen levels, data dashboards, and ride modes. But here’s the kicker — none of that comes at the cost of speed or adrenaline.

If anything, today’s electric motorcycles amplify the thrill. Real-time performance tuning. Software that evolves with you. AI that studies your style and helps you push harder, corner sharper, and ride smarter.

This isn’t just riding anymore. It’s riding with a machine that thinks — a co-pilot that learns, predicts, and adapts. And while some petrol bikes still flex their muscles, they’re starting to feel like analog in a digital world.

Fortunately, the old guard is waking up. Finally.

Speed Is No Longer a Weakness

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This one’s important because every petrolhead's first argument is always this: “But bro, electric bikes aren’t fast enough.”

Well… that’s not true anymore.

Modern electric motorcycles can smoke you off the line. Why? Because torque delivery is instant. There’s no clutch. No gear lag. Just silent power, right when you need it.

Some EVs do 0 to 60 in under 3 seconds. Some have top speeds touching 160 kmph or more. And the best part? You don’t need to be an expert rider to feel that rush. It's easy, clean, and super addictive.

Big brands are realising this. Performance isn't a petrol-only club anymore.

City Riding is an Electric Playground

If you ride in Indian cities, you already know the drill. First gear. Brake. Clutch. Second gear. Brake. Neutral. Horn. Repeat.

Now imagine this: One gear. No clutch. No heat. No vibrations. Just glide through traffic with a smile on your face and no pollution behind you.

Electric motorcycles are perfect for city life. They’re smooth, quiet, and you don’t need to babysit the gear lever in bumper-to-bumper madness.

That’s why even city-focused big brands are rushing to make compact EVs with enough power for fun and enough comfort for chaos.

Money Talks. And Electric Wins.

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This is where things get real. Owning a petrol bike is expensive. Fuel, oil, chain sprays, servicing, spark plugs, filters, it adds up.

Now compare that to an electric motorcycle:

• You charge at home.

• Service once a year, maybe.

• No oil. No filter. No nonsense.

• Insurance? Often cheaper.

• Battery? Comes with crazy-long warranties these days.

And you know Indian buyers. Once the savings are visible, the shift is unstoppable. That’s why all brands are now thinking: If we don’t make electric bikes, someone else will. And we’ll lose out.

Governments Are Giving a Gentle Push (or a Hard Shove)

In case you missed it, governments in India and across the world are rolling out electric vehicle schemes faster than you can say.

Why?

Because they want cleaner air, less oil dependency, and smart cities.

That means lower GST, extra benefits, easy registration, and serious support for EV makers. Even toll waivers in some places.

The message is clear: Go electric or get left behind.

And the big brands? They’ve got the memo.

Ok, But What’s Cool in Electric Right Now?

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Glad you asked. Because while the big brands are playing catch-up, one homegrown beast is already racing ahead.

Meet Ultraviolette F77 SuperStreet. Possibly the most futuristic, most hardcore, most drool-worthy electric motorcycle in India right now.

Here’s what this beauty is packing:

• Battery: 10.3 kWh SRB10, giving you up to 323 km on one full charge

• Speed: Hits 155 kmph like it’s nothing

• Acceleration: 0–60 kmph in 2.8 seconds. 0–100 in 7.7 seconds

• Power: 30 kW motor (about 40.2 hp) with 100 Nm torque, super punchy

• Brakes: Dual-channel ABS with 320 mm front and 230 mm rear discs

• Suspension: Preload-adjustable front USD forks and rear monoshock

• Wheels: Proper fat sport tyres, 110/70 front and 150/60 rear

• Modes: Glide for chill, Combat for balance, Ballistic for max adrenaline

• Display: 5-inch full-color TFT with tactile controls

• App: Smart controls, alerts, messages, and call notifications

• AI: Violette AI, their in-house tech that analyses over 3,000 data points per second to give real-time suggestions on riding style, regen levels, and efficiency

• Charging: 20 to 80 percent in 2.5 hours with the Boost Charger

• Warranty: 8 years or 8,00,000 km on the battery. Yes, you read that right.

This is not a “let’s try EVs” bike. This is a “let’s dominate the future” bike.

The Final Word

Look, the electric shift is no longer a prediction. It’s reality. And it’s moving faster than any of us expected.

Big motorcycle brands are not just exploring EVs, they’re racing to stay relevant. And riders like you and me? We’re the winners.

Because we now get options like the Ultraviolette F77 SuperStreet. Machines that aren’t just electric. They’re exciting. Powerful. Connected. Stylish. And made for the kind of roads we ride on.

So the next time someone says electric bikes are boring, send them this article. Or better yet, take them for a spin on an F77.

Let them feel the future for themselves.