Swinging a leg over the F77 could be a challenge if you have been built concisely from the waist down as the stepped-up pillion seat could get in the way. Although once astride, even someone under 5’8” can have both feet firmly planted on the ground thanks to the slim tank. And even though the handlebars are lowered, grabbing onto them isn’t a stretch. When coupled with the aggressive positioning of the foot pegs, the F77 has sporty ergonomics. However, it does not feel demanding or straining in any way. Even the well-cushioned seat has ample space to move around, easily appealing to larger riders as well.
While the motorcycle does make you feel at home right from the start, it surprisingly feels so once you get moving. Switch it to any of the two modes before you get on the move, but the F77 will tread in the Glide mode before switching to Combat or Ballistic- a smart move to ease in the rider and keep safety in mind. In Glide mode, the F77 feels tamed and manageable. The throttle is smooth and the torque feels just enough to make it the ideal setting to ‘glide’ in the city or stop-go traffic. While the F77 can hit a top speed of around 70kmph in its lowest mode, it reaches there in a fairly laidback manner. Switch it to Combat mode and there is an evident change in character. There is a bit of a rush and the F77 feels enthusiastic and sprightly when you get on the throttle.
But the ‘Ballistic’ mode has the F77 going all out. Even the slightest twist of the right hand will have you holding on to the bars tight as the red/orange illuminated dash displays triple-digit speeds in under four seconds. The way it accelerates from stand still and out of a corner is downright enjoyable and will leave you grinning from ear-to-ear. We managed to see 135kmph on the display before the performance felt like it was plateauing up to 145kmph. Nonetheless, the way the F77 puts down its power and torque is definitely engaging.
To cut down on these speeds, Ultraviolette has borrowed the braking setup from the KTM RC 390. Yet again, we aren’t complaining. The setup worked wonderfully offering good bite and progression initially. But we’d expect more feedback from the front brake lever and consistent bite after riding hard for a while. That said, the F77’s regen braking isn’t the most intrusive. While the hum of the motor is different in ‘High’ mode and the use of the rear brake is lessened to a certain degree, it isn’t choppy.
Now, the handling of the F77 is somewhat of a mixed bag. It willingly tips into corners and holds its line well with the bespoke MRF rubber offering credible grip and confidence to push further. But then, switching sides and picking it back up requires effort. After all, it does have a kerb weight of 207kg. While we will be able to give you a fair idea of its ride quality once we ride it extensively in the city, during the short stint we had over majorly well-paved roads, the suspension felt well set up too. It feels plush going into potholes and undulations in the road at slow speeds while skipping over these as speeds increase.
150 kg
