India’s Sport Motorcycles are About to Shake Up the Industry – And They will Be Coming to the U.S. and Europe Sooner Than You Think
Indian motorcycles, and by that I mean, motorcycles designed and built in India, are not new to the world market. But this year, one new marque, at least to this writer, is opening eyes around the globe.
Until recently, Indian motorcycles were mostly known for their practicality, in a nation where mobility was more important than speed. Apparently, that is changing. Ultraviolette of India, a manufacturer of highly innovative motorcycles, is now going into production with an electric sport racing motorcycle, – this motorcycle.
A motorcycle with aircraft DNA and features that are incredibly innovative, it is built with a windscreen (part of active aerodynamics) that changes angle dependent on the speed. Astonishingly, aerodynamic active wings, open up as the lean angle increases, placing additional downforce on the front wheels to maximize tire grip and adherence in corners. It is designed with an aluminum frame with a single-side aluminum machined swing arm, with Bembro brakes, Olin’s rear shock and carbon fibre bodywork.
The air-cooled 400V battery architecture and liquid-cooled motor combine to produce 120 bhp, with the motorcycle having an aero drag coefficient of 0.45, which enables this motorcycle to reach a top speed of 165 mph.
This is now the fastest motorcycle ever produced in India, and will see raceways in 2025 under the factory Ultraviolette name.
The F99 ‘Air-Blade,’ (seen below) uses a segment of the side panel or side fairing that adapts to lean angles during cornering. This real-time electronically actuated system increases downforce, ensuring optimal performance when taking sharp turns on the motorcycle.
Ultraviolette Motor Corporation also produces more staid motorcycles, but the F99 FRP is a motorcycle meant for racing, designed to showcase Indian engineering and technological development.
And while the F99 FRP (Factory Racing Platform) is truly designed for racing alone, a non-track specific F99 is in production as well, – which I’ll review once the vehicle’s complete information is available.
For those in the west who had visions of Indian motorcycles as just a little more than a moped, it would seem that they are capable of completely embarrassing products like the Livewire from Harley Davidson.
How so? Ultraviolette are also going into production with an off-road electric adventure motorcycle shortly, in competition with all other off-road motorcycles, and as with the standard F99, I’ll be reviewing that as well.
India’s motorcycle companies will upset the motorcycle market, assuming that trade remains rational in the west. If severe tariffs are to levelled on Indian and Chinese manufacturers, it will likely signal the end of Harley Davidson’s world sales, as Harley continues to wallow in debt and old technologies.
As Ultraviolette produces all its motorcycles in India, the price of the motorcycles will be incredibly competitive, something that true sport and racing enthusiasts will find ultra-attractive.
Ciao…
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