80,000 km with the Ultraviolette F77!

August 20th, 2025 xBhp Features comments

We recently had a very special visitor at the MotoVilla. A you may have read elsewhere in this issue, we recently inducted an Ultraviolette F77 Mach 2 in the xBhp Garage. And the visitor we had has been riding one for nearly 80,000 km.

We are talking about Harish Surampade. He is an avid rider and traveller who has put the Ultraviolette F77 to the most stringent tests possible. He has ridden from 44°C to -10°C, from open roads to bustling cities, on seaside highways and in the mountains, on the tarmac and off it; he has ridden in every way imaginable.

Just as Ultaviolette has made us proud by conceiving and manufacturing a world-class motorcycle right here in India, Harish has done the motorcycling community proud by taking up this challenge. His experience will go a long way in eliminating a lot of the apprehensions that people have regarding electric motorcycles.

Here is an excerpt from the conversation we had with him:

Hi, I’m Harish, and I’m a proud owner of the Ultraviolette F77 motorcycle. I’ve covered 79,000 kilometres across most parts of India and six international borders.

When I’m on a long-distance ride, people often spot the green number plate and immediately realise it’s an electric bike. But then they ask, “Is it imported? What kind of bike is this?”

When I tell them, “It’s made in India, for the world,” it becomes a moment of pride for them and me.

As I am northbound on my roadtrip, I visited MotoVilla, the headquarters of xBhp. I arrived here after a long-distance ride. The MotoVilla also has a Boost Charger, since they own an F77 Mach 2 Recon too, so I’m able to recharge my bike here while taking a break.

Usually, people assume electric bikes are just for short city commutes. But I’ve been using mine extensively for long-distance travel. I’ve ridden off-road, and one of the most challenging journeys I did was in Nepal, about 2,000 km across tough terrain. The last 200 km, from Muktinath to Lomantang near the Nepal–China border, were completely ice-covered tracks.

One of my most memorable rides was from Gangtok to Nathula Pass. This was the first time an electric motorcycle had ever received a permit to go to Nathula. I was riding through snow, with temperatures dropping to –10°C. And on the other end of the spectrum, I’ve ridden in temperatures as high as 44°C. No matter the weather, I never stop riding.

The most beautiful views I’ve ever experienced have been in the Himalayas. I like to say I’ve seen the Himalayas from four different countries: India (Sikkim and North Bengal), Bhutan, Nepal, and China. I’ve crossed the Himalayan range across all four on this very bike.

One of the things I love about Ultraviolette is their 8 lakh-kilometre battery warranty. My bike has already crossed nearly 80,000 km, and the battery is still at 100% health, not even a 1% drop. The biggest challenge, both in India and internationally, has been the charging infrastructure. It’s still evolving.

My bike is fitted with several accessories: tank grips, lever guards, and a right-side pannier that houses the Boost Charger. I travel light, carrying only the essentials. For extra space, I use a tail bag, and that setup has been enough for all my long-distance rides.

Before choosing Ultraviolette, I was already into endurance riding. I had logged over 25,000 km on a bicycle and even became a certified bicycle trainer. I’ve also done long-distance walks, like a 200 km trek in the Himalayan ranges over 10 days.

All of this is just my passion. Professionally, I work in corporate. But at heart, I’m a traveller.

Out of the 80,000 km I’ve done, I’ve covered most parts of India. I’m aiming to hit the 1 lakh km milestone soon, hopefully from one of the highest motorable roads in the country: Umling La!