Whenever you talk to a purist or an enthusiast, the biggest complaint they have against EVs is the lack of engagement. A lot of them feel that electric vehicles, motorcycles in this case, feel inert. Well, Matter is taking matters into their own hands to fix this. The first step was to add a gearbox to their Aera 5000+ electric motorcycle. The next thing they did was… let it loose on a racetrack. So, let us see how it went down. 

The Aera 5000+ is reshaping how one looks at electric motorcycles. The twist-and-go idea of electric motorcycles takes a lot of the joy away for old-school riders, but with the gearbox that the Aera 5000+ is equipped with, they have brought back the feeling of riding a traditional motorcycle. And by letting people experience it on the racetrack, they have shown that they have a lot of faith in the motorcycle they have created. 

We first got to see the Matter Aera 5000+ at the Auto Expo a while ago. Then, we had the opportunity to ride it in the Rann of Kutch. They were pre-production motorcycles, and yet, it did not feel that way. During that project and throughout the ride, the Aera 5000+ left a lasting impression on us. Then we rode a more refined version in a ride flagged off from the Statue of Unity, and a ride christened AERATHON featuring Harshvardhan Rane. The unforgettable memories that we forged also played a part, but mostly, it was because of how different the Aera 5000+ felt from regular electric motorcycles and how close it came to the experience of riding an ICE motorcycle. 

We are going to touch on the design for just a little bit because we feel that it is an important aspect of the Aera 5000+. With most electric motorcycles trying too hard to look futuristic, the Aera 5000+ is a breath of fresh air. It has a muscular stance, sharp DRLs over a quite traditional-looking headlamp, and a conventional tank area that houses the battery along with a small storage area. Overall, it is different from some of the more outlandish-looking electric motorcycles, and in our books, that is a very good thing. 

The standout feature to us, though, is the gear lever. When you come in with the expectation of riding an electric motorcycle, you do not expect that. But when you get that, you feel more at home if you have ridden ICE motorcycles all your life. About the experience of riding it, the event is called Matter Looped. We took part in the Delhi edition of it and got to ride the Aera 5000+ at the Turbo go-karting track in Gurugram. 

As soon as you get on the motorcycle and power it on, it feels different from ICEs. But where it does close the gap is when you twist the throttle. You still have that adrenaline-inducing instant torque, but because of the gearbox, it is more gradual. It feels a lot like riding an ICE sans the sound, but then again, due to the lack of sound, you get to hear everything else: from the wind rushing at you to the traction generated by the tyres. 

It took us a little while to get into the groove, so the first lap was more like a feeling-out process. It takes time getting used to the power delivery, which is smoother and more controlled but still very forceful. Again, what stood out for us, even when we were taking it easy, was the tactile joy of shifting the gears. In the next lap, we got a little more comfortable. We were able to apply the normal rules of engagement when riding on a racetrack, such as downshifting before corner entry and actually being able to power out of corners, aware of the presence of a proper gearbox. 

After a couple of laps, it became much more natural. We were able to ride it like one would ride an ICE performance bike on a racetrack. The brakes are confident, the ride is planted, and there is zero lag in the throttle response. Not only is the power delivery gradual, but there are no jerks when you go off the throttle as well. Another commendable aspect was the heat management. Despite a string of laps at a very decent pace, the system remained cool and the manners consistent. 

As we got back to the paddock, we could not help but reflect on our previous brushes with the Aera 5000+; from the salt plains of Rann of Kutch riding a pre-production motorcycle to riding on the streets and highways on a finished product. The experience only got better from there, but on the racetrack, the Aera 5000+ showed that it also has a soul… the same feeling that you get when you ride an ICE motorcycle. 

The Matter Aera 5000+ isn’t just an electric motorcycle with gears. It’s a statement that electric mobility doesn’t have to be boring, disconnected, or compromised. It proves that you can have sustainability and soul, innovation and emotion, technology and tradition, everything in one machine. And now, having experienced it on the track, we can say that the Matter Aera 5000+ is not just another electric motorcycle… it is the ‘better’ future of electric mobility, except… it is already here!

Here are some more photos from the event…