Ultraviolette F77 vs Bajaj Pulsar: Electric vs ICE: Open Challenge From UV

Automotive brands taking a dig at each other is quite a common practice in the industry. Sometimes it is implied, sometimes it is bang on, gun to the face. Irrespective, it’s always fun, as enthusiasts, to see such banter. Case in point, Ultraviolette and Bajaj Auto; Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director, Bajaj Auto, stated in an interview that electric scooters “hold far greater potential than (electric) motorcycles”. He continued on by taking a jovial dig at Ultraviolette’s sales figures. 

*Cue dramatic music* 

To this, Narayan Subramaniam, Co-Founder, Ultraviolette Automotive, has responded in another interview. He starts by appreciating what Bajaj has done with the Pulsar brand and the performance motorcycle scenario in India. However, he continues by implying that “spirit” has plateaued now, and that beyond a segment, the international brands are taking the “mantle”. He firmly believes that India has the potential to one up this, not only in the consumer segment, but also in motorsports. And on that note, he threw down the gauntlet by issuing an open challenge to Bajaj Auto, and other 2-wheeler manufacturers, to compete against Ultraviolette in an upcoming race event at Aamby Valley. 

So, if Bajaj Auto decides to pick up the gauntlet, we think  that they should bring in the Pulsar N250. This, because the challenge is to prove which is the better fully-Indian-made bike. While Bajaj has the KTM 390 Duke, it's co-developed between Chakan and Mattighofen. And by derivation, so is the Pulsar NS400Z and the Dominar 400. Similar story for the Triumph Speed 400. The N250 fits the bill perfectly then. Let’s take a look at the specs of these bikes. 

* real-world tested figures

While it's clearly evident that the Ultraviolette F77 is a more powerful bike, on paper, it’s worth noting that at Rs 2,99,999 (ex-showroom), it costs almost twice the N250. 

As quoted in the interviews, the electric scooters have better sales figures than electric motorcycles. Most of them are more affordable than electric bikes, while offering more practicality. Most importantly, the lower running costs as compared to ICE scooters, which makes the former a more lucrative purchase. Electric motorcycles are a niche category. 

But we really think Bajaj Auto, and other 2W OEMs, should take up the challenge, and bring in whatever contender they see fit from their production line. Irrespective of the race outcome, we as consumers stand to win a lot. All the participating brands will go back with learnings that could be applied to developing better products for the future. Ergo, better bikes – ICE and electric – for us to ride. 

While this “banter” might seem just vapourware for the uninitiated, these are signs of a healthy market competition. There are multiple instances in the past of the underdog beating the reigning champion – automotive and otherwise. This reduces the complacency in the market, and eventually brings in better choices for the customers.

 

 

 

 

 

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