Torque vs Horsepower: Why Electric Motorcycles Are Winning the Race

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October 14, 2025

credit: © ultraviolette

So, you’ve been hearing the buzz. Some guy at your college parking lot zips past on a sleek electric motorcycle, and you’re left wondering, how did that thing move so fast without even making a noise?

You check the specs later. It doesn’t have a huge engine. No roaring exhaust. Just pure acceleration. The secret? Torque. And more specifically, electric torque.

Let’s talk like real riders now. If you’re into bikes, or even if you’re just curious about whether an EV is worth ditching your petrol machine for, this is the one article you need to read today.

Grab a cutting chai, put your helmet down, and let’s get into it.

Table of Contents

The Basics: Torque vs Horsepower (With No Engineering Jargon)

credit: © ultraviolette

Okay, imagine you’re trying to open a tight jar lid. Torque is that raw twisting strength in your hand. The more torque, the easier it is to break that lid open.

Now think about how fast you can keep twisting lid after lid, all day long. That’s horsepower, torque plus speed.

So in simple words:

Torque = The force that gets you moving
Horsepower = How fast and how long you can keep that force going

Still confused? Here’s a better example for Indian roads.

When you’re at a traffic signal and the light turns green, torque is what helps you beat everyone off the line. Horsepower is what keeps your bike screaming down the expressway once you’re already doing 100.

But what if you want that thrill of acceleration every single time you twist the throttle, whether in city traffic or on a long highway stretch? That’s where electric bikes are silently (pun intended) winning.

The Old-School Way: Petrol Bikes and Their Delayed Drama

Let’s be honest. We’ve all loved that roar of a petrol engine. That buildup of sound as your RPM climbs and suddenly, boom!, your bike feels alive at 7,000 RPM.

But here’s the problem: you have to wait.

Petrol motorcycles usually build power slowly. You need to find the “power band.” If you’re stuck in low revs, the bike feels lazy. That lag is frustrating, especially in Indian traffic where you constantly stop and go.

Plus, you’re dancing on the gears all the time. First, second, third, oops, back to second. It’s a workout. And that’s without counting the clutch work on bumper-to-bumper roads.

The New Cool: Electric Motorcycles and Instant Gratification

credit: © ultraviolette

This is where things get spicy. Electric motorcycles are all about instant torque. You twist the throttle, and boom, you’re off.

There’s no delay. No need to rev high. No gears. Just pure, clean push.

Take the Ultraviolette F77 SuperStreet for example. This beast delivers up to 100 Nm of torque. To compare, that’s like what you’d expect from a 1000cc petrol superbike. And it’s available from zero RPM.

Let that sink in.

From the second the light turns green, you’re not playing catch-up. You are the race.

Let’s Put It on the Street: Real-Life Feel vs Spec Sheet Bragging

We get it. Numbers are fun. But what does that torque feel like when you’re actually riding?

Imagine this:

You’re at the BKC signal in Mumbai, 8:30 AM. You’re late. You’re sandwiched between an Activa, a Royal Enfield, and an overconfident guy on a KTM Duke.

Green light.

You twist the throttle on your F77.

They’re still switching gears. You’re already halfway down the road. No noise. No drama. Just speed. Smooth, silent, confident.

That’s not just torque. That’s respect.

And here’s the best part: because electric bikes don’t waste time building power, they give you consistent performance. Whether you’re riding at 20 kmph or 100, that pull is always ready for you.

The Myth of “Low Horsepower” in Electric Bikes

credit: © ultraviolette

A lot of guys online still cry: “Bro, EV bikes don’t have much horsepower.”

Yeah? Well, the F77 SuperStreet has up to 40.2 hp (30 kW). That’s more than enough to hit 155 kmph, with a 0–60 kmph time of 2.8 seconds.

Let’s be honest. You’re not racing in MotoGP. You’re riding in Gurgaon, Pune, Bangalore traffic. What matters more is how quickly your bike responds in those first 3 seconds. That’s what gives you thrill. That’s what saves you from that reckless rickshawala swerving into your lane.

Electric Bikes vs Petrol: The Tug-of-War for Your Throttle Hand

Still thinking of petrol bikes as superior? Let’s break it down.

Feature	Petrol Motorcycle	Electric Motorcycle (F77 SuperStreet)
Torque	Builds slowly	Instant, from 0 RPM
Acceleration	Depends on gear and RPM	Always responsive
Gear changes	Manual	None (just twist and go)
Maintenance	High (oil, clutch, gears)	Low (no chain oil, no spark plugs)
Cost of Fuel	Rs. 110/litre	₹15–20 for full charge
Noise	Loud	Silent and smooth
Vibe	Old-school, nostalgic	Futuristic, head-turner

But What About the “Feel”?

Okay, let’s address the elephant in the garage.

Some riders say petrol bikes have “more feel.” The vibrations, the sound, the roughness, it all feels very real.

That’s true. If you’re into drama, petrol bikes give you a Bollywood-style entry.

But what if your vibe is more…Netflix action series? Slick, modern, stylish, clean. Electric bikes are like riding the future, today.

You want feel? The F77 SuperStreet gives you it through design and tech. Dynamic ride modes (Glide, Combat, Ballistic), full digital console, regenerative braking levels, and even hill hold for when you’re parked on a slope in Lonavala. The control you feel on this machine is not just physical, it’s intelligent.

And Let’s Not Forget: India Is Changing

credit: © ultraviolette

Every year, petrol prices rise. EV charging stations are popping up in every metro. Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, they’re all pushing for cleaner air and greener roads.

When you ride electric, you’re not just being cool. You’re being smart.

You save money. You ride tech. You help the planet. And you still beat everyone at the signal.

What’s not to love?

So, Who Wins?

In a straight-line drag race, electric motorcycles almost always win. But it’s more than that.

Electric torque is addictive. Once you experience it, you don’t want to go back.

You ride harder, faster, smoother. Without waking up the entire colony every morning.

And If You’re Thinking of Going Electric…

There’s no better place to start than Ultraviolette.

Their latest F77 SuperStreet and F77 MACH 2 are not just electric motorcycles. They’re performance machines. Built in India. Tested on tracks. Loved on roads.