Ola Roadster X

Ola's Roadster X brings the naked-motorcycle silhouette to the electric space in India, something very few manufacturers here are attempting at this price point. It's sold across battery sizes — the versions sold here are the 3.5 kWh, rated for a claimed 196 km of range with a top speed of 118 kmph, and the 4.5 kWh, which extends range to a claimed 252 km while keeping the same 118 kmph top speed; both use a 7 kW motor, so the extra battery buys distance rather than outright speed. A 6 kWh version sits above these as the range-topping option, though Ola has not published detailed range and performance figures for it separately from the rest of the line-up. What's notable here is the top speed figure itself — 118 kmph is well beyond what most electric two-wheelers in India currently offer, putting the Roadster X in genuinely motorcycle-like performance territory rather than scooter-replacement territory. Charging times run from roughly 4 hours 36 minutes to just under 6 hours for a 0-80% top-up on a home charger, depending on the battery size chosen. The buyer profile is distinct from typical electric scooter buyers: this is aimed at someone who wants a naked motorcycle's riding position and visual presence, but with electric running costs and the instant-torque feel electric motors deliver, rather than someone simply replacing a petrol scooter for commuting. Within India's still-thin electric motorcycle segment it has few direct rivals; comparisons tend to be made against petrol-powered 125-160cc naked bikes on running cost, and against other Ola products on charging convenience. Priced from Rs 1.05 lakh to Rs 1.40 lakh ex-showroom across these battery options, and without a published colour palette at the time of writing, the Roadster X is a bet on a category — electric naked bikes — that is still finding its footing in India. Buyers should go in with realistic expectations about Ola's after-sales service record, which has been inconsistent, and weigh that against the genuine novelty and performance the bike offers for the price. A motorcycle licence is required here in a way it isn't for most electric scooters, since the Roadster X's performance and form factor place it with geared and ungeared motorcycles for registration and licensing purposes rather than in the low-speed or moped categories — worth confirming locally with the RTO before assuming a scooter licence covers it. For a rider who already holds a full motorcycle licence and wants to try electric power without giving up motorcycle looks and a proper riding position, this is currently one of the few serious options on sale in the country.