ELECTRIC FLUX

Is it time to embrace the dawn of electric motorcycles?

- Somadatta Nhawkar

If you have been tapping on the electric market for long enough, Tork Motors is a Pune-based company that is no stranger in this EV space. Although post the unveiling of their T6X electric motorcycle prototype in 2016, the company has been aloof from the public eye for the last few years. The simple reason for that is the motorcycle present on these pages, the Kratos. With a stew of electric scooters flooding the market, Tork Motors has chosen to work around electrifying the motorcycle while keeping the fun factor intact. And if you were to have second thoughts about the company's ambitions, remember this is coming from a firm that has gone racing, participated in the Isle of Man electric TT and acquired a podium finish. So, these guys do know their way around building EVs.

With proven success on the competition front, I was keen to know what Tork had in store. Along with a bunch of journos, I was invited for the test ride their newest offering. We were provided with the top-spec variant, called the Kratos R, which had a slightly higher power rating and a couple of more features over the standard Kratos. Since these were pre-production models, the fit-in-finish of the motorcycles wasn't in its final form, nor was the access available to all the features. After a quick crash course on the bike's features and operation, I was ready to swing my leg over for my first electric motorcycle experience. Now, before I dive into the riding experience, let me quickly run through the technicalities of the Kratos R.

Display is too basic and is unreadable in direct sunlight

Convenient frontal storage with USB charging port

Front brake is average, lacks the required bite

Full-LED headlamp packs a nice and edgy look

Ready to accept battery packs in place of engines?