A Love-hate Relationship

The Ola Roadster X+ grabs attention with its minimalist design, affordable price, and range promise. But beneath the surface, it is a mixed bag of thrills and flaws

- Story: Anvay Mahajan Photography: Sanjay Raikar

OLA ELECTRIC LAUNCHED THE ROADSTER X+ ELECTRIC motorcycle back in February this year. On paper, the bike looked like a great deal. In real-world use, however, things turned out to be a bit different. After spending some time with the Roadster X+, I ended up with a classic love-hate relationship with this bike.

First things first: the bike definitely looks futuristic. It has a sharp, minimalist design that stands out. While the panels may give off a matte grey metallic look, they're actually made of plastic. Unfortunately, the fit-and-finish is not great. We noticed a few uneven panel gaps and inconsistencies. The battery pack is placed under the tank and fully covered, so you can't actually see the battery itself. Just behind it sits the motor, paired with a chain-driven transmission. The unit we tested had around 500 kilometres on the odometer, but we still noticed early signs of rust on parts like the foot-peg spring and crash-bars, which is a matter of concern in a relatively new bike.