I recently had the chance to spend some time with the Ola Roadster X Plus, and it left me with a classic love-hate feeling. From a distance, this electric motorcycle is a stunner. It has a sharp, minimalist, futuristic design that definitely turns heads, and on paper, its specs and price make it look like a fantastic deal.
Table of Contents
However, once I got up close and spent time riding it, I found that the experience was a mixed bag of thrilling performance and frustrating flaws. It’s a bike that had the potential to be truly great, but it falls short in a few key areas that are hard for me to overlook.
This is my honest take on a motorcycle that I both enjoyed and was disappointed by.
👍 The Love: Design and Performance
First, the good parts. I love the way this bike looks. The design is clean and modern, and it stands out from anything else on the road. The 11-kW (15-hp) motor offers decent performance, especially in ‘Sport’ mode, where the acceleration feels sharp and lively. I had a lot of fun flicking it through corners; the alloy wheels offered good grip, and the chassis felt confident and planted.
The ‘Normal’ mode provides a good balance for everyday city riding, and the 4.3-inch digital display is bold and easy to read. For a price of ₹1.30 lakh (ex-showroom), the performance and style you get are impressive. It’s a reminder of how quickly the EV space is evolving, something we also see in the development of AI-powered phones.
👎 The Hate: Build Quality and Inconsistencies
Unfortunately, my praise comes with significant caveats. The fit-and-finish is not great. I noticed several uneven panel gaps, and on a bike with only 500 km on the odometer, I saw early signs of rust on parts like the foot-peg spring. This is a major concern for long-term ownership.
The brakes, which use a “Brake By Wire” system, felt very inconsistent. At times, the rear brake required a very hard press to respond, and in some traffic situations, it would engage on its own. Furthermore, a glitch on my test unit’s display prevented it from showing the full range, which can cause unnecessary anxiety. These issues make it feel like the bike was rushed to market without enough refinement.
🤔 My Final Verdict
The Ola Roadster X Plus is a frustrating machine for me. It’s fun to ride, looks fantastic, and is priced fairly. It has all the ingredients to be a winner, but it’s let down by poor build quality and inconsistent braking.
It’s a bike I really wanted to love, but the flaws are too significant to ignore. It feels like a product with immense potential that needs more time in the oven to be truly great.
- My First Ride on the 2025 Triumph Thruxton 400: A Café Racer Guide
- A Guide to the 2025 Bajaj Pulsar’s 25-Year Legacy
- Testing the Hero Xoom 125: A Sporty Scooter Guide
- A Guide to the Updated TVS Apache RTR 310: My Test Ride Impressions
- A Guide to the New Yamaha FZ-X Hybrid
- KTM’s 390 Enduro R International Spec: A Hardcore Rider’s Guide
- Guide to the New Honda CB 125 Hornet Launch
