Raptee.HV T30: First Ride Review

The Visuals

The design of the Raptee T30 looks familiar. If you look closely, the silhouette will remind you of the Bajaj Dominar. The tank panel and rear section are strikingly similar to the Dominar. That said, the motorcycle uses a bespoke steel trellis chassis that houses the battery pack, and the banana swingarm, too, is unique.

The quality levels, meanwhile, need to be more consistent. The paint finish, plastic quality and overall fit and finish require improvement and leave much to be desired. That said, the switchgear quality is good and operates with a reassuring click.

In terms of ergonomics, the T30 is quite sorted. The overall rider’s triangle is slightly sporty, yet comfortable. This is courtesy of the mildly off-centre footpegs and the low and wide handlebars. The seating comfort is good too, with a decently padded and roomy rider seat. We didn’t test the pillion seat, but its narrow profile should make it suitable only for short commutes.

The Package

Raptee has offered a decent set of equipment in the T30. The most prominent feature is the seven-inch touchscreen colour TFT console that displays a plethora of information. It benefits from Bluetooth connectivity and comes enabled with the company’s in-house developed Raptee Maps. Other features include dual-channel ABS, LED lighting, a keyless ignition system, parking assist, and more.

Powering the Raptee T30 is a 22kW electric motor that develops 70Nm of peak torque. The motor is paired with a 5.4kWh battery pack that offers an IDC range of 200km. In the real world, it delivers a true range of 150km in the Comfort mode, 100km in Power mode and 75km in the Sprint mode.

Under the skin, the Raptee T30 is underpinned by a tubular steel trellis frame that houses the battery pack, motor, and various electric components. The chassis is supported by upside-down front forks and a preload-adjustable monoshock at the back. It runs on 17-inch alloys, wrapped in MRF Revz tyres.

The Ride

The Raptee T30 gets its fundamentals spot on, especially when it comes to motor performance. In Comfort mode, the power delivery is linear and predictable, making it ideal for calm, short in-city commutes. Naturally, there isn’t much urgency here, but the throttle response is smooth and consistent. Switch to Power mode, and the T30 wakes up noticeably. The throttle sharpens, the mid-range pull becomes stronger, and the bike feels far more eager to gain speed. Sprint mode unleashes the full potential of the motor, offering a strong surge across the rev range. Sustaining triple-digit speeds is effortless, and the bike can hold these speeds for long durations without feeling strained. With a top speed of 135kmph and excellent throttle calibration across all modes, the T30 feels refined with no jerkiness in throttle inputs.

When it comes to handling dynamics, the T30 continues to impress. Direction changes feel predictable and confidence-inspiring. Yes, you do sense the weight of the battery pack, and there’s a slight reluctance during quick side-to-side transitions, but that’s something common with most EVs. The low centre of gravity works brilliantly here, giving the motorcycle a planted feel through corners while enhancing overall stability.

However, the ride quality is one area where Raptee still needs to put in some work. The suspension setup feels on the firmer side, and sharp edges or broken patches tend to filter through to the rider. At higher speeds, the bike remains stable, but at lower city speeds, the ride doesn’t feel as plush as it should for an everyday commuter.

On the braking front, the T30 is just about average. This could be an issue with my test unit, but both the bikes I rode felt more or less similar. The front brake lacks bite, and it has a wooden feel at the lever. The progression isn’t great either, and it took time to bring the bike to a halt. The rear brake felt markedly better than the front as it offered better stopping power and progressive braking. The ABS intervention is unobtrusive and works as expected.

Charging

The Raptee T30 features an on-board 3.3kW fast charger. This helps you charge the bike from 20-80 per cent in 36 minutes by plugging it into a conventional 15-amp three-pin socket. This is phenomenal as other EVs come with slow on-board chargers and take anywhere around 5-6 hours to charge.

Moreover, the high-voltage platform has enabled the T30 with CCS2 compatibility. So essentially, you can charge the motorcycle at any of India’s vast fast-charging networks. This solves the range anxiety issue to a great extent, and you can actually think of taking the bike on intercity trips.

Verdict

In our brief experience with the bike, the T30 comes across as a decent option in the electric motorcycle space. Fundamentally, the motor performance, power delivery, and battery management are on point. Even the handling is good, and it offers a good set of features. However, Raptee.HV needs to work on its fit and finish issues and brakes. It could also do with some originality in its design, as there’s a strong resemblance to the Bajaj Dominar.

That said, the high-voltage architecture is genuinely impressive. The 3.3kW on-board fast charger, combined with CCS2 compatibility, makes daily charging extremely convenient. The latter allows you to take long-distance intercity trips without worrying about range anxiety.

At Rs. 2.39 lakh (ex-showroom), the T30 may look expensive, but the HV platform, on-board fast charging, and industry-leading eight-year standard warranty more than make up for it. Other EV makers charge extra for these.