By Vatsal Agrawal
Copyright republicworld
Geared EV Bike: If you are looking for an EV two-wheeler under ₹2 lakh, there are multiple options in the market to choose from. In the EV motorcycle category, Matter Motor is an Indian startup that offers its Aera electric motorcycle in the market. Unlike the conventional EV scooters and bikes, which run on mechanical gears. The Aera is the first EV motorcycle in India that offers gears like an ICE motorcycle, and is offered in two variants. It is feature-loaded and has practical storage space on offer.Recently, we got our hands on the Matter Aera 5000+ EV bike. We rode it in the city traffic conditions and on the highways. We tested out its top speed, gear shifts, braking, range, and other factors.Here is our experience of the Matter Aera 5000+, and we will tell you whether you should buy this or not:Let’s begin with the performance of the Matter Aera. The Aera is equipped with a 10kW motor, and this motor is linked to four mechanical gears, just like an ICE bike. You have a proper clutch and gear shift mechanism.One thing to note is that the Aera will not stall like an ICE bike, because there is no engine. You can engage in any gear and in any mode, and the bike starts moving. The Aera comes in three riding modes: Eco, City, and Sport.Matter claims that the range of the Aera 5000+ is 172km on a single charge. However, during our test, since we rode the bike for approximately 100 km, we were able to extract a real-world range of 150-160km easily. Additionally, since it is a geared electric motorcycle, you have 3 riding modes, with 4 gears, wherein if you keep it in a single gear, it will act as an independent riding mode, hence making 12 riding modes.The ride quality of the Matter Aera is on the comfortable side. The front suspension duties are managed by telescopic forks, and the rear gets twin-shock absorbers. The seat is pretty comfortable, and the cushioning is slightly on the stiffer side. However, in the long run, you can feel a bit uncomfortable and might require getting an extra cushion. The front suspension does the duty well. It absorbs the bumps and potholes quite well and does not let them filter to the handlebars easily. The rear gets adjustable 5-step suspensions that are tuned on the softer side, resulting in a comfortable ride.On bad and bumpy roads, the suspension was on the softer side, and it absorbed the bumps easily. At higher speeds, the bike maintained its line, and since the rear suspension is adjustable, it will help in better ride quality when you are with a pillion on a longer ride.Matter has equipped the Aera 5000+ with a DC fast charging capability, and onboard, it has a 1kW charger, which is so compact that you can store it in the glove box compartment. Though the length of it is small, due to its compact size, you don’t have to carry an extra bag for the charger.The Matter Aera 5000+ is a feature-loaded offering in the segment. It has mobile phone connectivity along with Bluetooth connectivity, and lets you control multiple features via the mobile app itself. For starters, the Aera 500+ is equipped with a 7-inch TFT instrument cluster, which is touch-responsive, and it has 3GB RAM and Android 11 on offer.Additionally, it gets built-in maps from Mapples India. We tested it during our test experience, and the experience was smooth. The brightness of the instrument cluster was adjusted automatically, and the information on the map was clean and crisp. Additionally, it comes with a gear shift indicator, push-button start, music control, and other features that elevated our overall riding experience.The design of the Matter Aera 5000+ and the base variant is similar. The front has LED projector headlamps and an LED sequential turn indicator. The throw of the headlamps was decent, and we expected a slightly better throw at night. The front gets telescopic fork suspension, and the alloy wheel design is on the sportier side.On the side, it gets a split setup for the rider and the pillion seat. The handlebar is comfortable; however, we felt that the seat cushioning has scope for improvement since it was a bit on the harder side. The pillion is quite comfortable, and there are proper grab handles on offer to hold.The rear also gets disc brakes, and it has a belt-drive mechanism. It has a sharp design for the LED taillamps, and we feel that the number plate and the indicators are more prone to getting damaged or getting dirty in the rain due to their lower position on the bumper of the rear wheel.The price of the Matter Aera starts at ₹1.81 lakh (ex-showroom, Ahmedabad) for the 5000 variant, and the price for the 5000+ variant is ₹1.93 lakh (ex-showroom, Ahemdabad).Now the million-dollar question: Should you buy the Matter Aera at around ₹2 lakh? Our Answer: Yes. It is built for reliability, comfort, and no-nonsense commuting. Though there is no exhaust or artificial sounds from the Aera 5000, the main differentiating factor in the EV bike segment is its mechanical gears and liquid cooling technology. Though the automaker is gradually expanding its footprint in India, the service and the spare parts can still be an issue in the initial time. If you are planning to get an EV bike and do not want to ride it like an EV scooter, the Matter Aera is the only choice available in the market.Read more: Tata Reduces Prices Across Lineup After GST Cut – Check Out Full List
