Matter Aera First Ride Review: Matter of Fact

The Indian two-wheeler industry has reached a point where basic features and decent performance just won’t cut it anymore. You need innovation. You need out-of-the-box, experimental ideas. At least, that’s what Matter Motors wanted us to believe when they introduced the Aera. And, to be fair, they’re right. It’s certainly different – a conventional EV motor paired with a traditional mechanical transmission. Intrigued? So was I. But hold off on planning those EMIs just yet, because the Matter Aera isn’t quite the revelation I expected it to be.

Matter Aera Styling and Features

If first impressions are also your last impressions, then the Matter Aera makes quite the entrance. Sharp styling, a butch stance, dazzling LEDs – all wrapped up in a familiar motorcycle silhouette. It knows how to tug at an enthusiast’s heartstrings. One of its standout bits has to be the integrated LED blinkers, which don’t just look cool but also give the Aera a sleeker profile.

However, the wow factor starts to turn into a bit of a ‘hmm’ once you get closer. First, and most blatantly apparent, there’s the mismatched front and rear tyre pattern. When asked about it, Matter said it was for better bite up front and styling at the rear. Okay then. There’s also an engine guard oddly flared outward, which honestly seems like an accident waiting to happen if you drop it on soft ground. And let’s not forget the stickers on the alloys indicating recommended PSI — cautious much?

In terms of features, though, the Aera redeems itself brilliantly. And interestingly, there’s no caveat here. Everything not only looks impressive but also works well, with solid build quality. The showstopper is the 7-inch touchscreen instrument cluster. It’s bright and crisp, with an intuitive UI. Plus, it’s loaded with nerdy telemetry functions and smartphone connectivity. You also get a handy frunk to stash the charger, bright LED headlamps, multiple ride modes, onboard music controls, keyless start / stop, and plush seating. If modern tech tops your priority list, this bike’s a neat package.

Matter Aera EV Drivetrain

Now, onto the mechanical bits, where things start to get a bit…well, let’s say confusing. On paper, the Matter Aera sounds like the perfect solution to the problem plaguing many two-wheeler enthusiasts. But the execution is, let’s say, a bit unexpected. You get a mechanical 4-speed sequential gearbox with a one-up-three-down shifting pattern, mated to an electronic clutch that works with a gear position sensor to figure out how much to engage.

Here’s the clever twist – once you’ve let the clutch out, you don’t need to pull it again to stop or start in the same gear. However, you do need to pull it in to change gears. And since there’s no engine compression, there’s no point trying to downshift into a corner for engine braking. In fact, if you aggressively drop, say from fourth to first, the motor locks up the rear for a moment and then simply starts free-rolling with zero power until your speed drops to match. Also, without a combustion engine, that visceral feeling of the need to upshift as the engine gets louder is just absent. For some, that alone could be a dealbreaker.

There are three ride modes – Eco, City, and Sport. Each gear is tuned for a particular engine mapping mode, giving you a total of twelve combinations to choose from. It’s up to the rider to pick what works best for the situation. Personally, during our short ride, I stuck with Sport, and I’m glad I did. That’s where the Aera felt most alive, with snappier throttle response and quicker acceleration between gears.

Still, my biggest gripe was the throttle’s choppy on-off transition, regardless of mode. The brakes also felt slightly wooden – more initial bite would definitely inspire more confidence, especially for newer riders.

Matter Aera Review Verdict

The Matter Aera is undeniably different. If all you want is a sharp-looking, feature-packed motorcycle with a few cool party tricks, it’s absolutely worth checking out. Its pricing isn’t a deal-breaker either – starting at ₹1.83 lakh (ex-showroom) for the Aera 5000, it’s right in line with its rivals.

But if you’re approaching it from an enthusiast’s perspective, hoping for a slick-shifting gearbox paired with lightning-fast EV performance that’ll set racetracks ablaze – I’m sorry, it’s just not there yet. Not in its current form, at least.