Simple One Gen 2. First Ride Review
Simple? Not entirely. Improved? Absolutely.If you blinked, you probably missed it. Because barely a year after we rode the first production-ready Simple One, Simple Energy has gone and done what most start-ups promise but rarely deliver swiftly - a proper update. So here we are again, back in Bengaluru, coffee strong, traffic stronger, riding the Simple One Gen 2. And no, this isn't a sticker-job 'new' model. This one actually tries harder. Sometimes succeeds brilliantly. SometimesÂ… not so much. But more on that later.
At first glance, the Gen 2 still looks like a Simple One - sharp, sporty and vaguely angry at the world. But spend a few seconds longer and you'll notice the edges have been sanded down. The panels are smoother, more cohesive, and the overall silhouette flows better than before. It's less origami, more ironed out. The LED lighting setup remains all-LED, with neatly integrated indicators and crisp DRLs up front. The stance is still aggressive but it's now better proportioned. The new side panels and that sweeping arc into the rear mudguard add some visual drama too - the good kind. You still get 12-inch alloy wheels with tubeless tyres at both ends, and the scooter looks properly sporty from most angles. Simple Energy hasn't reinvented the wheel here, but they've definitely polished it.
One of the biggest changes is the lower seat height. At 780mm, it's noticeably more accessible than before. Simple says they listened to customer feedback, and for once, that's not just PR talk. Shorter riders will be thrilled, and even average-height folks will appreciate the easier footing. This also improves the turning radius - no more awkward knee-handlebar negotiations while U-turning. The seat foam is softer too, making longer stints far more comfortable than Gen 1. Two hours in traffic won't leave you questioning your life choices anymore. That said, if you're six feet tall, space is still at a premium. I'm 5'9" and I'm just about comfortable. Any taller and you'll start wishing the seat length and legroom were better.
The switchgearwith this one is not so simple. The right side of the handlebar is actually quite sensible. You get a dedicated kill switch, ride mode button, hazard light switch, cruise control and reverse assist. The left side, however, feels like it was designed during a late-night design sprint fueled by cold pizza. The joystick, indicators, horn and light switches are laid out in a rather unconventional way. It works, eventually - but muscle memory takes a hit. Swap a couple of buttons around and life would be much easier. Right now, you'll glance down more often than you'd like. The touchscreen display itself is bright, crisp and packed with information. Touch response is good, but the joystick has a noticeable lag, which can get irritating when you're toggling through menus.
Up front, there's a conveniently placed charging port, a USB-A charger, a small 1-litre storage cubby, and a bag hook. Under the seat, you still get a generous 35 litres of storage - enough to swallow a full-face helmet without a fight. That's still one of the Simple One's strongest suits. Gen 2 brings a major rethink in battery packaging. Gone is the split setup. All battery packs now sit under the floorboard, while the electronics and controller have been repositioned.
The top-spec version gets a 5kWh battery, claiming an IDC range of 265km. There's also a 4.5kWh variant (235km claimed) and the new Simple One S with a 3.7kWh pack (190km claimed).
Charging with the standard 750W charger takes about 5.5 hours from 0–80%, which is perfectly acceptable. Fast charging support is also available. The motor is carried over but slightly juiced up. Peak power is now 8.8kW (around 12PS), with a healthy 70Nm of torque. Numbers aside, what matters is this - in Sonic and Sonic Plus modes, this thing absolutely flies.
Simple claims it'll beat an Ather Apex in a 0–40kmph sprint (by a couple of milliseconds). I didn't have an Apex handy, but it does feel believable. Because this one feels quick. Especially for something that now weighs 129kg, which is 8kg lighter than before. That said, the scooter feels happiest cruising between 50–70kmph. It'll do 80 comfortably, but push past that and things start to feel a bit nervous. You get six ride modes: Eco+, Eco, Ride, Air, Sonic and Sonic Plus. Eco+ is… well… an endurance test. Great for range, terrible for happiness. Ride and Air are ideal for city use, while Sonic and Sonic Plus unlock the full hooligan potential - provided your battery is above 60% SoC. Things are a bit too twitchy in Sonic+ for me though. You also get four levels of traction control and four levels of regenerative braking, which is genuinely impressive in this segment. Regen Level 4 noticeably slows the scooter down, reducing brake usage significantly.
The suspension setup remains telescopic forks up front and a rear monoshock, but tuning has changed. Low-speed ride quality is much better than before - potholes and bumps are dealt with more gracefully.
At higher speeds though, especially near the 115kmph top speed, the front feels really odd. The rebound feels off because when you a bump at speed and the scooter judders quite heavily. It's like you hit some rumble strips when there weren't even any around. It doesn't feel unsafe, but it does feel unsettled. Braking is handled by a CBS setup. There's no ABS, and that's noticeable. It's easy to lock the brakes if you grab a handful. Given the performance on offer, ABS would've been a very welcome addition.
At Rs 1.78 lakh (ex-showroom), the Simple One Gen 2 is a far more complete product than before. It's packed with features, offers strong performance, excellent storage, solid range and improved comfort. Simple Energy has clearly listened and responded. Yes, fit and finish could be better. Some panel gaps shouldn't exist at this price. The switchgear layout needs rethinking. High-speed stability could use refinement. But as a package? It's more mature, more rounded and far more convincing than Gen 1. Add to that a standard 3-year warranty (extendable up to lifetime, which is wild), and the Simple One Gen 2 makes a strong case for itself - provided there's a showroom near you.