Ather bikes in India (3)

autocar.india

•5d

Since your budget is extremely tight but you want a reliable electric scooter, your only option would be to buy models like the Vida VX2 Go or TVS iQube or Ather Rizta via the BaaS (Battery as a Subscription) model. Going for an electric scooter from reputed brands like Hero, TVS and Ather gives you the peace of mind of knowing that you have one of the largest sales and service networks in the country and should you encounter an issue, help will likely not be too far.Take test rides of these scooters, figure out which one fits into your budget (including the BaaS monthly payment) and then decide for yourself, which is the best option.

autocar.india

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After-sales and servicing depend on a multitude of factors, and you should choose between the Rizta and Chetak based on which dealer and service centre feels like the safer bet to you. Cost per kilometre will also vary largely based on how much you ride every day and how fast you do so (because range will vary as per the riding mode you're in), so it's hard to accurately gauge this. Both the Rizta and Chetak are proven products and are pretty evenly matched, except in terms of price, where the Rizta is quite a bit more expensive. So, pick whichever one you like more.

autocar.india

•3d

With your monthly budget for fuel, you can definitely purchase a petrol scooter, and with gentle riding, you may even be able to come under that mark. If you want the typical strengths of a family scooter combined with peppy performance, then the Suzuki Access is to be considered over the 110cc TVS Jupiter and Honda Activa, otherwise the 110s will perform just fine. If you really want the lowest running cost and have home charging, an electric scooter like the TVS iQube, Bajaj Chetak, Ather Rizta, and Vida VX2 will cut your monthly running costs quite significantly, and maintenance, too, is minimal. Given your low usage, the fuel savings over a petrol-powered scooter will take some time to recoup. And in case of a spontaneous situation presenting itself, fuelling up a petrol-powered scooter is a much faster process than juicing up an e-scooter's battery. Take a call between the two based on your usage pattern and then make your decision.

autocar.india

•1w

Both the Ather Rizta and TVS iQube are great options, and no matter which one you choose, you realistically cannot go wrong with them. The Rizta has much more tech, and even its small battery gives you 105km of real-world range on a single charge. Its boot is also better shaped than the iQube's, which means a good-quality imported full-face helmet will fit inside alongside the charger, provided you thoughtfully arrange everything inside.On the other hand, the TVS iQube is as simple as an electric scooter gets and is a no-nonsense machine which just keeps running without fault day in and day out. TVS's service reach across the country is better than Ather's, so the iQube makes for the logical purchase, but it's not like the Rizta is an outlier. Picking between the two will be made easier once you get a test ride of both and see which one you're leaning toward more.No matter which option you choose, your commute is short enough that a normal amount of range drop after a few years will not majorly affect you.

autocar.india

•3w

Since you have had a long and drama-free stint with your Shine, the logical next step to make would be the Honda Unicorn. For your use case, which is mostly inside the city with short weekend leisure rides, the Unicorn makes for a good fit. It will offer a noticeable step up in performance and comfort compared to the Shine with only a small drop-off in fuel economy. The Royal Enfield Bullet 350 is lovely if you want a relaxed bike with new-age reliability and old-school feel, but since you have mentioned you are on the slimmer side of the spectrum, its weight could be a problem at slower speeds and its fuel economy will also be noticeably lower.If your landlord and the building you reside in, don't have a problem with you installing a charging solution at home, you can consider electric scooters like TVS iQube, Bajaj Chetak, Ather Rizta and Vida VX2. If not, stick with a petrol-powered bike for now.To decide between the Unicorn and Bullet, we'd recommend a test ride of both since they are very different machines.

autocar.india

•3w

With your very limited weekly running, the extra cost you'll pay upfront while buying an electric two-wheeler over a petrol-powered one will take quite some time to recover. While petrol today surely is costly, you will not spend much on fuel every month. Petrol-powered scooters also have wider dealer networks and easy spares, handy when you use it irregularly. One point to bear in mind will be that servicing an ICE vehicle will be slightly more expensive on a yearly basis. If you are leaning towards an EV, that is also a credible option so long as you have a socket where you park. However, you'll be buying it for the smoothness and silent running not savings at your usage. Depending on which sort of powertrain you want in your next purchase, make your decision and we've provided some of the highest rated scooters available in India today. In the ICE scooter segment, options like Honda Activa 110 / 125, TVS Jupiter 110 / 125 and Suzuki Access / Burgman Street would be our top picks. Whereas, in the electric scooter segment, options like TVS iQube, Bajaj Chetak, Ather Rizta and Vida VX2 are proven, reliable machines we'd recommend.

autocar.india

•4w

There are plenty of options in the electric scooter market that will comfortably meet your needs. We'd recommend you choose from reputed options like TVS iQube, Bajaj Chetak, Ather Rizta and Vida VX2. All of them are offered in a range of variants with different battery capacities, so pick an option with a battery capacity in the 3kWh - 3.5kWh ballpark.Our advice would be to take test rides of all four and pick the option you get along with the best. Try to choose an option with a service centre or showroom near you; this is an important factor in EV ownership.

autocar.india

•5w

Since you have a comfortable budget, our recommendation would be the TVS iQube S 4.7 / ST 5.3 variants, because they have big batteries which should comfortably help you cover multiple days' worth of riding on a single charge. The iQube is a proven, no-nonsense product from a big, reputed brand and TVS also has a widespread service network among EV scooters, which will matter more than spec-sheet numbers and feel-good farkles when you’ll use it every day. While the iQube's performance won't blow you away, its comfort, practicality and stress-free nature are sure to compensate for that.If performance is your number one priority and you can live with less comfort, the Ather 450S/450X are exciting options. However, given your long daily commutes, do bear in mind, it will demand serious commitment day after day, especially over bad roads. If you must have an electric motorcycle form at this budget, the Revolt RV400 is the most settled option, but neither its performance nor its range are attributes to write home about. The e-bike space is still very nascent and our recommendation today is to buy an electric scooter over them.

autocar.india

•6w

Both the TVS iQube and Ather Rizta are accomplished electric scooters with very few factors to pick between them in terms of the product proposition they present. The iQube is as straightforward and fuss-free as an electric scooter can get in comparison to a petrol option, and if this is your first EV, it would make for a smooth transition. There are five variants available within the iQube lineup, and we'd recommend choosing between the 3.1 / 3.5 models for your daily 45km commute.Where the iQube is the straightforward choice in the EV arena, the Rizta doesn't lag too far behind. Ather's first family e-scooter is comfortable, practical and has more tech than machines three times the price (if you're into that sort of thing). The small 2.9 battery variants can return close to or just above 100km real-world range, which should be more than enough for your use case. Do bear in mind that the S 2.9 variant has a simpler LCD display and doesn't have Ather's Magic Twist regenerative braking system and traction control. This model also comes with a very slow charger, meaning you'll need to plug it in overnight for a full charge.A test ride of both will help you decide which is the better option for you. Whichever option you decide to go for, make sure you have a service centre nearby, that's a key factor in EV ownership because a roadside mechanic can't really fix much when it breaks down, as most functions are electronically controlled.

autocar.india

•6w

For your particular use case, the Hero Splendor XTEC 2.0 would perhaps be the most fuss-free and easy to own machine. Considering the rigors of your profession, you need something that's hardy, frugal and easy to fix when things go sideways - attributes that define the Splendor to the T. At the same time, its hard to ignore the practicality of the TVS Jupiter 110, especially the 33 litre boot, which can accommodate a lot. However, comfort and fuel economy will not be as high as the Splendor. And since fuel economy is an important consideration for you, we'd recommend you also consider the Bajaj Freedom CNG motorcycle. Sure, it has its quirks, but if you want low running costs, then the Freedom is hard to top. In the EV segment, you will get options that can give you 80-90km real world range at real world speeds (read: above 50kph) on a single charge like the TVS iQube 3.1, Bajaj Chetak 3001 and Ather Rizta S 2.9. In their eco modes, you may be able to cross 100km, but your maximum speed will be capped at 35-40kph and it won't be feasible for the time-sensitive nature of your job.Pick between these options depending on what strong points matter the most to you.