Several electric bike manufacturers are often tabled for your consideration when you are looking to get your first ride. One of them is Ather, famous for sleek bikes and a focus on tech. However, in case you are a beginner, you ought to question whether this is the right choice. This paper will address that question in five important aspects, presenting a general overview of what Ather offers and what a beginner should pay attention to, as well as offering a great alternative for your first ride.
Why ENGWE is a Great Starting Point for Beginners
For a beginner, the best choice is an electric bike that combines practical versatility, riding comfort, and demonstrates proven reliability without making the learning experience too complicated. In this market sector, ENGWE comes to the fore, as its model offers the ability to master all challenges.
ENGWE E26
For an absolute beginner, the ENGWE E26 is the perfect choice due to its defiance for all terrains. It is designed with a complete disregard of typical city e-bikes, allowing you to tackle bike paths, gravel trails, and city streets with equal ease. The design well reflects the focus on your comfort and control, which are instrumental for establishing confidence.
All-Terrain Mastery
It has 26 x 4.0 fat tires and a robust dual suspension system, making it easy and comfortable for a beginner to control. As a result, even the harshest surface, like potholes and an uneven patch, is easily absorbed, removing jarring impacts and allowing you to relax and enjoy your travel.
Elegant, yet Not Overpowering Motor
It has a 250W brushless motor with 70Nm, giving enough power to climb hills without intimidating you. The natural feel of pedal assist ensures you get help whenever you need it and feel less tired after a long ride.
Safety, Fun, and Range
It comes with a 48V 16Ah battery that can provide 140 km in PAS Mode, eliminating the so-called range anxiety for beginners. Furthermore, a robust hydraulic disc brake system ensures far superior control and stopping power regardless of weather conditions, which is often vital for your safety.
User-Friendly Additions
Finally, this model comes equipped with an easy-to-read LCD display, a robust rear rack for all your carrier needs, and bright lighting to ensure you are road-ready from the very start.
Understanding Ather Energy: More Scooter Than E-Bike
But a beginner needs to go even deeper before making a decision on a model. It is essential to grasp Ather Energy’s core philosophy and its position in the electric vehicle market. Ather is a technology-first company, and its primary focus has been designing and manufacturing high-performance electric *scooters*. I use the asterisk to emphasize that they are not in the traditional sense electric bicycles. This fact is the critical detail you need to be aware of if you are a prospective buyer. Their vehicles are specifically intended for urban commuting and define a harmonious relationship between hardware and software – the smart, connected experience. Hence, if you are a beginner, you are likely viewing a vehicle that replaces your petrol scooter. The vehicle has a twist-and-go throttle, under-seat storage, and a fixed-frame design. Here, you need to consider several factors.
Urban Mobility
Ather’s design language is modern, minimalistic, and optimized for city living. As such, they will not be suitable for off-road tracks or leisurely park cycling.
Technology and Connectivity
Their major selling point is the smart ecosystem they are building. It includes a full-color touchscreen dashboard, on-board navigation, smartphone integration for riding statistics, and an updated vehicle interface with vehicle learning capabilities. While it can be a huge plus for a tech-savvy user, it might add an unnecessary layer of complexity for a beginner looking for simplicity.
Performance
Ather’s scooters have a reputation for being zippy and fast with a very high top speed, which may be thrilling to ride but may not be what you are looking for as a first-time e-biker.
Build Quality
The company is known for the quality of fit, finish, and material used in its products, which brings them a premium image in the market. This impacts durability and ownership but does raise the price of entry.
A Closer Look at Ather's Electric Scooter Lineup
However, since Ather specializes in electric scooters, for this part, we need to give a detailed look at their product lineup. For a beginner, what they offer becomes clearer. These vehicles are some of the best in the electric scooter segment and an exciting way of commuting in a city in an environmentally friendly manner. Knowing what they are all about can help you determine whether this type of electric vehicle suits your needs, or you would prefer an electric bike in a more traditional format. The List covers their main models, designed for various types of urban riders.
Ather 450X
The performance model on the list is also the brand’s flagship. Built for riders who love speed, agility and appreciate the most advanced technology available today.
Performance: Offers several riding modes, including a popular ‘Warp Mode’ that launches it like a rocket. It’s one of the fastest electric scooters you can get today.
Technology: The all-new 7-inch DeepView™ Display, Google Maps smart integration, Bluetooth music integration, call alerts, plus sophisticated Ather ride statistics.
Battery and Range: It has an exceptional battery pack capable of a certified ride more than sufficient for a daily city commute. It also supports quick charging through their public Ather Grid charging network.
Who is it for? The experienced rider or tech-enthusiast beginner looking for the best ride quality in the city and high-tech gadgets.
Ather 450S
The model was launched later as a more accessible alternative to the flagship model.
Performance: It accelerates quickly and reaches a comfortable top speed in the city, but it lacks the brutish power of its more expensive sibling.
Technology: Running a distinct dashboard interface, but retaining essential smart ride features. It sacrifices several top-of-the-line gadgets that bring the 450X price up.
Battery and Range: Focuses maximum range on daily city use due to price constraints, but this is enough for most riders.
Who is it for? The pragmatic beginner looking for quality and technology offered by Ather, but does not require the best performance.
Ather Rizta
This is their latest model launched last year, 2021. It is designed to focus on family, comfort and practicality, thus being the most suitable choice for the broadest customer range.
Design: Ride in comfort, thanks to the larger, more comfortable seat, more floor space, seating position, and a longer frame for carrying a passenger or shopping.
Storage: Offers the largest under-seat storage in the segment, a significant advantage for daily use.
Safety: New safety technologies added, such as SkidControl, a basic traction control system that regulates power to prevent wheelspin on slippery roads.
Technology: The smart features, notably retained across the lineup, bring innovations to the package.
Who is it for? The beginner who appreciates comfort, practicality, and performance.
Key Considerations Before Buying Your First Electric Vehicle
Needless to say, choosing your first electric vehicle goes beyond choosing a particular brand and model. However, there are universal points that will make one or another option fundamentally enjoyable or disappointing. Let’s take a closer look at the critical points that will allow you to make the right choice so that your new vehicle becomes a source of pleasure rather than frustration. In the end, they will help reduce the cost of operation and use and avoid additional problems.
The zero point, of course, is your true intentions and goals. Be honest, and answer the question: where will you ride 90% of the time? If you’re planning on park trails, gravel roads, or halfway paths, an Ather scooter won’t cut it for you – you need appropriate electric bicycles with suitable tires and suspension. Then consider how far you can get on a day off. The real range of the vehicle should be 1.5 times your everyday needs on one charge. For example, if your daily commute is 15 km, choose a vehicle with a real-world range of 22 km to account for weather, terrain, and battery wear and tear. Don’t forget how long a full charge will take. Are secure power sources available at home or at the workplace? What do you do with your regular maintenance? Ather runs its service network in cities where it is available. For an e-bike, confirm service availability with a regional bike shop. Finally, consider total ownership costs and not just the cost of the vehicle. This includes insurance, gear, gloves, a helmet, and a subscription for intelligent functionality.
Pro-tip: If you can, buy a vehicle with a user-replaceable battery – it will be easier to charge at home and cheaper and easier to replace in the future.
Understanding the Different Types of Electric Bikes and Final Advice
Finally, to choose the best bike, a beginner needs to know the main categories of electric bikes. This awareness will allow you to select the perfect configuration for your needs, as the “e-bike” term includes dozens of variations in design and functional capabilities. This classification will make it clear where exactly scooter-style units are appropriate and what other interesting options exist within the framework of the modern electric two-wheel class.
By Primary Use
Commuter, Electric Mountain, Cruiser, and Fat Tire.
By Motor Type
Hub or mid-drive motor.
By Class (North American standards)
| Class | Features | Maximum Assisted Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Pedal-assist only (no throttle) | 20 mph |
| Class 2 | Has a throttle in addition to pedal-assist | 20 mph |
| Class 3 | Pedal-assist only | 28 mph |
Is Ather’s technology too complicated for a beginner?
Not particularly. Although feature-rich, the core riding experience is straightforward. However, if you want to ride a "dumb" vehicle without apps and connectivity, you should look at traditional electric bikes.
What is the most significant advantage of such a vehicle?
The key is the built-in smart ecosystem. A modern, seamless urban riding experience integrating navigation, ride statistics, and over-the-air updates is something that even the most advanced traditional electric bike cannot offer.
Is it the best all-terrain option for a beginner?
Far from it. If your interests go beyond smooth city roads, a dedicated all-terrain electric bike with appropriate suspension, tires, and capabilities, such as the ENGWE E26, remains your best option as a beginner.
In conclusion, a beginner’s choice of e-bike rests on matching its qualities that answer the rider’s needs and ambition.
