Ather 450X Long Term Review: 3-Month Report

Gallery Introduction Likes Dislikes Conclusion Bike Stats

Introduction

The Ather 450X has been my commute companion on most days over the last three months. While I have always admired Ather products for their quality and smart engineering, using the 450X only made me respect the brand even more. The scooter gradually grew on me, although I couldn’t ride it as much as I wished - blame the other test bikes, which always flooded BikeWale’s garage. However, I have ridden it enough to tell you the things that’ll be a boon for buyers and aspects that may not be to everyone’s liking, over a span of three months.

Likes

The most enjoyable aspect of the Ather 450X is the acceleration. And I am not even referring to the ballistic Warp mode – I barely use it because it drains the battery quicker than any other mode. In my opinion, to profoundly enjoy the scooter, even Sport mode is good enough. It not only gives you access to the top speed of 90kmph, but the acceleration till close to 70kmph is also quicker than most ICE scooters. Overtaking vehicles in traffic is not just easy but also super fun, with the throttle responding with negligible delay and the acceleration being sprightly. Some people might find the motor’s whining sound too loud, but I think it adds some drama to the otherwise acoustically boring EVs.

Handling of the Ather 450X is another aspect that has always been impressive, and it continues to be so in its latest iteration. Filtering your way through traffic is a seamless affair, as the 450X responds to the lightest of inputs from the rider without losing composure. It flicks from side to side with incredible agility. And since it is equipped with the new MRF Zapper N e-Tred tyres with lower rolling resistance for better range, we thought the grip would go for a toss. However, I have found the new tyres to be sticky in almost every scenario, even when I rode the scooter in the rain.

I have also grown to love the seven-inch touchscreen display. Not only has Ather managed to keep the overall user interface super easy to understand, but the fluidity with which the screen responds to touch-based inputs is commendable. It almost feels like a smartphone to operate, as there is barely any lag while navigating your way through different menus and settings. Another trait that impressed me is the accuracy of the battery range it displays. While planning your trips around town, you can completely rely on the range being displayed – you’ll get the same riding range in the real world as shown on the dash for every ride mode. That addresses a major concern that I had when it comes to range anxiety.

Not to forget, the Magix Twist, which is Ather’s version of a regenerative braking system, has been a boon in day-to-day riding in traffic. I’ve grown so used to it that I completely rely on the regen most of the times unless I need to come to a halt rapidly. However, I make sure never to keep it in the most aggressive mode because it causes the rear wheel to lock up and slide on slippery surfaces when you roll off the accelerator. This has mainly been a problem for me on a wet downhill slope in our office parking, where I had a few scary instances initially. In the time I’ve spent so far with the 450X, I have also been impressed with the quality levels of the Ather 450X. Everything on the scooter is as intact as it was when the test unit came to use, with barely any kilometres on the odometer. Be it the finishing of the black panels or the fitment of body panels, everything seems to be as good as new.

Dislikes

Since the suspension of the 450X is set up to deliver sporty handling, it brings along some trade-offs in terms of comfort. While the ride quality is not outright harsh, the firmly sprung setup keeps bobbing constantly, especially at the front, even on mildly undulated cemented roads of Mumbai, which gets a bit annoying at times. Through a series of successive bumps or potholes, the front forks send constant shock to the arms, with the rear monoshock feeling relatively more absorbent and planted. To give you a perspective, the suspension of the 450X is not as stiff and unforgiving as the first-gen Yamaha Aerox 155, but it’s far from being plush nonetheless.

The lack of seating space is another reason for the Ather scoring low in the comfort department. For my 5’11’’ frame, the seating position feels a bit unnatural, with the floorboard placed high, putting me in a bit of a squatting position. Moreover, the handlebar is positioned too close to the seat, which means it fouls with my knees every time I take a U-turn. However, this is something I have learnt to deal with by pointing my knees outwards every time I have to take a tight turn.

Braking is another area where the 450X could do better. There’s no issue with the stopping power, as the scooter has it in abundance at both ends. What hampers the riding experience is the overly grabby nature of the rear brake and the lack of feel from the lever. It’s difficult to judge the exact bite point of the rear brake, which mostly results in the rider going overboard with their inputs. And due to the lack of progression, this results in the rear wheel locking up and sliding a bit, which is an unnerving feeling, especially when the riding surface is slightly slippery.

What acts as a saving grace is the presence of a combined braking system, which automatically applies the front brake to some extent when applying the rear brake, thereby making the rear-wheel slides less severe and risky. I think it is about time Ather introduces ABS on the 450X, considering how sharp the brakes are.

Owing to its compact dimensions and tight bodywork, the 450X doesn’t offer a handsome amount of storage space. With the portable charger occupying a major part of the under-seat provision all the time, there is barely enough space left to accommodate even a small backpack. I have been dealing with this by carrying my bag on the floorboard, which itself is not really spacious.

Lastly, range anxiety is something I have constantly dealt with while using the Ather 450X. Now, this is a very generic issue when living with electric two-wheelers and not a major complaint. And as I have mentioned before, the 450X’s accuracy of displaying the range in any given mode is spot on. However, what I noticed over the last few months is that when you keep the scooter parked for two-three days with the charge under 80 per cent, there is almost a drop of 50 per cent in SOC (state of charge). This happens even when you shut down the scooter before parking it for the aforementioned period. One way to deal with this is to keep the scooter fully charged (100 per cent) before parking it for a long time, and you’ll notice a negligible drop in SOC, even if you come back to it after a week.

Conclusion

My experience with the Ather 450X has mostly been positive, accompanied by a few small hiccups. Now, I have handed over the keys to the scooter to my colleague Haji, who will certainly come back with a fresh perspective and new discoveries related to the ownership of the 450X. Stay tuned for the next report.