The C3001 and the Konarc have the longest and second-longest wheelbase, respectively, and they’re on the heavier side as well; the latter is explained by their metal body panels. Seat height is more or less on par, but if you care about the minutest of numbers, the Vida VX2’s is the tallest of the bunch. However, we wouldn’t expect that to deter buyers from choosing the Vida.
Ather’s biggest advantage over the others is its 14-inch front wheel, something none of the other scooters has. It also has the widest rear tyre, even though they all use 12-inch wheels. As for brakes, Chetak is the only one here without a disc brake. It is also the only one to feature a leading-link front suspension, paying homage to the design used on the original petrol-powered Chetak of yesteryear, whereas the others get a more modern telescopic fork.
Ather Konarc S 125 vs rivals: Features
Basics sorted, with more features requiring subscriptions
Ather has reserved the top-shelf feature set for the Konarc Z line, which is slated to release late next year. As standard, the Konarc gets the largest-in-size 7-inch LCD cluster. It also has AirWalk, a feature that will make manually moving the scooter easier. No other scooter in this comparison can match that. The iQube gets a 5-inch TFT instrument cluster, the C3001 gets a monochrome LCD cluster, and the VX2 Go 3.1 gets a 4.2-inch LCD. They all also offer ride modes and basic smartphone connectivity as standard.
However, most of Ather’s tech features require Ather StackPro, which costs Rs 16,000 for the Konarc S 125km variant. This is a big add-on to the overall price of the scooter, but it is a one-time purchase. If you spring for it, you do get a lot of features such as TrueRange, AutoHold and Vehicle FallSafe. Ather also promises yearly software upgrades and new features, a claim no other manufacturer on this list can meet or beat.
The other scooters also require a paid subscription to access the full feature suite. However, Ather’s is the most expensive and has the highest number of features. Chetak offers a lifetime subscription to its TecPac for Rs 3,000. Vida and TVS charge Rs 999 and Rs 900 per year, respectively, for theirs.
Ather Konarc S 125 vs rivals: Price
TVS is the most expensive, while Vida is the most affordable
Of this lot, the Konarc S is the second most expensive scooter to buy, behind only the TVS iQube. If you prefer to keep things simpler, both price-wise and features-wise, the Chetak and the Vida offer that: a lean feature set with promising range for the price. However, remember that real-world experience, such as comfort, can change this equation, and we can only comment on that after riding them.
The prices listed are ex-showroom, Bengaluru.