Hero’s latest 150-cc Achiever is low on budget and high on comfort. Its hassle-free handling is capable of weaving through traffic with no qualms
The Achiever is simple and low on stickers, lending it a more serious, commuter-esque look. Pics/Aditya Dhiwar
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Not all heroes wear capes. The real world heroes are measured by their ability to deliver consistently, to be dependable, and to always have your back; the kind of attributes that Hero MotoCorp’s latest version of the Achiever 150 aspires to have.
Headlamps always stay on as a safety precaution
When compared to its immediate predecessor, the Achiever looks understated. And that is a good thing, because in an era where stickers run wild and bikes look like they are screaming for attention, a subtly garnished, understated bike makes for a welcome break. Especially considering that Hero is marketing this as a proper commuter, with no claims of sportiness tossed into the mix. The retro-looking headlamp unit and the body paint-matching mirrors complement it well. There are no sharp contours or absurd protrusions, which is nice to see. While the headlamp unit may look old school, it sports a feature we appreciate: like on big bikes, the headlamps turn on as soon as you turn on the ignition, and stay on no matter what. The tank has been tweaked, and the shape is distinct but not flashy, keeping with the overall styling language of the Achiever 150.
The i3S start-stop feature will improve the bike’s fuel efficiency
The riding position is extremely comfortable. The seat is pretty comfortable on its own, too. However, the plastics are little rough around the edges. The dash is an all-analogue affair and features a side-stand indicator. Where the engine kill-switch should be, there is a big blue button reading “i3S”. This is Hero’s start-stop technology, which can be turned on or off based on the user’s preference.
We turned it on and the first thing we noticed was that the engine was high on refinement. Despite sporting a 150-cc engine, it doesn’t feel quite as peppy as any of the other products of this displacement available today. This is explained by its power output, rated at 13.6 PS, and torque figure of 12.8 Nm.
The seat-handle-peg balance is extremely well sorted on this Achiever.
Handling-wise, the Achiever 150 feels pretty light and changes direction quickly and comfortably: attributes that bode well for weaving through traffic. The ride quality is decent, absorbing all the little bumps with ease. Coming to the braking, we rode the variant that sports a 240-mm disc upfront. The brakes provide the kind of bite you would expect. However, the progression is a little lacking.
There is a lot going for the Achiever when you take it all in as a package. You’ll have to wait till the road test for fuel efficiency figures, but price-wise it is already undercutting its competitors by a cool nearly R10,000 with an on-road price of R73,364 in Pune (OTR). So if your priority is a 150-cc commuter and you’re on a tight budget, then the Achiever 150 sure fits the bill.
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