Bajaj V15 vs Hero Achiever 150 comparison

Mechanical horses

The Achiever 150 and the V15 are both powered by single-cylinder, air-cooled engines with SOHC. The Achiever 150’s mill is a 149.1cc unit that produces 13.6hp at 8,000rpm and 12.8Nm at 5,000rpm, whereas the V15’s 149.5cc unit produces 12hp at 7,500rpm and 12.7Nm at 5,500rpm.

The Achiever has the commuter feel nailed from the moment you get into the saddle. The riding position is very upright, which will prove comfortable even for extended city commutes. Start the bike and you are greeted by vibrations at idle. Slot into first using the light clutch and, as you set off, some things become immediately obvious: the engine is torquey and not very refined, and is certainly not happy to be revved too much. The gearing compels you to upshift very quickly as you build speed. I was in fifth gear by the time I hit 50kph, with the tacho needle indicating revs at about 4,000rpm. This, as I soon discovered, was the sweet spot; rev it beyond and the engine feels strained and vibrations soar. Highway cruising, thus, is not a great option. However, the early torque delivery ensures that you don’t need to downshift much, 
even as the speeds drop.

Bajaj claims that it has prioritised torque delivery in the V15 by increasing the engine’s stroke. While it definitely does feel torquey, it is slower than the Achiever in a head-to-head acceleration test. But the manner of power delivery is more enjoyable in the V15; it is more linear and the engine will rev more freely and smoothly. The V15 feels more comfortable at high revs, allowing you to space out your upshifts more; downshifts too can be spaced out because like the Achiever, there is plenty of torque in the lower range to go around. However, vibrations in the V15 are even more pronounced at idle than in the Achiever and continue to filter through the handlebars, fuel tank and foot pegs during your ride.

In terms of riding position, the seating geometry of the V15 is slightly cruiser-like, with wide handlebars, a low-set wide seat and forward-set foot pegs. It is comfortable for both urban as well as highway riding.