Hero Achiever 150 review, test ride

Targeted at the premium commuter segment, the Hero Achiever has received an update. So just what has changed in this decade-old motorcycle?

Published on Sep 30, 2016 12:15:00 PM

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The biggest change has been the inclusion of i3S, or the Idle Start-Stop System. With the i3s switched on, when you pull to a stop and let the bike idle for 5 seconds, the system automatically kills the engine. To restart, all you need to do is pull in the clutch and you’re ready to go. Thanks to the improved engine and i3S, Hero says that the Achiever achieves a mileage figure of 50kpl. This figure has been calculated using new test cycles called WMTC, which better mimics real-world conditions as compared to the Indian Test Cycle, so it is quite respectable.

Ride on

Now our first ride inside the Indira Gandhi stadium didn't give us a chance to explore the Acheiver’s handling. However, the bike does feel nimble in tight spaces, which should be a big boon when riding the bike through its home turf – the urban jungle. However, at our test location, the skinny Ceat tyres felt very skittish on the combination of concrete, tiles and cobblestone surfaces. Agreed that this surface probably represented the worst-case scenario in terms of available grip, we’ll still have to wait to try out the bike on a proper road to talk about its handling abilities. Hero tells us that while the chassis hasn’t really changed on this new Achiever 150 in terms of design and geometry, there have been some refinements made to improve the bike’s ride quality, and it shows! Even though it doesn’t get monoshock rear suspension like some of its immediate rivals, the dual-shock setup handles bumps quite well, as was experienced over the sometimes broken, always varying surfaces we rode the bike on. Together with the pliant suspension, the relaxed riding position and adequate seat make for a very comfortable ride. Braking performance is quite remarkable as well, with the 240mm front disc providing clear feedback and adequate stopping power. We didn’t get a chance to ride the drum-brake version of the bike, but we would wholeheartedly recommend the disc brake version, as it only commands a tiny premium of Rs 1,000 over the all-drum equipped version. Overall though, the Achiever’s handling characteristics can be described as unexciting, but its predictable behaviour is in line with the expectations in this segment. So, that lack of drama is actually a very good thing.