Hero Achiever 150 First riding impressions

Look-wise the new Achiever 150 will remind you quite a lot of the older version of the bike. While this may be liked by some for the nostalgia it brings along, others might call it somewhat dated. Say what you want but the new Achiever definitely looks smart and bold, the solid color with minimalistic graphics gives it a clean look. The headlamp also looks sharp along with the new side indicators. The tail-lamp is a looker for sure. The Achiever comes in three colors - Noble Black, Fiery Red and Valor Grey.

While the looks would be debated upon, the performance is no doubt solid! It houses a 150 cc engine that is now BSIV compliant and produces 13.5hp and 12.8Nm of torque. Though we only got to ride the bike on a small track made of some uneven stones at the IG Stadium, it was apparent to me that this bike can perform when asked to. Give it the slightest hint that you want to go fast and it will comply readily. The peak power & torque come not too far towards the end so you can be sure that this bike can save you in traffic conditions and when you need to perform that quick overtake. Although when you cross the 60kmph mark the acceleration is not the same as it is in the lower speeds but that is not too much of a problem. Both the tyres are tubeless which is good but we wished that the rear tyre was a bit beefier to provide some more grip as the bike seemed to float and slip a little when taking sharp corners at high speeds.

Hero has packed a few things in the Achiever 150 that make it a standout in the 150cc segment. These include Automatic Headlight On (AHO) which automatically switches on the headlamp which can save people from a lot of accidents at night, especially around the corners. The second feature is Hero's i3S. It stands for Idle Smart Stop System and has been seen on previous Hero bikes like - the Splendor iSmart and Passion Pro . This feature helps in saving fuel as it switches off your engine if it is left idle for more than five seconds and then brings it back to life the moment you pull the clutch. The third handy feature is a side stand indicator which lights up if you have your side stand popped open. I am sure we have seen countless people driving with the stand open (probably have been one of them as well) and this can hopefully minimise that from happening.

The fit and finish of the meter console can only be described as 'neat'! The black plastic on our black Achiever seemed to complement each other. The signs painted in a dark orange color were also pleasing to look at. The console has two big analogue dials for speed and rpm. There is also an analogue fuel indicator.

The new Hero Achiever 150 offers you subtle looks, performance that can satisfy the teen in you and features that make total sense in a country like ours. It also comes at a luring price point of Rs 61,800 (ex-showroom Delhi) for the drum brake variant and the 240mm front disc version only costs Rs 1000 more and is totally worth the price. The Achiever truly reflects the experience and knowledge that Hero has when it comes to the Indian two-wheeler segment.