Bajaj V15 vs Hero Achiever 150 comparison

Being commuters, both bikes have a soft ride. The Achiever’s is the softer of the two. It is superbly absorbent at low speeds, but bouncy at higher ones, especially if you are a light rider like me; it may be more settled for heavier riders. The relatively firmer suspension of the V15 was more to my liking – soft enough to tackle bumps, lumps and crests well, but also firm enough to do away with any lollop on highways and open roads.

In terms of handling, both bikes were easy to navigate in traffic. The V15 was a little more adept at taking corners though, probably due to its lower concentration of weight and fatter rear tyre.

Fuel run

As mentioned before, fuel efficiency is a big talking point for commuter motorcycles. Both bikes get 13-litre fuel tanks, though the Achiever’s reserve at 1.8 litres is slightly more than the V15’s 1.7 litres.

The Achiever 150 gets Hero’s i3S (Idle Start-stop System) technology to improve fuel economy – with i3S switched on, the bike automatically kills the engine after five seconds of idling. Pull in the clutch and it comes back to life again.

However, when we conducted our fuel tests, the V15 delivered a better city fuel efficiency at 56kpl, compared to the Achiever’s 50kpl.

Fresh is best

In terms of equipment, the Achiever comes out on top: it gets a side-stand indicator, tachometer and i3S. The only novelty the V15 enjoys is the LED tail-lamp. However, the quality of the switchgear feels better on the Bajaj. Both bikes get the Automatic Headlamp On (AHO) feature, though the Bajaj has the brighter headlight of the two.

On the whole, the Achiever 150 is the faster bike here, with that handy i3S. But that is where its supremacy ends. On all other fronts, the V15 comes out on top. It is smoother, more comfortable, and offers better riding and handling. More importantly, it is desirable. Desirability was almost always overlooked in this segment, but the V15 is changing that rule of the game. It looks and feels a lot more premium than its price tag suggests. The V15 not only meets the requirement of a commuter, it goes beyond them to make the rider/owner feel a little special. We cannot yet comment on the long-term reliability of these bikes, but as first impressions go, it’s the V15 that takes the cake.