Source December 2005

Fight Club

Hero Honda’s Achiever joins the 150cc action. Should the reigning champs get anxious?

HERO HONDA ACHIEVER
List price Rs 50,195-55,234
(ex-showroom, Mumbai)
Top speed 109kph 0-60kph 5.63sec
Kpl 53.3 (overall)
For Performance, super headlight
Against Firm ride, narrow rear tyre

HONDA UNICORN
List price Rs 51,031-54,094
(ex-showroom, Mumbai)
Top speed 113kph 0-60kph 5.86sec
Kpl 51.1 (overall)
For Silken engine
Against Narrow rear tyre, poor switches

BAJAJ PULSAR 150 DTS-i
List price Rs 52,051-56,200
(ex-showroom, Mumbai)
Top speed 108kph 0-60kph 5.35sec
Kpl 51.3 (overall)
For Styling, alloy rims, value for money
Against All-down gearshift pattern

Spot-on predictions are a rarity. And it was so with last year’s ‘Honda Unicorn will hurt the Bajaj Pulsar 150 DTS-i’ variety. But a Honda can never be taken too lightly and Bajaj Auto countered the threat by instantly adding value with alloy rims, a thicker rear tyre and gas-charged rear dampers to the Pulsar.
Not surprisingly, with Honda remaining passive, Pulsar sales have been merrily ticking along.
But now, extending the battle to twin-fronts, the Japanese firm has roped in close ally Hero Honda to jointly give birth to the Achiever.
We know what you want to know—just how does the Achiever compare with the reigning champs, the Unicorn and the Pulsar 150 DTS-i? And we have the answers.