New Bike Achiever 150

This post is to outline that I have bought a new bike Hero Achiever 150.

My earlier bike was Hero Honda Karizma R 2008 model

You might say why did I go for 150 cc bike when I had a 223 cc bike.
The fact is that I did not want to hold on to a legacy technology.
When I gave the Karizma for servicing in February, I came to know that that Hero is no longer offering the Karizma.
In other words Karizma had been withdrawn. Upon research I came to know that it was suffering poor sales for several years.

• Karizma Sales dropped Sharply : Here it is clearly mentioned that at one time Karizma in December 2014 did not manage to sell even 7 units 
• Hero to phase out Karizma by 2018 : Hero took decision to phase out Karizma.
• Hero Honda Split December 2010 : Long before that Hero and Honda had parted ways in December 2010.
• Legacy Honda technology to be phased out by Hero Motocorp : Even after splitting in 2010 it took almost six years for Hero to get in a stage where it could decide to phase out Honda technology
• Karizma to be revamped? We are in suspense if a newer version of Karizma will come anytime soon

Check the above links.

• I had bought Karizma in March 2009 and so it was a 2008 model. 
• I could have used it no problem.
• But what happened last week its speedometer and odometer started not working. the tachometer was working.
• So I Took it to the showroom and they wanted to change the cable but it was out of stock and so they asked me to bring it next week.
• In the meantime I enquired the exchange price and even paid a Rs500 advance.
• What I thought. that I need to have the guarantee of the company of the bike I am buying and using.
• Much like what i had outlined in my blog post earlier
• Today the speedometer did not work. Tomorrow it could be any other part.
• And since Hero stopped producing the vehicles the parts also would be in short supply in the future.
• Before that happened I needed to switch the model.
• Also it is not a popular model like Splendour or Splendour Plus which has been around for 20 years plus which will ensure a steady supply of parts.
• I had experience of earlier bike Kawasaki Bajaj 4S Champion and how I had to sell it as scrap after 17 years.
• Now 8 years had passed since I bought the Karizma. In theory I could have used it for 7 years more.
•  In theory nothing will happen and the bike would continue to function like it always has.
• But then what i needed to do was not take it to showroom.
• Because if I took it to showroom with the legacy technology and all I would feel bad and inferior.
• I should take it to workshop outside and not authorised showroom.
• If I go to authorised showroom, I should have the latest technology the ones that they currently offer.
• I zeroed in on Achiever 150 because it was the biggest bike currently in the Hero stable.
• I also went to Bajaj, Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki showrooms.
• Bajaj models dd not seem right to me. Mainly V15 model. I was not interested in pulsar and Avenger to begin with. And those top end models easily cost 1 lakh plus.
• Yamaha had so many models that i became confused. Their top models cost 1 lakh plus.
• Honda was best and for a second over there it felt like "homecoming". Also their top end bike cost more than 2 lakhs.
• Suzuki had the Gixxer model and it cost 1 lakh plus.
• In times like this I found Hero Achiever 150 at Rs78000 to be ideal price. Other companies models were pricier excluding teh V15 from Baja which was in same range.
• I wanted to go for Honda Livo 110 cc initially but I saw it again and thought it was lesser height for 6 ft person like me. Honda CB Hornet 160 exceeded 1 lakh.
• Thus Achiever 150 was best option and is now my current bike.