With the Guerilla 450, it is probably the closest Royal Enfield has ever come in making a sporty motorcycle. But does that mean its good? The base it has been derived from is heavy, the underpinnings have some Adventure DNA and do the changes warrant it to be called a new motorcycle? Lets find out.
Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450: Design and Features
The Guerrilla 450 boasts a distinctive look and identity in its segment. There is no mistaking this motorcycle for any other modern retro, though it shares some design elements with its larger sibling, the Himalayan. The sculpted fuel tank and streamlined tail section particularly evoke the Himalayan, in a positive way. It also features the same round LED headlamp, blacked-out Sherpa 450 engine, and a stubby exhaust. Additionally, the Guerrilla stands out with the widest front and rear tires (120/70R17 and 160/60/R17) of any made-in-India motorcycle, enhancing its visual appeal.
Fortunately, the Guerrilla departs significantly from the Himalayan in terms of accessibility. With a seat height of 780mm, it has the lowest seat in the segment and sheds the top-heaviness of the adventure bike. At 185kg, it is the heaviest in the 300-400cc liquid-cooled roadster category, but it doesn’t feel overly heavy. Lifting it off the side stand is effortless, and its weight seems appropriate for its size and well balanced.
One notable advantage of the Guerrilla is its substantial feel compared to its rivals. Built on the Himalayan chassis, the bike feels solid, which could work in its favor. Despite having a fuel capacity of only 11 liters, the tank feels large, and the design extrusions do not interfere with rider comfort.
Despite its low seat height, the riding position is well-considered, and even taller riders feel comfortable. The footpegs are raised by 30mm, and while taller riders might eventually experience some knee strain, the bike remains comfortable for the first few hours of riding. The handlebar placement is natural, offering a relaxed, upright riding posture that still allows for a good connection with the motorcycle during more spirited riding.
Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450: Performance and Handling
The easy and predictable handling of the Guerilla 450 shouldn’t come as a surprise, given the Himalayan’s capability as a handler, and the Guerrilla builds on that platform. While it shares the same chassis as the Himalayan, the headstock angle is sharper, and suspension travel has been reduced from 200mm to 140mm at the front and 150mm at the rear. The most notable change, however, is the switch to 17-inch wheels at both ends.
Despite its chunky block-pattern CEAT tires, the Guerrilla is primarily a roadster, similar to the Ducati Scrambler, with off-road capability being more of a visual statement. As a roadster, it performs admirably, offering neutral, predictable handling that encourages spirited riding. The bike leans significantly before scraping its footpegs, and the CEAT tires provide good grip in dry conditions. Its one of those bikes where you feel comfortable leaning the bike right away.
The braking setup is similar to the Himalayan, although the front disc is slightly smaller at 310mm. While braking performance is more than adequate, it’s not the sharpest in its class. Dual-channel ABS is standard, though unlike the Himalayan, the rear ABS cannot be deactivated. The rear shock is a bit firm, would have a loved a wider range on the pre-load to play with. That said it is not uncomfortable like the Hunter 350.
The Guerrilla uses the same 452cc, 40hp/40Nm liquid-cooled engine as the Himalayan, but with a different tune that enhances low- to mid-range performance. It also has a smaller rear sprocket to compensate for the smaller wheels. On the road, the engine feels similar to the Himalayan, with a strong surge of power above 3,000rpm. The engine revs eagerly to the redline, adding to the bike’s fun character. With an 11kg weight reduction compared to the Himalayan, the Guerrilla feels slightly quicker, and a 0-100kph time is just above 6 seconds. Like the Himalayan, the Guerrilla exhibits some vibrations at various speeds but Royal Enfield has managed it better on this bike. Although the bike offers enough performance and space for highway touring, the 11-liter fuel tank may necessitate frequent stops. It can cruise easily at 100-120 kmph unlike the Himalayan where the vibes make it uncomfortable. We got around 26 kmpl mileage for the Guerilla despite very enthusiastic riding.
Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450: Verdict
The Guerrilla 450 is available in three variants. The base model comes with the semi-digital display from the Super Meteor, while the mid and top variants feature the same TFT display as the Himalayan, along with exclusive color schemes. In terms of features, the Guerrilla is relatively simple, lacking advanced options like traction control and a quick shifter. However, it does offer a USB charging port and the ability to cast maps from a phone to the TFT display, though, like the Himalayan, this requires keeping the phone screen on.
Overall, the Guerrilla 450 is an appealing and enjoyable roadster. While it doesn’t offer anything revolutionary, it is priced competitively between Rs 2.39 lakh and Rs 2.54 lakh, lower than the KTM 390s and Husqvarna 401 but slightly higher than the Triumph Speed 400.
The most important thing about the Guerilla 450 is that, you always come back with a smile.
