The modern-retro segment was almost non-existent and uncompetitive a few years ago, enters Harley-Davidson with its X440 and Triumph Speed 400 almost at the same time and suddenly we see almost 100,000 motorcycles have been sold so far. They both launched it aggressively targeting Royal Enfield as it silently watched, not passing a comment on them. The result is their sales did not dip but the Harleys and Triumph in India tasted numbers which they could not have dreamt of with their existing offerings, and mostly thanks to their aggressive pricing. Royal Enfield was preparing for the war and it had Guerilla Warfare in its mind. Cue in the Guerrilla 450 and for the first ride they took us to Barcelona and did a global launch with all the shenanigans. Not just the Indian battleground but RE is also targeting to ruffle up some global feathers and the Guerrilla is another major stride towards it.
Verdict
Its pricing starts at INR 2.39 Lakh and goes up till INR 2.54 Lakh. It is competitive pricing once you think of the additional features it gets over the Triumph Speed 400 which undercuts the Guerrilla. Even as a standalone offering, the Guerrilla impresses because of certain things: be it the riding dynamics, the way it looks or the strong performance from the Sherpa engine. We just wish it had more grunt way down in the rev range to improve its rideability in the urban confinements. Back home, we have already set the ball rolling to bring along the Speed 400 and the H-D X440 for an ultimate showdown with the newest warrior that has guerrilla warfare in its mind.
What do we think of the design ?
The Guerrilla 450 is derived from the Himalayan 450 and that can be seen in the borrowed body panels as well. However, it does a lot of things differently. Its stance for instance mimics that of a proper roadster, thanks to the 17-inch wheels at both the ends. Different elements include a round headlamp which is devoid of a windscreen and the use of a different colour palette. It is worth noting here that RE has been killing with its colour game lately and they have continued that with the Guerrilla as well as it gets some very attractive colour options. On the same note they have gone a bit more aggressive and have dropped colour combinations which might not be to everyone's taste. We have learned that they have kept a few special colours to be dropped later. The Guerrilla also gets a new and smaller fuel tank as compared to the Himalayan which can hold just 11 litres of fuel as compared to 17 litres of the Himalayan
While the Himalayan is a bit intimidating because of its form and sheer size, the Guerrilla brings accessibility to the table. The Himalayan gets a towering 825mm stock seat height while the Guerrilla taps out at 780mm. The Guerrilla is available in three variants — Analogue, Dash and Flash. The entry-level trim gets a simple digital analogue instrument console with an optional navigation Tripper Pod. The top model gets a 5-inch round TFT display which is integrated with Google Maps. With Bluetooth Connectivity, the mobile phone can be paired to the console allowing you to play your favourite music or playlist, receive message alerts etc.
It’s the same engine as the Himalayan… So the same performance ?
Yes, the Sherpa 450 engine that we loved on the Himalayan has found its way here. This is the second motorcycle based on the same platform. We were expecting the Guerrilla to introduce a new mapping for the same engine and they have done exactly the same. The Sherpa 450 engine finds itself in a slightly different tune with a new 45-teeth rear sprocket. This powertrain is potent enough to put down 40 PS and 40 NM. Just like the Himalayan, it also gets different ride modes to choose from: Eco and Performance. Thankfully, the Guerrilla also retains Himalayan’s ride by wire system which works flawlessly as it offers seamless fuelling.The winding sections of outskirts of Barcelona became the perfect playground to test the ammunition that this guerrilla is bringing to the warfare.
The Himalayan struggles a bit at the lower end of the rev range and that trait is sort of present here in the Guerrilla as well. However, a strong surge of performance makes this Guerrilla hop forward right after crossing 3000rpm. The low end grunt is better than the Himalayan but it could have been even more pronounced. That being said, the engine’s linearity has been carried over. The Guerrilla is a sprightly performer which keeps on getting happier as you give it the beans. After 3000rpm, there’s no coming back because this Sherpa is willing to climb every summit. If the refinement was a little better, it could have made the Guerrilla even more fun! Even in its current tune, the Guerrilla can comfortably sit at 130-140kmph all day long! But since it is going to tackle urban jungle most of its life, more grunt low down would have made it a hoot to ride! The gearshifts are smooth and precise and even the clutch action is light, so it definitely adds the overall experience. What also adds to it is the raspy exhaust note and the growling engine.
Pricing starts at INR 2.39 Lakh and goes up till INR 2.54 Lakh
How does it finally ride and handle itself ?
The 17-inchers at either end have made a world of a difference between the Guerrilla and the Himalayan. Its lesser weight has also contributed to its newfound agility. To tell you that this is the sportiest Royal Enfield ever made wouldn’t be wrong. You might think that the telescopic forks at the front are a big downgrade but they aren’t so. Enter Showa. Royal Enfield’s suspension partner lately and they have delivered again! Because not only the Guerrilla absorbs undulations well but it also inspires confidence to belt it around corners. However, the rear monoshock could have offered more suppleness. It reminded us of the setup of the Hunter which was, again, set up on the stiffer side.
Once leaned over, the Guerrilla holds its line with the thickest tyres in its segment. However, if you are going to be aggressively riding the Guerrilla, we suggest that you switch to better road-biased tyres and there are some great ones in this particular tyre profile! Inexperienced riders ought to be careful with the throttle a little because of the absence of traction control. Too much throttle might result in the rear stepping out. The brakes on the other hand, inspire confidence to go faster and faster on the Guerrilla.
