Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 vs Himalayan 450 – What is different?

The Guerrilla 450 is the most affordable 450cc motorcycle in the Royal Enfield range. It is based on the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 and shares many components with the ADV tourer. But, there are quite a few differences between the two. Let’s look at how different the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 is from the Himalayan 450.

Design and ergonomics

The obvious difference between the two bikes is in their styling. While the Himalayan 450 has a rugged ADV design, the Guerrilla 450 has a neo-retro roadster design with a compact body, smaller 17-inch wheels and fatter tires.

The Guerrilla 450 features a smaller 11-litre fuel tank compared to the 17-litre unit on the Himalayan 450. Even the roadster’s ergonomics are sportier, compared to the Adventurer’s relaxed, touring-centric triangle. Both bikes are available in five color options.

Cycle parts

Another visual change is in the cycle hardware and components. Although both bikes use a similar main frame, the Guerrilla uses a different rear subframe. Even the angle of the steering head is different and becomes sharper compared to the Himalayan.

It is then suspended on telescopic forks at the front and a linked monoshock at the rear with 140mm and 150mm of travel at the front and rear respectively. Meanwhile, the Himalayan 450 gets USD forks at the front, while the suspension travel is 200mm front and rear. In the braking department, the Guerrilla gets a 310mm front disc, while the Himalayan gets a 320mm unit. Both bikes have a 270mm rear disc and dual-channel ABS.

Being an ADV, the Himalayan 450 rides on 21/17-inch wire-spoke wheels that offer better control on roads with poor surfaces and while riding off-road trails. However, the major downside to Himalayan tires is that they are not tubeless and repairing a puncture is a pain. The Guerrilla 450, on the other hand, rides on 17-inch wheels wrapped in tubeless tires with a section of 120/70 front and 160/60 rear. These are the widest tires in the segment and increase the visual appeal of the bike.

size

Thanks to the 17-inch wheels, different sub-frame and sharper ride angle, the Guerrilla 450 is smaller than the Himalayan 450. It has a curb weight of 185 kg, ground clearance of 169 mm and a wheelbase of 1,440 mm. Even the seat height is quite accessible at 780mm.

Meanwhile, the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 is heavier with a curb weight of 196 kg. Being an ADV, it has a high ground clearance of 230 mm and a long wheelbase of 1,510 mm. The standard seat height is 825 mm, which can be increased to 845 mm. But, Royal Enfield also sells an accessory seat that reduces the saddle height to 805mm.

Engine specifications

Both the bikes are powered by a 452cc liquid-cooled engine that produces 39.5PS at 8,000rpm and a peak torque of 40Nm at 5,500rpm. The engine is mated to a six-speed gearbox and an assist and slipper clutch.

That said, the Guerrilla 450 has a different final drive ratio as it runs a 45-tooth rear sprocket, while the Himalayan 450 runs a 47-tooth unit. This should provide better throttle response, but that’s something we can only confirm once we ride the bike.

Prices

The Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 is priced at Rs. 2.39 lakh for the Analog variant, while the Dash and Flash variants cost Rs. 2.49 lakh and Rs. 2.54 lakh respectively. Meanwhile, the base variant of the Himalayan 450 starts a Rs. 2.85 lakh, while the Pass variant costs Rs. 2.89 lakhs. The Summit variant is priced at Rs. 2.93 lakh and the Hanle Black paint scheme costs Rs. 2.98 lakh. All prices are ex-showroom, Mumbai.