2024 Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 (Global Launch Tour)

Royal Enfield has unveiled the latest bike to use its liquid-cooled 452cc Sherpa powerplant, with the covers from the Guerrilla 450 in Barcelona. Exhaust Notes Australia was on the ground in Spain as part of its global media launch.

After traveling for what seemed like forever, and despite suffering a little jet lag, we were excited for what lay ahead. We didn’t have to wait long either, as Royal Enfield’s head of design, Mark Wells, hosted the bike’s presentation to the assembled attendees.

From there, dinner overlooking the beach, a few drinks and the Euro Cup final between Spain and England was all that was on our minds – well, that and sleep. The next morning saw us up bright and early to hit the road and taste our first Guerrilla 450.

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Some party music greeted us before we hit the streets of Barcelona on this roadster-style bike, which boasts a number of bright color schemes including Playa Black, Gold Dip, Smoke Silver, Yellow Ribbon and Brava Blue.

While we don’t yet know which colors will be available in Australia, we can tell you that like many other Royal Enfield builds, the Guerrilla 450 will be available in three trim levels, determined by the colors.

The entry-level offering comes in Smoke Silver and gets an analog dash (the other variants get the updated TFT display found on the new Himalayan). That screen is a simple 4.0-inch infotainment setup that’s relatively simple to use.

With minimal cost difference expected between the variants (local price yet to be confirmed), we think it’s worth the extra expense, especially considering it’s backed by Royal Enfield’s mobile app.

Ergonomically, the Guerrilla 450 ticks all the boxes, even for a larger bike like yours truly, offering a relaxed, upright position with good handlebar feel. The footrests are also well positioned without creating excessive leg bend.

The seat allows the rider to move their body when riding with more energy. The controls are familiar to anyone who has ridden a Royal Enfield, and everything feels tidy and located where you’d expect it to be.

The buttons are easy to activate, however there are no auto cancel indicators or cruise control. Now back to the ride. We headed through Barcelona’s early morning traffic, instantly noticing how maneuverable the bike is around town with the tape filtering a breeze.

Launching the Guerrilla 450 from a standing start is a breeze thanks to a slipper clutch that’s nice and light, making it easy to shift your way through the 6-speed gearbox. What we found was something we are not used to in Australia – good roads.

Not only are the roads outside the city interesting, but there are no potholes and the surfaces are even and smooth. The incredible tarmac allowed us to brake late at the top of the corner and take a punch full of throttle as we came to a stop without fear of bumps.

It meant we could make the most of the modest Guerrilla 450 engine – good for 29.5kW of power and 40Nm of torque – and evaluate its model-specific engine map and transmissions. There’s a real sweet spot in the rev range at around 3,500rpm.

The engine changes its note and there is an increase in throttle response to make it feel like you are getting the absolute maximum out of the bike. Royal Enfield has fitted a 43mm telescopic fork up front and on near perfect roads, the front suspension does an admirable job.

It will be interesting to see how it holds up to the local conditions in Australia when it lands here in late September or early October. At the rear, a mono-shock setup is used.

Steering is a real standout for the 185kg Guerrilla and some of that can be attributed to its slightly shorter wheelbase (1440mm) compared to the Himalayan. The new model runs on 17-inch CEAT tubeless tires front and rear, which are an interesting choice.

They seem to have a lightweight, all-terrain model, and we couldn’t help but wonder if a more aggressive road/sport tire would have been a better option, especially given that any potential buyer who wants to get off the road is likely to buy a Himalayan anyway.

After a fun morning of riding, we stopped for a spot of lunch before hitting the road for more action (and some photos). As we headed back through the countryside, we have to admit we were a little relieved.

One of the biggest reservations I had about this bike was exactly where it would sit in the market and how different it would be from the Himalayan. But Royal Enfield has done a good job of creating something unique that presents a new option for riders.

The Guerrilla 450 definitely has its own soul and character. It will need it too, as it will be up against not only Royal Enfield’s other 450cc models, but also the Triumph 400 offerings, Harley-Davidson motorcycles and the KTM 390 range.

There’s no denying that it’s a pretty good time to be a learner rider or someone who’s into smaller capacity bikes, and after completing our first day of riding, we found ourselves pretty happy with the Guerrilla 450 and what it will offer.

Royal Enfield has a strategic focus on the small-medium capacity segment and they do motorcycling simply, very well. This bike adds another spin to that cog, as it were, combining a nice retro vibe with a good sprinkling of modern technology.

The Guerrilla 450 is a perfect legal learner bike that is affordable and would be a great place to start your two wheel journey. It’s also a solid commuter bike or a good weekend bar because it’s quite stylish and easy to ride.

You can find out more on Royal Enfield’s Australian website or by contacting your local dealer.

Our test bikes were provided by Royal Enfield as part of the global media launch for 2024 Guerrilla 450, held in Barcelona, ​​Spain.