Got invited to try out the new Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450: Key facts

Ergonomics is spot on, and the seat is very well designed as far as shape and foam density are concerned.

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Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 test ride observations.

I got an invite to check out the brand spanking new RE Guerrilla 450 at a RE showroom owned by a dear brother. He was kind enough to let me take it out for a 10-odd km test ride that had a variety of terrains, from a single-lane highway to twisties to rutted roads and unruly traffic.

I will share my thoughts about the motorcycle. These observations will be from the perspective of a Bullet ES350 MY2018 (aka Electra 350) owner.

Key Facts-

1. Looks smashing and feels like a big enough motorcycle from the saddle. Saddle height was very approachable and suited my 5'10" frame very well, and I could flatfoot my feet on the ground easily. It will suit a wide range of frames, for sure.
2. The digital dash packs in a lot of information along with the navigation.
3. Switchgears were good but needed effort to operate with the gloves on.
4. Ergonomics is spot on, and the seat is very well designed as far as shape and foam density are concerned.
5. Suspension is on point; it's firm enough to keep it planted and offers enough comfort. The flickability is really top-notch for a 180-plus kilo street motorcycle. The sharper rake angle (when compared to the Himalayan 450) seems to work like a charm while making quick directional changes.
6. That 450cc liquid-cooled single-cylinder motor is a really midrange champ; it just takes off from 3500 rpm onwards and it just flies. It will cross 100 kmph before one is really paying attention. That 40 Nm of torque makes its presence felt and is very entertaining. The induction noise is also very enjoyable, as I was grinning hard inside my helmet every time I whacked the throttle wide open. However, it lacks the bottom-end torque, and it grumbles if the revs drop below 3000 rpm, which is understandable due to its oversquare engine design. It is just a matter of getting used to, if you ask me. Gearbox is smooth enough, and slipper clutch works well, but the clutch lever pull is not super light. I did reset the fuel economy indicator in the beginning of the test ride, and it registered a 23 kmpl on MID at the end of the test ride with flatout riding going up and down the gears with enthusiasm. The real world economy should be in the range of 25-28 kmpl during commutes and 30-34 kmpl on open roads if ridden sanely.
7. Braking is satisfactory if not tack-sharp.

And that sums up my experience with the RE Guerrilla 450. Thank you all for your time.

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