2025 Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 Review

Urban and youthful, the new Guerrilla 450 roadster steps away from Royal Enfield’s usual classic style while keeping the pure motorcycling character of the brand. (Photos by Dustin Ishikura)

Royal Enfield invited us to its North American headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to ride the new Guerrilla 450. There we were in the heart of American-made Big Twin country, cruising the streets on India-built 452cc single-cylinder roadsters that retail for just $5,299. The contrast was striking.

The 492cc Single makes a claimed 39.5 hp and 29.5 lb-ft of torque.

The Himalayan 450 introduced last year was the first liquid-cooled motorcycle in Royal Enfield’s lineup since the company was founded in 1901, and the Guerrilla 450 is the second. Both bikes are built around the Sherpa DOHC 4-valve engine that makes a claimed 39.5 hp at 8,000 rpm and 29.5 lb-ft of torque at 5,500 rpm and uses throttle-by-wire (also a first for Royal Enfield).

Milwaukee’s streets were a breeze aboard the Guerrilla. It felt planted and maneuverable in every condition we threw at it.

With models ranging from 350cc to 650cc, Royal Enfield has become the world’s top midsize motorcycle manufacturer, with production skyrocketing from 300,000 units in 2015 to more than 1 million in 2025. The lineup now includes 14 models, each built with the same spirit: motorcycles that are responsive, capable, fun, and adaptive to whatever terrain the ride brings.

The Guerrilla, like the Himalayan, stands out from most of Royal Enfield’s fleet by including liquid cooling.

“Guerilla” typically refers to a member of a small rebel group that engages in irregular fighting against a more formidable foe. With respect to the Guerrilla 450, it’s more playful than rebellious, and like the Himalayan 450, it’s more modern than other bikes in Royal Enfield’s lineup while retaining the brand’s signature retro style and approachable character.

The 30.7-inch seat height and 407 lb weight are inviting specs, and the seating position was comfortable enough for all-day riding.

GEAR UP

Helmet: Arai Contour-X
Jacket: Vanson Drifter
Gloves: Held Sambia II
Pants: Street & Steel Oakland Jeans
Boots: BMW Motorrad Ride Sneakers

Heritage models like the Bullet 350 and Classic 350 wear nostalgia on their sleeves, but the Guerrilla looks and feels contemporary, urban, and aimed at riders who are generalists rather than specialists: new riders, young riders, commuters, weekend warriors, and explorers who don’t need or want the biggest, most powerful, or most technologically advanced motorcycle you can buy. Many of today’s bikes are overly complicated or sanitized to the point of uniformity. The Guerrilla offers something refreshingly straightforward and unique. Regardless of your riding skills or experience, this bike is easy to ride, fun, peppy, and capable in diverse riding conditions.

This Brava Blue color option immediately caught our eye at the launch. It matches the bike’s youthful attitude to a T.

Royal Enfield often has fun with its color palette, and the Guerilla 450 is no exception. It’s available in Brava Blue with contrasting white, Playa Black, or Smoke Silver. When I saw the Brava Blue version’s blue mag front wheel and subframe, it immediately reminded me of a BMX bike I had when I was a kid. Those childhood memories came rushing back, and I just stood there with a smile on my face. The blue front wheel is paired with a black rear wheel, like kids who wear two different colored shoes – hip and a bit quirky. Perfect for the Guerilla’s mission: young, urban, and cool with just enough attitude to make a statement.

While perfect for commuting and city riding, the Guerrilla is a capable weekend warrior as well. It ate up Wisconsin’s country roads with zeal.

Measuring just 56.7 inches between the axles, weighing 406 lb, and with a seat height of only 30.7 inches, the Guerrilla is compact yet looks purposeful and muscular. The tank is sculpted but not bulky, the seat is low but not stubby, and the lines are cohesive but not boring. The design language gives a nod to the cafe racer and streetfighter scenes without losing its own identity.

Paint on the 2.9-gallon tank adds to the bike’s modern styling.

The Guerrilla 450’s good looks are complemented by the character of its engine, which is tuned for smooth power and a broad spread of torque. Two ride modes – Performance and Eco – adjust throttle response. Eco Mode softens response just enough for smooth cruising, while Performance Mode sharpens the edge, giving the Guerrilla that “grrr” factor the name promises. In city traffic, the engine doesn’t require constant gear changes to stay in the sweet spot – 3rd gear will carry you from a crawl to urban cruising speeds without hesitation. Open it up, and the Guerrilla rewards you with a satisfying growl that made me smile and linear thrust that feels far more engaging than the spec sheet might suggest.

Easy to ride and easy to live with.

What impressed me most was the balance. It’s peppy without being twitchy, smooth without being dull. Some Singles can feel buzzy or strained at highway speeds, but the Guerrilla holds 70 mph in 6th gear comfortably, with more than enough power in reserve for passing. The slip/assist clutch adds reassurance, especially when downshifting aggressively into corners.

The tubular-steel frame uses the engine as a stressed member.

Swinging a leg over the Guerrilla is inviting. The seat height is low enough for shorter riders to feel confident, yet the bike doesn’t feel cramped or small. I’m 5-foot-7, and the mid-set pegs and upright handlebar placed me in a natural, relaxed position. The seat itself is firm but not punishing. After a few hours of mixed riding – city streets, suburban stretches, a run along the Lake Michigan shoreline, and then into the open spaces west of Pewaukee for smaller two-lane country riding – I never once felt the need to hop off and stretch.

For only $5,299, the Guerrilla packs a lot of punch as a capable all-around roadster.

At low speeds, the Guerrilla is maneuverable and light, able to thread through traffic without hesitation and responsive when pushed through tight backroad corners. Yet the bike also feels stable and planted at higher speeds thanks to its tubular-steel frame that uses the engine as a stressed member and its Showa suspension. The 43mm nonadjustable fork with 5.5 inches of travel and the linkage-type, preload-adjustable rear shock with 5.9 inches of travel are basic in spec but well-balanced on the road. The front end feels communicative without being harsh, soaking up Milwaukee’s less-than-perfect pavement, and the rear keeps the bike composed even when pushed over rough patches mid-corner.

The Guerrilla kept us smiling the full day.

J.Juan brakes, with a 2-piston front caliper squeezing a 310mm disc and a 2-piston rear caliper squeezing a 270mm disc, are predictable, responsive, and easy to modulate during low-speed maneuvering. ABS is standard, and it intervenes smoothly when needed without cutting in too early. On a spirited stretch of country road, I deliberately braked late into a series of corners, and the Guerrilla never flinched. The suspension kept the bike stable, the brakes slowed things smoothly, and the tires stayed planted.

Beyond the standard spec, the Guerrilla is available with various upgrades, including a 4-inch round TFT display with the Tripper Dash, which integrates with Google Maps, music, and phone calls via Bluetooth. There’s also a full line of factory accessories, including a Flat Track kit that transforms the bike’s profile with a bench seat, a sump guard, bar-end mirrors, and other touches.

Available colors include Smoke Silver (left), Playa Black (center), and Brava Blue (right). Color options not pictured are Yellow Ribbon, Gold Dip, and Peix Bronze.

While the Guerrilla is pitched primarily as an urban roadster, if I owned one I’d load it with ADV bags and point at the horizon. The ergonomics and stability inspire confidence for longer hauls, and the Sherpa engine has the legs to cruise comfortably all day. Wind protection is minimal, as you’d expect from a naked, but that’s part of the charm. Riders who want touring comfort might lean toward the Himalayan 450, but the Guerrilla makes a strong case as an inexpensive commuter or weekend escape machine.

After a full day in the saddle that included both dry and wet conditions, I stepped off the Guerrilla 450 with a grin that lingered long after my helmet came off. This motorcycle exemplifies what Royal Enfield does best – delivering pure, unfiltered motorcycling. For a roadster priced at just $5,299, the overall package is nothing short of impressive, especially since nothing feels cheap or done as an afterthought. But the Guerrilla 450’s best trait is its personality, which encourages you to just get out there and have fun.

2025 Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450