Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1539512
2026 ROYAL ENFIELD GUERRILLA 450 ($5299) ENGINE 4-stroke, single DISPLACEMENT 452cc VALVETRAIN DOHC, 4-valve COOLING SYSTEM Liquid BORE X STROKE 84.0 x 81.4mm COMPRESSION RATIO 11.5:1 TRANSMISSION/FINAL DRIVE 6-speed/chain CLAIMED HORSEPOWER 39.5 hp @ 8000 rpm CLAIMED TORQUE 29.5 lb-ft @ 5500 rpm FUEL SYSTEM Electronic fuel injection w/ 42mm throttle body; ride-by-wire CLUTCH Wet, multiplate w/ slip and assist function; cable actuation FRAME Steel tube FRONT SUSPENSION 43mm Showa fork, nonadjustable REAR SUSPENSION Showa monoshock w/ linkage, preload adjustment FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL 5.5 inches REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL 5.9 inches FRONT BRAKE ByBre 2-piston caliper, 310mm disc w/ dual-channel ABS REAR BRAKE 1-piston caliper, 270mm disc w/ dual-channel ABS WHEELS, FRONT/REAR Cast aluminum; 17 in./17 in. TIRES, FRONT/REAR Ceat Gripp XL; 120/70R-17 / 160/60R-17 RAKE/TRAIL 21.8°/3.6 in. WHEELBASE 56.7 in. GROUND CLEARANCE 6.7 in. SEAT HEIGHT 30.7 in. FUEL CAPACITY 2.9 gal. WEIGHT (W/ 90% FUEL & OIL, CLAIMED) 406 lbs. P130 RIDE REVIEW I ROYAL ENFIELD GUERRILLA 450 paint and plenty of design de- tails that are well thought out. Nothing cheesy stood out to me on this bike. I particularly liked the old-school fork boots, the brake lights that are inte - grated into the turn signals and motocross-ee-looking muffler. And, of course, the Tripper Dash. Good stuff. At The End of the Day Visceral urban-riding experi- ences suitable for a lively Sun- day morning zip through twists and turns, or long-distance rides on relaxed roads, indeed. I'd say Royal Enfield's goals were met, and then some, given the budget-friendly MSRP and three-year unlimited mileage warranty. The Guerrilla 450 is simply a good-perform - ing small-bore motorcycle that handles exceptionally well, produces impressive power for just 450 cubic centimeters, looks cool, and is just plain fun to ride. And it's affordable. Dang, I think I want one. CN the suspension is more than good enough, even though it was sprung just a tick much for my 165 claimed pounds. The seat doesn't look comfort - able, but it is. The TFT dash, navigable with a small five-way joystick on the left handlebar, adds a nice touch. The bright, clear display looks premium, and once you learn it, you'll find plenty of information at your disposal. However, the dash isn't per - fect; for example, your phone must stay unlocked while using Google navigation, which drains your phone's battery. (There's a USB-C port on the handlebars, but you can just as easily mount your phone on the handlebars and navigate from it instead.) Still, the dash sig - nificantly enhances the overall riding experience of the Guer- rilla 450, making some minor glitches easy to overlook. Beyond graphics, the Guer- rilla 450 is a pleasure to look at, and it feels well-built, with neat welds all around, quality