P128
RIDE REVIEW I ROYAL ENFIELD GUERRILLA 450
was expecting after having ridden
the Himalayan not so long ago.
Throttling was just as good, clean
and crispy. The lower gearing
gives the Guerrilla a slightly liveli
-
er feel through the gears than the
Himalayan, paying only a small
price at speed. It's hardly worth
mentioning, but you can feel a
slight buzz in the handlebars and
footpegs around 6000 rpm in top
My first few miles on the bike were in
the city, where the Guerrilla shines. It's only
406 pounds nearly fully fueled, so it feels
light and nimble, and it has plenty of use
-
able power that makes the bike easy to sift
through slow traffic. Seamless clutch en-
gagement also eases any anxiety one might
have at stop signs or red lights at busy
intersections. In other words, you're unlikely
to stall the engine at the worst possible
moment. A beginner will quickly master the
Guerrilla's clutch and transmission. How
-
ever, I found it a little difficult to launch it like
Gaige Herrera on a Pro Stock drag bike; it
just doesn't want to be ridden hard like that.
Instead, it prefers to be launched calmly and
smoothly. It also shifts gears effortlessly
from stoplight to stoplight, requiring only a
light touch on the lever, up or down.
Maneuvering the Guerrilla in parking lots
and stalls, as well as your garage, is about
as easy as it gets for a full-size motorcycle,
thanks to its small size, low seat height
and light weight.
Finally, a freeway on-ramp. My first
chance to open 'er up. When I did, and all
the way to the throttle stop, I could cer
-
tainly feel the Guerrilla's 39 horsepower
and 30 pound-feet of torque quickly spring
into action. Power is impressive but not
overwhelming, nor is it intimidating, which I
This is the second Royal Enfield
model to incorporate the
company's new Sherpa engine,
first introduced last year in the all-
new Himalayan 450.
The Guerrilla looks the part in downtown Milwaukee.
