Indian bike maker releases new roadster variant of Himalayan trailbike
We’d been waiting to see what Royal Enfield would do next with its latest Sherpa 450 single-cylinder engine, first seen on the latest version of the Himalayan light adventure machine. And here it is: the new 2025 Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450.
It’s probably the least surprising direction the firm could have gone in: a slick new roadster, using the 452cc motor, with some similar design cues to the Himalayan.
The new bike was developed in parallel with the Himalayan according to Enfield, and was intended to offer more of an urban machine, with the ability to shine on twisty back roads, as well as more gentle cruising.
It’s a low-slung bike, with a 780mm seat height, skinny profile, and light 184kg wet weight – and the now-distinctive modern Royal Enfield design.
The Sherpa single-cylinder engine at the heart of the Guerrilla is RE’s most high-tech design, with water-cooling, a DOHC four-valve head, an over-square bore and stroke of 84×81.5mm and an 11.5:1 compression ratio.
It makes a decent 39.5bhp@8,000rpm and 40Nm@5,500rpm of torque, and comes with a ride-by-wire fuel injection system, six-speed gearbox, wet slipper/assist clutch and electric start.
The chassis shares the same basic spec as the Himalayan too, with a tough steel-tube frame, 43mm Showa front forks and a linkage-type rear monoshock suspension setup. The main differences from the Himalayan show up here of course.
There’s less suspension travel: the Guerrilla has 140mm front and 150mm rear, compared to 200mm front and rear on the Himalayan. The roadster also has 17-inch cast wheels both ends instead of the wire-spoked 21” front /17” rear parts on the adventure machine, with tubeless tyres on the roadbike.
And the Guerrilla has CEAT GRIPP XL road tyres, with a unique tread pattern, rather than the dual-function on/offroad rubber on the Himalayan.
Perhaps a little surprisingly, the road bike gets a 10mm smaller diameter front brake disc though: a 310mm single disc with a dual-piston ByBre caliper. The Himalayan is a bit heavier – around 12kg – but you’d still expect to see a bit more braking power on the roadster.
The riding position is different between the two bikes as well, with the Guerrilla sporting a stepped bench-seat, plus an 11-litre fuel tank, LED headlights, indicators with integrated tail lamp, and an upswept single silencer.
Enfield has given the new bike an electronic package which is simple but on-par for the market: there’s a dual-channel ABS setup, performance and eco riding modes, a 4” round colour TFT LCD dashboard, and integrated Bluetooth/WiFi phone link, plus Tripper navigation setup and USB-C charging socket.
Speaking about the new bike, Siddhartha Lal, MD at Enfield parent firm Eicher Motors, said, “The Guerrilla 450 is our take on modern roadsters, and we are super happy with how it has turned out.
The motorcycle is mechanically characterful, super sophisticated, and combines performance, versatility and confidence-inspiring handling. It is built on the same platform as the Himalayan, but tuned to roadster performance that makes it feel excitingly different when you ride it.
The Guerrilla really brings out what roadsters were always meant to do. It is super responsive and absolutely gorgeous to ride at everyday speeds, and equally delightful when revved through its paces on full-gas.
The engine, the chassis, the riding position, and the superlative handling of the motorcycle all come together to truly make it much more than the sum of its parts”
The Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 will be available in three variants – Analogue (without the TFT dash), Dash and the top-spec Flash – in five vibrant colourways.
The order book is open now, with pricing starting at £4,850 in the UK for the Analogue, £4,995 for the Dash and £5,050 for the Flash. More info: www.royalenfield.com
2024 Royal Enfield Guerrilla technical specs
Engine: DOHC 4v, single, l/c, 452cc
Bore x stroke: 84×81.5mm
Compression ratio: 11.5:1
Carburation: ride-by-wire fuel injection, 42mm throttle body
Max power (claimed) 39.5hp@8,000rpm
Max torque (claimed) 40Nm@5,500rpm
Transmission: six speed gearbox, wet slipper clutch, chain final drive
Frame: steel tube with engine as stressed member
Front suspension: Showa 43mm forks
Rear suspension: Steel swingarm, Showa monoshock with preload adjust
Brakes: 310mm disc, dual-piston ByBre caliper (front), 270mm disc, single-piston caliper (rear), ABS
Wheels/tyres: cast aluminium, CEAT GRIPP XL 120/70 17 front, 160/60 17 rear
Rake/trail: na/na
Wheelbase: 1,440mm
Kerb weight : 184kg
Fuel capacity: 11 litres