2025 Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 Review: 14 Fast Facts

September 15, 2025

The name Guerrilla 450 rolls off the tongue with a certain rhythm, even if it is hard to type. It’s a nod to Royal Enfield’s heritage as a firearms manufacturer and modern reputation for making stylish urban motorcycles. The 2025 Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450, derived from the Himalayan 450 adventure bike, shares roughly 50 percent of its components with its sibling, most notably the modern Sherpa 450 engine. However, where the Himalayan is built for rugged trails, the Guerrilla 450 is all about carving through urban traffic and along winding roads with style and accessibility. It’s a motorcycle that combines Royal Enfield’s classic British styling with modern Indian engineering, delivering a ride that’s as approachable as it is engaging.

Perhaps the most approachable feature of the 2025 Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 is the price: $5299. This gets you any of the three colorways offered—Smoke Silver, Brava Blue, and Playa Black. “Playa” has several definitions, and we’re not sure which one Royal Enfield is going after. They all work, so feel free to pick your favorite.

At the core of the Guerrilla 450 is the Sherpa 450 engine, a liquid-cooled, DOHC single-cylinder displacing 452cc. The powerplant is a notable departure from Royal Enfield’s traditional air-cooled, single-cam motors—a step into modernity for the retro-defined brand. Don’t expect motocross-level ferocity—this isn’t that kind of 450. Instead, the slightly oversquare engine is tuned for lower emissions and usability as it produces a respectable 39 horsepower at 8000 rpm and churns out 30 lb-ft of torque at 5000 rpm. While those figures won’t set your hair on fire, they’re more than adequate for a roadster designed to be affordable, fun, and practical.

Swing a leg over the Guerrilla 450, and you’re greeted by a 30.7-inch seat height that’s welcoming to riders of most sizes. At stops, finding the ground is effortless, instilling immediate confidence in urban environments where stopping is a repeating feature of the ride. The riding position is neutral and natural, with a slight forward lean. The seat is well-padded and supports all-day rides. The sculpted fuel tank looks good and provides a comfortable anchor for your knees, enhancing control during spirited rural riding.

Royal Enfield’s India-based engineering team and its UK Technology Centre have created a powerplant that prioritizes smoothness and tractability over raw power. The broad powerband reassures rather than challenges, so you’re comfortable when threading through traffic or getting frisky on open roads, and everything in between. The ride-by-wire throttle delivers crisp, predictable fueling and throttle response without the snatchiness that can plague budget bikes.

The engine’s torque curve makes low-speed maneuvering a breeze. The power delivery won’t overwhelm new riders. It is smooth and intuitive, with an emphasis on low-rpm pulling power. There are two power modes, but stick with Performance over Eco, unless you are a rank beginner or have a stingy streak that saps the fun out of your life. Okay, Eco is good when the road is wet, too.

When the speed limit rises, the 2025 Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 shows it can move the speedometer needle to the right. The wide-ratio six-speed gearbox lets the engine breathe, and the chassis remains stable at highway speeds. Shifts are clean and, while the clutch features an assist function, its pull is heavier than expected—a disappointment in an otherwise user-friendly package. While this isn’t a bike built for triple-digit sprints, it cruises comfortably up to 80 mph, where vibrations start to intrude on the fun. On the freeways, it has enough power to overtake slower traffic without drama.

The Guerrilla 450’s chassis is a fascinating blend of old-school charm and contemporary engineering. Up front, a non-adjustable conventional Showa fork with retro gaiters gives a nod to classic styling, while the rear features a modern linkage-assisted cantilevered Showa shock that floats above the wheel, offering nearly six inches of travel. This setup, paired with 5.5 inches of front suspension travel, ensures the bike soaks up bumps and imperfections with ease, making it a forgiving companion on less-than-perfect pavement.

Handling in the city is predictable and composed. The Guerrilla isn’t sportbike razor-sharp—that’s not its intention. It’s tuned for accessibility, with a steering geometry that favors stability over agility. Darting into open slots between cars is easy enough, though the bike’s demeanor encourages smooth, deliberate inputs. The Guerrilla 450 is a trusted partner for urban warfare—never intimidating but always ready to move.

On the twisting roads of the hinterlands, the handling is forgiving. The 2025 Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 has a slight bias toward understeer that makes it easy to trust, even for less experienced riders. You can push it through corners with confidence, and the suspension does an admirable job of keeping the bike planted over mid-corner bumps.

The Ceat Gripp XL tires, while not ideal for aggressive cornering, provide enough traction once you learn their limits. With a blocky, dirt-track-inspired tread, the tires lean heavily into the retro aesthetic. They grasp the pavement well enough once you build trust, but their dirt-oriented design limits their bite, particularly under hard braking. They’re a stylistic choice that aligns with the bike’s retro-modern roadster personality; riders looking to extract maximum performance will want to swap them for stickier rubber. We did hit some wet pavement with the Ceat rubber, and it responded well to our cautious inputs.

The brakes are a vulnerability for the Guerrilla. The 310mm front disc, paired with a conventionally mounted ByBre caliper, can’t slow the 405-pound bike with authority at higher speeds. The Indian-made Ceat tires exacerbate the issue, lacking the traction needed for hard stops, and the dual-channel ABS is intrusive in demanding situations. While the 270mm rear disc helps take some of the braking load off the front, it’s not a complete fix. For casual riders, the braking performance is perfectly adequate. However, anyone pushing the bike’s limits will want to budget for a tire upgrade to unlock its full potential.

Royal Enfield stylists took chances with the Guerrilla 450, and opinions on their success will vary. The round headlight is pure old-school cool, while the rear turn indicators are integrated brake lights, a hint at modern sophistication. The mirrors and four-inch TFT display continue the circular theme, with the latter offering a clean, high-tech interface that includes turn-by-turn navigation capabilities. The seat and 2.9-gallon fuel tank are sculpted with an eye toward both form and function. It has a sleek profile that looks more premium than the price tag suggests. The overall design coalesces into something unexpectedly sophisticated—a motorcycle that surprises visually while staying true to the brand’s reputation.

The four-inch TFT display is a highlight, blending retro aesthetics with modern functionality. It’s clear, easy to read, and offers a touch of high-tech flair that elevates the bike’s appeal. The bike’s overall impression is one of accessibility and enjoyment. The Guerrilla 450 is an excellent choice for riders who want a motorcycle that’s fun without being intimidating.

The 2025 Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 is a compelling addition to the roadster segment, incorporating style, affordability, and modern engineering with a nod to the brand’s militaristic past. While the bike’s not perfect, it delivers far more than its price tag suggests, and all that many riders will need. The Sherpa 450 engine is a smooth, tractable mill, and the chassis delivers contemporary performance. From urban battlegrounds to havoc in the hinterlands, the Guerrilla 450 is a welcoming companion that invites you to enjoy the ride. For riders seeking an affordable, stylish motorcycle with character to spare, the Guerrilla 450 is hard to beat thanks to its $5299 MSRP.

Photography by CJ Foeckler, Lucian McAfee, Félix Romero, Don Williams et al

RIDING STYLE

Helmet: Ruroc EOX
Communications: Ruroc Shockwave Mesh by Cardo
Jacket: River Road Hoodlum Vintage
Back, shoulder, and elbow armor: Rheon Labs
Gloves: River Road Tucson
Trousers: Roadskin Cargo
Boots: TCX Dartwood GTX

2025 Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 Specs

ENGINE

Type: Single cylinder
Displacement: 452cc
Bore x stroke: 84 x 81.5mm
Maximum power: 39 horsepower @ 8000 rpm
Maximum torque: 30 ft-lbs @ 5500 rpm
Compression ratio: 11.5:1
Valvetrain: DOHC; 4 valves
Lubrication: Semi-dry sump
Transmission: 6-speed
Clutch: Wet multiplate w/ slip and assist functions
Final drive: Chain

CHASSIS

Frame: Twin-spar tubular steel
Front suspension; travel: Non-adjustable Showa inverted 43mm fork; 5.5 inches
Rear suspension; travel: Linkage-assisted, spring-preload adjustable Showa shock; 5.9 inches
Wheels: Aluminum
Tires: Ceat Gripp XL radials
Front tire: 120/70 x 17
Rear tire: 160/60 x 17
Front brake: 310mm disc w/ ByBre 2-piston caliper
Rear brake: 270mm disc w/ ByBre single-piston caliper
ABS: Dual channel

DIMENSIONS and CAPACITIES