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On June 28, Royal Enfield’s Instagram account posted a picture of the company's CEO, Govindarajan Balakrishnan, standing beside a test motorcycle — a motorcycle obscured by the word Guerrilla.
Guerrilla as in Guerrilla 450. The next model featuring Royal Enfield’s Sherpa 450 engine. The single-cylinder mill launched in the 2024 Himalayan, and marked a new level of technological sophistication for the Indian manufacturer. That includes liquid cooling, dual overhead cams, and a ride-by-wire system. According to RE, the thumper makes 40 horsepower (at 8,000 rpm) and 29.5 foot-pounds of torque (at 5,500 rpm). I expect similar, if not identical, performance from the Guerrilla.
The chassis is a different story. The images posted to Instagram don’t provide a clear view of the frame, swingarm, or subframe. What is evident is that the Guerrilla’s front suspension and wheelset are very different from the Himalayan’s.
Whereas the Himmy upgraded to an inverted fork, the Guerrilla wears a conventional front end (complete with fork gaiters). The Himalayan’s wire-spoked wheels reflect its dirt-oriented build. Contrast that with the Guerrilla’s 17-inch cast wheels and tracker-style tires. Rubber that was thoroughly thrashed by one Guy Martin, as seen in a collaboration post with the brand.
So, what exactly is Royal Enfield teasing? If we’re going by the bike’s retro looks and street-focused chassis, the Guerrilla sits at the intersection of a roadster and a scrambler. It’s an urban runabout that hews to style. That’s probably why it doesn’t tout Royal Enfield’s Tripper Pod or the Himalayan’s 4.5-gallon fuel tank.
For that reason, I foresee the Guerrilla going head-to-head with the likes of the Triumph Speed 400 and Honda SCL500. Just how will Royal Enfield’s latest model stack up against those entry-level rivals? I'll soon be leaving for the global launch of the Guerrilla in Spain, so I'll find out in less than two weeks. In the meantime, let me know what you want to know about the Guerrilla. I'll do my best to include the answer(s) in Common Tread’s upcoming coverage.
