We were thrilled to receive an invite to the recent press launch of the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450, an all-new street machine from the popular Indian manufacturer. Re has a long track record of introducing new motorcycles that are engineered for just the ingredients many of today’s riders are looking for, from lightweight design making them easily to maneuver, to their groovy, post-modern lines and manageable, accessible power. The new Guerrilla was conceived from this same technological stew, combining a narrow, single-cylinder engine with a steel cradle chassis that leaves riders grinning on the exit of every corner.
On a more demanding motorcycle, the day-long test ride could have become a chore, but the streetfighter-esque Guerrilla managed to offer a sporty ride and (only) slightly aggressive ergonomics with a spunky water-cooled engine that produces a very broad spread of torque. This launch, staged in the lush, rolling farmland just outside of Milwaukee, threw every sort of road condition our way, from rain-slicked hills to fast, flat-out freeways. The 450s modest-but-useful 40-off horsepower came into play early in the rev range, making quick bursts of acceleration and passing lane riding a surprisingly easy affair. Best of all and quite unexpected, the gear-change lever proved large enough to comfortably accommodate my size-14 boots, which is an arrangement you don’t see often. Sometimes, manufacturers forget that not al, human beings are built identically and leaving room in their designs for taller and larger riders proves Royal Enfield are focusing on practicality rather than exclusivity (hear that Italian companies?)
During the pre-ride press briefing, it was a gas to hear RE’s team leaders explain the unprecedented growth of their company, one that’s tripled annual streetbike production in the past ten years. Re have grown from offering just one model- the vibey, 500cc Bullet retro single- to a broad showroom compliment of 14 different machines that, all combined, sell just over 1 million(!) units each year. They were careful to point out that, in that time, Harley-Davidson’s sales have continually declined, a trend that proves today’s riders are seeking far smaller, lighter and affordable motorcycles than did their parent’s generation.
Will the Guerrilla become another sales floor hit for Roya Enfield? I’d tend to answer that question with an emphatic yes, especially given the runaway success of other recent models including the Hunter 350 which reportedly sold 350,000 in its first two years on the road. There’s just enough modern high-tech on the 450 to please younger, screen-obsessed riders including ABS, on-board navigation software built into the full-color dash and two riding modes.
We’ll have a complete road test and tech rundown in Cafe Racer’s October/November issue, so stay tuned.
