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?)
