AFTER few days riding the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450, it’s a machine built to excel in the city and meets expectation on the open road.
It doesn’t try to be something it’s not. What you get is a raw, engaging motorcycle that balances present needs with old-school charm.
The Guerrilla 450 makes a strong first impression, with its round LED headlamp, slim 11-litre tank, exposed subframe and compact tail.
The bike leans heavily into the neo-retro scrambler look.
There is no unnecessary bodywork or extras.
The upswept exhaust and chunky tyres add attitude, making it look tougher than its horse power.
Up close, the build quality is solid.
The paint finish and metal parts are decent, though I did notice some welds and plastics, visually looked too functional.
It’s not premium in every detail, but it is definitely not cheap.
Climbing onto the 825mm seat, I found myself in a comfortable, upright position with a slight forward lean, thanks to the rear foot pegs.
Anybody at 1.77m, could flat-foot the bike easily, and the wide handlebars gives great leverage for tight city U-turns and lane splitting.
With a wet weight of 184kg, the Guerrilla 450 has balanced the weight well.
It never felt top-heavy in traffic, and manoeuvring through tight spaces was easy.
Surprisingly, after an hour of city riding, the firm saddle didn’t bother me at all.
While the Guerrilla 450 doesn’t overwhelm with features, what it does offer is well thought out.
The TFT instrument panel is easy to read under direct sunlight and includes turn-by-turn navigation when connected via Bluetooth.
Full LED lighting gives the bike a modern edge, and the ride-by-wire throttle ensures a smooth connection between wrist and rear wheel.
However, the absence of things like traction control, riding modes or cruise control might turn off those who expect more from a new 450cc bike.
Personally, I didn’t miss them especially on this bike.
Royal Enfield’s new 452cc liquid-cooled engine is the standout feature here.
With 39.5hp and 40Nm of torque, it’s surprisingly lively and refined for a big single cylinder design.
It delivers power in a very practical way – torquey, strong in the mid-range and smooth all the way to about 6,500 rpm.
Past that, a light buzz starts to build into the handle bar and pegs but it never crosses into discomfort.
The six-speed gearbox is slick, and the assist-and-slipper clutch makes light work of traffic snarls.
This engine is smooth and fun.
It’s not just a commuter — it wants to be ridden hard when the roads open up.
In the city, the Guerrilla 450 shines.
I took it through Kuala Lumpur’s heavy traffic, splitting between lanes, darting from traffic lights to the next.
The throttle response is amazing and heat distribution from the engine is good even when idling during high noon at the traffic lights.
The engine never felt stressed, and neither did I.
On the highway, it comfortably cruised at 110 to 120kph.
The bike feels planted and composed at speed.
But being a naked scrambler, there’s no wind protection, so extended stints above 120kph can get tiring.
A small flyscreen would definitely help here.
Then came the mountains.
A spirited ride up Genting revealed a confident chassis.
The 17-inch wheels and road-biased tyres offer decent grip, and the bike felt planted through corners.
It’s not razor-sharp like a sport bike but it never felt reluctant to lean.
This is a bike you can push comfortably.
I also took it on a 200km round trip, mixing highway, B-roads, and town riding.
The engine stayed lively throughout, and no complains on the seat.
However the wind fatigue, reminded me that this isn’t a long-distance touring bike out of the box—but it has the character to become one.
Braking is handled by a 320mm disc at the front and a 270mm unit at the rear, with dual-channel ABS.
The front brake offers decent bite and progressive feel but the rear felt a little soft and lacked feedback.
It’s fine for urban riding but could use more sensitivity when descending twisty roads.
Suspension is handled by 43mm USD forks and a monoshock with preload adjustment.
For city and fast road use, it’s spot-on and soaks up potholes and speed bumps without much drama.
That said, the rear shock can feel a bit firm over poorly surfaced roads, especially when riding solo. On smoother roads, it behaves beautifully.
The Guerrilla 450 isn’t about creature comforts.
If you want electronic aids and plush touring ease, look elsewhere.
But if you’re after something raw, connected, and refreshingly simple—a bike you can ride hard, tweak, and count on daily. This one delivers.
At RM28,700, this is a bike that delivers smiles per ringgit.
It’s a scrambler for the streets.
SPECIFICATIONS
Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450
Engine: 452cc, liquid cooled, single cylinder, DOHC, 4 valves
Maximum power: 39.5hp at 8,000rpm
Maximum torque: 40Nm at 5,500rpm
Transmission: Six-speed
Suspension: Front telescopic forks, 43mm; rear linkage type mono-shock
Brakes: Front 310mm disc, double piston calliper, ABS; rear 270mm disc, single piston calliper, ABS
Features: Ride modes of Power and Eco, 4-inch round TFT display with smartphone connectivity, full map navigation (powered by Google Maps), Bluetooth and charging point.
Fuel capacity: 11 litres
Wet weight: 184kg
Price: RM28,700 (without insurance and registration)
