Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 Vs Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450: Which One Is For You?

While the two bikes share the same engine, one is an adventure and the other is a neo-retro roadster bike

Royal Enfield launched their neo-retro bike based on the 452cc Sherpa engine as seen on its adventure sibling, the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450. So eventually which 450cc Royal Enfield bike should you buy? Here’s the answer: 

Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 - Starts from Rs 2.39 lakh (ex-showroom)

Starting with the newest 450cc Royal Enfield bike, the Guerrilla 450. It is a neo-retro style bike and is available in 3 variants: base variant, Analogue at Rs 2,39,000, mid-variant, Dash priced at Rs 2,49,000 and the top variant, Flash at Rs 2,54,000 (all prices ex-showroom). If you think it's just the looks that are different, that’s not the case. This one gets more eye-catching colours from its ADV cousin, coming in 5 colours to choose from: Smoke Silver, Gold Dip, Playa Black, Yellow Ribbon and Brava Blue. 

The Guerrilla 450 shares the same 452cc, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder Sherpa engine, that produces a peak output of 40.02PS at 8000rpm and 40Nm at 5500rpm and it gets a 6-speed gearbox. However, the roadster’s engine feels more lively after about 3000rpm and that makes riding the bike more fun. The Guerrilla 450 also weighs 11kg lighter than the Himalayan 450, due to which it is quicker than the Himalayan 450 in terms of the 0-100kmph timing. 

In terms of handling, the bike’s shorter wheelbase helps the bike feel nimble to ride and tips into corners fairly easily. While this isn’t a light bike, it is lighter than its sibling weighing 184kg and is quite manageable. Its low seat height of 780mm is impressive and its narrow profile will even let shorter riders who aren’t confident on taller bikes feel comfortable riding this one. 

Feature-wise, the Flash and Dash-top variants get a 4-inch TFT console with smartphone connectivity via Bluetooth for calls/SMS alerts and Google Maps Navigation. The Analogue-base variant, meanwhile, has a simpler semi-digital instrument cluster with no smartphone connectivity features. It also features a USB Type-C charger under the handlebar. 

All in all, if you’re looking for a roadster with a neo-retro aesthetic, the Guerrilla 450 is a strong contender. It not only looks attractive, but it is great to ride in the city and out on the highways. While touring isn’t its strong point given the small 11-litre fuel tank, it makes for a fun bike for your everyday commutes. 

Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 - Starts from Rs 2.85 lakh (ex-showroom)

The Himalayan 450 is the only adventure bike in the Royal Enfield line-up and looks the part with its rugged aesthetics. The bike is available in 5 colour options: Kaza Brown is priced at Rs 2,85,000, the Slate Himalayan Salt and Slate Poppy Blue sells for Rs 2,89,000, while the Kamet White costs Rs 2,93,000 and the Hanle Black is priced at Rs 2,98,000 (all prices ex-showroom). Its 452cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled ‘Sherpa’ engine produces 40PS at 8000rpm and 40Nm at 5500rpm and it is paired with a 6-speed gearbox. The engine needs to be worked a bit if you want to get out of sticky off-road situations since it’s not as torquey as the older Himalayan 411. But if long-distance touring is your thing, the bike is excellent and it can maintain triple-digit speeds all day long. The only issue is the vibrations but if you are okay with them, the Himalayan is a very capable tourer. Add to that its large 17-litre fuel and you can go long distances without worrying about the range. 

The Himalayan 450 is equipped with a soft suspension setup, an inverted front fork and a monoshock. It offers an upright seating position for riding comfortably all day long. It also gets the modern TFT instrument console with smartphone connectivity via Bluetooth for call/SMS alerts, music control and Google Maps navigation. The bigger fuel tank, headlight panels and overall bigger dimensions bring the kerb weight to 196kg. 

Overall, if you are looking for something to munch miles on and do your dream Ladakh trip, the Himalayan 450 does make for a great choice. While it might not be as much fun as the Guerrilla 450 in terms of everyday usability, the Himalayan 450 has the edge when it comes to touring abilities. So if your primary lookout is touring, the Himalayan is definitely the one to get.