Triumph Speed 400 vs Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450: Detailed Comparison

You want a neo-retro roadster: something under Rs 2.50 lakh (ex-showroom), something that looks retro but rides like a modern bike. Well, you have two excellent options, both exactly in this budget: the new 350cc Triumph Speed 400 and the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450. And if you have been confused between these two, here is a detailed comparison through which we’ll tell you which one makes the most sense for you.

Price & Variants

• The Triumph Speed 400 has a clear and substantial edge here, and this is exactly what Bajaj was going for with the smaller engine. With the new GST norms favouring bikes under 350cc, the Speed 400’s new engine means it attracts less tax. 

• The Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450, With its larger engine, attracts more tax and hence even the base variant costs above Rs 2.49 lakh, ex-showroom. 

• You’re saving almost Rs 18,000 over just the base Guerrilla 450. That delta increases to more than Rs 41,000 when we talk about the Guerrilla’s top variant. That sort of money will account for your fuel expenses for quite a while. 

Dimensions & Design 

• Apart from a slightly lower seat, the Guerrilla 450 is the physically bigger bike in almost every way. It’ll feel that way too, for it’s a long, low and heavy bike. You will feel the longer wheelbase each time you ride it at slow speeds, and that is when you might feel a bit of the weight too.

• That said, the weight is something you will get used to over a period of time. 

• The Triumph Speed 400, on the other hand, is small, agile and quite compact. While there are the benefits of that, not everyone will like its compactness. 

• In terms of design, though, we think more people will like the Speed 400, for it looks more conventional and has fantastic fit and finish levels. The Guerrilla 450 looks a bit more polarising, and its extra-bright colourways might not be everyone’s cup of tea, as well. 

Features & Safety

• In terms of features, the Guerrilla 450 takes the ‘neo’ in neo-retro a bit more seriously than the Speed 400. Its circular TFT console looks more premium, and the higher variants also have Bluetooth connectivity.  

• The Speed 400 has traction control and we’re happy for that. While we don’t really mind the lack of a fully digital console, the bike’s tachometer is an extremely small one and it’s quite difficult to read on the go. 

Engines

• The 350cc Triumph Speed 400 is still the easygoing, gentle bike that it has always been. It has enough torque for you to slot it in a gear or two higher in the city and ride around at a gentle pace. 

• The smaller engine has actually made the bike just a little bit more pleasant. It now feels a bit more relaxed out on the highway at cruising speeds. 

• But if you’re looking for fun, the Guerrilla’s playful and almost naughty engine is hard to beat. The engine has a beautiful wave of torque after 3,000rpm, and the bike accelerates with an urgency we have never experienced on a Royal Enfield bike. 

• You can see that in the fuel efficiency as well, for we’ve frequently seen the Guerrilla’s fuel economy drop below 20kmpl if ridden hard. But if you are ready to compromise on fuel economy in exchange for performance and fun, the Guerrilla’s 452cc Sherpa engine is what you should look at.

• The downside of the engine is that it’s not as easy to ride in the city. It will feel a bit unhappy under 3,000rpm and you will be slipping the clutch and going through the gearbox frequently to keep it in the sweet spot. 

Verdict 

Ride both bikes and the Triumph Speed 400 will feel like the more polished and well-rounded bike of the 2. It looks better, has great fit and finish levels, has a more mature-feeling engine and comes at a lower price tag. That all-round nature is hard to ignore especially when you consider that it’ll also be the more fuel-efficient of the two. So if your mind had to make a decision, it would probably be the Triumph Speed 400. 

You can’t ignore the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450’s bigger and more exciting engine, especially if you want fun, excitement and a big smile on your face each time you ride. It enjoys being revved out and ridden hard – be it riding in the city or taking the bike to your favourite twisties every weekend.  The Guerrilla 450 will thoroughly entertain you. 

Rivals

If you want a more retro, easygoing experience, go for the Classic 350. But if you want modern performance under the retro looks, get the Speed 400. 

If you want something genuinely fun, get the Speed 400. The CB350 is a more retro bike to ride.  

The Speed 400 is the more premium-feeling, fun and better than the Jawa 42 FJ, so it’d be the choice for us.