Key Differences: RE Guerrilla 450 vs RE Himalayan 450

Royal Enfield has expanded its lineup in the 450cc motorcycle segment with the introduction of the Guerrilla 450. The company already had the Himalayan 450 which has proved to be a good new introduction in the adventure lineup and now it shares the platform with the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450. But there are a few key differences between these bikes. We will go through each of them and how each bike caters to different riding styles. 

Design

While both share the same frame, the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 sheds its larger sibling off-road focus for a street-oriented design. It has quite a smaller footprint than the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450.  It blends roadster DNA with a scrambler aesthetic, borrowing the Himalayan 450's tail section, centre panel, and exhaust while sporting a new, flowing, and smaller fuel tank. The seat height is lower and the seat is a single-piece seat. 

Feature Options 

The Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 comes with two instrument cluster options. The first is the same 4-inch round TFT display found on the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450. It gets phone connectivity and also Google Maps and music control. The base model, however, features a semi-digital instrument cluster which has all the bike-related info and tripper navigation available as an optional extra accessory. Such a setup is seen on the Royal Enfield Meteor 350. This configuration helps reduce the base model's price and provides a simpler technology option for those who prefer fewer distractions.

Price Difference 

The prices of the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 start at ₹ 2.85 lakh and go up to ₹ 2.98 lakh for the highest variant. The price of the base variant of the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 starts at ₹2.39 lakh and goes up to ₹ 2.54 lakh. There is a difference of ₹ 34,000 between the base variant of the RE Himalayan 450 and the top model of RE Guerrilla 450.

Suspension 

While the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 is seen with a 43 mm USD fork the RE Guerilla 450 gets a telescopic fork. The RE Himalayan 450 offer 200mm of suspension travel and it is less on the latter by 60 mm at the front and 50 mm at the rear. It looks like a cost-cutting measure at first glance but if we look closely it plays a part in reducing reducing the seat height of this motorcycle. 

Wheels 

The RE Himalayan 450 comes equipped with a true off-road wheel setup – a large 21-inch front spoked wheel and an 18-inch rear. On the flip side, the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 gets 17-inch wheels which is a more road-biased setup. The wheel sizes are wider on the RE Guerrilla 450 as they run tubeless tyres with 120/70 R17 at the front and 160/60 R17 at the rear when compared to 90/90-21 at the front and 140/80-17 at the rear on the RE Himalayan 450. 

Brakes 

With a smaller wheel on the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450, it also gets a smaller brake. The front brake has a 310 mm disc instead of a 320mm front disc. The rear brake disc remains the same at 270mm. It should not affect the stopping power as smaller wheels should carry less sprung mass. A detailed review of the ride impressions is coming from us on July 27. Both bikes get dual channel ABS as standard, while on the ADV offering, it is switchable. 

In conclusion, both the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 and Guerrilla 450 share the same engine but cater to distinct riding styles. The Himalayan 450, with its off-road focused suspension, larger wheels, and higher ground clearance, is ideal for tackling rough terrain and adventure riding. The Guerrilla 450, with its lower seat height, smaller wheels, and road-biased suspension, prioritises comfort and agility on paved surfaces. With its two instrument cluster options and lower starting price, the Guerrilla 450 offers a more affordable option. Ultimately, the choice between these two Royal Enfield contenders depends on your preferred riding experience.