The Royal Enfield That’s Perfect For A First-Time Buyer

Whenever we try to help a dear riding buddy with their first-ever motorcycle, we mostly suggest affordable and lightweight offerings. But in the case of Royal Enfield, things are a bit different. They do have dirt-cheap and lightweight offerings under $5,000 and one even under $4,000. But these lack power and even the "fun" angle, which are key for an enthusiast.. RE also tends to keep things really simple. This is not confined to design but also evident with features and performance, meaning if you get one of those budget bikes, you'll outgrow them rather fast.

That's where this motorcycle comes in. It packs a liquid-cooled single, produces nearly 40 horses, weighs just a bit over 400 pounds, and is loaded with modern technological features (enough to help it escape the shackles of being "outdated"). There is nothing boring, and it was developed extensively in Barcelona rather than India. It is a Royal Enfield aptly powered for a beginner bike while ensuring an experienced rider will not be bored. Here's why the Guerrilla roadster is the best first-time motorcycle from Royal Enfield in America.

The 2025 Royal Enfield Guerrilla Is Perfect For A First-Time Buyer

Powered By Royal Enfield's First-Ever Liquid-Cooled Single

Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 motion side

The Guerrilla is powered by the Royal Enfield 'Sherpa' single, same as the new Himalayan 450. This engine is a huge deal because it is RE's first-ever liquid-cooled mill. All other singles are air-cooled and even the famed twin-cylinder is air/oil-cooled. Accordingly, the modern mill ensures a considerable bump in performance and refinement, compared to the LS 410 that powered the outgoing Himalayan. The output lies at 40 horsepower and 30 pound-feet of torque.

Its relatively high compression ratio of 11.5:1 makes it a very eager heart, helping peak power and torque be produced higher up in the rev band. Power is sent to the rear wheel via a six-speed gearbox with a slip-and-assist clutch for company. Slipper clutch aside, features like ride-by-wire and two riding modes (Performance and Eco) help the Guerrilla be flexible in its performance characteristics and remain desirable to both beginners and experienced riders.

Engine And Performance Specs

Other Reasons Why The New Royal Enfield Guerrilla Is A Desirable First Bike

The engine is undoubtedly a major part of the equation, making the Guerrilla an enticing RE for new riders. But other well-proportioned bits, like its compact form factor, engaging hardware suite, and a slew of electronic features, elevate things further and complete the equation. This new Royal Enfield hits the right chord and balances being accessible, modern, and a tech-laden roadster bike.

Fun And Engaging

Royal Enfield

The Guerrilla is a fun roadster bike with underpinnings that allow it to be a grin-worthy sprinter and corner carver. Before this, the Scram 411 did try to be an "engaging" roadster, but its lackluster engine and heavy underpinnings let it down. The Guerrilla fixes all that with more thoughtful packaging. Its engine is used as a stressed member for its steel tubular frame suspended by Showa-developed 43 mm telescopic forks up front and a pre-load-adjustable monoshock at the rear.

Braking duties are courtesy of hydraulic single discs at both ends, coupled to a double piston and single piston caliper, respectively. The most notable difference between the Guerrilla and the Himalayan 450 lies in its wheels. The Guerrilla's smaller 17-inch alloys wrapped with wider front and rear wheels allow it to be a capable corner carver and lean more than its sibling.

Compact And Accessible Form Factor

Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 motion side turn motion

The Guerrilla is a compact motorcycle with a wheelbase of 56.7 inches. This is primarily due to the change in rake and trail, courtesy of the new wheels. TopSpeed's Jared Solomon got to ride the Guerrilla in Barcelona last year and had all praise for the most youthful RE's chassis and engine combination. The combination of a slim profile, short wheelbase, and a curb weight of 405 pounds adds to this RE's flickable and beginner-friendly nature.

Loaded With Useful Technology

Motocom / Royal Enfield

The Guerrilla is loaded with technological features and is among the most stacked in the Royal Enfield arsenal. Barring the base model, this roadster gets a cool-looking round TFT display with an intuitive UI. The animations are slick, and it also helps mirror maps onto the display using RE's official smartphone application.

The TFT gets OTA updates too. The Guerrilla gets two ride modes and dual-channel ABS on the assistive front. Notable technology features include:

• Full Digital Round TFT Dial (Digital-analog unit from the Meteor 350 for the base model)
• Tripper Navigation (pod for the base model)
• Ride Modes: Performance and Eco
• Phone Connectivity
• Dual-Channel ABS
• USB Charging
• All LED Lights

The Guerrilla 450 Is Unlike Any Other Royal Enfield

Shifts Royal Enfield From "Classic" And "Old-School" To "Modern" And "Fun"

Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 Action

Before the Guerrilla, most Royal Enfield motorcycles were old-school. It was like the brand had this curse to prove the lineage and classic appeal. Things started to change with the old Himalayan 411 when the company thought outside the box. But with the new Sherpa engine, Royal Enfield is finally out of its "norm". Visually, things are clean with a round LED headlamp assembly, a sweeping silhouette, a minimal rear section, and a single-seat design. Bold color options and youthful vinyl designs sweetened the pot further.

2025 Royal Enfield Guerrilla Color Options

• Brava Blue
• Smoke Silver
• Gold Dip
• Yellow Dip
• Playa Black

Here's Why We Chose The Guerrilla Over The Hunter And The Meteor 350

The Guerrilla Balances Affordability, Technology, Weight, And Most Importantly, Power

Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 side static 2

Sure, the Guerrilla isn't the most affordable Royal Enfield out there, but it sure ranks above them in balancing performance, features, and beginner-level characteristics. The Hunter 350 is the most affordable Royal Enfield today. But it is gravely underpowered at 20.2 horses. Also, it's barebones in terms of technology. If you come from a minimoto, then the Hunter 350 can be a commendable stepping stone. But you will be confined to the urban streets and quickly get bored with this tiny RE.

The Meteor 350 is a cruiser powered by the same engine as the Hunter. This RE is laid-back and gets all the cruising features right. But it's heavy for the power on offer and banks solely on its old-school charm. Its frugal engine helps it top the cruiser bike with the longest riding range list, but that's about it. Apart from the prices, there is no redeeming factor for both these REs when compared to the Guerrilla.

The Hunter and Meteor 350 surely make sense for Asian markets, where frugal machines and narrow urban roads are the norm. But in Europe and America, there's scope for more. RE knew that, and that's why the new Guerrilla exists. With nearly 40 horses and a hair over 400 pounds, its power-to-weight ratio is the best among 2025 Royal Enfield motorcycles, including the most powerful parallel-twin bikes. Royal Enfield is yet to launch the Guerrilla 450 in America, but it is imminent. It's cheaper than the Himalayan 450 in Europe and even undercuts its arch-rival, the Triumph Speed 400. If RE pulls the same feat off with the US pricing, then the Guerrilla will stir things up!

Royal Enfield Guerrilla Vs Hunter Vs Meteor 350: Price And Specs Compared