Guerrilla Warfare: Royal Enfield sets its sights on 400cc LAMS single market

You can’t mention Royal Enfield without mentioning the Learner Approved Motorcycle Scheme (or LAMS for short). In fact, the current lineup of Royal Enfield motorcycles is entirely learner approved. Royal Enfield has targeted the market tactfully by creating classic style naked motorcycles with an approachable riding dynamic and stripped back technological equipment. This strategy has recently been turned on its head, with Enfield’s game changing ‘Sherpa’ 452cc liquid-cooled single. 

The 40hp Sherpa engine first blew us away with the groundbreaking Himalayan 450. Replacing the Himalayan 411, the 450 nearly doubled the original power output of 24hp. The Himalayan 450 also has a much needed 6th gear, Showa front suspension with more travel, and a twin-spar tubular frame. These simple changes, alongside adventure touring essentials like handguards, underbody protection, and a 21-inch front wheel made the Himalayan 450 an instant success. With a more-than-reasonable rideaway price of $9190, the Himalayan 450 immediately solidified itself as one of the best introductory learner adventure bikes on the market. 

The Guerrilla 450 is based on the Himalayan platform and contains the same proven 452cc Sherpa engine. Will the Guerrilla be just as groundbreaking as its off-roading brother? The answer is a bit more complicated than you may think. Whilst the Guerrilla is an absolute blast to ride, being torquey, agile, stylish and, most importantly, fun, it has some extremely close LAMS competition to contend with; particularly at a ride-away price of $8590. The BMW G 310 R ($9190 ride-away), KTM Duke 390 ($8695 ride-away), Husqvarna 401 Svartpilen/Vitpilen (from $8795 ride-away), and particularly the Triumph Speed 400 ($8990 ride-away) are going to be Royal Enfield’s main rivals in this segment. 

Royal Enfield’s release of the Guerrilla 450 demonstrates that they are confident in both their quality control and value for money. What mainly separates the Guerrilla 450 from other name brand singles is Royal Enfield’s reputation for customisation. The MiY (Make it Yours) dealer accessorization program from Royal Enfield justifies that customers are not only buying a motorcycle, but also a platform to be modified into a personal statement. The bold styling and accessible tubular frame of the Guerrilla is begging to be modified and toyed with. 

The learner-approved 400cc single market is not just a numbers game. Whilst priced similarly to its competition, let it not be understated that the Guerrilla 450 is an extremely enjoyable, confidence inspiring, lightweight joyride. The 6-speed gearbox is forgiving at low speeds, not too buzzy at high speeds, and, thanks to the slipper clutch, the bike is very hard to stall. There's enough power lower in the rev range to satisfy a beginner rider, and with a redline of 9000RPM, there is plenty of poke at the top of the rev range as well. The suspension is sporty, but not unforgiving. Similarly, the handling is dynamic, but easy to articulate both at high and low speeds. Perhaps the brakes are slightly lacking compared to key rivals, but this is just splitting hairs. All around, this bike is an excellent choice for a novice or returning rider working toward their full rider license.