Is This The Best Royal Enfield Ever? » MotorOctane

Royal Enfield has been known for its retro motorcycles like the Classic 350 and the Bullet 350, offering a simplistic and heritage-inspired riding feel backed by modern infrastructure. However, Royal Enfield has broken the shackles and offered something nobody thought the brand could, and it is extremely impressive. So, what did RE do differently with this one?
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Best Royal Enfield Ever?

Back in 2024, Royal Enfield launched its first-ever neo-retro streetfighter, the Guerrilla 450, and took us all by surprise. When you think of an RE motorcycle, you know it is more about character and less about performance and handling. However, the Guerrilla 450 drastically changed that. It is one of the fastest, if not the fastest, in its segment, thanks to RE’s new Sherpa 450 engine. The handling is immaculate and unlike any Royal Enfield. In fact, it feels nothing like a Royal Enfield, and that’s a good thing! While most of their bikes are more about a relaxed and laid-back riding experience, the Guerrilla wants you to push it to its limit. And to make things even more interesting, Royal Enfield updated the Guerrilla 450 to further enhance the riding experience. So, what’s new?

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2026 Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 – What’s New? 

For 2026, Royal Enfield updated the Guerrilla for the first time with a slew of new colours and a whole new variant – the Apex. The Apex variant is basically a sportier version of the standard model. To achieve that, Royal Enfield installed a new handlebar that is lower and more forward-set, allowing for a more aggressive riding triangle. The brand also offered new road-focused tyres for better grip on tarmac. Other visual upgrades for the Apex variant include a stylised headlight cowl and a rear seat cowl for a characterful design language.

New colours for the Apex variant include Apex Red, Apex Black and Apex Green. RE has also introduced a new colour for the Dash variant – Twilight Blue. Royal Enfield also updated the standard variants by improving the dual-purpose tyres for better grip and 2 new colour schemes. One of the key highlights of this update is the revised Tripper Dash, which incorporates Google Maps. Previously, your mobile’s screen had to remain unlocked to see the full map view, but RE has now fixed that as part of this update, which is a great move. Royal Enfield offers a slew of features like a 4-inch TFT screen, 2 riding modes, map mirroring, dual-channel ABS, and much more. But what is it like to ride?

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2026 Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 – The Riding Experience

We have ridden the Guerrilla before, and it blew us away. As it is a Royal Enfield, it is quite natural for you to believe that it will be a thumpy and sedated motorcycle, providing a relaxed riding experience. But those Royal Enfields are strained when pushed hard, and aren’t the most confidence-inspiring. However, the Guerrilla 450 is nothing like that. The more you push the bike to its limit, the more you will enjoy riding. The new Sherpa 452cc engine produces 40bhp and 40Nm of torque along with a slick 6-speed gearbox. This new engine revs freely without feeling strained, and the way the performance translates onto the ground is quite impressive.

Thanks to these new tyres, you can make the most out of its handling capabilities and nimble nature. In corners, the Guerrilla feels quite eager, and you will likely see yourself riding aggressively and scraping footpegs. In the city, the bike feels quite manoeuvrable and sharp, which adds to the fun of riding. We believe that the Guerrilla is quite a capable bike, and for someone seeking a bike that sports a retro design and offers modern performance and features, this is one of the best bikes you can consider. With a price tag ranging between ₹3 lakh and ₹3.27 lakh (on-road, Mumbai), the Guerrilla now looks like a great value for money proposition, considering the performance and features on offer. 

So, would you buy the Guerrilla 450?

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