The Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 Apex is a sportiest variant of the motorcycle. It features some cosmetic upgrades, gets road biased tyres, and a new handlebar that places a rider in more aggressive riding position.
Here are 4 reasons why you should consider the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 Apex
Improved throttle response
The bike makes the same power and torque but the throttle maps have been reworked, and that has made a noticeable difference. The earlier bike had a slightly snatchy response just past 3,000rpm, which could catch you off guard, especially if you were new to it. The power delivery has been tuned to be more linear and it is easier to manage. It doesn’t feel any slower, just more sorted and predictable. The riding modes have also been renamed from Eco and Performance to Street and Sport, and importantly, the bike retains the last selected mode on every ignition cycle.
Sportier ergonomics
The Apex gets an aluminium handlebar compared to the steel one on the other variants, and this unit has been positioned 56mm lower and 57mm ahead to put you in a sportier stance. The foot pegs are in the same position, but there is a reach to the handlebars, allowing you to put some weight on the front for more spirited riding.
Excellent grip from the Vredestein tyres
The Vredestein Centauro ST+ tyres on the Apex are of the same sizes as the Gripp XL on the other variants: a 120/70 front and a 160/60 rear, but with a rounder profile. These tyres offer really good grip levels. On track, they were seriously impressive. I was able to tip the bike into corners quicker, and they just held on. Even at full lean, there’s a lot of confidence from the front and rear. Out on the road, that grip translates well, and the bike also feels quicker when changing direction compared to what we remember with the CEATs.
Good introductory pricing
With an introductory price of Rs 2.49 lakh (ex-showroom), the Guerrilla 450 Apex is currently a really good deal considering that bikes above 350cc now attract a 40 percent GST.
2 reasons to look elsewhere
Stiff suspension
This suspension setup remains on the stiffer side and is really good for aggressive riding but not suited for bad roads, as you have to slow down for every pothole or speed breaker in your way. If your daily commute has a lot of bad roads in the way, you might be better off with an ADV.
No USD fork is a missed opportunity
The Apex variant does not get a USD fork and that is a missed opportunity as it would have further enhanced the appeal of this sportier model. Additionally, the fork gaiters on the telescopic fork are not included on the Apex variant.
Ved Janve
Vishal Venugopal
