Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 Apex

autocar.india

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While the Harley-Davidson X440 T and Royal Enfield Guerrilla are comparable in terms of displacement and price, both are actually very different animals. The X440 T has a long-stroke, air/oil-cooled, torque-rich thumper which really encourages brisk cruising more than attacking corners. The H-D is also the more laidback and comfortable machine, which will be a valuable USP over rough, patchy roads. If ridden gently on the highway, you could see a fuel economy number in the 27-30kpl ballpark. On the other hand, the Guerrilla is a sporty street naked which will delight you with its punchy performance, agility and surefooted handling. Sure, it may not be as comfortable as the X440 T, but in isolation, it is a comfortable enough machine. If you ride sensibly, the Guerrilla can also give you close to 30kpl on the highway, which is pretty decent considering its displacement and performance on offer. Another option you should consider is the 350cc Triumph Speed 400 / Scrambler 400 duo, depending on what sort of look you want and whether or not you can manage the Scrambler's tall 835mm seat height. The Triumphs will sit between the X440 T and Guerrilla in terms of performance and are comfortable machines for longer journeys. Take test rides of all bikes listed to ensure you make an informed decision.

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•3w

Since you have said you want comfort, we'd recommend you rule out the KTM 390 Duke. The Duke can be usable on a day-to-day basis, but it is a stiffly sprung and sporty machine that's also rather cramped for taller folks and especially coming from the Meteor, could prove too uncomfortable.The Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 is a good choice, which will balance performance and comfort, although there will be a short adjustment period for you before you completely gel with it. We'd recommend going for the Apex variant, which comes with grippier Vredestein rubber that is better than the standard variant's CEAT shoes.The KTM 390 Adventure is a great bike for long-distance travelling, and if that is going to be the main reason behind your purchase, then it makes sense. However, inside the city, it can feel a little too buzzy, and its fuel economy isn't great either. Do bear in mind that KTMs comes with stiff seats and you will either have to adapt to it or get it fixed in the aftermarket.Since you are already considering the 390 Adventure, it would make sense to also look at the Himalayan 450. This is the more rounded of the two machines in our experience, and its ride comfort is unparalleled at this price point. Its size and weight will take some getting used to, but if you are okay with it, then this is a machine definitely worth considering.Take test rides of all before you go ahead with your purchase, so you make an informed decision.

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•5w

The 350cc Triumph Speed 400 may not have the outright performance it once used to have, and is certainly slower than the Guerrilla 450 now, but even so, it remains a comfortable machine with sprightly performance and its refinement should also see a small improvement. However, if you don't have a Triumph dealer near you, opting for one wouldn't be the wisest thing to do.Yes, the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 is more expensive than the Speed 400 and doesn't have traction control, but unless you are a very inexperienced rider or ride through bad patches of road extensively, you are realistically unlikely to miss this feature. The Guerrilla is definitely the more engaging and sportier machine of the two, and for the small price increment it commands over the Speed, the added oomph is well worth it.Take test rides of both to see which one suits you better and then make your decision. If you don't have a Triumph service centre near you, ask the dealership if someone will visit your residence/office to service the bike and make sure to opt for the roadside assistance.

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•6w

The 349cc Triumph Tracker 400 is a lighter and less powerful machine, which will make it easier to ride and get on with in daily use. Since you are a college student who will primarily use it in the city, these are factors that will play in the Tracker's favour as will its higher fuel economy owing to its smaller engine. Coming to its tail section, there's not much you can do officially. The Tracker and Thruxton use a simpler, rectangular tail lamp, unlike the other Bajaj-made Triumphs which have a rather neat-looking, flush-fitting and ornately designed tail light. Its unlikely that this unit can be fit onto the Tracker / Thruxton without significant reworking of the bodywork and the electricals. Our advice is that if you want a road-focused 350cc Triumph with a good-looking tail lamp, opt for the Speed 400 instead of the Tracker. The Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 may make the same power but its larger, 452cc engine makes significantly more torque which will translate to a very different riding experience than the Tracker. It also has the more sporty chassis, which should make it fun in the twisties. The Guerrilla's tyres are wider than the Tracker so the Triumph will tip in quicker than the Royal Enfield, but of the two, its the Guerrilla which has the edge in terms of sportiness. To our eyes, the Guerrilla's slick round TFT dash is better-looking and has more features than the simple digi-analogue dash of the 350cc Triumphs. To see which one is the better fit for your use case, we'd advise a thorough test ride of both before you make a decision.

autocar.india

•8w

Since you've said your primary use case is in the city, the 350cc Triumph Speed 400 is the one that will appeal the most to your sensible side. It has a tractable engine, good suspension and seating comfort and will also return decent fuel economy when ridden sensibly. If maximum thrills are what you're after, the 350cc KTM 390 Duke still remains a potent option, although the Duke is a smaller, more cramped and more buzzy machine. If you're willing to live with this, then you'll have an engaging and entertaining machine which also has superb handling and lots of features. Splitting the difference between these two is the 452cc Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450, which is more KTM in terms of its riding character, combining sporty handling and punchy performance. Do bear in mind that its fuel economy is likely to be the lowest of these three. We'd recommend the Apex variant of the Guerrilla for strictly road usage because it comes with grippier Vredestein tyres.

autocar.india

•9w

While the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 may wear dual-purpose tyres, its hardly the ideal machine to take off-roading. Sure, it can tackle a gravelly rough road or a hard-packed trail but beyond that, it will feel out of its element. Think of the Guerrilla as a roadster that doesn't shy away from bad roads when you encounter them but you shouldn't actively go out seeking them. On the flip side, it is going to be fun to ride on the highway and inside the city with its torquey engine and sporty chassis - especially the Apex variant with its more committed riding position and grippier Vredestein Centauro ST tyres. On the other hand, the 350cc Triumph Scrambler 400 X will be more of a jack of all trades sort of bike and will be a great deal more capable off-road. Things to keep in mind here: this Triumph bike has a tall 835mm seat height (a significant 55mm more than the Guerrilla) and its downsized 349cc engine will feel much mellower in comparison to the Guerrilla's punchy 452cc single. While the Scrambler is a decent handling road bike, it cannot match the sportier Guerrilla's handling characteristics and if you spend your time predominantly on the road, the Royal Enfield bike is definitely the better choice. You need to decide whether you're actually going to venture off-road on a routine basis as well as considering the performance they have to offer and then, take a call between these two machines. To help make a decision, a test ride of both would be advisable.

autocar.india

•8w

Purely from a price and fuel economy standpoint, its the 350cc Triumph Speed 400 that has the advantage over the other 400-odd cc machines you've shortlisted but there's more to choosing between bikes than just these two factors. The Harley-Davidson X440T is one of very few long-stroke, air-cooled, large-capacity engines available today and it is a genuinely likable machine to ride. It may not be as quick in outright terms as the Guerrilla and Speed but even so, it makes for a lovely city bike owing to its characterful engine paired with plush suspension and neutral ergonomics. If you want maximum thrills and don't mind lower fuel economy, the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 is the one to go for. Its punchy engine and sporty chassis work wonderfully well together, although of the three it is the least comfortable machine. This is not to say the Guerrilla is an uncomfortable bike, its a taut and sporty machine and you should be prepared for that going into your purchase.The 350cc Triumph Speed 400 is a bike that's in between the two, amalgamating a quick engine and good handling, although its neither as characterful as the Harley bike nor as fun as the Royal Enfield bike. Service cost should largely be on par for all three and we'd advise you to speak to your nearest authorised dealer for each as well as take a test ride of all three so that you make an informed decision.

autocar.india

•9w

The Royal Enfield Guerrilla comes with a 452cc engine, whereas the Triumph Scrambler 400 X now comes with a 349cc engine so its no surprise that the Triumph didn't feel as sprightly in comparison. However, for your usage, should you be willing to sacrifice some pep, the 350cc Scrambler 400 X is actually a great all-rounder. Especially since you're a novice and want to get into off-roading. The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 is a great bike but we'd advise you to not consider this bike, at least not if you plan to start your off-roading journey with it. At 196kg, the Himalayan is a heavy machine and with its fuel tank full, it also feels rather top heavy, which could get challenging for a beginner to manage at crawling off-road speeds. However, for city commuting and highway journeys, this Royal Enfield bike will be quite nice - its only off-roading where its weight will be a serious deterrent.The 350cc KTM 390 Adventure would be a good middle-ground option between the two aforementioned bikes - in theory, at least. Its lighter than the Himalayan and has more power than the Scrambler. A test ride should shed more light on whether this KTM bike is the one for you. Since you said you're looking to get into off-road riding, we'd be remiss if we didn't recommend the Hero Xpulse 210 to you. Now, the Xpulse is definitely a smaller and slower machine than all the machines listed above but if you genuinely want to hone your craft and get better at off-road riding, there's genuinely no better place to start than here. City commuting is another strength of the Xpulse, although on the highway, its engine feels a little stressed post 100kph. If you don't mind compromising on outright performance on the highway, then the Xpulse will be a good option for you. Some other benefits of choosing the Xpulse would be that it returns excellent fuel economy - much higher than all other options - and it costs much less to buy too.You need to evaluate your priorities and make an informed decision after test riding all three bikes. Best of luck!

autocar.india

•9w

First things first, service and maintenance on both the Triumph Scrambler 400 X and Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 should be light on your wallet. Both bikes are made in India and spares as well as replacement cycle parts are readily available.Coming to choosing between the Scrambler and Guerrilla, that's actually where things get complicated. You see, the Scrambler 400 X is actually powered by a 350cc engine making 40hp/32Nm while the Guerrilla's 452cc single makes 40hp/40Nm. While these bikes seem pretty closely matched in terms of peak power on paper at least, the Royal Enfield bike is sure to have an advantage in the real world with its potent mid range and additional torque. Even in terms of handling, both bikes are likely to have different behaviour. The Guerrilla has fatter tyres compared to the Scrambler which means the Triumph will have better agility and flickability at slower speeds but conversely, the Royal Enfield will be more planted on the side of the tyre. Both bikes are priced similarly and look quite sleek, so choosing between the two will boil down to what your preference is after a detailed test ride.

autocar.india

•9w

Depending on your riding style, there are multiple different options to choose from in the segment you're looking at. If you're looking for a quick and sporty machine, then the 350cc Triumph Speed 400, KTM 390 Duke and Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 make good sense because they have energetic performance as well as good comfort (the KTM bike will be a little less comfy than the Triumph bike in this one regard, but will have more performance). On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you prefer to ride in an unhurried fashion, then look no further than the Royal Enfield Classic / Bullet 350, Honda CB350 models and Triumph Speed T4. These bikes have great comfort and should also be reliable in the long run.If you want something that prioritizes comfort and utility over all else, then an adventure bike is the way to go. You have the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450, TVS Apache RTX 300 and KTM 390 Adventure models (with both 350cc and 399cc motors, depending on your needs and budgetary restrictions) in this class. In our opinion, as an all-rounder, nothing can match the versatility of the Himalayan and if you're comfortable with its size, this is definitely an option worth considering. As always, first decide what form factor appeals to you the most and will suit your usage best and then accordingly take test rides based on that before making your decision.