Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 Apex vs. Triumph Speed 400 (350cc) - What's Your Mood
- Sachin Sen
- 1 day ago
- 11 min read
So here we are, in 2026, and it is so impressive to see how far Royal Enfield has come in the last 10 years. The company has not only grown into a proper global player, it has also diversified its lineup like no other. And with every new motorcycle, Royal Enfield is getting better at building on its legacy and exploring new horizons of performance it has never seen before.
As one of the oldest motorcycle manufacturers in the world, Royal Enfield has discovered a brand new gear to shift into after more than 100 years of existence! So much so that it’s now seriously challenging Triumph and KTM in the highly affordable performance-bike market.
This comparison between the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 Apex and the Triumph Speed 400 (350cc) is more important than many people might realise. Although the Guerrilla is RE’s second motorcycle with the 452cc liquid-cooled engine, it still is the company’s first ever liquid-cooled engine so far. And it’s going up against a company that has decades of experience in building one, even though the Speed 400 is part of a completely new platform.
There Isn’t a Bad Motorcycle Here!
The Guerrilla 450 Apex and the Speed 400 are made on the same ideology - modern roadsters that are not vying to be the most sophisticated technologically, or perform at the extreme edge of performance. It’s exactly why these two motorcycles are such refreshing alternatives to the likes of the KTM Dukes.
At the same time, the Guerrilla and the Speed do the same thing their own way. Like a dish made in two varieties because it represents two different cuisines, and you may end up liking both versions of it! The Guerrilla and the Speed 400 are like that.
There is no bad motorcycle here - let’s get this out of the way!
I think the best way I can describe the difference between the Guerrilla 450 Apex and the Speed 400 is that the Guerrilla does everything with more excitement. Or shall I say that everything feels more exciting on the Guerrilla.
That is funny in a way because I do feel that the exhaust note of the Speed 400 is actually a bit more burbly compared to the Guerrilla’s. But only by a little bit, the Guerrilla’s engine never fails to make itself audibly noticed otherwise. I should also point out that neither motorcycle is dull to ride in any way. Far from it.
The Speed 400, to me, may get lost in the crowd though, if not for its brilliantly-done yellow colour. The motorcycle becomes aspirational in yellow. Comparatively, the Guerrilla doesn’t have to rely that much on its colour choices to make itself noticeable on the road. It has a better road presence as far as I’m concerned, especially with that lovely back-end having the tail light integrated into the indicators. That tail end looks fantastic, it looks more global, more exotic and special.
That said, while I feel both motorcycles are more or less equally well-built with comparable fit-n-finish, there are a few things on the Speed 400 that give it a little bit more upmarket feel - like the sandblasted finish on the aluminium handlebar which appears more premium compared to Guerrilla’s handlebar’s more traditional blacked-out finish. Both handlebars, however, are made of aluminium.
The switchgear on the Speed 400 too, I feel, has overall better finish and operational feel in comparison. And the motorcycle looks quite unmissable in the yellow colour.
But I think I have to really appreciate Royal Enfield here. The company has done visible improvements to its motorcycles’ build quality and fit-n-finish in recent years. And the Guerrilla is a fine example of that along with some other current generation REs.
It is commendable that the Guerrilla 450 Apex confidently holds its own against the Speed 400. There is nothing concerning enough for me to specifically highlight here that I do not like. It is a pretty well-made motorcycle.
But as I’ve said, the Speed 400 looks an inch more polished or refined in terms of overall finish. The Guerrilla has a more industrial look to it, I think that’s how I would like to describe it.
By the tiniest margin it appears a bit raw in comparison but not in a negative way at all. To make it even clearer, the first-gen Himalayan (with the air-cooled engine) looked industrial as well but it did look unrefined and not as well-finished. That bike was the definition of built-on-a-budget. Guerrilla too has industrial feel to it but it has noticeably improved levels of overall finish and build.
I also like looking at both of them. Triumph’s paint job in general is very satisfying but the yellow in particular makes me want to have that bike. You see, the right colour matters! The bike also has nice proportions. The combination of traditional retro elements like the rounded fuel tank and the round headlight are finely mixed with modern elements like the tube twin-spar frame, aluminium swing-arm, the upside-down forks, and especially the monoshock. The Speed 400 is a very fine example of a modern-retro roadster in the recognizable Triumph design language.
But like the Speed 400’s yellow, the Guerrilla 450 Apex’s red seems to be equally desirable to me.
I do, however, love the long and low profile of the Guerrilla a lot - it adds to its presence, while the Speed 400 looks more compact but not as low. I love the finish on the exhausts of both the motorcycles and I think the larger end-can of the Speed 400 gives it a bulky feeling to the otherwise smaller body. The Guerrilla’s exhaust, on the other hand, is quite the opposite. Its end-can is smaller and nicely complements the long proportions of the motorcycle. Like the Speed 400’s exhaust adds bulk to the bike, the Guerrilla’s smaller exhaust adds compactness to the bike’s longer body.
Overall though, the Guerrilla 450 Apex does have a slight upper hand for me in the looks department. It has a more appealing design for me, exuding a bit of aggressiveness, it’s a bit of a badass.. Its long and low profile is more inviting to me.
The Speed 400, quite obviously, looks like an evolution of one of Triumph’s bigger Bonnevilles - the Street Twin. It’s like a mini version of the Street Twin with a monoshock and a single-cylinder, which is not a bad thing at all. The Speed 400 has a design that everyone will like, regardless of their age. It’s an extremely smart-looking motorcycle.
Riding the two motorcycles keeps their respective characters intact. Both motorcycles are fun, engaging, and exciting to ride, but all of this is a notch higher on the Guerrilla 450 Apex.
When I started riding the Apex for the first time, I didn’t really enjoy its more forward-leaning riding position to be honest. I felt that the handlebar was a bit too wide for my liking and hence, I felt like I was stretching forward a little more than I would have liked. It also caused some pain in my palms (but the wrists were fine).
But it only took me a few initial rides to get comfortable with the updated riding ergonomics on the Apex. With all these years of riding different varieties of motorcycles, I have learned that if the posture isn’t really bad, you will gel with it quickly enough. But you’ll never completely get used to a riding position that’s genuinely problematic. I am also sure it differs from person to person though.
The Speed 400 provides a more standard riding stance that is upright but with slightly rear-set foot-pegs it keeps the whole experience from getting anything boring. But I prefer the seat of the Guerrilla more and I feel that it might be more comfortable over long rides as well.
Their engines too are very easy to live with in the city, especially given the fact how often we get into extremely tight traffic situations here in India. Unlike the 390 Duke R (the one with the 398cc engine), the Guerrilla’s and the Speed 400’s engines are much more flexible when it comes to managing the crawling speeds of city traffic. It’s quite funny because it seems to me that since the arrival of the 390 Duke, there’s an impression that high-performance single-cylinder engines are only a one-trick pony - as in the case of the 390 Duke which is mostly happy at higher revs and generally hates lower speeds.
The Guerrilla and the Speed 400 clearly do not have crazy engines like the 390 Duke, but they’re decent performers, especially the Guerrilla which is very satisfying (as you’re about to find out).
Now please understand one thing that the Speed 400 is a very-very good motorcycle to ride… on its own. But it pales a bit in comparison to the Guerrilla 450 Apex. This is where the Triumph’s problems lie - the comparison.
The Speed 400’s engine is smooth and characterful thanks to the unmissable burbly exhaust note. The new 350cc engine is responsive which is due to notable internal changes combined with the new aggressive throttle maps for a performance output worthy of a modern, liquid-cooled, 350cc single-cylinder engine. The gearing is well-spaced and mostly, you’re not forced into a particular gear to feel comfortable in traffic.
It’s an easy motorcycle to just go out and ride. And when the road opens up or when you arrive on a highway, the performance seamlessly goes up on demand and you’re quite comfortably doing triple-digit speeds. All the while, the ear-pleasing exhaust note keeps you company.
The handling is predictable, neutral, and precise enough to be fun in traffic and on twisty roads. The Speed 400 is a spritely performer in the city while acceptable on the highways. It also takes corners well. Actually, it is where it’s most fun. The chassis and the suspension are well-tuned and maintain a good balance between comfort and sporty riding. There’s quite a spike in excitement seeing such a modern-retro motorcycle taking on the corners so confidently. It’s a very nice feeling indeed.
Come to think of it, the Speed 400 is a unique motorcycle in its segment. Having the Street Twin style statement mixed with modern chassis elements is always an interesting idea. Triumph’s execution of this idea has been good.
The Guerrilla 450 Apex does all these things but there’s more action in it. You definitely feel more invested while riding it. The motorcycle does not fail to tell you that you’re having a bit more fun than on the other one and it has a lot to do with that engine in its chassis.
The Guerrilla’s 452cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine, taken straight from the Himalayan 450, feels even more eager under its lighter body (11 kg lighter than the Himalayan). And though it is 6 kg heavier than the Speed 400, the difference is negligible with respect to its on-road performance.
The Guerrilla is more energetic and livelier to ride in every scenario. That’s how it is.
The moment you start riding the bike, you begin to feel that the engine performance carries weight and force over the Speed 400’s due to the extra 100cc. The engine performance feels more fuller and this difference is easily noticeable between the two motorcycles.
In comparison, the Speed 400’s engine feels a little shallow (but only in comparison). Every instance of acceleration on the Guerrilla comes with more force and thrust. The Guerrilla feels like a class above, but I cannot comment how small this difference was against the original 400cc Speed 400 because I never rode that one!
Riding the Guerrilla 450 Apex is more eventful in traffic, on highways, and over a series of corners! It offers more of everything good. The Himalayan 450-derived chassis too is quite exceptional in this case. The stability it offers in various riding conditions is extremely confidence-inspiring while also remaining nimble and fun. The suspension, like the Speed 400’s, offers a fine combination of plushness and sportiness.
The interesting part is, both motorcycles are worthy of being owned. It’s just that the Guerrilla, for me at least, is a better motorcycle. It’s more fun. It’s more involving.
One of the highlights of the Guerrilla is how it builds up speed. The acceleration is linear but it is strong and you feel the pull in almost all the gears if you give enough throttle.
The bike is just eager to cross the first triple-digit mark and then continue ahead from there. It has more than enough performance for our highways and can easily out accelerate regular vehicles on the road whenever it is needed or desired. Royal Enfield has built a fantastic liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine here. Their best so far. And it should only get better in the future.
It’s a feeling where the Guerrilla 450 Apex is unmatched, something that the Speed 400 falls short of delivering. It’s a part of the riding experience that the Triumph is unable to create.
In terms of smoothness, both the engines are fine and easy to live with. Of course, they’re not smooth in the manner we associate this characteristic with the Japanese engines traditionally, but they are smooth enough. They are characterful. And in a similar fashion, I would describe the braking performance of both the motorcycles as well. They are more or less equally good and do the job well. This braking aspect is actually quite funny, as I feel the braking performance is considered good as long as it does its job effectively even if it doesn’t have the best progression and that perfect bite! And I would say that the Guerrilla and the Speed 400 have confident braking setups. That’s about it.
And I must not forget to mention the brilliant gearbox of the Guerrilla. Truth be told, that gearbox turned out better than I expected it to be. I have already experienced it on the Himalayan a couple of years back, and the Guerrilla happily reminded me of it.
The Guerrilla’s gearbox is absolutely fantastic. It might be the smoothest and the quickest shifting experience (without a quick-shifter) I have had in recent years, at least in the sub-500cc category. Operating the gear pedal is so effortless that it can exemplify this feeling. And yet, it still gives required feedback that the gear has been changed successfully. Also, when I would come to a complete stop in the third, fourth, or the fifth gear, it would go down to the neutral in single clicks without needing me to move the motorcycle back and forth!
I don’t know what Royal Enfield has done to make the gearbox this good or if it just happened that they pulled it off. But it is that good!
You still won’t pick a bad motorcycle here!
Whether you pick the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 Apex or the Triumph Speed 400 eventually comes down to which motorcycle you like riding more. And it is quite possible that your preference could turn out to be different than mine. Objectively though, the Guerrilla is a better performer! And personally, I like it more too. But I also do not always pick the quicker and the faster motorcycle out of a comparison.
The thing about the Guerrilla is that it's not only better performing, it also makes the ride more dramatic... in a good way! It is one of those motorcycles which makes you want to take the long way home. The Speed 400 is just gentle in comparison, and that too not in a bad way at all! Might I say that it actually is a sweet motorcycle to look at while the Guerrilla is a bit edgy in comparison. Both motorcycles will undoubtedly keep their riders happy.
The decision to choose between the Guerrilla and the Speed 400 is not about better performance alone, it’s also so much about which brand you like more and here, I believe, both Royal Enfield and Triumph have loyal fan bases.
Now Royal Enfield usually has a stronger pull when it comes to the bikes like the Classic 350, Bullet 350, or the Hunter 350 as well. But here, Triumph is on a different level even with the same engine capacity. Also, Royal Enfield has made a truly worthy motorcycle in the Guerrilla which could actually pull the Speed 400 crowd towards itself. You must ride both.
But I, however, would pick the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 Apex!
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