The Guerrilla 450 has been an excellent upgrade, offering a well-rounded mix of style, power, and practicality.
BHPian Nagato710 recently shared this with other enthusiasts:
Guerrilla 450 Ownership Review (1,000 Km)
Hi everyone from Bhutan. This is my first substantial post on Team-BHP. Iâve been an avid follower for years, and it feels wonderful to contribute to this vibrant community. My love for automobiles began as a young teenager, voraciously reading magazines like Overdrive, Autocar, and TopGear, though my favorite was BSMotoring. I admired Bijoy Kumar Yâs engaging style, and now Team-BHP fills that role. In this review, Iâll share my journey with motorcycles, from the 2006 Bajaj Pulsar to the Guerrilla 450, detailing my experiences, modifications, and thoughts about each bike.
The Bajaj Pulsar 180 (2006)
My father gifted me this iconic motorcycle to celebrate securing a full government scholarship for my degree. The Pulsar was a revelationâits sporty design, respectable power, and affordability made it a favorite among young riders of the time. The Ducati Monster-inspired design and the âdefinitely maleâ adverts were plus points.
Likes:
1. Power & Handling: With a 180cc engine, it felt powerful for a young and reckless rider. It was ideal for Bhutan’s single-lane mountainous roads, but in hindsight, it was a dangerous combination for an inexperienced rider.
2. Reliability: The bike was reliable for its time, with low maintenance costs and easy parts availability.
3. Alloy Wheels and tubeless tires.
Dislikes:
1. The brakes were disks at the front and drums at the rear. With no ABS, front end wound slip causing a few hair-raising experiences.
2. A few months later, Bajaj introduced the all-black models. They looked much better.
This bike served me for a couple of years till I decided to upgrade when I started working and could save up for a new motorcycle.
Royal Enfield Classic 350 (2015)
After years of dreaming, I finally bought the Classic 350, a decision influenced by its retro charm and iconic thump. At the time, I had to choose between the Classic 350 (C350) and the Classic 500 (C500). While the C500 offered fuel injection and more power, I opted for the C350 due to its simpler carburetor setup, easier maintenance, and significant cost difference. We still have just a single Official RE dealer in the whole country. 
Likes:
1. Styling & Road Presence: The Classic 350 is a head-turner with its timeless design. It felt like a piece of history on wheels, exuding charisma wherever I went.
2. Comfort: This motorcycle became my trusted companion for office tours to remote areas. It is perhaps one of the most comfortable motorcycles around.
I carried out a number of modifications:
1. Auxiliary Lights: Purchased from Amazon India for improved night visibility.
2. Ladakh Carrier: Used only for tours, as it made the bike look bulky. I got the idea to install this from a YouTube video in the channel âtollfreetravellerâ.
3. Wildboar Exhaust: A controversial choice, installed for its bassy rumble during remote tours. In remote locations, there are instances where one may encounter wild animals such as bears and tigers. I reckoned that the loud sound would drive them away and it must have since I didnât encounter any such things. I switched back to the OEM exhaust for city rides. 
Dislikes:
1. Reliability Issues: Despite its charm, the bike required constant care. Common issues included Clutch and accelerator cables snapping mid-ride (I always had to carry spares).
2. High maintenance costs compared to other bikes.
3. Tubed tires were a constant worry during long tours, especially in remote areas with no workshops- I had to carry the entire tools and spares all the time.
I reluctantly sold this beloved motorcycle after 6 years of use before heading abroad for further studies, knowing it would deteriorate without regular use.
Hero Xpulse 200 (2021)
After returning to Bhutan during a vehicle import ban, I acquired a second-hand Hero Xpulse 200 from a friend. This bike introduced me to the world of adventure riding.
Likes:
1. Off-Road Prowess: The Xpulse shrugged off potholes, gravel roads, and uneven terrain. Whether on smooth asphalt or a rugged trail, the bike handled it all with ease.
2. Comfort: Long and soft suspensions were a boon. I found this motorcycle more comfortable than the C35 I owned earlier.
I carried out a couple of Modifications:
1. Auxiliary Lights: The OEM lights were poor. I installed HJG auxiliary lights for better night-time visibility.
2. Center Stand: Added for chain maintenance, though it compromised ground clearance.
3. SC Project Exhaust: The OEM exhaust sound was conventional sounding. This installation makes better music. I also installed dB killer to reduce to a tolerable decibel.
4. Sticker Removal: The stock stickers were too loud for my taste, so I removed them for a cleaner look.
Dislikes:
1. Tubed tires remained a concern.
2. Lack of power made overtaking on hilly roads nerve-wracking.
Despite its strengths, the Xpulse left me craving a more powerful machine for hill overtakes and occasional long-distance touring.
Guerrilla 450 (2024)
After extensive research, I decided on the Guerrilla 450. While I considered the Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 and the Triumph Speed 400, practical considerations like dealer proximity (No Trimp dealer in Bhutan) and features tipped the scales in favor of the Guerrilla. I had a chance to check out the H450 at Delhi after it was launched. I found it a bit too bulky for my everyday use. And also, since it was only available with tubed tires, I opted for the Guerrilla. As of today, I have ridden this motorcycle for 1000km.
Likes
1. Looks: Modern Design: A very handsome motorcycle.
2. Powerful Engine: A significant upgrade over the Xpulse, making hill overtakes effortless.
3. Alloy Wheels: A game-changer for long tours, eliminating the puncture anxiety I had with tubed tires. Now I just carry a tire inflator and a small repair kit.
4. Ergonomics: Comfortable enough for both city rides and occasional tours.
5. Service Accessibility: With a dealer in Thimphu, maintenance is more convenient.
6. Digital Dash: A feature-rich cluster that feels modern and intuitive.
Dislikes
1. Small Fuel Tank: At 11 liters, frequent refueling is required, especially on long trips.
2. Loud Color Options: The available schemes are too brash for my liking. I may have liked them on my younger days, however, at my current age, I donât. I would have bought the silver color, however, that color option was only available for the base version with no digital dash. I opted for the next decent Playa Black color. Although this color also makes the motorcycle look like a Belgium flag, the red and yellow are sticker jobs and can be removed.
The Guerrilla 450 has been an excellent upgrade, offering a well-rounded mix of style, power, and practicality. Itâs a worthy companion for city commutes, weekend adventures, and long tours. However, its quirks, such as the small fuel tank and loud paint options, leave room for improvement. My Guerrila 450 is the first in Bhutan. Last I heard, it is still the only one in the country. This worries me in terms of parts availability, however, since most of the parts are shared with the Himalayan 450 (which is extremely popular here), I think it should be fine. Iâm looking forward to many more miles and memories with this machine.
Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
