Royal Enfield FT450 flattracker launched in India based on affordable Guerrilla 450 road bike

Royal Enfield’s Guerrilla 450 roadster has been transformed into a new flattrack focussed special edition called the FT450, and could be making its way to the UK in 2025 for upcoming Slide School experience days.

The Slide School program offers a day of specialist training, designed to give Royal Enfield fans a first taste of sideways flattrack action. It’s run in conjunction with Dirt Craft UK, with instruction provided by multiple national champion and RE factory rider, Gary Birtwistle.

Up until now, the school has used a stripped back version of the Indian brand’s 24bhp Scram 411 (known as the FT411), however the new bike looks set to provide more power and carry less weight to appeal to a broader range of sideways enthusiasts.

The new FT450 is said to have been designed inhouse by Enfield’s own flattrack specialists, and is powered by the firm’s 39bhp, 452cc ‘Sherpa’ single-cylinder engine, which also finds a home in the Himalayan 450 adventure bike.

Unlike the road-going naked it’s based on, all of the non-essential components have been removed, including the stock bodywork, front braking system, lights, and colour TFT instrument cluster. The ABS system is gone too.

• Related: Royal Enfield launch twin-cylinder flattrack racer

There’s no longer a front mudguard either, with the bodywork reduced to just a front number board, and sweeping tail section that joins to the rear of the flat 11-litre fuel tank.

This is covered in a neat graphics set, with licks of red and black overlaid on the white components.

Replacing the road-focussed 17in rims on the production bike are larger 18in spoked designs with custom hubs, shod with chunky Reise Moto TourR flattrack tyres. A full system exhaust should also shed further weight and unlock some additional bark when sliding through turns – with gearing likely shortened to give it a little more urgency lower down in the revs.

Further assisting in this department is a FuelX electronic plug-in fuel injection optimiser, which should help provide improved throttle response – important on loose services such as a flattrack oval.

Away from the performance, there’s a new set of handlebars, which come back closer to the rider to help with control during a slide.

Watch: Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 review video