Royal Enfield to offer Military in Desert Storm color

Reader Bob Slovey has suggested several good ideas for this blog, so I was interested when, back in January, he suggested that Royal Enfield introduce a Military model in desert tan.

"I have read several times that India has issues with manufacturers painting motorcycles in army green colors," he wrote. (In India, that hue is reserved for genuine military machines.)

"I sure would like to see RE offer their new C5 Military Bullet in this color (or something close).  They wouldn't have to change a thing on the existing C5 Military bike, except paint color."

Dealers view Desert Storm.

Then, in June, Bob spotted a picture of a proposed "500 Desert Storm" model, exhibited at a meeting of Royal Enfield dealers in India. It looked as though the company shared his vision!

And, now, there's a better picture and this information from India's Motor Beam website:

"...The company plans to launch the desert storm colour as well on the Classic. The new desert storm colour is nothing but sandy beige with matte finish. The colour looks smashing to say the least. However, it still falls short of the presence offered by Military Olive Green. The Military Olive Green is on sale in export markets and Royal Enfield cannot launch it in India as the colour is reserved for the armed forces. Thus, to satisfy our crave for military green, the company plans to offer desert storm, which comes a close second on the hot looking Classic."

Will it be called the Desert Storm, and will we get it in the U.S.?

Will we get this color in the U.S.? Models introduced in India generally make it to the U.S. about a year after they appear — if they do — in Europe.

And, if we get it, will it be called the Desert Storm?

Desert Storm is a great name for the color, in my opinion because it suggests both military history and the power and color of a desert sand storm.

Back in June Bob told me that he was thinking such a model might be called "Desert Corp."

"I got this idea from an Indian military unit with the same name, but I don't know anything more about the unit," he wrote.

My own suggestion at he time was "El Alamein," keeping in mind the many motorcycles used in the desert campaigns of World War II. It's probably not a good idea, however, because I have to look up the spelling of "Alamein" every time I use it.

After a long career at General Motors, Bob Slovey is secretary of the Phoenix Veterans Association, which helps wounded veterans. I'm grateful for his input.