2020 Mash Desert Force 400 vs Royal Enfield Classic 500 Desert Storm - Which Is The Better Retro Cruiser?

The Global Motorcycling Industry is developing at a very rapid pace and every manufacturer wants to make fast and feature-loaded motorcycles. However, there is still a class of audience who love cruiser motorcycles so that they can travel long-distances in tranquillity. And, if that cruiser possesses a retro-charm, it's just icing on the cake. Thus, to accomplish the desire of retro fans, French Motorcycle manufacturer has come up with a limited-edition motorcycle called the Mash Desert Force 400 which is priced close to the Enfield's Classic 500. So, in this article, we will be comparing the 2020 Mash Desert Force 400 vs Royal Enfield Classic 500 Desert Storm, to know which is the better retro cruiser.

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Looks and Design

Starting with the design of these bikes, the new Mash Desert Force 400 does look good, at least in pictures. The design of this retro-cruiser is inspired by the US Army motorcycles of the 1950s and it boasts of vintage military motorcycle DNA. Upfront, it gets a round headlamp with a unique vintage-styled number plate holder and an old-school charm all-over. It also gets blacked-out elements, a spring-loaded pillion seat and block-pattern tyres that might help in some off-road duties. What's further interesting is that the motorcycle features some exciting accessories and styling bits as standard like a canvas saddlebag, fork cover gaiters, headlight protector, etc.

Talking about Royal Enfield Classic 500, we all have seen this bike growling on the Indian roads as they are highly popular. Specifically, if we talk about this Sand Storm variant which comes with matte-paint finish, it has its own charm and feels like a tribute to the Indian Army. We have chosen this variant for the comparo as its rival also comes in a pretty similar shade. The Royal Enfield Classic 500 gets no-nonsense design and its retro-charm attracts the customers. Also, it is way more practical than the Mash Desert Force 400 as it doesn't get any funky styling elements and the pillion seat is very comfortable too.

Engine Specifications

The Mash Desert Force 400 is powered by a 397cc single-cylinder, air-cooled, fuel-injected engine that churns out 27 PS of maximum power and 30 Nm of peak torque, mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. On the other hand, the Royal Enfield Classic 500 draws power from a 499cc single-cylinder, air-cooled, fuel-injected motor that pumps out 27.5 PS of maximum power and 41.3 Nm of peak torque, mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. Both the motorcycles are retro-cruisers and so the peak power and torque output come from a very low RPM to aid in good rideability.

Features

The 2020 Mash Desert Force 400 has an old-school styling but it is loaded with all the modern equipment. It gets a fully-digital instrument cluster with blue-backlit that shows a ton of information. Whereas, the Classic 500 continues to show its retro character in this department too and it features an analogue cluster with all the basic trip-related information. Both the motorcycles also get dual-channel ABS as standard.

Price

Last but definitely not the least, let's talk about their price. The 2020 Mash Desert Force 400 is a limited-edition model and only 103 examples of this unique retro-cruiser will be produced. It has been priced at 4995 Euros which roughly translates to about Rs. 4.10 lakhs. Contrarily, the Royal Enfield Classic 500 is a regular production model and is priced at 5795 Euros (around INR 4.75 lakhs). We have included the French price of Classic 500 as Mash 400 is only sold in France and Royal Enfield also retails its motorcycles in that country.

So, this was a quick teeny-weeny comparo of the 2020 Mash Desert Force 400 vs Royal Enfield Classic 500 Desert Storm. If we consider the pricing, specs and the types of equipment on offer, the Mash 400 can be considered as a direct winner but if you want to experience the charm of owning a Royal Enfield and want a more practical motorcycle, the Classic 500 should be the pick for you.

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Which among these is your favourite retro-cruiser? Do share with us in the comments below.