Is the Machismo 350 cult following justified, or just nostalgia fuelled?
Through the years, the Royal Enfield Machismo 350 has become quite of a cult, it even went to a point that many considered it one of RE’s best models ever produced. The Machismo is praised by fans of the Machismo for its blend of classic styling with (for the time) modern features, better handling than the standard Bullet and its overall riding experience. In fact, some even claim that it's the height of Royal Enfield's pre modern era bikes. Yet critics say this cult status is more about nostalgia than anything else. According to them, the Machismo is an underpowered bike, with many quirks and reliability issues by modern standards. That has led to discussions about what constitutes motorcycle enthusiasm, the worth of a bike's 'character,' and whether or not the rose-tinted glasses of nostalgia are obscuring an objective look at the Machismo's place in the history of motorcycling.
It’s 100% justified. The Machismo was a cool old school bike with just enough modern features. You can't get that feeling with any modern bike.
Honestly, it’s mostly nostalgia. I had one back in the day and loved it, but I just rode one again and it felt ancient. People, I’m wearing rose tinted glasses.
And I think the cult status derives from the fact that the Machismo is a 'Goldilocks' bike for many riders: not too old, not too new. It found a sweet spot that a lot of people tapped into.
This is justified, but not for the reasons most fans would think. Performance and reliability aren't the issue – it's the Machismo capturing a point of time in motorcycling history.
I don't get the hype as a younger rider. I've ridden a Machismo and it just seems like an old slow bike to me. I think it's definitely nostalgic for older riders.
It’s not about the specs of the bike, it’s about the cult following of the overall experience. There’s something to the Machismo that modern bikes lack, and it’s something worth celebrating.
It's a bit of both. While the Machismo was genuinely a step forward for RE, its legendary status has definitely been blown up by nostalgia.
Comment
Discussions and Questions Is The Machismo 350 Cult Following Justified Or Just Nostalgia Fuelled
No answers found .