Was the Machismo 350 a half baked attempt at modernization or ahead of its time?

When the Royal Enfield Machismo 350 was introduced, it was a huge change for the company. It had a left foot gear shift, 5 speed gearbox, AVL lean burn engine, all departures from the traditional Bullet design. A small group of enthusiasts have argued that these changes made the Machismo a forward looking model that helped bridge the gap between classic and modern motorcycles. On the other hand, some others see it as an awkward transitional model that did not move far enough on modernization. The bike had enough new features which made it stand out but retained many classic Bullet characteristics. This has created ongoing debate about whether the Machismo was truly as innovative as we believe it to be, or simply a compromise without equal satisfaction to either camp, the traditional camp or those demanding a more modern riding experience.