Over the years, many myths and misconceptions have been built around the Royal Enfield Machismo 500. It’s either the ultimate symbol of masculinity on two wheels, or it’s unreliable and constantly breaking down. It has tales of unbelievable fuel efficiency and tales of oil consumption like there's no tomorrow. The comfort of some riders on long rides is legendary, but others complain of vibrations that shake their fillings loose. There are just so many different opinions, so it’s difficult to distinguish fact from fiction. What is the truth to owning this iconic bike? Is it really a maintenance horror story, or is it actually a reliable steed? Is it really a bike that needs a muscular rider to ride, or is it macho posturing? So let’s get into the reality of owning Machismo 500 and bust some myths.