Matchless X Reloaded at the next EICMA will mark the return of the historic brand and the operation speaks Italian. He felt the need? Personally no, but the world is beautiful because various.
Matchless X Reloaded is the first concrete step in the new direction of the famed British brand. The vedremo dal life, in a maquette is not working but very close to production, 72 minutes exposure to the world of motorcycling EICMA (Milan, 6 – 9 November 2014). It is a motion of the highest range, Building “sartorial” for instance, which uses a V-Twin S&S da 1.916 cc Good ad aria raffreddato 96 CV. This is the same V-Twin used the CR&S for its Bring, although this Matchless X Reloaded there are differences, especially on the rear cylinder “invert” with the suction behind and in front of the discharge. The ones we see are the first images “official” and it is rendered in computer graphics, but they are to prove that the bike is near final and not deviate much from this cruiser a little vintage’ sui generis.
The inspiration comes from the stylistic Model X-thirties, one of the great queens of his time who have taken the brand Matchless to be considered in the next thirty years one of the most desirable and admired. The crisis in the British Sixties, and then, has spared no, nor the Matchless, relegated to remember. But let's get to the present day: the operation on the British brand speaks more Italian than we tend to think: the brand has been recognized in 2012 the Franco Malenotti – already known among other things for having revived the brand Belstaff
The style of the new bike is all the work of Malenotti (in foto), while Donato Cannatello – known for being one of the designer's own CR&S Duu – has occupied the engineering model do not forget to let her touch on some details (see for example the hole in the connection plate between the upper beam and the attack of the swing arm and the saddle cantilevered).
However, if you ask me (Obviously, I can, is my blog), I do not like this X Reloaded. On the contrary, I really find that it is not in good taste. Do you want to tell me that really remembers the Model X Thirties? Come… Perhaps only for the kilometric distance and by the weight…
Personally operations revitalization of historic brands now buried with models dedicated to the sitting room to the street, I always leave a little’ interdict. I love the history of the bike and I have great nostalgia for periods of heavy experimentation and for brands that have helped to make the bike what it is today, but often in these cases you can not decipher where it comes from passion (certainly trigger, I do not doubt) and where it comes from the desire to take advantage of an alleged trail to make money (lawful thing mind you, a ma po’ less romantic). Why dig up the past when you can not clearly propose it? If your desire is to build a bike why not create a new brand, just as it was once?
As for the Brough Superior (see the video I shot last EICMA) here is tip top, portfolios beautiful swollen – though not so much swollen as the Matchless X Reloaded eye should cost more or less half – and it is undoubtedly a correct choice in order to maintain production so small, However, as a creation of this kind should give luster, relaunch, Glorioso one marching? As a device as big as a truck, cars, awkward and inconsistent with aesthetic references to a vintage undefined, should tell the story of Matchless?
Really and honestly I want to wish all the best to the new adventure of Malenotti, if only because I have the pleasure of knowing personally Donato Cannatello and I know that is a fan of those hard-core. But that's why I think this Matchless X Reloaded could be a hole in the water:
- it is ugly (ok is subjective…), but it is a mixture of references to different eras
- is big and clumsy
- in those under sixty are willing to pay 30.000 Euro (hypothesis that I do not think cage is far from the truth) to have a Matchless Matchless that has nothing?
- in those over sixty, and they were very reminiscent of the Matchless recognize them in this thing?
Boys, in bocca al lupo: the world is beautiful because it varied and I would one day have before me a motorcycle industry flat and devoid of personal and objectionable flashes like this. That said, siam here to discuss and each thought which has its, I expressed my. See you at the EICMA.
