Earlier
this year, Yamaha revived their fabled SR (albeit in 400cc form instead of with
the original 500cc lump), a bike that has become a bit of a cult object amongst
the ranks of neo-retro riders, petrolhead hipsters and modern-day ton-up boys.
Indian manufacturer Royal Enfield fell into step shortly afterwards, presenting
their 535cc Continental GT. Now it’s the turn of MASH to jump onto the
neo-retro big thumper bandwagon with their new Five Hundred, which despite the
name is powered by a 400cc powerplant – go figure, as they say across the pond.
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| The sidestand comes as standard; this is just an arty-farty photo |
MASH is
the name under which the French motorcycle, parts & accessories importer
SIMA markets motorcycles made in China on the French, Belgian, Portuguese and
Spanish markets. The bikes are however available in other countries, albeit
under various different brand names. Now, before you all tell me to take my
Chinese bikes and “Foxtrot Oscar”, I should point out that Chinese products
have improved quite a bit in recent years: I very much doubt that a company
with SIMA’s history and reputation would distribute duff bikes. For example, my
new smartphone is Chinese-made (although with R&D and design done in
Europe) and compares very favourably with a similar ‘phone made by a well-known
Korean brand. But I digress: let’s get back to the bike.
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| Back... |
The MASH Five Hundred is impeccably retro-styled, even more so that the SR400, bearing a
passing resemblance to the Triumph Bonneville T120. The engine is a fuel-injected
400cc SOHC, dry-sump single-cylinder with twin exhaust ports and a kickstart
(don’t worry, there’s also an electric starter) developing 27 bhp @ 7,000 rpm
and 3.05 m/kg (29.9 Nm) @ 5,500 rpm. That might sound like a pretty ridiculous
power figure, but then again bikes like this aren’t about humongous power –
it’s enough to get you around town at a respectable speed, and even ensures
satisfactory progress along small back roads. On the down side, you’re best
advised to stay away from motorways, dual carriageways and large A-roads. The
retro look is accentuated by chromed steel mudguards, a two-tone paint job on
the 13-litre (2.8 UK gallon) tank and a “banana” seat not unlike the one found
on the Kawasaki W800.
The
stopping power on this bike that weighs in at 150 kg (330 lbs) is entrusted to
a 280 mm (11-inch) brake disc with a twin parallel piston calliper up front,
and a 160 mm (6-inch) drum brake on the rear wheel, which should provide
reasonable braking under normal use. As for the wheels and tyres, the 19-inch
front wears a 100/90 boot and the 18-inch rear is fitted with 130/70 rubber. A
parcel rack/grab handle completes the Five Hundred’s equipment. One of the
downsides of the 2-into-2 exhaust is that there’s no room to fit a centre
stand.
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| ...to the front |
The MASH Five Hundred is aimed at urban and novice riders looking for something stylish
to get them round town or to cut their teeth on. That said, with a power figure
similar to the Royal Enfield Bullet, it ought to be quite a pleasant machine
with which to go for a sedate Sunday ride in the countryside. It will be
available as of 1st October at a launch price of 3,990 € (£ 3,157)*.
*Bear in mind this price is quoted by MASH for the French market.
All photographs: © MASH Motors
