Motorcycle specifications MashX-Ride 650 2024 The trail of other times

Mash's second excursion into the medium-displacement arena, its X-Ride 650 Classic vibrates between old Coca-Cola posters and near-by curbs. In these days of ubiquitous crossovers and maxi-trailers with sporty CVs, SIMA is pulling out all the stops.

Here, the Burgundy firm swims against the tide, reappropriating the trail bike in its simplest form. A big, honking single, big cross handlebars, a country look, spoked wheels and sculpted tires. A revival of the XT 500, XR or DR 600?

Not quite, although first impressions instantly bring to mind Yamaha's famous trail bike. Except for the exhausts. Sheltered in a high position, we can't help but see a strong similarity with those of the late Transalp.
No matter, since the feeling of a playful, all-terrain, trail-riding machine from evening to morning is back. But.... Looks are deceiving, because the rim size is much more urban than the shoes. 17-inch wheels make the bike look like a supermotard. So, city or village? Turd or asphalt sportsman?

The wind seems to blow more in the leaves than on muscular winding roads. The X-Ride boasts a comfortable ground clearance of 210 mm, halfway between that of a roadster and an off-road machine. The upright riding position is relaxed, the seat is welcoming, with an apparently thick flanged saddle, and practicality is assured with a package holder.
The Mash also thinks in terms of styling effects, with a Monza-style fuel filler cap, LED indicators and headlights, a classy gold finish on the rims, small gills on the sides and number plates. It's just a shame that the rear end is singularly lacking in finesse. You'd think there was an electric motorcycle battery in there.

there isn't. The X-Ride 650 Classic is powered by an old-fashioned block. 643.7 cm3 with a single cylinder, lots of fins and a small oil cooler, Delphi injection and almost 40 horsepower. That's about as much power as this kind of trail bike produced in the '80s - so the Mash plays perfectly into the temporal mimicry that has been the brand's niche since its inception. Torque is a little disappointing, maxing out at 4.6 mkg. The character of this type of engine should compensate for this weakness. What's more, young license holders will appreciate that with this level of watts, the machine is well within the A2 range. The engine passes the Euro5 hurdle without a hitch.

The 650 X-Ride shows off its front end. The size of the fork is a real eye-catcher, and the braking even more so. Around the 320 mm disc, a 4-piston radial-mount caliper provides the bite. But what's the Hangte clamp worth? A rather unknown name in the sector. Note that the brake lever is adjustable in spacing.
The minimalist instrument cluster is informative, with needle-type engine speed, gear indicator, fuel gauge and more.

One point in particular stands out: the splash guard. While the rear isn't too questionable, the front is more peculiar. It's almost certain that the bike's belly will be better protected by the shoe than by the half-mudguard. In short, the X-Ride may raise a few questions, but certainly less than the level of enthusiasm.

With this mock XT 500, the Mash X-Ride 650 Classic ventures to charm the nostalgic. And not only them. How many of them are fed up with ultra-technological, overpowered, overpriced or overweight trails (tick the right box(es)) and don't appreciate seeing a clod of dirt?! As always, the price - somewhere between that of a Yamaha MT-03 and an ex-Kawasaki Z 400 - is a striking argument in favor of this machine from the Beaune region and beyond.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos