Motorcycle specifications Mash400 Scrambler 2016 Chemins et gîtes de France

Quietly and surely making its way on the market, Mash is determined to take its share of the cake in the current neo-vintage trend. Retro roadsters, café-racers, hipster sandwiches are all believable, but this year it's all about the Scrambler. Mash unveils its Scrambler, closely derived from the Five Hundred.

unadorned, except for this rather nice orange color, this Scrambler is all about simplicity. Up close and personal, you can smell the retro, the fine mud crackling on the hot metal, the sweat on your knees as you start off. Not the kind of bike for the"I'm just showing off" crowd, but for those who want something fun, accessible, fashionable but not victimized.
Like many of its brethren, this machine compromises on a few of the codes of the authentic scrambler. There's no raised exhaust pipe, as is customary, and the aim is to increase ground clearance. This choice is validated by the preservation of a passenger's calves. However, the 125 of the same name has enhanced its lines...
Fortunately, honor is preserved with spoked rims, studded tires (in moderation) and cross handlebars. A race plate above the headlight, a grille in front of it, gussets on the fork and you're in for a treat. Its big, finned mono and simplistic frame design transport us straight back to the first color films. It's not vintage, it is.

the style is there, highlighting the differences with the Five Hundred. The exhaust line changes, ending in a megaphone-type muffler. The Siemens injection system has been somewhat revised, but is not without its faults. The 400 Scrambler gains a good deal of black, less wrap-around mudguards, a sleeker rear end, complemented by a small round light and suspensions better suited to off-road skirmishes. The fork increases from 35 to 41 mm, while the shock absorbers have been redesigned to withstand the rigors of off-road riding.

the finish won't just compete with nobler, much more expensive machines. For some, it will pass for Chinese-level quality; normal, the bike comes from there. For others, it'll give it an "in its element" personality. Naturally, you'll want to start with thumb action, but.... That would be to deny yourself the charm of a good old kick start, which the Mash offers. It has the ability to make you discover what was the norm decades ago. The dashboard tells you the essentials, with its two needle meters and no more. Forget the fuel gauge, hinged cap and ABS.

but once you're underway, the charm begins. The mono, with its distant Honda origins, is not very powerful with its 27 hp. But it knows how to give pleasure in ways other than big watts. Its character, that little piston stroke that only monos know how to hit, that joyfulness that makes it endearing. Don't give him a hard time. Its pretensions are limited, and its top speed is far from honourable. Think instead of the foggy mornings and the clods of earth you'll want to lift as you set off on your jaunt. This is a motor from another era, simple in both design and use. You'll just have to think about a little more maintenance.
A drum brake at the rear is about as common as a K7 Walkman. The front is more contemporary, with a 280 mm disc bitten by two pistons - and an aviation hose, if you please!

as you'll have gathered, the Mash 400 Scrambler is a classic machine, far removed from technological overkill and marketing hype. It's a simple pleasure machine, designed to take your eyes off the road and have a good time. On the other hand, there's no need to splash out on 5-year chrome to ride vintage. With no real rivals, and virtually alone in its class, the 400 Scrambler is one of the most charming machines in its class. Its price is one of its most striking assets.

M.B - Manufacturer's photos