Mash X

Photo: Mash

Mash, the Euro company that relies on made-in-China hardware, has done it again. Mash builds motorcycles that look a lot like classic Japanese or Euro models, and the new X-Ride 650 Trail continues that tradition with looks lifted straight from the XT500. However, look closely, and you’ll see the mechanicals are actually quite a bit more modern, and on this bike, we finally get a chassis that’s better-suited for off-road.

Some of y’all might remember the original X-Ride model, which debuted back in 2020. Here’s what we told you about the machine then:

It’s definitely worthy of the Mash name, as it’s basically a mash-up of late-’70s Yamaha styling and what appears to be an engine designed off Honda’s early-’90s XR650 lump. If you look at an early XT500 photo, you can definitely see where Mash drew its visual inspiration for this machine. Look at that engine, and it certainly seems to owe a lot to the Honda XR600/650 air-cooled singles (note there’s an oil cooler installed, though). Stroke and bore is the exact same as the XR650L, at 100×82 mm. It has Delphi EFI, though, and not a carb. No doubt there are many other differences, but Mash’s machines often have engines with designs that look a lot like vintage Hondas.

Claimed output from the 644 cc engine is 40 hp at 6,000 rpm. The gearbox is a five-speed, and of course e-start is standard.

However, that original model came with 17-inch rims front and rear. Great for hooning about the cobblestones of Europe, not so great for actual trail work. So now, we get the X-Ride 650 Trail, which comes with 21-inch front (90/90-21 tire) and 18-inch rear (130/80-18 tire). The front disc is only 280 mm in diameter, down from the standard model’s 320 mm diameter front disc (rear disc is the same on both bikes, at 240 mm). Other trade-offs include a higher seat height for the Trail variant (from 870 mm to 890 mm) and a bit more wet weight (the standard weighs 177 kg, the Trail is 180 kg).

Yamaha-inspired styling and Honda-inspired hard parts. Photo: Mash

Those are trade-offs that most customers can live with, considering how much more capable the larger wheelset is. While it would seem foolish to trust the Mash like you would a big-bore Japanese thumper, perhaps that will change after these machines have been on the market a while, and established a reputation. But even if you aren’t railing on it like you would an OG XT500 or similar machine, the larger wheels will still make even slow gravel rides much more comfortable.

Details on the new Mash X-Ride 650 Trail are only starting to leak through the Euro moto mags, and we don’t even know when it will appear in all markets over there—and at this point, there isn’t even a peep about the Mash brand making it to North America. Too bad—the idea of a retro-styled dual sport would catch on quickly here, and since the Japanese can’t be fussed to focus on a super-small segment of the market like that, it would be great if Mash had its chance to do so.