Mash 400 Five Hundred Chromium 2018 — Specifications

When everyone else is slapping a "neo-retro" badge on modern machines dressed in period costume, Mash takes the radical opposite approach: offering a genuinely old-school engine, without shame or technological frills. The Five Hundred Chromium pushes this philosophy to its visual peak with its chrome steel tank, which catches the light and throws it back like a parlour mirror. In a car park, the conversation starts before you've even switched off the engine.

This 397 cc single-cylinder, four-valve engine produces 27 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 29.9 Nm of torque at 5,500 rpm. Modest figures on paper, but honest ones for a motorcycle whose ambition isn't to brush up against 200 km/h. Top speed is capped at 140 km/h, which is more than enough for use on back roads and secondary routes — exactly where this kind of machine makes sense. The five-speed gearbox suits this unhurried temperament, the steel tubular double-cradle frame ensures sound geometry, and the 151 kg dry weight makes it accessible even for recently licensed riders. The Delphi fuel injection, added when the bike was brought up to Euro 4 standards, represents the only real concession to modernity — and frankly, there's nothing to complain about: fuelling is clean and starting is fuss-free.

The Chromium version distinguishes itself from the standard Five Hundred through a handful of carefully considered details. The suede-finish double-stitched seat contrasts with the gleam of the tank, and the engine with its polished fins echoes the overall aesthetic. It's cohesive without being flashy. Mash had already released a Von Dutch series that wore its kitsch openly; this Chromium plays a more measured tune, somewhere between the Guzzi V7 Racer and the café racer aesthetic of the 1970s. The comparison with the V7 is not incidental: the Moto Guzzi costs twice as much, weighs more, and admittedly offers far greater mechanical heritage — but the Mash at €4,595 occupies a niche the Italian brand doesn't bother looking at.

The drum brakes, front and rear, neatly sum up the machine's philosophy. No ABS, no electronic aids, braking that demands anticipation and a bit of getting used to. On 110/90-19 tyres up front and 130/70-18 at the rear, the sensations are direct, sometimes raw. The 13-litre tank offers a reasonable range for weekend rides. This is a motorcycle aimed at a rider who seeks disconnection rather than performance, who would rather admire their bike parked outside a café than chase gears on a main road. That audience exists, it is sizeable, and it is often poorly served by manufacturers inflating prices under the guise of premium positioning.

The Mash Five Hundred Chromium makes no pretence of being something it is not. It is a Sino-French motorcycle built simply, priced honestly, with chrome bodywork that justifies the special edition without cheating anyone. The flaws are real: the braking demands caution, the overall finish does not rival a Royal Enfield Meteor 350 in terms of perceived quality, and the absence of seat height data leaves riders of uncertain stature waiting for a physical test ride. But for anyone wanting to ride vintage without breaking the bank or dealing with electronics, it is hard to find better at this price.