Mash 400 R Adventure 2015 — Specifications

Five thousand four hundred and ninety euros. That is the price at which Mash proposes to play the adventurer, at a time when the major competitors' adventure bikes comfortably exceed fifteen thousand euros once the essential options are added. The question isn't even one of value for money; it's one of philosophy. Do you want a motorcycle loaded with electronics that you'll never dare to properly get dirty, or a machine you can throw down a forest track without calculating the cost of a drop?

The 400 R Adventure project is built on a Chinese base, the Shineray 400 Kougar, but French importer SIMA imposed its own requirements to raise the level of finish and reliability. The result is not a simple copy-paste dressed up differently. The 397cc single-cylinder engine descends from a Honda lineage, air-cooled, with a single overhead camshaft and four valves per cylinder. Here, it has been reworked to deliver 29 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 29.9 Nm of torque at 5,500 rpm. This is not the fever of a BMW R 1250 GS; it is the steadiness of a workhorse. Fuel injection is present, representing the only modern veneer on an intentionally rugged powertrain. The five-speed gearbox does its job, and the chain drive is a reminder that you're dealing with something easy and inexpensive to maintain.

What the figures don't convey is the pleasure of handling 151 kg dry through woodland or on a gravel track. The competition's maxi-adventures, talented as they are, often weigh 220 kg fully fuelled; the Mash picks itself up effortlessly after an unwanted encounter with a rock. The 38mm telescopic hydraulic fork offers 210mm of travel, the rear monoshock provides 200mm. Both are adjustable for rebound and compression, and the rear also accepts preload adjustment. For a machine at 5,490 euros, that is a serious specification. The wire-spoke wheels shod in 90/90-21 at the front and 130/80-18 at the rear confirm the off-road ambitions. Top speed is capped at 150 km/h, which suits mountain roads perfectly well but makes motorway riding a long affair.

The standard equipment is the strongest commercial argument. A generous windshield, hand guards, engine bash plate, enduro-style footpegs, fork gaiters, and two 35-litre aluminium panniers on each side are all included straight from the dealership. On this point, Mash catches many manufacturers off guard, as they charge a premium for these accessories. One notable drawback: the panniers do not open on hinges, requiring them to be unclipped entirely for access. On a long stage, frustration is guaranteed. The absence of ABS is the other real shortcoming, all the more conspicuous in this category where even cheaper machines are beginning to offer it. The 880mm seat height will also filter out shorter riders.

This 400 R Adventure will appeal to neither track riders, nor long-distance tourers, nor fans of onboard technology. It is aimed at those discovering adventure riding, at experienced motorcyclists wanting a second machine for trails without regret, or at anyone looking to head off for the weekend on a reasonable holiday budget. Where an Africa Twin or a KTM 890 Adventure impose a certain psychological pressure at every trail rut, the Mash invites carefree riding. That is its true talent.