What’s that? Is it a British classic? No. Believe it or not, it’s a Chinese-built, French imported machine.

The Mash Black Seven Two Fifty is a beautiful looking motorcycle. That’s important. But is it a case of style over substance or does Mash perform as well as it looks?

To find out, we spent a couple of weeks putting it through its paces on a mix of the best (and worst) roads Lincolnshire has to offer. We tackled some tight twisties, some town traffic and even a couple of stretches of dual carriageway – and saw our fair share of thoroughly miserable weather, which offered the perfect opportunity to see how it handled the wet. Basically, we gave a proper test in all weathers, on all roads. Here’s exactly how we got on.

GETTING COMFORTABLE

I’ll cut to the chase. I’ve not spent much time at all on the latest generation of replica retro bikes. I’m generally much more at home on slightly more modern machines. The Mash has a kind of 60s simplicity about it, and I only really go back as far as the 80s. That’s when I started riding, and those are the bikes I know and love. As a result, it took me a bit of time to really feel at home on the Mash. At first I thought it was a bit basic, and I couldn’t really see what all the fuss was about, but on one rain-soaked journey everything started to make sense to me. I finally gelled with the Mash as we wound our way back home on some of the finest roads in the area. I was loving it; with the throttle wide open and a big grin plastered on my face. That’s quite an achievement as not all bikes perform well in the wet, but the Mash felt right at home, and so did I.

But let’s just forget how it performs on the open road for a minute or two though, and instead focus on what it comes kitted out with. Like I said, it’s simple – but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice the essentials. There’s a long dual seat, a retro dash which has a speedometer, rev counter, ABS light, fuel gauge, high beam indicator and turn lights, as well as an odometer. Basically, it displays everything you need, in an easy-toread set up. There is both a side and a centre stand, which I think is a very nice touch. There are also some decent pillion footrests, a retro round headlight, a rear light and a brake light, too. Perfect.

The switches are all easy to use, as are both the brake and clutch levers, despite not being able to adjust them. The upside-down forks at the front look classy, as do the piggy back rear shock absorbers. So far so good.

Its brown faux leather ribbed seat looks a bit like a Chesterfield sofa, and despite being pretty hard it proved surprisingly comfy for numerous 50mile jaunts. I would imagine it’s much the same for a pillion, but my partner was far too busy trying to keep warm to take much notice of the comfort of the seat. I don’t know if you’d want to spend all day in the saddle, but if you were doing a couple of hours at a time before jumping off and stretching your legs for a few minutes before getting back on the bike and continuing your journey, I reckon you’d be perfectly happy.

The Mash is fairly low to the ground, which means I could get both feet flat on the floor with ease. I think that’s a positive for new riders, helping them to feel comfortable shifting the bike around with the extra security of a foot down. And yet, the Mash proved tall enough to provide a superb view of the road ahead. Unsurprisingly, there is no weather protection, and you’d maybe want to seek out an aftermarket flyscreen if you was planning on doing big miles regularly, but it could be argued that it’d distort the bike’s classic good looks. That’s just one man’s opinion though, and I’m sure you’d be able to find something that’d tie in nicely.

QUALITY KIT?

Giving the bike a good once-over as it rolled off the van at MoreBikes HQ, I was pretty impressed with the Mash’s build quality. It’s not faultless. I did spot a couple of lightly rusted bolts and had a bit of an issue adjusting the bike’s mirrors, but all in all, there

was very little to complain about. Of course, the true test of build quality would be how well it stands the test of time after being used for a year or two. I can’t help with that I’m afraid, but I'm sure if you looked after it, it'd hold up just fine.

Its 250cc motor proved solid and reliable. It’s basically an old single cylinder Suzuki replica, so it’s going to be pretty much bulletproof. Unstressed and low-powered, the A2 licence compatible unit kicks out a respectable enough 18hp of power, which is transferred to the back wheel via five sensibly spaced gear ratios and a chain final drive. I had no idea what to expect. I knew it wasn’t going to be lightning fast, but I had hoped that it’d manage to do something like 80mph. That’s what the Honda CB300R I tested earlier in the year was capable of doing all day long. In reality the Mash’s engine struggles above 65 mph, so if you are happy cruising at 55mph, look no further.

I’ll be brutally honest, I wanted more power – and sadly the Mash has not got it. But putting my desire for more speed aside for a moment, the Mash’s engine and gearbox (a little clunky, however, not fully run in; 48 miles on the clock upon arrival and 252 miles on the clock upon return) are pleasant to use and certainly learner friendly.

The basic suspension is good at the front and rear, firm, but comfy and predictably stable, and the tyres grip in the wet and dry. Solid, confidenceinspiring stuff, which is about all you can ask for. The bike is not super light and this might hinder acceleration and low speed manoeuvres. It feels a little top heavy at walking pace, but this feeling soon disappears once you get above 10mph.

I found the ABS-equipped Mash disc brakes solid, but fairly soft, which helped make them perfect for wet weather riding and making fine adjustments to speed in emergency situations or doing hill starts. Like the suspension and tyres, I think it’d be a confidence-inspiring set up for new riders, and while more experienced bikers might feel the front lacks initial bite, it’s certainly capable of hauling the Mash up fast when required. The ABS system light is in the centre of the instruments, meaning if anything is amiss with the ABS system the ABS light stays orange – a handy and reassuring safety feature particularly for older riders like myself, who are known for being a little wary of new technology.

SHOULD I BUY ONE?

I liked having the Mash out in my back yard to admire – and other people seem to like looking at it, too, as it

TECH SPEC

drew looks whenever and wherever I stopped. But is that enough? I’m not sure.

I wanted to love the Mash and I kept trying to imagine how practical and fuel efficient it would be as an everyday commuter, and then I remembered how much Honda’s CB 300R had made me smile and had never felt lacking. That’s not to say I didn’t find plenty to love about Mash’s little 250. Positives worth noting are its superb handling and excellent brakes. I also appreciated its slim-line design, which allowed me to easily slip the bike through my narrow garden gate and keep it safe and sound out of the way of prying eyes. Its centre stand also meant that it took up minimal shed space, while allowing for easy chain adjustment and lubrication.

Everything worked well throughout my two weeks with the Mash. On a couple of really cold mornings it didn’t seem particularly eager to start, very much like its custodian. Reassuringly for prospective owners it always did, it just took a little coaxing. In short, everything worked faultlessly throughout the test period. What more could you ask for?

Adjusting my expectations accordingly, there’s no denying the Mash Black Seven Two Fifty is a cracking bit of kit. If you are in the market for an easy-going commuter or a bike to scratch around on sunny Sunday afternoons, the Mash fits the bill perfectly. For long-time riders I reckon it’d make a cracking second bike or a great winter hack, and if you’re just starting to work your way up through the licence categories and are after a stylish bike that’s not going to get you in too much trouble, it’s well worth a look. Test ride one. See what you think. Even if it’s not quite for you, you’ll have a great time riding it. I know I did.