The first glimpse of the Mash X-Ride 650 in the cool dawn mist of the Kangra Valley took me by surprise. Parked under a canopy of pine trees, the motorcycle looked like it had just rumbled out of a 1970s enduro catalog, white tank with red graphics, gold-anodized spoke wheels, high-mounted exhausts, and that unmistakable silhouette reminiscent of the legendary XT 500. But it wasn’t nostalgia that led me to the winding hill roads of Himachal Pradesh. It was curiosity. I wanted to know what this modern-retro scrambler, designed in France and built in China, was really made of. And the Kangra backroads, with their mix of smooth asphalt, scattered gravel patches, and tight elevation changes, were the perfect testing ground.
In the test: 40 hp engine
Thumb the starter and the air-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke engine comes to life with a deep, unhurried thump. There’s a sort of mechanical honesty to it, a trait that feels rarer by the year. The Mash 650 X-Ride doesn’t try to be anything more than what it is: a simple bike with enough power to keep things interesting and enough restraint to be friendly to newer riders. At 643.7cc, the engine is a dead ringer for the Honda Dominator 650 from the late 1980s. It makes 40 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 45.1 Nm of torque, not groundbreaking numbers, but it’s not meant to be a rocket ship. On the climbs around Palampur, the motor showed its sweet spot between 3,000 and 5,000 rpm. That’s where the X-Ride feels happiest, torquey, responsive, and eager to push forward. The powerband is linear, the throttle response crisp, and there’s just enough pull to overtake a truck without needing a runway. It’s not without quirks. Vibrations begin to creep in above 6000 rpm, but somehow, on a bike like this, it doesn’t feel like a flaw. It’s a reminder that this machine is raw and real. I never felt the need to chase the redline. The charm lies in its midrange. That’s where it chugs up hills with character and downshifts into corners with a pleasing growl.
French design, production in China
This is where things get interesting. The Mash X-Ride 650 isn’t born in a traditional motorcycle-making region. The design and development happen in France, but manufacturing is handled in China. Normally, that mix would raise eyebrows. But the result here? Surprisingly cohesive. Frédéric Fourgeaud, the visionary behind Mash, had a clear aesthetic goal: blend 60s and 70s motorcycle design with modern tech. And it shows. This bike turns heads. Parked at a tea stall in Bir, it attracted a mixed crowd of curious locals and foreign paragliders, none of whom had heard of the brand, but all of whom were intrigued.The frame is a lightweight steel design, double-sided swingarm at the back, and a conventional telescopic fork up front. The 17-inch wheels and 150 mm rear tire sit tall and proud, giving it that scrambler stance. With 130mm of suspension travel at both ends, it handled Kangra’s unpredictable roads, broken patches, cobbles, the odd goat path, without drama. It’s no trail monster, but for a street bike that hints at off-road DNA, it’s just right.
Easy handling, spartan equipment
The X-Ride’s biggest asset might just be how easy it is to ride. I’ve ridden more powerful machines up here, some twice the price and three times the spec, but few made me feel as relaxed and connected as this one. The upright riding position, narrow seat, and 180-kilo wet weight make it a breeze to flick through tight bends. Even the occasional U-turn on a narrow hillside road didn’t rattle my nerves. At 84 cm, the seat height sounds intimidating on paper. But it’s narrow, and the suspension sags just enough under your weight to make flat-footing possible for most riders. If you’re over six feet, you might find it a bit tight, especially on longer rides, but for an hour or two of mountain carving, it’s pretty spot on. And yes, the equipment is… basic. The dash has an analog tach and a small digital screen that’s barely readable in harsh sunlight. The controls are minimal, and the cockpit has an old-school feel, almost as if you’re piloting something from a simpler time. But for a bike priced around €5999, you don’t mind. You get switchable ABS, good four-piston front brakes, and LED lighting all around. That’s a fair deal. There’s no fancy ride-by-wire, no rider modes, no smartphone integration. But that’s not why you buy this bike. You buy it for how it makes you feel when you’re weaving through pine forests and chasing horizons.
Conclusion
The Mash X-Ride 650 Classic may not be the most refined bike I’ve ridden, or the fastest, or the most technologically advanced. But it does something far more difficult, it delivers a riding experience that feels pure. Up in the Kangra Valley, with Dhauladhar peaks glinting in the distance, the X-Ride felt completely at home. It’s not about spec sheets or lap times here. It’s about connecting with the machine, the road, and the moment. And this scrambler, with its thumpy single-cylinder, retro charm, and no-nonsense attitude, made every mile feel earned. If you’re looking for a motorcycle that’s all about engagement, simplicity, and a dose of old-school fun wrapped in a unique package, one that stands apart in a sea of over-designed machines, the Mash X-Ride 650 deserves a serious look. It’s not just a bike. It’s a time machine with disc brakes.
