Road test of Mash125 Seventy 2025 The Return of the Roaring '70s

Economical and incredibly easy to ride, this is the perfect bike for those new to the world of small motorcycles.

The French brand Mash draws inspiration from the 1970s and has made a specialty of small neo-retro bikes. While Mash has its motorcycles manufactured in China, the specifications are set in France.

The Seventy, with its 125cc four-stroke fuel-injected engine producing 11.1 hp (8.2 kW), sits on beautiful spoked wheels equipped with dual disc brakes. Its round instrument cluster features a fuel gauge, gear indicator, and an analog tachometer. Everything is easy to read, simple, effective, and sufficient.

The bike is light, weighing 127 kg fully fueled, and its size is nothing to write home about with a seat height of 76 cm. On the handlebars, it’s surprisingly easy to handle.

The gear ratios of the 5-speed transmission make the bike quite capable. It easily hits 90 km/h on the speedometer. The top speed is 97 km/h, which translates to a solid 105 km/h on the speedometer. You just have to put up with some vibration in your feet once you go past 80. Performance is understandably modest, but sufficient.

We’ll be all the more forgiving of this 125 since fuel consumption doesn’t exceed 2.3 liters per 100 km. This gives it a nice range with its 12-liter tank.

As for the chassis, the suspension is satisfactory and handling poses no problems. The standard Chinese tires are as hard as wood and make handling unpredictable as soon as the road gets wet. To fix this, simply replace them. This will provide the expected safety and a noticeable improvement in ride comfort even on dry surfaces. It will cost you around €280—the price of peace of mind.

Handling is remarkable. The rear shock absorbers are still slightly firm, though adjustable. This is noticeable on rough roads. It’s a shame, because it was close to being flawless.

The vehicle has been proven. Improved over successive model years, it is now reliable and meets current Euro 5+ standards.

The Mash-ine is more than enough for getting around town and enjoying a ride on country roads. Economical and easy to handle, this bike costs €2,299. It comes with a three-year warranty. It’s the perfect choice for a smooth introduction to the world of motorcycling.