Road test of Mash250 Two Fifty 2017 Simple pleasure

it was in Zicavo, in the Corsican mountains, that the SIMA boss decided to present thethe 2017 Mash range, now fully equipped with fuel injection to meet Euro 4 standards.

after testing the 125cc models, which quickly showed their limits on hills, I couldn't wait to move on to the engine range above, and in particular this new Two Fifty.

high on its legs and equipped with wide knobby tires mounted on spoked rims, this rims, it probably wouldn't have been denied by Steve McQueen with its 70's look.

the flat brown seat, matching the wide handlebar grips, with its topstitching and large round headlight at the front, underline the retro feel.

surprisingly for the range, and somewhat anachronistically, the 38 mm fork is an inverted model, while the rear suspensions, positioned on either side of the saddle, remain in keeping with the machine's style.

on the dashboard, a simple speedometer (no rev counter) indicates speed, with indicators and lights inside.there's also a digital display showing trip times, fuel gauge and gear indicator, a useful tool for a motorcycle that's intended to be accessible to all.

leaving the hostel, the route takes me to the top of the Vaccia pass, 15 km to cover and not a straight line in sight. As soon as I got on the bike, my position on the handlebars was completely natural: my legs weren't too bent, my chest was straight and my hands found the wide fat bar easily.

in the first curves, the tires' behavior is a little surprising, but I quickly get the hang of it. All you have to do is get the bike into the bend, and then it will ask you to gradually increase the angle, without ever stalling. As in cross-country riding, you have to lean out of the corner, and you can effortlessly link the curves by pushing on either side of the handlebars.

the pleasure is in no way spoiled by the engine. Much more responsive than the 125cc, it's also very smooth, and the climb up the pass is almost exclusively achieved by winding up in 3rd gear. While the rear brakes and suspension are satisfactory, the single 300 mm front disc lacks bite. Beware of emergency braking...

as for the gearbox, it never fails, even if I didn't use it as much as I might have done in town.

at the top of the pass, a stretch of pebbles allowed me to quickly test the "off-road" capabilities that the all-terrain tires suggested. And it's no problem at all for the Mash to take the road-hardened me through the bumps and potholes of the terrain. From the parking lot, I'd already been able to watch a former Dakar racer having some spectacular fun with it in the dust. The only downside for the off-roader is the low-set exhaust system, which will need some attention.

comfort-wise, it's hard to judge the saddle after barely an hour on it, but the natural position doesn't cause any pain, and there's no vibration to be deplored. On the other hand, as with all models of this kind, the lack of protection and the upright position of the chest will make freeway journeys rather painful.

with the Two Fifty, Mash offers us a motorcycle which, like the rest of the range, doesn't make you take off at every throttle, but whose handling gives its rider a simple, unrestrained pleasure, a feeling of being able to stay on the handlebars for hours on end, with the same joy of winding around corners. Its maneuverability also makes it a very good city car, easy to handle, light and fuel-efficient, and one that will never be reluctant to leave the city for a ride in the countryside or on less practicable tracks.

Romain S.