The MAM Journals- MASH X RIDE CLASSIC 650

A static review of the Mash, Yamaha XT 500 tribute bike, the classic 650. What are the specifications and dimensions of the bike . Who are Mash and what do they do ? How are the bikes built ? What engine are they using and who designed it ? What was it like to ride and what sort of riding do I think it is best suited for? Is it fun?
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[@paolobalossi8715]

VERY NICE BIKE

[@williammuir638]

A proper bike at last. Thank you mash.

[@JanSevera]

Nice, well thought-out review! And interesting bike too!

[@michaelmam]

Thank you Jan . Appreciate you both watching and commenting 👍

[@TheSmiler62]

Those people at MASH know what people want !!!.........This is top of my wish list !

[@brianhines8227]

Nice...put it on the tray.

[@trumpetmash8469]

I'm fortunate to own one of these, wanted something to do 'easy' off roading and it copes admirably, but when your back on Tarmac you can tell that's where its most at home. As you said ... If you have space in the garage Its a nice bike to have.

[@michaelmam]

Once I had tuned into it , I liked it . A friend has bought one and is having fun 👍 Here is what I have in the garage at the moment ..kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJnSgoiCbJabnbs

[@ogasi1798]

still got it ? and does yours have a 21inch front wheel? the video above looks like a supermoto version, massive disc and small front wheel. i was sure it was a 21 18

[@boorider6132]

Great review Michael well done and keep up the good work.

[@michaelmam]

Thank you Boo 👍

[@samuelgillard2196]

I like it. Thanks for the good review 👍🏼

[@CaptHollister]

This is one good looking motorcycle. Some Mash models are sold in some countries under different brand names, but aren't sold in Canada under any brand. I'm not sure if that's too bad or not. I quite like this x-ride and its street-only version, the weirdly named "six hundred 650". Small correction, the first "dual purpose" bike as we understand the term was the Yamaha DT-1 250 which was launched in 1968.

[@TheChrysler56]

Hello Michael. Thought I’d watch your review of this Mash on my own and in peace and quiet. It’s 02:20 on Wednesday morning 27th April. Enjoyed your video. It’s made me sleepy in a good way. TattyBye for now. ☺️

[@michaelmam]

😂

[@nilmarcet7191]

Hi from spain. You did the most profesional review in all the aspects. Congratulations!!

[@michaelmam]

Thank you Nil . Glad you enjoyed it .

[@glenncaukill1320]

Nice looking bike .. good review as usual

[@gethyndavies8439]

Very balanced review as always Michael. Nice to see something different!

[@michaelmam]

Thanks Gethyn ! As an owner , how are you finding yours ?

[@gethyndavies8439]

I’ve only done similar miles to you so far, but bind a little more each ride. You review was spot on - it’s right for some parts of my biking life, not others!

[@gethyndavies8439]

Freudian slip - bond!

[@michaelmam]

@@gethyndavies8439 😂

[@Ro-mm6tq]

Very much appreciated the content and presentation style. As a cross-counties, HGV agency driver the excuse to go for any of the magnificent 1000cc hyperbikes with near 200mph/bhp is tempting BUT, today's infection of ANPR/speed cameras every few yards would make the commute too high-risk of license losing! Therefore, the revival of an XT and the memories from their era make this aged, slightly wiser from the wear and tear, higher mileage individual realise this machine IS the best choice. Decisions made certain from the very helpful information. The hyper machine, likely of Italian manufacture will need autobahn freedom to fully enjoy, well enjoy legally! Sadly as we all know, long gone are the days of relying upon they got to 'catch me up first'!

[@michaelmam]

Sadly they have had some engine management issues on the bike but hopefully they have resolved them 🤞 Only bike I have ridden when car drivers were winding their windows down at traffic lights asking what bike is that !

[@tibotibo1976]

Très bonne vidéo et très complète,bon boulot !!!

[@thierrydargent7544]

good looking machine. Thanks for the reviews

[@donsmith3573]

One of the photos is shilton dip i used to play there as a kid and re visited last year lovely place. I really like the looks of the bike but it should be good at one thing such as green lanes or a small tour or really good for scratching around on the twisties . So I’ll stick to my Ducati scrambler 1100 and my scram 411. Excellent review very informative.

[@michaelmam]

You are right Don . Shilton ! Thanks for taking the time to comment 👍

[@KO-pk7df]

Sure wish America had the wide variety of motorcycles you all do over there in the UK.

[@michaelmam]

I am not sure why ? You would have thought America was a far bigger market that companies like Mash would target ..

[@RealHooksy]

Looks like it would make a good adventure scrambler actually. Strap on some saddle bags and maybe a fuel bladder and you could go just about anywhere on that thing id recon.

[@1234567marks]

Great review, thanks

[@mariusmarius4832]

Excellent video

[@Crashersmith]

Great review thank you.

[@michaelmam]

Thank you Dave . Glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@philipnorthfield9294]

Hi Michael, A great review. Could we hear the engine and see it on the road ?

[@michaelmam]

Glad you enjoyed it Philip . Thank you . I only had the bike for a few days and it went back . I do occasionally record engine sound if I think it is distinctive but clearly didn’t think so for the Mash . It sounded like a big Honda single … Sorry , You will need to search other videos for road footage . It is not something I currently do ( I struggle with people shouting over wind noise) but let us know if you find a good one . Clearly It can be done nicely with the right kit .

[@adrianrouse5148]

Would be better with a low front mudguard. If there is no room for a full high guard. Looks like a nice green laner

[@robedmunds7163]

Nice review thanks

[@1990-t1j]

As someone who toured Europe extensively on an XT500 in the 80s, I love this. But would I buy one? Not sure. I like the 17'' wheels. Decent rack on it. I take it they run on innertubes. Really like the dash and the petrol tank. Overall, rather a good-looking machine. Good bike, good video, good channel. I have subscribed. Nick.

[@michaelmam]

Hi Nick . Great believer that you can tour on anything if you are minded to , certainly when you are younger ! The XT was , if my memory is right , the first of the big trail bikes and created quite a stir . Yes , inner tubes . I think it is a great looking bike and would probably be a bit more reliable than a 40 year old original😂 Thanks for watching , commenting and subscribing!

[@1990-t1j]

@@michaelmam My XT took me to Portugal return from England three times and Greece once. Never broke down once. You used to see tons of them on tour with German plates on them. I'd do a steady 60 mph, which I fell is fast enough to enjoy the ride. I've had all sorts of bikes since, but my favourite: Buell Ulysses XB12X. Regards, Nick

[@michaelmam]

@@1990-t1j Yes . A great bike in its day and precursor to the r80 that probably launched “adventure” bike class . My light hearted comment on reliability was about quite how reliable they would be now , after 40 plus years . At the time they were very good .👍

[@kennethhacker3014]

I'm in love with this bike..can you buys these bikes in US?I'm on the northern east coast.

[@glennrowe2961]

Service every 2.5k miles 😮. That’s not good. Twice a year for me that would be.😟

[@banzobeans]

😯

[@firestorm755]

What a cracking looking bike. The only concern would be available spares and quality of components. It looks great but would it still look good in 18 months or like a lot of China bikes, a rusty mess?

[@michaelmam]

That is the worry !

[@vizak20]

In 20 years of riding ending in ’85 and as many bikes, my XT500 was the worst. Agricultural engine and a seat bum-bearable for 50km max, this bike put me off Yamahas forever. Honda’s XL500S on the other hand was a mile-munching comfortable tourer with good trail capability. Just not groovy to look at like the XT. And don’t get me started on the early bevel head Ducatis. My ‘82 900SS was a terrible bike, built to function properly at speeds over 180km/hr only. But my god what a beautiful piece of metal sculpture! As so often in our world, visual design rules.

[@michaelmam]

Looks that flatter to deceive .. Sadly I suspect the Mash has it own shortfalls despite the Honda designed engine . Great comment and thank you for taking the time to make it 👍

[@WidleyWesident]

Nice bike, but would be better with a larger trail bike front wheel.

[@michaelmam]

I agree .👍 I think it would work well with a 19 inch front wheel .

[@andrewmillard5326]

She does look a cracker pitty the bike doesn't have 21inch front wheel like the old Yam XT did and of course better suspension but the Mash is built to a certain price bracket. Enjoyed your video of this bike.

[@michaelmam]

Thank you Andrew . Have heard of a few fuelling issues on the bike but hopefully cured now 🤞

[@MikeonabikeinEyke]

183KG on 38BHP 🤔 I doubt the suspension will be that good off-road either … looks good but, will probably devalue incredibly quickly like most Chinese bikes … a used Japanese dirt bike would be a much better purchase and probably more reliable looking at reviews and problems reported on the X-Ride.

[@punkrockdidi]

There are few Japanese bikes that charm the masses... they all,except for a few,have a mass product feel and look about them imo and they are increasing in price to.

[@brakenoodle105]

I like the look of this bike but it gets mixed reviews. MCN tested it twice and basically didn't like it. The KZbin guy who painted his X Ride yellow, had issues very early on ownership with sensors failing etc. A shame.

[@michaelmam]

That does appear to be the case . A friend bought one but had problems with his sensors too ..

[@itsallabouttheridekeepingi4449]

It really a pretend off road bike ( the 17 inch front gives that away ) it’s a bit like the Ducati Scrambler 800 Urban Enduro they brought out in 2016 - it looked the goods BUT unfortunately didn’t perform the goods off road . Hence then they brought out the desert shed that actually was off road capable. And the Triumph 1200 retro bike - that also had REAL off road ability. I cannot see the point in making a retro bike that looks like something it isn’t. It saying that ANY bike will go off road even a Harley Cruiser . ( you just need to slow the pace down . Before off road motorcycles and paved roads all bikes rode off road . Theses days obviously not the best tool for the job with vast improvements in Suspesion travel etc . I’m from Australia and ride off rode most weekends, if not are on road riding .

[@michaelmam]

I agree. It is not a full on off road bike but it would be fine on light "green lanes" and dirt tracks . Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment. 👍

[@itsallabouttheridekeepingi4449]

@@michaelmam no worries 👍, we don’t have Mash in Australia 🇦🇺 but I do like the look and specs of the 400 ADV bike they brought out ( it’s just missing the 6th gear )

[@lauraiss1027]

You get used to anything. If someone says: "this TV series might seem boring at first but it takes off at season 3" send him to hell. Same as this bike. If it takes two days to understand, it's a piece of **it. In two days people learn to ride and enjoy a friggin monocycle.

[@michaelmam]

Thats a view . It did take time to warm to it …but it is very different from other bikes I ride more regularly ..

[@lewieshepherd3492]

The dirt track supermoto

[@kevindarkstar]

So it's basically a green lane capable road bike 😁

[@michaelmam]

Hi Kevin , you might want to sort the suspension out before attempting a green lane with ruts in it 👍 Dirt roads probably ok as long as you aren’t too ambitious . If you tried to keep up with an off road bike you would get out of shape pretty quickly ..

[@kevindarkstar]

@@michaelmam ha ha yeah so let's say light green lane 😊

[@thodoris3790]

this is motard.why?17'' frond wheel?wrong

[@michaelmam]

🤷🏼‍♂️

[@tudor011]

All made in China and Belarus!!! Lukashenka is not happy! 🤣

[@vfdiesel333]

It s normally, but it is not French bike))

[@Team-fabulous]

A friend of mine acquired a dealership with Mash. It lasted a year as any faults with the machines Mash wouldnt stand over their warranty so he told them to come and get their bike...

[@michaelmam]

Sadly I heard similar tales .. MCN tested one this week and didn’t like it much although appeared to be concerned about tyres which is an easy issue to resolve … it IS an old engine build under licence . Seems to struggle with modern emission expectations ..shame. Charismatic bike ..

[@Team-fabulous]

@@michaelmam it is a lovely looking bike all the same

[@mylifeinthailand8751]

Get a Gel insert fitted into the seat

[@michaelmam]

I handed it back to the dealer after the test .👍

[@alaneverett2531]

Nice video 👍

[@mariomartinic9247]

6th gear would've been nice

[@michaelmam]

Bigger things than that to worry about Mario ..