2014 · Retro Classic · Buyer's Guide
Five Hundred 400 (MY2014)
Pure Style, Honest Weight
The Machine's Character
The Five Hundred 400 is Mash at its most honest. It's a 397 cc air-cooled single in a steel double-cradle frame, styled like a 1960s British roadster. The chromed fenders, two-tone tank and long banana seat do the talking, and they do it well. The lines stay pure and uncluttered, and there's no bulky radiator to break them up. It makes 28 hp and 22 lb-ft through fuel injection and a 5-speed box, on a 19-inch front wheel, and it doesn't pretend to lead its class on performance. What it gives you is the look and ritual of a classic bike at a budget price, with no electronics in the way.
On the road it feels light, narrow and never intimidating. With a 30.7 in (780 mm) seat, it slips through town easily and asks very little of a newer rider. Running costs stay low, and 69 mpg from a 3.4 gal (13 L) tank helps a lot. It's for the rider who wants a charming bike for town and back roads, not a highway mile-eater. The caveat is how it holds up. This engine is known to run hot in stop-and-go traffic and to leak oil around its gaskets, so check the cases before you buy and keep watching them after.
Hard Numbers
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
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| Power | 28 hp (20 kW) @ 7,000 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 22 lb-ft (30 Nm) @ 5,500 rpm |
| Displacement | 397 cc |
| Engine | Single-cylinder |
| Cooling | Air-cooled |
| Gearbox | 5-speed |
| Front brake | 280 mm |
| Front tire | 100/90-19 |
| Rear tire | 130/70-18 |
| Seat height | 30.7 in (780 mm) |
| Fuel capacity | 3.4 gal (13 L) |
| Fuel economy | 69 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
- Rear Suspension Adjustable Standard
Known issues
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Excessive engine heat in stop-go traffic
Poor heat management can make the engine uncomfortably hot when riding in heavy city traffic, particularly in warm weather.
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Engine oil leaks
Owners report engine oil leaks, particularly around gasket areas, sometimes described as 'leaking like a colander'.
The Numbers Compared
Compare the technical specifications of the Mash Five Hundred 400 with other bikes in its class.
Head-to-head: Mash Five Hundred 400 vs. its rivals
Power
Torque
Displacement
Seat height
Alternatives to the Mash Five Hundred 400
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Mash Five Hundred 400. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
