The Mason RAW – New Steel Hardtail On The Block, Ridden

The new Mason RAW hardtail. View and First Ride Review

Today, those achingly-cool folks at Mason Cycles are launching the Mason RAW, a steel hardtail. If you’re surprised that Mason hasn’t already got a mountain bike in its range, then join the club. However, it’s not a completely new direction for founder and designer, Dom Mason. Dom cut his designing teeth making some great hardtails for Kinesis, before setting out on his own to start Mason Cycles.

The Mason RAW has been long in the development and this look-and-see approach has seen Mason avoid the worst of the geometry growing-pains of recent years so the new hardtail comes out looking pretty on-spec for how riders today want their hardtails. I was lucky enough to get a pre-launch invite to try a new Mason RAW on some of the trails around some Lakeland trails. My first ride impressions are below, but first, let’s look at what the new RAW is (and isn’t…)

The Frame

The Mason RAW is a steel hardtail, handmade and built-up in Europe. The tubing is from Dedacciai in Italy and Reynolds in the UK. The tubes are welded in small batches by Five Land Bikes in Scotland, which also handles the beautiful wet paint job. (As in, paint is sprayed on rather than being powder-coated. This gives a much glossier finish, aided by a top coat of hi-gloss lacquer to protect the paint layer. Frames have eCoat corrosion treatment, inside and out to stop and nasty rust worms. Despite the shiny looks, Mason intends the RAW to be used hard and often.

As well as Dom’s Kinesis pedigree, Mason Cycles also has off-road roots in its ISO (In Search Of) drop-handlebar adventure bike, which has been used by team rider (and all round long-distance honch) Josh Ibbett. It was Josh’s push for a bike to race events like the Highland Trail 550 and Great British Divide that helped form the basis for the direction Mason RAW.

What the RAW isn’t, is a low-slung, woodsy jump bike. Instead, the Mason RAW has been designed to take big 29in tyres, as much (or little) luggage as you want, thanks to a more level top tube for bag room, and many, many fixing points for bags. There are semi-custom options too, for riders wanting top tube bag mounts, or external-fit, male bottle bosses and nuts on the seat tube, to allow full dropper (or dropped) seat post insertion on the smaller sizes. Dropper routing is internal.

As Mason says: “All bottle/bag/accessory eyelets and convertible internal routing is standard within frame price. No hidden costs. Cable/hose routing internal where it makes sense.”

About now, you’d be asking for some geometry, so, for a Medium (with a 430mm seat tube) you’d get a roomy 451mm reach (471mm on the Large), and angles of 66°/75° (virtual seat tube). The bike is designed for a 120mm fork, with a SID Ultimate being specced (assuming they can get any). The frame will come in four sizes – S to XL, to fit riders from 5ft 3in up to 6ft 6in.

Colours: Vela (which is the stone colour), Filter Yellow, Sensor Blue

Prices: The Mason RAW comes in several specs. The base frame and accessories is £1695, the RAW with RockShox SID Ultimate is £2,395. An SLX build is £3795 with the range-topping XT Launch build coming in at £4195. All frames and bikes come with Deda Elementi headset, Mason seat clamp, a beautiful Mason head badge, full ‘black stainless’ bolt sets, all frame inserts and a natty 3D printed Mason chainstay protector. There’s also the cost-free option of male threaded seat tube bottle mounts (above) and a top tube mount or not.

FULL SPEC HIGHLIGHTS (expected specification and pricing depending on parts availability!)

Mason RAW XT Launch bike build: £4195

• Rockshox SID Ultimate fork
• Full XT M8100 drivetrain (chainring/cassette size as per customer request)
• XT M8100 brakes
• 29” Hunt Trailwide V2 Wheelset
• Renthal Fatbar
• Deda EC/ZS44mm sealed bearing headset
• Ergon GA2 lock on grips
• Ritchey WCS trail stem (Length as per customer request) Fizik Terra Argo X3 Kium railed saddle
• Xfusion Manic 31.6 dropper post (length as per customer request)
• Choice of Maxxis or Vittoria 29” tyres in various widths and tread patterns
• MASON Element chainstay protector

SLX bike build: £3795

• Rockshox SID Ultimate fork
• Full SLX M7100 drivetrain (chainring/cassette size as per customer request)
• SLX M7100 brakes
• 29” Hunt Trailwide V2 Wheelset
• Pro Koryak handlebar
• Deda EC/ZS44mm sealed bearing headset
• Ergon GA2 lock on grips
• Pro Koryak stem (Length as per customer request)
• Fizik Terra Argo X5 saddle
• Xfusion Manic 31.6 dropper post (length as per customer request)
• WTB ranger 29×2.4” tyres.
• ‘MASON Element’ chainstay protector

RAW Frame with Rockshox SID Ultimate fork £2,395
Including: DedaElementi Headset, MASON Macro clamp, MASON SwitchLever Thru-Axle, Full Black-Stainless bolt set, all fittings and MultiPort inserts, MASON Element chainstay protector. Prepped, faced and chased, ready to build.
Standard price includes 15 bottle/bag/accessory mounts, all internal routing and options for male threaded or eyeletted cage/accessory mounts on seat tube and with/without top tube pack mounts.

RAW Frame only £1,695
Includes all above parts and accessories.

The Mason RAW first ride