I’m considering a frame swap on my old 2019 Topstone—would love to hear thoughts and personal experiences with either of these:
Fairlight Secan 3.0 vs Mason Bokeh 3.5
I’m based in Glasgow, so my riding tends to be pretty rough at times—sometimes bordering on MTB terrain. It’s a mix of chunky Scottish gravel, smoother tracks, cycle paths, and road sections to get out of the city.
Geometry-wise, they look quite similar in terms of reach and stack, and both should fit me well.
The Secan appears to offer slightly larger tyre clearance (53mm), a 0.5° slacker head angle, and a shorter seat tube. It’ll likely be heavier due to the steel frame.
The Bokeh should be lighter thanks to the aluminium frame, with 50mm tyre clearance. It might feel a bit better on smoother sections due to the steeper head angle and longer seat tube. I also think I prefer the look of this one.
I was torn between the 2 and went with the Secan. That though was really swung by the build options for a full bike that were available. The bigger tyre clearance for 650b also went in it's favour.
I also figured that I wasn't building a light bike and I just fancied a nice steel frame again. For me it's going back 40 years to my 1985 Coventry Eagle which got me back to cycling and which I regularly rode over the south downs to get to nicer roads.
It a really lovely thing to ride but I think I'd be saying exactly the same if I'd bought the bokeh
I can't offer any opinion on the Bokeh, but I'm pretty sure you'll be delighted with a Secan.
That's good to hear Dave - is you Secan a 3.0? Are you running some fat rubber on there?
Former Secan 2.5 owner. I was running 47mm terravail tyres. It was very comfortable and very capable off road. It was often taken on old xc routes that are a bit bland on newer more capable mtbs. I loved it.
I only sold it as when it was fully loaded, I struggled with the amount of frame flex. Even when I’d made the decision to sell it, I was still having second thoughts as the vast majority of the time I loved it, but ultimately I knew I couldn’t live with the flex and it was going to do more touring in the years to come.
It may depend on the type of riding you do ( time wise) , i own one of the first Bokehs (secondhand in 2016 ) , and a steel Exposure (new) , not a Secan , they are both great frames to ride, my Bokeh does not have the clearance for bigger tyres in 700c of the later Bokehs , its a sportier ride than the steel framed Exposure. which kind comes into it own on very long rides when the marginal extra comfort of the steel just helps you keep pedalling all day so maybe the faster bike in the end!!? , I would think the Secan would follow suit in that respect, I am not as familiar with it though.
The Bokeh rides/is lighter as well , which some people tend to like with bikes. I should sell my Bokeh really and was the plan when the Exposure came out as I do like steel bikes, but Mason do have the knack of making aluminum ride pretty well too so I am not really he;ping there either!
I have ridden the Dirty Riever 200 on the Bokeh with no ill affects and road 300 s as well , they are both dream bikes so go with your heart.
Ridden 200/ 300 events on gravel on the steel framed Exposure as well, which is now my first choice for longer gravel events over the Bokeh.
I can't offer any opinion on the Bokeh, but I'm pretty sure you'll be delighted with a Secan.
I can’t offer any opinion on the Secan, but I’m pretty sure you’ll be delighted with a Bokeh.
I can’t offer any opinion on the Secan, but I’m pretty sure you’ll be delighted with a Bokeh.
It's the opposite of Sophie's Choice. Happy either way.
I've got a Secan 2.5 and its exceptional.
45mm tyres is a sweetspot for me, but 50mm would fit. Local trails, Dirty Reiver, Torino Nice Rally across the Alps, and 100 mile road rides - perfect, and not flexy to me (61T frame, and I'm 14 stone). Very smoothy, comfy, 'zingy' steel ride.
Perhaps worth considering some of the differences:
1. Aluminium (Bokeh) vs steel (Secan). The Bokeh definitely doesn't have the stereotypical poor Al bike ride quality.
2. Geometry. The Secan comes in regular and tall options. The stack and reach of a Bokeh are more akin to the Secan Regular and there are differences in other key parameters eg tube angles, trail and wheelbase. The Bokeh will likely feel a bit racier and nicer on the road, but the Secan is likely a bit more stable on the rough stuff. In geometry terms the Secan is probably more akin to a Mason Exposure, but that is several hundred pounds more.
3. Internal (Bokeh) vs external (Secan) cabling. Imho this makes the Bokeh look better. Mine has Hydraulics / Di2 so I don't have to worry about replacing internal mechanical cables annually.
4. Paint schemes. Both great and distinctly different.
I've ridden a Bokeh V2 for over 3 yrs / 9000 km - superb bike. However, I'm sure I'd probably love a Secan just as much!
