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

A blank-slate hardtail design from veteran frame designer, Dom Mason’s company The new Mason RAW hardtail. View and First Ride Review Today, those ach …

By chipps

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

undoubtedly beautiful but i feel vindicated suggesting the chameleon’s recent price hike wouldn’t be out of the way.

I could buy a Yeti for that 😀

Paint job does look stunning…

At 5ft 9in/175cm,

Also, have you shrunk? Could have sworn you were taller than me…

I’m definitely 175cm and I used to be 5ft 9in as far as I remember from the imperial days (cue some sort of Star Wars joke…) – but I do live in that ‘very average’ world between medium and large which, like I imagine many, many people at the top of that bell curve do – which makes the whole frame sizing thing a bit odd anyway. Shouldn’t I be in the middle of medium? I do like that Trek does a M/L size that sits between the two.

Looks nice.

Out of interest how does it feel compared to the Curtis AM7 you had a few years ago? Both are expensive handmade in UK steel hardtail’s. Which would you prefer for trail riding?

I know it had more travel than this but I think if you’re someone who’s looking at this Mason then a Curtis is probably in your radar as well

Odd choice to use RAW, when I saw this I immediately thought that RAAW had a new hardtail out.

A bit like Patrol bikes, but this is a bit closer to the brand – especially the all-caps for RAW.

but I do live in that ‘very average’ world between medium and large
Otherwise known as Marge 🙂

“but I do live in that ‘very average’ world between medium and large”
Otherwise known as Marge 🙂

That is a pretty bike and the geometry sounds spot on for all round trail riding, not too long, low and slack plus fun. But the price – well wow.

Weight wise I dont think that is too bad when you comnpare it to Nordest, Pipedream & Sonder steel hardtails at 6lbs plus but for three times the price it should be lighter!

Smaller seat tubes can have this external bottle cage bolt/nut instead of an internal boss to allow dropper post insertion.

Never mind the rest of it, that is genius for those of us on the shorter end of the height range. Hockey stick seat tubes are the business, but when a cheap rivnut limits how far you can put a dropper down them, they’re entirely wasted. Well done Mason.

@bent udder You are so right about this. They’re genius.

Looks great. I’m not sure you should expect a lighter bike for the price if the bike has been built to a spec that says it needs to stay solid with a load on board. The weight will pay for itself when riding loaded.

75 degree SA seems a bit steep for old guys like me to be comfortable all day on mixed or non technical riding… but maybe I’d get used to it.