Mason Raw Deore XT + Hope upgrade pack review

The Mason RAW has a background in long-distance bikepacking racing, with internationally renowned endurance racer Josh Ibbett testing the bike’s prototype in the 2021 Highland Trail 550 Race.

However, with geometry that’s far from conservative, it’s also a real trailblazer when it’s not loaded up, with a sub-66 degree head angle and reaches ranging from 426mm to 494mm across the four sizes.

During testing, I was impressed by how well the RAW coped with a wide range of trails and riding styles. With chunky rubber on, it’s a hoot when thrown around aggressively.

It’s a versatile hardtail that's comfortable enough to ensure long days in the saddle don’t leave you beaten up.

The plethora of luggage and accessory mounts might divide opinion though – you’ll either appreciate their usefulness or feel they make the classic steel aesthetic too busy.

Mason RAW frame details

Italian steel from Dedacciai and British steel from Reynolds are welded together in Scotland by Five Land Bikes, completing a fully European frameset.

The D-shaped down tube is unique, with claims of improved stiffness and fatigue resistance at the bottom bracket area.

At the front, there’s a ring-reinforced 44mm head tube to offer up plenty more weld area, as well as protection from flaring.

The bikepacking capabilities are clear when you spy the plethora of mounts for frame bags – 15 in total – ensuring that if you want to go a long way off the beaten track, you’ll be able to carry your kit.

There are even removable eyelets by the dropout, for a cleaner look when your bike is unencumbered.

Mason’s male-threaded seat tube mounts might look more prominent, but they enable a long-bodied dropper post to slide deep into small frames without being hindered.

Looking past the bikepacking capabilities, you’ll find a threaded BB, dropper post routing and internally run cables through the down tube and top tube to avoid interference with frame bag straps.

Cables then run externally over the rear half of the bike.

The stays are gently curved and formed to boost compliance – and ensure there’s room for 2.6in rubber at the back. They finish at a set of neat cowled dropouts, completing a classy steel build.

The driveside chainstay is shielded by a 3D-printed protector that’s one of the most intricate, and attractive, I’ve seen.

Mason RAW geometry

Mason’s geometry might not be radical, but it’s certainly contemporary, employing a 65.5-degree head angle with the 120mm fork, a reach of 471mm (Large) and mid-length 435mm chainstays.

Four sizes are offered, with seat tube lengths ranging from 395mm to 505mm. Chainstay lengths are consistent across the sizes.

Mason RAW specifications

My test bike was the mid-spec XT option with a Hope upgrade pack, which raised the price from £4,195 to £4,800 at the time of testing.

A SRAM GX AXS (not Transmission, £4,695) drivetrain sits at the top of the basic line, while there’s a Shimano SLX build (£3,795), as well as frame-only (£1,695) or frame-and-fork (£2,395 with RockShox SID Ultimate) options.

This means I got a full Shimano XT drivetrain, along with Hope’s Tech3 E4 four-piston brakes (which would now get the new Tech4 lever instead) and floating rotors.

Mason supplied fast-rolling Vittoria Syerra tyres, fitting the ‘downcountry’ brief, to Hunt’s excellent Trailwide wheels – a change of rubber from the slightly more aggro Minion DHF/Dissector that comes as stock.

A Hope cockpit sat at the front of the bike, along with an X-Fusion Manic post.
With a customisable spec, pricing can vary, so head to Mason’s site for a spec-specific price.

Mason RAW ride impressions

Setting up the RAW posed me no problems. RockShox’s fork setup guides are good in my experience, and with just a little tweaking I had the SID set up to my preference.

The Vittoria Syerra tyres were new to me and took a little more experimentation to get to a pressure that worked in a range of conditions, while keeping me confident that I wasn’t going to end up needing a tubeless plug.

How you set the tyre pressures will depend on where and how you ride, but I ended up with around 24psi at either end.

Mason RAW climbing performance

It’s easy to see how the RAW is a bike designed to sit and spin on for hours on end, with a comfortable, balanced seated position where there’s not too much weight focused on either saddle or bar when cruising over rolling terrain.

The front end is on the higher side, with a stack of 628mm. Paired with a Hope riser bar, there’s a slightly more head-up feel when you’re rolling along. I found myself shuffling forward a touch on the saddle when the front wheel was pointed up the steepest of ascents.

The frame’s slender tubes and wide-rimmed wheels, that give ample volume to the tyres, help smooth the way effectively on rougher climbs.

On smoother drags, the fast-rolling rubber helps keep the bike feeling peppy.

The frame might not be XC-stiff when you’re really pounding on the pedals, but there’s enough sturdiness that the bike doesn’t feel noodly when you’re putting the power down.

That D-shaped down tube seems to perform as Mason describes, with a laterally stiff feel through the bottom bracket.

While it is a comfortable place to sit and spin, there’s certainly no need for this style of climbing to dominate. If you want to get up and give it a squirt of power, it’ll happily zip up short, steep pitches or rise to the challenge when things get techy.

Shimano’s XT drivetrain is a solid performer, with smooth, accurate shifting across the cassette.

When things get really dirty, a SRAM drivetrain feels less gritty, but when they're clean and lubed, Shimano’s drivetrains are a joy to use.

Mason RAW descending performance

Returning to the bottom of the hill, it’s noticeable how versatile the bike feels.

On mellow terrain, whether that be on narrow trails or doubletracks across expansive plains, the RAW’s seated position is comfortable, while the rear end’s construction – along with the tyres’ volume – helps smooth the way.

Show it a bit of singletrack, though, and the bike’s handling is confident. It gives strong hints that it wants to help you explore your technical limits.

Cornering is confident, with the front half of the frame’s stiffness being ample to enable you to push it through berms, load up an outside pedal or muscle through chunder without it feeling vague and uninspiring.

There’s that bit of steel ‘zing’ as you fire over rocks and roots, giving the bike a damped feel and a playful character.

The slightly higher front end pays dividends on descents. I was able to pop the front wheel up easily, adding to the bike’s playfulness, and it boosts confidence on steep descents, too, because your weight isn’t pitched nervously forward and over the top of the front tyre.

The Vittoria Syerra tyres certainly roll fast, with a relatively closely packed, low-height tread.

However, their slightly harder compound struggles on slippy rocks and roots.

When I fitted more aggressive Maxxis Minnion tyres, borrowed from another test bike, and more in line with the stock spec, the RAW followed through on its promises of technical tenacity.

With the saddle slammed low on the X-Fusion dropper, and the stubby stem and wide bar giving me plenty of control, the RAW loved being slung through corners and sent off lips.

With room for 2.6in rubber, there’s plenty of space to fit some properly capable MTB tyres.

Mason RAW bottom line

Building a bike that’s super-versatile may seem like a tough job, but it feels as though Mason has cracked it.

The comfortable seated position, and plethora of luggage mounts, makes the RAW an attractive proposition for riders who’re looking for a bike to cover vast distances.

However, Mason has managed to blend in real on-trail performance, making it a blast on singletrack and technical trails alike. It really is a do-it-all bike.