At the start of this year, Mason updated their made-in-Scotland Raw adventure hardtail mountain bike for the first time since its introduction 3.5 years ago. Besides a new Accursed Ochre orange paint job inspired by bikepacking in Albainia, the subtle Raw updates could be easily missed. But Mason now gives their made-to-order steel mountain bike a UDH-ready update and more bolt-on carrying capacity, in a move that signals similar updates may trickle down throughout their adventure-ready line-up soon…
UK-made Mason Raw steel hardtail gets modern update
We first got an exclusive look at Mason’s steel Raw adventure hardtail as a prototype on the eve of its Highland Trail 550 racing debut back in 2021. It has since found a regular spot at the most extreme end of Mason’s adventure-ready bike range – combining the toughness and forgiving ride of a premium multi-butted steel hardtail paired with 120m forks to tackle the most gruelling off-road bikepacking races.
And at the same time, when not loaded down with racks or bikepacking bags, this is a premium steel hardtail with modern geometry that’s simply fun to ride on your local trails.
So what’s new?
The core update to the Mason Raw is simply a new set of CNC-machined hooded dropouts that bring with it UDH compatibility. The dropout redesign also inspired Mason to give the steel hardtail dedicated rack mounts at the same time.
Not always as simple as it seems for a slender steel frame, Mason worked with their Italian framebuilding partner to develop the new steel UDH dropouts so off-road adventurers could benefit from the latest wide-range groupsets from all drivetrain makers. It doesn’t matter if you want to build up a Shimano mechanical setup with the universal derailleur hanger or directly bolt on a SRAM AXS Transmission derailleur (or even if you want to wait for coming soon mechanical Transmissions?)
And what can we read between the lines?
An interesting point to note here is that the Mason Raw is still built-to-order in Scotland. Five Land Bikes in fact, welds them from a custom tubeset mix of Italian Dedacciai Zero/Zero Uno tubes, a Reynolds UK seattube, and a “ring-reinforced, internally machined” Reynolds 631 headtube. But the custom-developed UDH dropouts are Italian-made.
Mason could surely have machined the dropouts in the UK since they already machine the headtube there. But they already have a close working relationship with Italian framebuilders who weld the rest of their production steel bikes. Mason hypes UDH as the logical solution for their “flat-bar adventure bikes” (aka: mountain bikes). But I would not be at all surprised to see their dropbar 29er ISO adventure mountain or more conventional Exposure gravel adventure bikes – both steel bikes manufactured in Italy – to also get a UDH update very soon.
Raw Tech details
- custom multi-butted Dedacciai & Reynolds steel frame, made in Scotland
- machined & reinforced straight 44mm headtube
- modern geometry, suspension corrected for 120mm forks
- 4 frames sizes (S-XL)
- 2400-2670g frame
- modular internal cable routing, including for dynamo lighting & dropper posts
- 4 sets of cage mounts on all sizes
- optional male threaded seattube cage bosses to fit extra-long dropper posts
- 73mm BSA threaded bottom bracket
- Boost spacing
- 1x-specific, max 34T chainring
- custom-formed 3D-printed TPU chainstay protector
- UDH
- 31.6mm seatpost
- max 29 x 2.6″ tires
2025 Mason Raw – Pricing, availability & options
The updated Mason Raw is still a made-to-order, fully European bike.
The Raw comes in 4 frames sizes (S-XL) and now in 4 colors – Sensor blue, Accursed ochre, Filter yellow & Optic green. Dirt inspired the new burnt orange Accursed Ochre.
Dom Mason explains, “I was looking at photos sent to us by Josh Ibbett, one of our supported riders, who had been riding in the Albanian Alps, known as the Accursed Mountains. The rich red soil of the trails had a beautiful colour, so that inspired a new colour for us – and I really love the way it looks on the steel tubes of the RAW.”
Mason offers plenty of frameset and complete build kit options, so you get the exact adventure bike you want.
Frames on their own sell for £1800, framesets with a 120mm SID fork start at £2600. A complete Shimano mechanical build starts at £4300, and complete SRAM AXS wireless builds from £5100. Pre-order your new Mason Raw now, and they’ll have the new bike ready for you to ride in March.
