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£1.7k frame only!
£1695 for frame only, which granted is at the pricey end but look at the detail ... the detail! plus made in uk etc etc.....
Agree it is very nice. But a UK made Stanton is approx half that.
I am on my 3rd Mason frame, replaced twice under warranty. I know two other people with Masons and both replaced / fixed. One a catastrophic failure of the ti frame on the cable guide near the bottom bracket.
I know these look nice but the words barge and pole immediately spring to mind!
Dont care about the price.... I want one, in that blue colour...Mmmmmmmm.
A custom Curtis, exactly to your specifications, or a mason for 500 quid more. Hmm, really?
Pretty dull tbh, especially at that price.
Are they planning on selling these to roadies and gravel enthusiasts, who may not be aware of the price being so - erm - ambitious?
I could get a UK-made Starling full-sus frame for £180 more.
Also, the frames are painted, not raw. And there's already a bike brand called Raaw.
I might start a company called Raaaw, for a laugh.
i know, there's a lot of good stuff out there for less but Mason stuff is very well thought out and always looks pretty! I'd love one but I'm more a SH cotic budget kinda guy!
Doesn't look especially special to me or really any different from any other steel HT out there, but the price, my word, you could spec a carbon FS frame on a £5k value XC bike for that 😉
Looks like the same (awful) internal routing as the Sour Crumble - the recent Hardtail Party review put me right off that frame (which is prettier, made in Europe, and half the price)
That does NOT look value for money.
Pretty. But not £1700 pretty.
DrP
Bloody hell, you can buy a Fiat Panda for the price of the frame.
Just to put the price in context, Mason do a steel road bike frame with carbon fork included for £105 less than the Raw frame alone.
https://masoncycles.cc/products/resolution-frameset
'tis very spendy.
Time for some pictures:
Easy pass from me. I am not into the "someone's gone mental with the rivnut tool" aesthetic.
Easy pass from me. I am not into the “someone’s gone mental with the rivnut tool” aesthetic.
Thats fair enough, but the riders this is aimed at want all those mounts.
Jizzers gonna Jizz.
495mm reach on an XL? Cotic for me pls.
It doesn't look as "pearly queen" as the latest Cotic Solaris TBF.
Looks like a Raleigh and not in a good way.
Is it actually UK made or is it European made with finishing and build in the UK?
Not that I'm bothered but it's a bit unclear from the marketing
YTF did I think it would be OK to click on that link 🙈
Looks lovely, I'd probably still buy an ISO if I had £4k for Mason burning a hole in my pocket.
It's very pretty but Mason Raw sounds like the stage name of a wannabe wrestler from S****horpe
Raw Deore? - that just sounds contagious. Now wash your hands 🙃
Not that I’m bothered but it’s a bit unclear from the marketing
Mason are always very clear where their frames are made (fabricated). In this case, the RAW frame is made (mitred, welded etc) in the UK, just as they say.
“The RAW is fabricated and finished in the UK by our friends at Five Land Bikes.”
I’d so buy a Curtis AM7 over this and save myself £350. Either in polished and clearcoated or candy blue. The Raw is mental money for a fairly standard looking / standard geometry steel trail frame.
Also if you compare the value to the Ribble HT725 or the Ti version of it or say the Bird Forge they manage to get decent steel / Ti tubing in for less price than the Raw.
…Ribble … Bird…
Of course they are. By not building them in the UK. You don’t have to buy a UK built bike. Save your money and buy elsewhere. But UK built in small batches to a super high standard will cost you a lot, if that’s what you (or me, or others) want. I can’t afford one of these. I’m not shocked at the price though.
I’m not shocked at the price though.
Well I'm shocked that you're not shocked.
I bet a few other hardtail brands will be having a good chuckle about this.
Pretty fancy mix of tubesets too. Looks great.
Love that downtube.
But UK built in small batches to a super high standard will cost you a lot, if that’s what you (or me, or others) want. I can’t afford one of these. I’m not shocked at the price though.
But these aren’t custom and yet they cost a chunk more than Curtis. And their frames are beautifully braised and you can change some of the geometry in the front triangle. Curtis build with 853 so that’s fairly fancy tuning at that.
I don’t see what the Mason is bringing over that for the extra money?
That weight quoted by Chipps is pretty much the same as a medium Solaris- I wonder if that suggests that’s getting to the limit of what you can sensibly get a modern spec steel hardtail frame down to?
Just to put the price in context, Mason do a steel road bike frame with carbon fork included for £105 less than the Raw frame alone.
I've got one of these. For me it does ride very nicely. It has the steel feel about it. Is relatively light for a steel road frame. Not racy, just really 'easy' to ride, exactly what I want.
I'm not sure I'd notice the same thing on a hardtail with big tyres, especially with a load of bags strapped on. I'm not sure that all those fancy tubes and bends are worth it for that application tbh. I'd quite like a bog standard cromo version for less, but then there are a loads of options there already.
I do fancy a bokeh though.
And more manufacturers should spec chain hangers
Happened to be passing Mason barn a few weeks ago and got to have a look at one close up. The pics really don't do it justice, proper lovely in the flesh.
But that is a lot of money for frame only!
hugely expensive and pretty ugly.
For context a stock size Shand Bahookie frame and steel fork is 1895, and I’d argue finish and details on the Mason look better.
hugely expensive and pretty ugly.
You have some odd opinions, but calling this frame ugly is the oddest yet.
Way too much money !!!! They’ll sell loads 🙂
Is there some sort oy cycling industry in-joke about who can make a bike with the highest number of pointless 'mounts' on a bike?
You could buy the faster stooge mkV.....
It's nice, British built, some people have deep enough pockets to buy one and so they should. There will always be expensive frames, and less expensive frames. Some with angles that suit, some not so.
The thing with frame prices is though, what some people find outrageous, others will be perfectly fine with. With the obvious thought that "most" people think that anything over £500 is expensive for a full bike anyway let alone just the frame...(lost track of how many folks I've had that conversation with)
Fair play to Mason about being honest with where they are made (Swarf and Cotic were also mentioned as builders).
I guess they see it as a selling point in being associated with well respected UK and EU builders, but some of those companies will do you a fully custom hardtail frame with your own geo, improved cable routing, all the extra little details you want, whatever paint you want, etc for less money!
I am in the I don't get it camp. Even for £1000 it would still be overpriced IMO but then I am most likely not the target market 😉 🙂
And their frames are beautifully braised
With some vegetables in a low oven?
I wonder whether there is a lot of expensive detail in the frame?
Otherwise the pricing looks a bit ambitious given you can have a UK-made Stanton Switch9er for about 950 quid (which I think are made by Five Lands too), or something like a BTR Ranger for the same money which is getting properly artisanal 🙂
Similar frame prices to BTR, don’t remember anyone ranting about how expensive they are?
Fair play to Mason about being honest with where they are made
When they're made by a small, quality fabricator in the UK and the RRP is higher than most I'd see saying were they're made as a necessity and a positive, why would they hide it.
It's expensive for a steel frame but I see value in where things are made and how. UK or Taiwan made isn't the main point to me personally, not as much as the way it's done, what it's made from and the attention to quality and detail. The fact the materials shipping impact is lower is something I have a lot of time for and I'd support any brand bringing manufacturing to the UK if I can. Brompton, local-ish frame builder for my steel road bike, etc. I appreciate few will pay more for the locally-made aspect alone. Could say we'll all pay a high price for that short-term saving though.
All in all I guess they decided to sell fewer bikes at higher prices and that enables more local manufacturing which I respect for being the opposite of the 'box-shifting junk for the sake of margin' end of the scale. +1 for the brands working this way. You could say they're priced out of reach of many of us, perhaps if we look at how durable a steel bike is and how often we need (not want) to change bikes we'd value them differently? £1600 over a 5-7 year lifespan isn't bad at all, over 10 years it's great vfm.
UK-made Stanton Switch9er for about 950 quid (which I think are made by Five Lands too),
Stanton do it all in-house, it's their own facility.
Similar frame prices to BTR, don’t remember anyone ranting about how expensive they are?
And you see loads of them on the trails.
I mean, I do, but a nearby lbs/CIC owner has some pretty close links with them.
Never seen a Mason IRL
I love steel bikes and have 3 but this is cray Cray. for that money it would need to be bespoke to my fit and have something about it. looks a bit boring
You could say they’re priced out of reach of many of us,
Pricing is up to the seller, Mason have never been at the lower cost end of the market, if people buy them they have priced it right.
You could say they’re priced out of reach of many of us
All UK built hardtails are priced out of my reach. Not just this one. But now all those who go on about UK production have another option if they want to put their money where their mouths are. And it looks like a great option to me.
Never seen a Mason IRL
Seen a couple of Bokehs. They look pretty, even prettier covered in mud 🙂
I bought my Mason road bike from the very first batch in 2015. It is a joy to ride and I've no urge to change it any time soon. Yes, it was expensive, but it's beautifully made and if it solves or delays upgraditis, then could well be better value in the long term.
Pricing is up to the seller, Mason have never been at the lower cost end of the market, if people buy them they have priced it right.
Sure. Priced right - and marketed / presented right. And I don't mean that as in 'it's all marketing'.
Yes, it was expensive, but it’s beautifully made and if it solves or delays upgraditis, then could well be better value in the long term.
Best kind of bike to own imo. Quality (or ride enjoyment) is remembered after the price is forgotten and the longer you're remembering it for, the better the value.
Boring, overpriced and uninspired AF.
That every bike frame has to be priced to an undisclosed but acceptably low point to random internet users is a strange concept. There are frames that are cheap and frames that aren't. As long as the buyer is happy, and given that even in photos the paint and finish on these look amazing, I can't imagine that anyone who bought one would be disappointed.
Judging by the comments here, you’re all are going to lose your shit at this post from Feather Cycles over on Facebook:
’This frame is FOR SALE. £1000 plus paint to cover material costs and time. Its out of alignment. I have no idea how it happened, but it did and there is no going back. It’s the first on one about 8 years to do this. It will be fine to ride but it’s not up to my standard to hand over at full price. The fillets won’t be filed smooth but can be for a further £300. It will be complete with all required braze-ons and it’s spaced 130mm for rim brakes. Di2 routing can be arranged at no extra cost if required. The dimensions of the frame are in the second photo. Please ask if you have any questions’
Covering materials and time - £1000
(Thread derailment likely, sorry not sorry!)
That every bike frame has to be priced to an undisclosed but acceptably low point to random internet users is a strange concept.
I often wonder if it's only bikes that people think this about, or do they apply this standard to all purchases? Do they watch Top Gear and send BBC a snarky message about the cost of the McLaren? Complain to ALDI about the fact that the organic chicken is too expensive when compared to the frozen fillets? (I can pretty much guarantee that they don't do it about their own cars, otherwise there'd be a hell of a lot more Dacias on the road. 😀 )
nickc
That every bike frame has to be priced to an undisclosed but acceptably low point to random internet users is a strange concept.
People make their own judgements on value. To me, this isn't worth the money, Am sure others ill buy it.
It’s a beautiful looking frame but for me I’d like to have seen a complete Reynolds tubing set for a made in UK product. I’m sure they were good reasons why that couldn’t be achieved though.
When’s the Ti version coming out? 😀
Also, I don't think people here are ranting or getting angry with Mason.
We're just laughing at their ****ing brass neck.
The fact the materials shipping impact is lower is something I have a lot of time for and I’d support any brand bringing manufacturing to the UK if I can. Brompton, local-ish frame builder for my steel road bike, etc. I appreciate few will pay more for the locally-made aspect alone.
I am quite happy to pay a bit more to support people making stuff here. Not a direct comparison, I know but I bought an aluminium laptop for a few quid more because it's not plastic. I'd buy Redbacks or Rossi before Blundstone cos they are made in Aus not China.
However, some makers aren't just building in the additional cost of UK vs Taiwan wages, minus shipping etc. It's a bit like sticking 'artisanal' in front of something and charging an extra £20. Interesting that you can buy Rossi for less than Blundstone despite higher wage costs.
I've seen absolutely beautiful welds on taiwan bikes and gash ones on British.
I think it would be challenging to make the case that this is priced at anything near the extra costs involved, without the artisanal surcharge. Which is fine, if they can sell them for that and trouser the extra. Even allowing for a designer that has created a bike with unparalleled feel and ride quality there is a certain amount of @#$&ing in my pocket and telling me it's raining going on here.
It's not just wages, is it. All costs in the UK are higher, and rising. If you think building in the UK is just about slapping X% on the price to cover paying a welder more, think again.
[ What is an acceptable X% anyway? If it can't be done for the extra cost/price you suggest, should people just not try and build here at all? ]
.
I think it would be challenging to make the case that this is priced at anything near the extra costs involved, without the artisanal surcharge
I don't think so really, not based on what I know of the materials costs, build rates, the fact that Five Land are a high skill engineering business, Mason make a margin on their cost price so some of the costs have 2 layers of margin applied, etc. Pretty easy to see where it gets to £1600-1800. Mason are a bit bigger than the shed brand or sideline business than many others are, making stuff and moving things around within the EU, employing people, doing stuff to promote your brand etc isn't cheap and people deserve a living? They need to make the call whether the way they produce something is viable - seems like it is so far.
The frames are top end of the price range, arguably well into or past diminishing returns and yet I see a few about. Probably because it's easy to attach value to nice things that are part of doing something you love and are made by people who GAS. Fair dues to Mason for making it work, I reckon.
s not just wages, is it. All costs in the UK are higher, and rising. If you think building in the UK is just about slapping X% on the price to cover paying a welder more, think again.
No it isn't just wages. Lots go into the cost of goods sold. Prices are higher everywhere, for everything. It's actually quite complicated. You have to account for the things that exist no matter where it's made,
I know building in the UK isn't about slapping X % on for the price of a welder. I also know that's one part of it.
I don't disagree with what you say, @jameso and you doubtless have better insight than most but I am still sceptical. I suspect that part of their pricing is nothing to do with costs and everything to do with the premium (I find it difficult to use the value wrt to this sort of thing) of buying from a brand that is run by people who GAS.
I see an element of the Rolex factor here. Yes, they're nice and I see a fair few about. The price they charge really isn't about the actual cost to make them though.
So, what is X ? How much more ?
Consensus is, that if you want a UK built frame, built and finished to a high standard, it costs more. How much more does it cost? How much more will the customer have to pay? If Mason has it wrong, what’s the right price? If Mason could do this for the same price as their Italian made steel road bike, I’m pretty sure they would have. Most people would still say that was too much though… but they will say the same for any UK built like for like alternative.
The price they charge really isn’t about the actual cost to make them though.
The prices of very few things are based on what they cost to make.
So, what is X ? How much more ?
I thought you knew???
Mason could do this for the same price as their Italian made steel road bike, I’m pretty sure they would have
And I am one hundred percent sure they wouldn't. That is not what this bike is about. They'll have done the maths. They are hoping that enough people will perceive a benefit and buy at the higher price to make more money vs moving more units at a lower price.
If you, or anyone else wants to buy one and you have the means, have at it. I've no skin in the game. My concern is more about what it says about any efforts to on-shore production in the broader sense and the degree to which it distorts our sense of 'value' 'price' etc.
The prices of very few things are based on what they cost to make.
Or the costs associated, period. Maybe that's the problem.
I suspect that part of their pricing is nothing to do with costs and everything to do with the premium (I find it difficult to use the value wrt to this sort of thing) of buying from a brand that is run by people who GAS.
There's some brand premium here, it's a part of it. I don't think it's as big a part of this product as some might think though and 'part of' is different from the RRP not being anything near related to or nothing to do with the added costs.
All I'm getting at is that it's easy to see how it gets to £1700 if you start with materials cost and work through to the retailed product.
Fair point about the perception of domestic manufacturing. Stanton are showing how it can work, they've invested in their own facilities for the long term. Shand make bikes as high quality as anyone at a lower cost than this mason, again they own their manufacturing. My own cost-finding work for UK/EU frame manufacturing ideas got me to the same conclusions - if the brand didn't do the manufacturing it's better have some great presentation to justify the added costs that come from using a contract manufacturer who have their own margins to factor in. You'll have higher RRPs but no more margin %. More GM, yes but lower volumes too. Route to market realities as much as any premium brand plan.
I'm tempted to buy one now just to wind people up
Shand make bikes as high quality as anyone at a lower cost than this mason
A Bahookie frame and fork is over 2K if you pick an interesting colour. So they make more expensive frames, as well as some a bit cheaper. Same ballpark really.
Shand make bikes as high quality as anyone at a lower cost than this mason
A Bahookie frame and fork is over 2K if you pick an interesting colour. So they make more expensive frames, as well as some a bit cheaper. Same ballpark really.
As I posted yesterday:
For context a stock size Shand Bahookie frame and steel fork is 1895, and I’d argue finish and details on the Mason look better.