dventure bikes are a rapidly growing market, appealing to those who want to add some variety to their riding to include off-roading as well as tarmac excursions. Mason is a UK brand that builds its bikes in Italy from custom steel, aluminium and titanium tubing, supplying modern, disc-equipped, drop-bar bikes.
The new Bokeh is its aluminium frame and carbon fork adventure model. I’m testing the 650b Force version, which comes with thru-axle 650b wheels with 44mm tyres, SRAM’s Force 1x hydraulic disc brake groupset and Deda and fabric finishing kit. At first glance it looks like a cyclocross bike, but the huge gear range (40t at the front and 10-42 at the rear) and enormous knobbly tyres hint towards something more. Designed to be able to be ridden on all terrains and distances, from tarmac to deep muddy broken ground, it comes equipped for action with mounts for dynamo lights, racks, three bottle cages and mudguards. The same frame also fits more conventional, larger diameter 700c wheels, giving you the option to switch between both depending on your route, and there is a stock 700c model, too. With is a long list of things that it claims to be able to do, does it do anything well?
On the road it feels immediately familiar and comfortable, if you’re used to riding a road bike there aren’t too many surprises in geometry and handling. I was expecting the 44mm knobbly tyres on smaller wheels to feel sluggish and sticky, but they spin up to speed nicely and the large contact patch makes it an incredibly comfortable ride. I quickly forgot I wasn’t riding a road bike on the journey out of town, which is real compliment given what else the bike has to offer.
[Source”cnbc”]
