Diamondback’s new Mason FS blends trail-leveling 29in wheels with slack angles and 140mm travel front and rear for what should be a highly capable trail machineJames Huang/Future Publishing
Naturally, the new Diamondback Mason FS features a tapered 1 1/8in to 1 1/2in head tube to help boost front-end stiffnessJames Huang/Future Publishing
Diamondback continues with its long-standing Knucklebox rear suspension design for the new Mason FS. The forward pivot is now more directly integrated into the down tube, though, which supposedly reduces rear-end flexJames Huang/Future Publishing
The stout-looking rear dropouts on the Diamondback Mason FS feature a 142x12mm thru-axle. The indexed nut on the driveside can be adjusted to fine-tune the lever position on the non-drivesideJames Huang/Future Publishing
The impressive spec on the top-end Diamondback Mason FS features carbon fiber cranks from RaceFaceJames Huang/Future Publishing
The Mason FS’s Easton Haven bar is usefully wide at 711mm across, but given the bike’s intended use it certainly could be widerJames Huang/Future Publishing
Diamondback says it’s reinforced the rear end of the new Mason FS relative to its other Knucklebox-equipped 29ers, but the chain stays still seem rather longJames Huang/Future Publishing
The front derailleur is mounted directly to the swingarm on Diamondback’s new Mason FS. The bottom bracket uses conventionally threaded cupsJames Huang/Future Publishing
Diamondback specs a 180mm-diameter front rotor on the new Mason FS, for a little extra stopping powerJames Huang/Future Publishing
To help offset the big wheels’ greater rotational mass, Diamondback specs a faster-rolling Kenda Slant Six tire out back. Up front is Kenda’s proven, predictable, and forgiving NevegalJames Huang/Future Publishing
Diamondback has followed up the successful debut of its aluminum 29er hardtails with a new carbon fiber range called Overdrive CarbonJames Huang/Future Publishing
The top-end Diamondback Overdrive Carbon Pro comes impressively outfitted, including a SRAM X0 group, a Fox 32 Float 100 fork, Easton EA90 XC wheels, and Easton finishing kitJames Huang/Future Publishing
Full-length housing is mounted underneath the top tube on Diamondback’s new Overdrive Carbon framesJames Huang/Future Publishing
Shaping on the rear end of Diamondback’s new Overdrive Carbon frame is rather straightforwardJames Huang/Future Publishing
Impressively, Diamondback has fitted both ends of the new Overdrive Carbon with thru-axlesJames Huang/Future Publishing
WTB Wolverine tires are wrapped around lightweight Easton EA90 XC tubeless-compatible wheels on Diamondback’s top-end Overdrive CarbonJames Huang/Future Publishing
The carbon frame is fitted with a PF30 bottom bracket shellJames Huang/Future Publishing
The post-mount rear caliper tabs are spaced for 160mm rotorsJames Huang/Future Publishing
The slight kink in the seat tube allows for shorter chain staysJames Huang/Future Publishing
The Fox fork on the Diamondback Overdrive Carbon Pro includes the company’s new CTD remote leverJames Huang/Future Publishing
Diamondback’s new Mason FS blends trail-leveling 29in wheels with slack angles and 140mm travel front and rear for what should be a highly capable trail machineJames Huang/Future Publishing
Diamondback’s collection of 29in-wheeled mountain bikes will continue to grow for MY2014, with two new platforms: the race-ready Overdrive Carbon built around a claimed 1kg (2.2lb) frame and a new 140mm travel Mason FS for riders who want to have a little more fun on the way down.
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Overdrive Carbon
Diamondback impressed us in last year’s ‘Best mountain bikes under US$1,000‘ round-up with its Overdrive Comp – a bike that offered tremendous value and good handling but with a bit of a dull feel given its heavy aluminum frame and chunky wheels.
The new Overdrive Carbon models, however, look to retain that excellent value but with a new carbon fiber frame that supposedly weighs just 1kg (2.2lb) thanks to molding technology borrowed from the road-going Podium 7.
Frame shaping is straightforward, with roundish tubes throughout – an increasing number of companies are finding them to offer the most efficient use of material in terms of balancing weight and stiffness.
Diamondback has followed up the successful debut of its aluminum 29er hardtails with a new carbon fiber range called overdrive carbon:James Huang/Future Publishing
Overdrive Carbon
The tapered 1 1/8in to 1 1/2in head tube and PF30 bottom bracket shells are standard fare at this point, but kudos to Diamondback for including thru-axles front and rear.
Diamondback will offer the new Overdrive Carbon in three models, all using the same frame.
The Pro will have a SRAM X0 group, a 100mm travel Fox 32 Float CTD Factory Series fork with remote lever, Easton EA90 XC tubeless wheels, and Easton carbon cockpit components.
The Expert will have SRAM X7/X9, a Fox 32 Float CTD Evolution series fork with remote lever, WTB wheels, and Easton aluminum cockpit components. Lastly, the standard Overdrive Carbon will have SRAM X5/X7, the same fork but with a crown-mounted CTD dial, WTB wheels, and house brand finishing kit.
The post-mount rear caliper tabs are spaced for 160mm rotors:James Huang/Future Publishing
Post-mount rear caliper tabs are spaced for 160mm rotors
Expected availability is later this fall.
Mason FS
At the other end of the spectrum lies Diamondback’s new aluminum Mason FS, the full-suspension analogue of the company’s fun-loving Mason 29er hardtail. As with the original bike, the new FS will sport a slack geometry (including a 66.5-degree head tube angle) to aid high-speed stability, but with 140mm travel front and rear courtesy of the company’s long-standing Knucklebox swingarm design and a Fox 34 Float CTD fork.
Diamondback has supposedly stiffened up the rear end, too, with a stouter rear triangle and a forward linkage pivot that’s now integrated into the sides of the down tube.
Diamondback’s new mason fs blends trail-leveling 29in wheels with slack angles and 140mm travel front and rear for what should be a highly capable trail machine:James Huang/Future Publishing
The new Mason FS
Additional features include thru-axles front and rear, a tapered 1 1/8in to 1 1/2in head tube, a direct-mount front derailleur, and a threaded bottom bracket shell coupled with ISCG05 tabs for maximum crankset and chain guide compatibility.
Diamondback will offer the Mason FS in two flavors: the Pro, with a Kashima-coated Fox 34 Float 140 CTD fork, SRAM X0 group, Easton Haven wheels, a CrankBros Kronolog dropper post, and RaceFace Atlas finishing kit; and the standard Mason FS with SRAM X7/X9, RaceFace aluminum cranks, house brand wheels, and Easton finishing kit (including a fixed EA50 seatpost).
The impressive spec on the top-end diamondback mason fs features carbon fiber cranks from raceface:James Huang/Future Publishing
The top-end Mason FS features carbon cranks from RaceFace
As with the Overdrive Carbon, expected availability is later this fall. Retail prices for both the Overdrive Carbon and Mason FS are still being finalized.
