Debuted back in 2016, the monster-cross Mason Bokeh was pretty radical, being able to take 650b and 700c wheels finished with chunky rubber, all underneath drop bars.
Three years on, things have changed, and everyone else has followed suit as gravel riding and racing has exploded in popularity.
For 2019, the Bokeh has received a makeover, with the most immediately obvious change being the John Deere green (Mason calls it 'Filter Green') paint job — though this colour is only available for a limited time. Orange and grey options are also available.
Mason says all of the changes it has made to the frame are a direct response to rider feedback and advances in component technology. The frame is still made with tubing from Dedacciai and produced in an Italian factory.
Starting at the front, the Bokeh2 gets a new fork, called the Parallax2. The original Parallax that came on the first iteration of the Bokeh saw a 12mm thru-axle, provisions for flat mount brakes, internal hose routing and fender mounts. This new version adds triple-boss cage mounts on both legs to allow for extra bottles or ‘Anything Cages’, should you be heading out for an overnight adventure with your bike.
The Parallax2 also has a crown mount for dynamo lighting and internal routing for the electricals to keep them away from the elements.
Mason has revamped the hose and cable routing to play nice with the top tube bento-style bags many riders choose to run, and has moved the port to the underside of the top tube to avoid interfering with straps.
The chainstay port where the rear brake hose exits the frame has also been moved slightly forward to work better with the latest generation of brake calipers.
The Bokeh2 retains a threaded bottom bracket (hooray!), and the shell has increased in diameter to 56mm, which allows for better compatibility with 30mm crank axles, like the SRAM DUB, seen on the new AXS drivetrains.
This additional clearance also allows for the brake hose to run under the crank axle, and the chainstays can be welded on lower and broader. Not only does this make for a bit of extra tyre clearance (700x45mm or 650bx54mm) but it also means a smoother cable line through the frame.
Mason hasn't changed the geometry for the Bokeh2, but is now offering the frame in a size 62cm to fit taller riders. As bigger bodies put more force through bike frames than smaller ones, the 62cm Bokeh2 features an oversized seat tube to add a bit of stiffness.
In a size 54, Mason claims the new Bokeh2 with a Force X1 transmission tips the scales at 9.1kg.
Mason is currently taking orders for the Bokeh2 with the ‘Filter Green’ frames in stock now, and other colours soon to follow. Framesets start at £1,250, while complete bikes start at £2,800 with the choice of either a Hunt 700c or 650b wheelset and a SRAM Rival X1 build.