Diamondback

Mason Pro 27.5+ Complete Mountain Bike - 2017

Since inception, the Diamondback Mason has employed a unique approach to shredding technical singletrack where a full-suspension bike was previously warranted. Diamondback originally achieved this feat with its slacked-out hardtail geometry paired with a 130-millimeter fork handling bigger hits and smoothing out choppy terrain. The newest version for 2017, the Mason Pro 27.5+ Complete Mountain Bike, takes this all-mountain hardtail dynamic to new realms with the addition of plus-sized wheels and tires lending composure across rough and ragged trails. By increasing tire size from standard 2.3-inch rubber all the way to 2.8-inch behemoths, Diamondback achieves unbelievable traction and bump compliance across dicey terrain that would normally leave you thrashed and fatigued on a hardtail.

Delving into what makes the Mason Pro excel across technical terrain, you'll find its 68-degree head tube angle paired with relatively short chainstays makes for one that's calm and composed on steep descents, yet always willing to lean into corners and dodge trail obstacles quickly. Out front, the FOX 34 Float Performance Elite makes easy work of rolling over rocks, sucking up root impediments, and flying off side-hits with its 130 millimeters of travel. And though you don't have the forgiving rear of a full-suspension to compensate for poor line choices, the added squish of the 2.8-inch Nobby Nic Tires does an admirable job of keeping the bike from feeling overly harsh on steep drops and jarring stretches of trail.

Looking to its list of components, you'll find the Mason Pro 27.5+ is built with reliability and easy-shifting performance in mind. Besides its unbelievably smooth FOX 34 Float Fork, the Mason Pro 27.5+ stands out with crisp-shifting SRAM X1 drivetrain that eliminates the pesky front derailleur from causing issues and adding excess weight. Since it's a 1x11 set-up, you won't miss having a front derailleur, as the 10 to 42-tooth cassette lends plentiful low-end for spinning up steep climbs. Other stand-out components include the reliable stopping power of Shimano Deore M615 hydraulic disc brakes, as well as the KS LEV Integra Dropper for getting aggressive on downhill sections and climbing back uphill without having to manually adjust your saddle height.