Over a few months of riding, GearJunkie put three testers on the Diamondback Mason Pro, a hardtail 29er that is a true all-mountain crusher. It’s built to pedal strong on winding singletrack as well as climb efficiently with a rigid rear end.
But rolling with gravity’s tug is where this bike is most at home, its “slack” geometry and burly build lets a rider power through terrain heretofore reserved for full-suspension rigs.
Contributor T.C. Worley, who as a kid rode BMX then grew up to race XC, noted the Mason Pro is a “great choice for a rider who likes to bomb and jump stuff.” He continued, “The bike’s slung-low, setback position makes fast drops and berm corners feel easy — it’s an immediate confidence boost to the guy who’s used to a standard 29er.”
Another tester we saddled up, who has only minimal experience mountain biking, noted feeling stable even on advanced-level singletrack. “I did not feel over the handlebars but comfortable even on really steep trails.” He noted the Mason Pro as fast and fun on downhills, but “harder to corner in tight areas” than the 26-inch bike he was used to riding.
Overall, Worley noted, the bike was built for people who “like to ride up and down, but like to boost jumps and fun steep drops.” See below for our breakdown on the Diamondback Mason Pro bike.
