PINKBIKE FIELD TRIP
POLYGON SISKIU T8
Fools you into thinking it's pricier.
Words by Sarah Moore, Photography by Tom RichardsWe're kicking off the full-suspension bikes in the
Field Trip value bike series with Polygon's Siskiu T8. It has an aluminum frame fitted with either 27.5" or 29" wheels. Our 29er came with 135mm of rear travel and a 140mm fork.
The Polygon uses a linkage-driven single-pivot suspension layout that creates enough room for a bottle underneath the shock, while the one-piece rocker link helps rigidity. There are sealed bearings from end to end, with aluminum pivot hardware holding everything together. Frame details include a threaded bottom bracket, and internal cable routing that pops out through larger ports at the head tube that are finished with rubber grommets. There’s also a thick chainstay pad that comes pre-installed.
Polygon Siskiu T8Travel: 135mm (rear) 140mm (fork)
Wheel size: 27.5" & 29"
Frame construction: aluminum
Head angle: 65.5 degrees
Chainstay length: 430mm
Reach: 460mm (medium, 29)
Sizes: S-XL
Weight: 34.3 lb / 15.5 kg
Price: $2,369 USD
More info:
www.polygonbikes.com This is an all-new frame for 2021, giving Polygon a chance to update the geometry to the latest acceptable numbers. For this 135mm-travel trail bike, that means a 65.5-degree head angle and 76.5-degree effective seat angle, and a 460mm reach for the medium and 480mm for the large. All sizes get relatively short 425mm chainstays as well. The medium gets a short 400mm seat tube, while the large is just 415mm, leaving plenty of room for a long-travel dropper post.
We’re testing the T8 model that goes for $2,369 USD, including the Fox Rythym fork, an SLX drivetrain, and a set of Tektro 4-piston brakes. If you have less to spend on a bike, you can get the less expensive T7 for just $1,959, or a frame/shock combo for $999 USD.
ClimbingThe Polygon is an interesting bike as it only has 135mm, but it’s a very active 135mm - enough that you can look down and see the shock gently cycling through its stroke while you’re working hard. The high-volume air can and light shock tune are likely a factor in that. If you're facing a long gravel road climb on the Siskiu you'll likely want to reach for the pedal-assist switch and firm the bike up. More so on big, out of the saddle efforts, of course.
The flip side to that is good traction over wet roots and slippery spots. If your climbs are a tangled mess of tricky roots and rocks, you’ll want to stay in the seat, turn the pedals over, and claw your way up the trail. On the handling front, it’s a bike that can fit into tight spots and it felt more at home in twisty singletrack than either the Giant or Devinci, although it can’t match the Ibis’ enthusiasm or suspension efficiency. While the Siskiu isn't what you would call it an exceptional climber, especially as it does rely on that pedal assist switch, it’ll do what you ask of it. Just don’t rush…
Descending On the way back down, the Polygon proved to be a fun, capable bike that provides more forgiveness than you might expect. That supple suspension is surely a big part of this, with the bike doing a better job of filtering out all the small stuff than most of the bikes on test, although the shock seems to get to the end of its travel a bit quickly when you’re pushing hard. There isn’t a ton of support there, either, which probably keeps the Polygon from feeling as playful as some others.
Mike Levy and I preferred a bit firmer setup for the rear-suspension, 25-percent sag rather than 30, and that really added more life to the bike, while still allowing the bike to suck up all the little things that you’re not paying attention to until they put you on the ground. The handling is certainly more all-around fun than all-out speed, which is a good theme for a bike like this.
The Siskiu is probably the best looking bike on test, but this isn’t a beauty pageant. Rather than being a speedy trail bike, the Polygon offers a more forgiving, active ride that’s best suited to rough ground and riders who aren’t looking to add KOMs to their trophy case on every ride. It’ll make an excellent an all-rounder for someone that loves rough terrain.
Pros
+ Tons of traction from the rear end
+ Versatile - going to work in a lot of places
Cons
- Have to use the pedal-assist switch on the climbs
- Brakes are lacking initial bite and overall power
The 2021 Pinkbike Field Test was made possible with support from Toyota.
Video: Jason Lucas, Max Barron
Editing: Max Barron
It will be a pro if it was reviewed by Matt Wragg m.pinkbike.com/news/opinions-we-need-lockouts.html
I love pedal assist, or better yet, lock outs on rear suspension. I don't think it was meant to dis pedal assist levers, though. More to question the tuning of the shock.
I think this is the kind of bike that is suited to pretty smooth or fire road ups, where you have the pedal assist engaged, and then chunkier downs, or rides where the climb, or whole ride is predominately chundery .
Sounds like the shock is tuned for larger bump compliance, not smoothness.
"...if you ride totally smooth trails, this isn't the best bike for that"
Mike, have you ever ridden the old Siskiu T that was reviewed by RC back in 2018? The old one was said to be more snappy and efficient (even with no lock out), but out of its comfort zone in chunky, chundery and chattery part of the trail. m.pinkbike.com/news/review-polygon-siskiu-t8.html
Personally, I've chosen bikes that don't pedal so well as a trade-off for traction and comfort. I think we all know Levy's preferences and most of us will make our own choice. Or just b!tch about it in the comments...
425mm only for S & M (27,5) sizes.
430mm for M (29) and up.
Also you might wanna updated the cons after the efficiency test.
Also- I live in the land of dentists, and I get way more compliments and conversations started about this bike than my friends on their $8k bikes.
.. really don't like the clip for the pads, makes it difficult to change pads on the trail. I have contaminated pads quite a bit.
"Guys we need something that will really stand out"
"I'm going to walk out on the street and ask someone to say a random number between $2000 and $3000"
Returns 5 minutes later: "I think $2,369 sounds great"
Xquadrone, Bromo, Siskiu, Syncline, Xtrada, Premier, Cascade, Trid .. sounds more like toothpaste than bikes.
Trid is reverse for dirt, quite fitting for a DJ bike. Bromo is even better, it is a famous big mountain on Polygon's backyard.
Can't say the same for other names, though.
As for the long levers, once you slide them inboard to just use your index finger they have amazing feel and modulation.
Cons:
Shitty brakes...usable but annoying. I'm gonna see if I can get used to it after half a year.
Heavy ass wheelset....super burly though. I am keeping it as a spare even though I ordered a lighter wheelset.
Chain drops easily when I backpedal at low gears...maybe because of KMC chain?
The paint job looks really nice but not so durable.
Pros:
Everything else.
Even after I swap brakes, wheelset, and some other parts by my personal preference, the overall cost will be still about the same as the price of comparable bikes, if not lower.
For the wheels there is no way around it but finding a bike with light and strong wheelset is usually 2k€ more expensive than this bike while you can build your own and do the swap for 5/600€. And still have a spare wheelset to sell or keep for bike park, mud tires or whatever.
For the wheels, I found even 4k dollars bikes often have a mediocre stock wheelsets. So I went down the path you just said lol.
Yes, Calibre is made in Sidoarjo. Polygon even released special edition Vanders which I think are canceled and then rebadged Sentry and Bossnut. Other well known brands is/was also manufactured in Sidoarjo, such as M****, S******, K***.
Geometry wise, even though the reach has grown by a whooping 30 mm on paper (size large, citing geometry chart from Polygon's website), on-trail handling feel between both of them are quite similar that one run is all it took for me to adapt to the new one. Some first time 29er siskiu user will find it a bit too large/cumbersome though.
2018 version reviewed by RC m.pinkbike.com/news/review-polygon-siskiu-t8.html
2018 geo chart www.polygonbikes.com/id/sepeda/sepeda-gunung/siskiu-t7/#tab-geometry
2021 geo chart www.polygonbikes.com/id/sepeda/sepeda-gunung/siskiu-t7-2/#tab-geometry
On another note, I just found out from the article that Polygon also offer it in frame only for 999USD!?! The 2021 T7 frame+shock kit that I bought was priced a little less than 700USD (in like-new condition) at Indonesian local second-hand market (which almost always void the 5 year warranty). Oh well, better be sorry for buying it rather than sorry for not buying it, to quote what people said. For comparison, I sold the 2018 T7 one for a little less than 500USD.
First i doubt it could rail the Tamiya wall ride, after the first run it made me smile, a big wide smile.
On the plus side, install a Minion 3C upfront and now you have a spare tire for the rear.