BUDGET BIKE SHOOTOUT
POLYGON SISKIU T7 LTD REVIEW
THE YOUNG SHREDDER’S DREAM
Photos by Dusten Ryen
Shootout Sponsored By:
ZOIC Clothing & USWE Sports
The Polygon Siskiu T7 made quite an impression right away in our Sub-$2,000 Budget Bike Shootout and Giveaway. The bright blue paint, aggressive stance and overall presentation of the Siskiu make it look much more expensive than its $1,799 (on sale) price tag. Available in either a 27.5-inch option with 150mm of travel or with 29-inch wheels and 140mm of travel, the Polygon Siskiu has a smart spec, very capable geometry and is ready to ride straight out of the box.
THE LAB
The 6061 hydroformed frame offers a stiff and planted ride and Polygon’s North American distributor, bikesonline.com have a detailed fit guide to ensure you order the correct bike to your door. Where some budget bikes rely on keeping savings down by using older products or designs, Polygon is on the leading edge with 35mm wide rims, wide and grippy tires and a SRAM SX Eagle 12-speed drivetrain. We didn’t love the ergonomics of the the Tektro HD-M7 brakes, but they did work pretty well.
Suspension on the Polygon Siskiu T7 comes in the form of a Rock Shox Recon RL fork and an X-Fusion 02 Pro rear shock. X-Fusion shocks come on many of the budget bikes we’ve tested here and with the exception of the Marin, we found that they are definitely a weak point of each build. Taking time to dial in the sag and playing with air pressure will certainly make a big difference on how the bike performs. Sadly, the shocks consistency in terms of behavior while adjusting the rebound circuit is seriously lacking across all the bikes in our shootout.
THE DIRT
As we mentioned above, it took us a little while to find a happy spot with the Siskiu’s suspension set up as the rear shock was temperamental. Once we got it dialed, the bike performed a lot better and handled big hits and small with aplomb. The Polygon Siskiu T7 certainly descends at the top of the pack. It just naturally puts the rider in a more aggressive riding position and the geometry combined with extra travel give it an advantage when things get steep and fast. It’s definitely the budget bike we’d recommend for jumpers, enduro guys and those who are looking to ride hard.
The downside to the bike’s downhill prowess is that it doesn’t climb as well as the Giant or Canyon. Granted that may not be an issue for some riders, but it’s worth noting. Our testers loved having a tire with a quality tread pattern and some grip, but those knobs slowed the bike down on flat trails and while climbing trails while the 120/130mm bikes with semi-slick tires pulled away. We found that the suspension on the Polygon Siskiu bounced a bit while on the pedals and resulted in some power loss, but it wasn’t terrible and is certainly worth the penalty if you’re a downhiller.
Normally retailing for $1,999 the Siskiu T7 is currently on sale for $1,799 and at that price it gives the Marin a real strong run for best performance for the price. The Polygon’s ExaForm 150mm dropper post worked fine during our testing and was definitely welcome on steep descents. The SRAM SX 12-speed drivetrain is certainly nice to have, but we can definitely see a difference compared to higher-end Eagle kits as the derailleur required some more fidgeting and cable tension adjustments. Ultimately though, having the range is a benefit for riders who are looking to pedal to the top of their favorite downhills.
The Wolf’s Last Word
We like the Polygon Siskiu T7 very much. It is a solid bike and one that will certainly make a lot of rider’s dreams come true. It looks like it should cost over $3,000 thanks to sharp graphics, a modern geo and quality paint. Polygon have certainly done their homework on what aggressive riders on a budget are looking for. This is not the bike we’d recommend for the casual rider looking to cruise around or put in big miles on mellower trails as it lacks the efficiency and speed that the faster, lighter XC-oriented bikes we also tested in this shootout possess. If however, you are looking to get into the sport to imitate Kurt Sorge and other loose and wild freeriders who are shredding the trail and soaring through the air, the Polygon Siskiu T7 is worth checking out.
Price: $1,699
Website: Polygonbikes.com
SPECIFICATIONS
CHASSIS
Frame: ALX Aluminum / 140mm
Fork: RockShox Recon RL Solo Air / 140mm
Shock: X-Fusion O2 Pro RL E2E
COCKPIT
Brakes: TEKTRO HD-M735
Handlebar: ENTITY XPERT, 780mm
Stem: ENTITY XPERT
Shifter: SRAM SX 12-SPEED
Seatpost: EXA FORM RAGEI
Saddle: ENTITY XTENT
WHEELS
Wheels: ENTITY XL2 DISC
Tires: WTB TRAILL BOSS 29”X2.6 (FRONT) / 29”X2.4 (REAR)
DRIVETRAIN
Cassette: SRAM CS-PG-1210 12-SPEED 11-50T
Cranks: SRAM SX EAGLE, 32t
Derailleur: SRAM SX 12-SPEED DA
We Dig
Stable
Confident
Aggressive Riding Position
Looks Great
We Don’t
X-Fusion Shock
Doesn’t Pedal Great
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