2026 POLYGON SISKIU T8

October 6, 2025

Here at The Loam Wolf, we’ve been fans of the Polygon Siskiu T8 for quite a while now. We first reviewed the bike back in 2020, and since then we’ve continued to be impressed with Polygon’s quality offerings at such an affordable price. We found Polygon to be an easy brand to recommend to new riders getting into mountain biking, as well as more experienced riders looking for a good bike that doesn’t break the bank.

And for those looking for that do-it-all trail machine, the Siskiu T8 was an easy choice. Despite a solid platform, Polygon wanted to make a few more tweaks to the Siskiu T series platform. Can an already solid bike be made better? We were excited to see what changed, and what good parts remained the same, on the new Polygon Siskiu T8.

This Tech Check feature was made in collaboration with Bikes Online, which is Polygon Bike’s North American distributor. As such, it is not intended to be a review or official endorsement of the Polygon Siskiu T8, but instead a chance for us to showcase the latest and greatest products in the mountain bike market. We’d like to extend a huge thanks to Bikes Online and Polygon for the support in creating this feature, and hope it provides useful beta on this new trail mountain bike.

WHAT’S NEW ABOUT THE 2026 POLYGON SISKIU T8?

FRAME | The overall look and most of the frame design for the Polygon Siskiu T series remain mostly unchanged. Here, Polygon was definitely going with an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality, which we appreciate. The bike features a dependable linkage-driven single-pivot suspension design, which delivers solid performance paired with easy maintenance.

Polygon received feedback over the years regarding updates they could make to the Polygon Siskiu T8 and the other bikes in the T series, and now it’s time to see the results of that feedback. The updates are shared across the Siskiu T6, T7, and T8 bikes, all of which share the same frame and are distinguished by their component build.

First, the rear travel is increased from 135mm to an even 140mm on both ends, and all sizes now see 29-inch wheels, front and rear.

Polygon beefed up the rear end of the T series bikes, most notably at the chainstays. The beefier stays increase the bike’s stiffness and improve the overall ride feel. Polygon also addressed some cable and hose routing issues, making the internal routing easier.

Perhaps the most significant change is the addition of UDH compatibility. All the frames in the Siskiu T series are now compatible with SRAM’s UDH. This, of course, makes it now possible to upgrade the bike’s drivetrain to SRAM Transmission, if you so desire. It also makes owning a Polygon Siskiu T that much easier, as you can easily replace the UDH at any bike shop, rather than having to potentially order a proprietary part.

The builds also see some new colorways, with the T8 available in a Chameleon Green option or Grey.

GEOMETRY | While there have been some relatively minor geometry tweaks with the Polygon Siskiu T series, we see a frame that mostly remains the same. This isn’t very surprising, as previous iterations were already in a fairly good place as far as all-round trail geometry goes.

Nonetheless, the bike grew and slackened a bit. The reach on our size L increased from 480mm to 485mm, and the chainstays bumped up from 430mm to 432mm. The HTA is also one degree slacker, going from 65.5° to 64.5° on this newest iteration, while the effective STA sits at 76°. These increases helped grow the wheelbase to 1240mm, a 20+mm increase from the previous bike.

COMPONENT CHOICES | Polygon made some significant component changes to the Siskiu T8, helping to elevate its performance. Some of those choices were made specifically with the T8 in mind, while others carry across to the T6 and T7 models.

First is the wheel spec. Polygon previously spec’d the Siskiu T series with their in-house Entity brand wheels, which had a wide 35mm inner width. Not only did this add to the rolling resistance and overall weight of the bike, but it also made for less-than-desirable tire performance in some instances. On the 2026 Siskiu T series, Polygon has opted for a more typical 30mm inner width rim with their new MT6 wheelset.

Polygon also listened to a cry for Maxxis tires, wrapping the MT6 wheels in 29×2.4” Dissectors, front and rear. Both the new wheels and Maxxis Dissectors carry across all the 2026 Siskiu T models, bringing solid performance to all builds.

Another change is from the perhaps underwhelming Tektro 4-piston brakes to Shimano m4100 brakes. While not being Shimano’s highest spec’d options, they are more powerful and ergonomic than the previous Tektros. They also simplify the overall build with a complete Shimano brake and drivetrain setup.

Some other changes come in the form of an XFusion Manic dropper in 170mm on our size L, and new Polygon-branded touchpoints.

The new Siskiu T-series builds range from the $1,699 T6 w/UDH to the T8 w/UDH at $2,399 we tested.

THE WOLF’S FIRST RIDE IMPRESSIONS

Polygon has always been a brand that impresses in terms of looks. Like previous iterations of the Siskiu T8, this latest version has the same clean lines, simple design, paint, and graphics that stand out, especially in this price range. While the previous black and purple T8 colorway has been replaced with charcoal grey (tested) and green color options, the frame still looks sharp and continues to stand out in its price category.

Updating the frame – with features like improved cable routing as well as a UDH – certainly costs money. In many cases, switching to different components will also increase the overall cost of a bike. The changes made to the 2026 Polygon Siskiu T8 — new brakes, different wheels, tires, etc — certainly fall into the “upgrade” category in our minds. That said, it is impressive to see that Polygon was able to accommodate those upgrades while somehow lowering the price.

The T8 we had in our 2023 Budget Bike Roundup retailed for $2,599. The 2026 Siskiu T8 has a price tag of $2,399.99. Yes, prices and the market were drastically different nearly three years ago, but it is great to see a lower price nonetheless.

Those upgraded components were a welcome change to the T8. The more modern, and narrower MT6 wheelset wrapped in Maxxis Dissectors offered less rolling weight and resistance on the climbs. This pairing suits the T8 well, providing an efficient climbing platform to cover miles, yet still delivering sufficient traction when pointing the bike back down the hill.

While the new T8 is a degree slacker than previous iterations, the 64.5° HTA wasn’t overly slack, and the bike tracked well both up and down. I noticed some pedal bob while climbing, which could be a side effect of the simpler linkage-driven single pivot. That said, it could also be a result of suspension setup, so we’ll see if that is eliminated in the long-term review.

Descending on the Siskiu T8 was a blast. The Fox 34 Rhythm and DPS performed great, providing ample support in corners and on jumps. Getting off the ground was particularly easy, and the bike felt light and nimble. This agility ensured I could place it exactly where I needed it to be on the trail. While I don’t know the exact weight of the new T8, the previous iteration was just shy of 35lbs, and we expect this to have dropped. We’ll be sure to get it on the scales before our long term review goes live.

I experienced a fork top-out several times, which forced me to slow the rebound down. It will be good to continue to put the T8 through its paces in the long term to see if we can also solve this better after some more trail time. It will also be good to get the T8’s suspension on rougher, more technical trails, as this first ride leaned more toward groomed flow trails.

The Shimano M4100 brakes were perhaps the most impressive upgrade Polygon made. I was really impressed with the bite and stopping power they have, especially considering the 180mm rotors. While they don’t have as much adjustment and may not be as refined as their SLX or XT big brothers, I’m excited to get them out on longer and steeper descents to see how they hold up.

For new riders or those on a $2500 budget, it is tough to find something that beats the new Polygon Siskiu T8. This is a trail bike that provides the agility and fun factor, yet can withstand abuse without requiring component replacements as a rider grows and progresses. So far we’re very impressed with the changes Polygon made to this latest iteration, and look forward to more trail time on board for its long term review.

Visit Polygonbikes.com to learn more, or visit bikesonline.com to order yours.

ABOUT THE WOLF

The local boy — Travis was born and raised in Bend, OR. Skateboarding consumed his life until his high school years (yes, he can still kickflip), but was replaced by mountain biking…then rock climbing, whitewater rafting, and finally back to mountain biking. After a stint in the big city, Travis returned home, trading a teaching career to be an okay mountain biker and above-average journalist. He is an outspoken 90s grunge fan, cornering poor souls in conversations about the meaning behind the lyrics of Alice In Chains’ “Would.” Most days, Travis hopes to be outside, whether that is on an early morning ride or a hike with his family (the best days include both).

Rank: Contributing Writer
Size: 5’8” / 172cm | 195lbs / 88kg
Social: @travis_reill_writes