This Shifted My Perspective On Mountain Bikes
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ต.ค. 2024
- In this video I will be discussing why I sold my dream bike, the trek remedy 8 for a more budget mountain bike, the polygon Siskiu T7.
Find ALL My Favorite MTB Gear Plus More Here
➡️ www.amazon.com... ⬅️
Purchase your Polygon Bike here! ⬇️
bikesonline-us...
I get that high-end, expensive bikes are cool and all, but my appreciation for budget(er) bikes is much greater. You really spoke my mind in this video Matty, very relatable content. Thank you, dude.
Ride a top shelf bike 1x u would know not mid shelf top u will totally see the difference
@@shadowwolf132613 For sure. Even a 4000 or 4500 2021 or newer Mt bike will very clearly show how a budget bike is a groaner. I dont like heavy cheap bikes.
Invariably if you get a budget bike, the upgrades will start and never stop, ending up costing more than a higher end bike , its the details that get expensive.
It's all made in China just because they put the bike together in Wisconsin doesn't mean the parts aren't from China
@@bradsanders6954 can you provide a list of components on the Polygon bike that you feel would need to be upgraded that would bring the price over that of a higher end bike? Because while I did actually end up going for a higher end bike myself I looked quite a bit at the Siskiu T7 and the components are not bad at all.
Wow really? Interesting how much do these bikes go for usually?
I’ve made a similar transition.I had been running an over forked boutique enduro bike for the past few years. Made the leap to a shorter travel, much cheaper consumer direct trail bike several months ago. I upgraded the fork and some of the components but it’s been a blast. I actually think many riders are substantially overbiked for riding they may never experience. My trail bike can handle the technical riding I am capable of attempting while also maintaining a balance of weight and pedaling efficiency. I think you’ve done the community a great service by pointing out people don’t need $10,000 long travel enduro bikes for the majority, if not, all of the riding they will encounter.
So what was the brand of boutique bike?
Yes trail bike will do for most people.
@@gregorykulinski2186 The brand is kind of irrelevant
@@gregorykulinski2186Transition.
Transition. Good bike but there are amazingly priced, quality bikes out there that aren’t Yeti, Evil or some other high priced boutique brand. Nothing against these companies, but many folks would be better served saving money while still getting good quality.
@@TheAncientScholarso you switched to transition? My sb130 and and a spire are not different price brackets at all, idk these were the two bikes I wanted most and price wasn’t a big difference between them, now commencail, canyon and yt yeah I can understand that.
I got a T8 and I love it, Polygon is great value for money and quality.
Your production value has got so good. Watched you from the early days. Great to see the channel come on like this.
Thank you! Definitely trying to make the viewing experience and value the best possible
It's good to finally see someone give an honest take on bikes that are affordable and capable.
I have a 2020 polygon T8 and it’s an absolute beast. It has way over 1k miles on it and it’s still taking the punishment I throw at it. Big fan of the budget MTBs thanks for sharing your experience
I hear that when polygon wheels are built, they aren't stressed enough so after a few rides, you should check creaking and movement in spokes and tighten them ( not too much 1/4 turn or less) then test the tension with a tension tool.
True!! I submitted a ticket on my spokes after 3 broke..they paid for them all to be replaced!! No other problems with my T7..love it!!
This is true with all bikes. The wheels should be checked and tightened after the first few rides. Shifter cables too.
Like any bike you should probably check your wheels, headset every so often before a ride..
@@chuk2rs It is, but most manufacturers stress their spokes after building wheels. I have built wheels before so i know. You can stress them by riding them a few hard rides or by putting the wheel on a pizza box and stepping on the spokes for a minute.
@@_Zane__ You don't need to check spokes alot. But after a 2 or 3 hard rides on your new bike. Check them. Sometimes you can feel them loose when your wheel feels like it is deflecting under your weight.
I remember the days, as a youth, more - made a better anything, lol. Learned I had to earn what made me better, by getting better at what I wanted to do. I am pushing 74, not anything like I used to be, but, I still love riding around on my bikes. Love watching those, as you, be experts. Loving life 🚲
That's the point. Keep enjoying!
I have been riding since the mid 90's and have bikes like the $6k Kona Process X. With that said I have met people with Polygon and was very surprised how good it was. The paint, fit and finish and details were totally on par with much more expensive bikes. It used to be a full suspension under $2k was full if compromises , missing paint and poor design. Now there are tons of really good options for reasonable prices.
You can ride darned near anything that rolls down a trail. A "budget" mtb for many Americans is $400 from Walmart. I think the Berm Peak guy has reviewed a few of those.
I just went through the same thing working my way down from an old enduro and the occasional aggressive hardtail ride to a Norco Fluid A3. Same Tekro brakes and Silver forkbas the Polygon, they are more than enough for the North Shore blue and occasional black trails I ride. It's shocking how good these entry level FS bikes can be.
Polygon has really stepped up their game over the last few years! The best thing is that the lower end components are always upgradeable later on if needed.
I was considering going Polygon for my next bike but unfortunately the Colossus isn't available in Canada and we ride some pretty steep and jankt terrain in the Canadian Rockies
I got a £1000 mtb over 5 years ago, it's a budget bike with 130mm travel front and rear. I've looked after it and it still runs very well. The paint is going now but I'm not concerned at this point if it breaks or anything. It does everything I want it to.
I'm a downhill rider and I use tektro orions, the exact same model as yours. They never faded or didn't have enough power, and I ride on proper downhill tracks.
Awesome! I got a T7 two years ago, haven't regretted it once.
I've upgraded as I've progressed as a rider just because. But stock, it's all the bike most people will ever need. Solid choice. 🤙
Not so much a shift as it is a return to your core. You started out showing how mountain biking is fun, budget bikes are great values and you don't need super fancy expensive bikes to get out and have fun. You got swept up into the awesome world of pricey bikes (Happens to us all) it's okay to have dream bikes and like all of those bikes, they are awesome in their own right. Either way, it's been awesome watching your journey. Keep riding, having fun and keep that positivity rolling. Thanks for the videos, @mattyactive
Should've kept the Remedy.
I have an Ibis Ripmo v1 I custom build, and I love it to death because I built it from scratch, and the bike I settled on after numerous other bikes I've tried. Yes, I spent too much: Factory setup isn't worth it for a normal rider like me, and I could've have built it cheaper with the knowledge I know now.
Later, I did buy a budget Ibis Ripley AF that was entry level spec and absolutely loved it. It handled almost everything my Ripmo could.
But ultimately, I realized the Ripmo is what I rode the most because of the aggressive riding I do. The Ripley served me well in my big adventure XC climbs, but I could do it the Ripmo: just slap on lighter casing tires. I ended up loving my Ripmo even more because I built it exactly for what I intended.
For people getting their first MTB, yes go budget, as most people will never out perform an entry level setup
I like my T7. I've changed nearly everything on it but I am a heavier rider and a few of the components were a bit sketch or uncomfortable. Otherwise a very capable platform at a low cost. Something a person can build as their riding and mechanic skills build.
Cool to see you on the polygon. I love mine and it's only the D5 and I ride it anywhere
After 15 years of mountain biking I've bought an ebike a comp model with basic components and it's feeling great.
Matty nice video as always - the T7 handles these green trails real good, if that’s what you’re into . Really the remedy would smash much harder trails than that - any bike going over those rollers would be fine like your marlin. I agree not to or don’t get tricked into everyone needs a top spec bike when they are only riding green easy trails…..it’s all about having fun with what you’re comfortable with….
The local dealership experience is very important for me. Having bought both our bikes at the Trek store down the street and ordered every upgrade through them, they treat me like a king. They know me by name and I get free adjustments. I can stop by, grab a cup of coffee and hang out. It’s well worth the few hundred extra bucks for bikes we plan on owning for many years.
I totally agree! That’s why I’m keeping my trek Roscoe 9 which is still my favorite bike. I just felt the remedy resembled the polygon T7 too much plus I wasn’t a fan of the sram components on the remedy.
No one needs a bike above and beyond a hard tail with maybe some good brakes and tires. Anything above that is really just preference.
I got a stumpjumper alloy, as budget as you can get. I’m 57 and have ridden BMX trails since I was a little kid. The stumpy is amazing. I’ve bottomed it out once real hard but I bought myself a shock pump and have never had that problem again. Budget bikes are fine unless you’re a competitive racer.
Nice video! I absolutely love my Siskiu T8
Dude, you're awesome. I'm with you on your analysis.
Thank you Mike! I really appreciate that
i have the t7, and trust me, all you have to do to make it run and compete with high level bikes, is figure out your ideal suspension settings, get a new chain and just an xt shifter(keeping the whole deore groupset) and change the brakes ( or rotors) and get a new rear wheel and new tires and tubeless and you have an unbelievably performing bike
About how much is it to do all those upgrades? Wouldn't it be better just to buy a bike with better components from the get-go?
@@8654ZuluFoxtrot honestly as time goes on, the things brake and you need to replace them, just buy the better components but it would end up being about 1k+
Hi Matty, Good Video and I agree with your points. I started MTB on this same bike T7 and had a ball of a time for 18months. I suspect Bike geometry has plateaued for now thus we see more capable budget bikes and top end bikes having minor refresh in 2022/2023. This is great for the sport as the entry point for a newbie is below USD $2k for a new bike and even lower if buying used. However, this is also some truth to “What you pay is what you get” Example the T7 is a 4 bar suspension in its basic form. It’s performance will not come close to a DW link or high pivot Trifecta on Forbidden bikes when it reaches its limit. However, for most trails the T7 is more than enough if you know your limits and the bike’s limit.
I’ve been riding my whole life and what I’ve found is that your bike has nothing to do with performance. If you have something that works and isn’t a total piece of junk, how well you ride is just about skill.
Just for context I live in the Alps. If im riding park and its a normal summer day theres no chance of me not having a piggy back shock. Also i could never carry the same speed on rough terrain with a RS Gold/35/ recon or whatever. They flex too damn much and the damper is just inferior to the charger series. I get your point and i support it but theres no doubt that the material you ride has a significant influence on your performance once you go semi professional
I can vouch for this. My first real mountain bike was a Trek Marlin 5 Hardtail. I wanted to shred so bad like everyone I see in videos, and I saved the $500 needed while I was a senior in high school working at a golf course washing golf carts. I learned literally everything on that bike. Fundamentals, drops, jumps, you name it. Before I bought my first full suspension, I was able to ride some double black rated trails.
Now adays, the bikes I own are a pure luxury, but I never forget that the ability is my own and not the bike. (Even though I will admit some stunts I've done I would not have enjoyed trying back on the Marlin)😅
I purchased the T7 during the pandemic when it was really hard finding a bike in a size small. I did quite a bit of research before buying it and found a lot of great reviews as well as videos featuring techy trails in the Himalayan mountains and bike parks in Malaysia - it seemed like a pretty capable bike to me. Plus I was new to MTB riding and did not want to spend over $2500 for my 1st MTB bike, so the T7 (at the time going for $2000) was a smart decision. It's now even cheaper, but I'm still glad I was able to get it when I did. Every bike mechanic I went to said it was a solid bike and great for beginner-intermediate riders. Now after riding it for 2 years, I would still agree. When I bought the bike I thought that if I liked it and kept up with riding, I'd make upgrades when my skills improved. Since then, I've upgraded the wheel set to I9's with Maxxis tires and then recently changed the tires to the Purgatory/Ground Control T7 and wow, the bike rides incredible! Budget bikes often get a 'cheap bike' label, but the T7 is a very capable bike that happens to also be affordable.
@@danimayb Thats true, but at the time, as a new MTB rider, I didnt have a lot of perspective on the various frames or what would work for me. As a new rider, there was no way to determine what frame would work for the kind of trail riding I preferred until I had some time and experience with different trails and gaining some skills. Also during the height of the pandemic, there werent a lot of bikes to choose from or even test ride (in my size) so I took a hopeful chance on buying a bike from online distributor in a discipline I was very new to. Coming from riding road, initially the bike felt cumbersome and heavy (I was used to 14 lb road bike), but I quickly settled in and the bike and wheel size fit perfectly. After 2 years, the bike still works great for me - so instead of buying another bike in the same ' mid-travel trail' category, I'm upgrading bits here are there. The wheels and tires by far were the most noticeable upgrade that makes the bike feel amazing. Also, I should mention, I recently got the trek Top Fuel 9.8 and love that as well - to me, both bikes are great. I still very much ride the Polygon just as much as the Top Fuel - just depends on trails. I dont compare the bikes - I just enjoy riding them both.
Same story for me, but after i bought my T7 it went up in price by over 10%, now its back down again. Mine is 3 years old now
Another great video. I really enjoy your vibe. I am wishing you all the growth for your channel!
Thank you!!
at the end the really important stuff is shocks frame and wheels, while the other components might not make a difference in performance they really do on the budget, thats why a good frame and shocks with "cheap" chain, derailleur and handlebars ecc might be better than an allaround budget if you get what i mean
yoo, 29 with longer wheelbase is always more stable and suits you better for your style of riding than shorter with smaller wheels. Also 29 often have longer chainstay length and bigger bb drop which leads to more stability. You can always try to play with tokens or try other suspension manufacturer (like fox). If you want to get more stopping power try metalic brake pads
Wouldn't consider myself a brand loyalist but I've owned 2 Polygons so far and will always consider them for any new bike. Just unparalleled value. I'm looking forward to the parks near me opening up once it gets warm so I can finally put my new Collosus through its paces.
One great thing about affordable bikes is you can build your fleet with the various genres - xc, trail , enduro, Hardtail etc. Making the whole n+1 achievable.
Yep. Built up a ridiculous bikepacking bike I could have built a more than good enough hard tail and fs with. Love the bike (ridden it the most of any bike last year), but I regret it sometimes.
T7 user here. Using it for 2 years now and just upgraded the groupset to slx 1x12 and change rotor to both 203 mm with shimano quad piston f/r
I bet your T7 is super nice! I love the slx groupset
Just bought a D7 and love it. Previous bike was an 08 Stumpjumper HT used for mostly XC and some racing which was, adjusted for inflation, >2k more expensive..
Only real issue I've had is the seat post is just too long. I have a pretty average inseam(maybe even slightly long) and the included 170mm post is about 50-60mm too long when fully inserted. Needed to swap a 100mm post in.
In a lot of areas this is true. A cheaper option can be as good or even better than the bigger brand. But it also requires that you as a consumer know what to look out for, you can also get stuck with some real crap, or even soemthing dangerous.
Great perspective Matty. It’s the rider that makes the bike, not the other way around. From a certain level up, components seem to usually make small performance gains, but are lighter. Some parts are worth the upgrade (Suspension), but components (brakes, cassettes, chain) make no major difference in “FUNCTIONAL FUNABILITY”!!!
I kept my T7 frame and upgraded everything else, love it. Out of the box the fork, tyres disks/pads need upgrading if you're going to take it on any downhill stuff.
I love my Polygon N9 (2019). I've added the Trid dirt jumper to my garage.Very happy with the Polygon brand 👍
My history with cheap bikes isnt so nice. I owned a t7 and from the factory the derailer cable kept pulling into the frame destroying multiple replacement cables i tried. I blew the fork out 6 months into owning the bike. Ended up binning it and buying a specialized status 160 for just $400 more than my t7 and I am amazed with its performance in comparason,
Glad to hear you are enjoying your Tektro brakes. They make great stuff and are my husband's and I brakes of choice.
I have a D7 and love it. Polygon makes very good bikes with great value for the money. I would definitely buy from them again.
You made a wise move. There are bike manufacturers that are not as popular or as well known as brands such as TREK that make great bikes for a fraction of the price. I currently own one myself and I could not be happier. Continue enjoying your POLYGON Siskiu T7.
cube stereo 120 pro still seems to amaze me how light it is and how you can flick it around great bang for buck so if anyones looking for a good bike look at this it has magura brakes and levers also it has a beautiful frame and nice schwalbe nobby nic tyres.
bad time to sell...unless you gettin the price you want, don't see it getting better until spring or summer of '25. Been trying to sell two of my full suspension for several months and no bites at all. Dropped the price as low as I'm willing so looks like hanging on to them for much longer. Think I'll leave one of them at work for lunch time rides. Higher end components besides being lighter are more durable, XT probably the most durable to weight to performance to price ratio. With that said, I did "down grade" my suspension. Went from a Fox X2 to a BomberCR coil and a Fox38 to a BomberZ1 coil. Coil rides so SWEET.
I started following for the trek!! But you’ve grown on me. You’re a solid good dude. I’ll stick around and I’m sure you’ll be back in a Trek soon.
Thank you I really appreciate you being here! still have my Roscoe 9. That’s not going anywhere! I also think you’ll enjoy my next video 😉
love your comment about limiting bike options to improve in a certain area!
I read this right as he started talking about it
Youre becoming one of my favorite channels!
I have that same color t7. Bought it last year. Just went with a shorter dropper post (125mm) and a more comfy seat and went tubless with Maxxis tires.
I can ride with anyone so far. Only limiting me is my own ability lol
For $1700 shipped to my door. Im happy.
Thank you I really appreciate you being here!
why such a short dropper? Are you small? if not, you should even get a longer dropper tbh. Especially when you arent a advanced rider.
Got my dad into mountain biking last year and we got him this. I’ve got a bunch of Trek bikes, but I will say after riding my dad’s T7 it is definitely an awesome bike for the money. Probably the best bike you can get in the sub $2000 range
I have 2 bikes. A Marin San Quentin 3 hardtail and a Canyon Spectral 29 AL 5 trail bike. Both of them combined are still cheaper than an Ibis Ripmo or any Yeti. It's not like I can get 100% out of either anyway. This video speaks to my soul.
I just got the Polygon Siskui T8 and love it. Im coming from the 2021 Roscoe 8, and as much as I love that bike, I felt it was time to take things up a notch. It's really great at climbing, and the suspension makes the trails that I ride much more comfortable. Couple things that I don't like is the cassette is a sunrace and not shimano like specified. The brakes are great but too much squish and needs to bled.
I also have Polygon. Siskiu t8 and Syncline c3 hardtail. Awesome bikes!
I've been riding for over 25 years and been through many bikes. I hate to use the word "cheap bikes" but rather, "budget friendly". Why? Because over the many years, I'd discovered that even some "cheap" bikes are great! Some brands get a bad rap for whatever reason but make some solid bikes. Some components get a bad rap because they're on the lower end of a line up. I'm running an NX drivetrain on one of my bikes even thought so many people say it's sh*t. But in reality, if it's well maintained, it works awesome! I've rarely had issues with it and it does the job.
Speaking of budget, I grabbed myself a 1998 kona cinder cone. Replace the forks and bar and stem. Front hydro brakes and rear rim brakes.
Looks great too
Man, you hit the spot. People dog polygon but they make bikes for so many companies it’s not a joke. Amy Morrison won the USA woman’s championship on a polygon. I’ve owed 3 different polygons and I keep going back tot hem due to the price. I can’t justify a 5k bike when I use it and sell it for a 50% loss. I’ve got to the point where I’ll buy low end bikes and enjoy them and get an other one.
Ayyyy, i just bought the polygon t8 with the sale try have going on, ive only taken it out twice. Im stoked you will be onsomething sinilar now to see how you shred so i can see how hard to push my bike. Its my first full sus, rode hard tails for two years. Very stoked
I too have left those big brand big budget bikes behind, to the point that most of my riding now is on full rigid because the trails around my neck of the woods don't warrant any suspension, and suspension just means you're instantly overbooked. Pair this with the fact that most of the time here is spent climbing to hit short downhill sections and ditching suspension is a no brainier.
I’m glad you are seeing the light 💡 as I am, you don’t need a top of the line bike to have fun
Tektro also makes TRP brakes. They used to be a total budget brand with cable actuated disc brakes, but in the last few years they've really reinvented themselves into a high quality brake brand.
That’s pretty cool, I never knew that, thanks for the info! I love trp brakes. I have them on my eminent onset. You are right, a couple years ago I couldn’t imagine using tektro brakes
Im ditching my car for two ebikes one eMTB (Pole voima) and one pedelec for shopping and work. Saving aloot of money. Im gonna bike til the end of the world. Greetings from Norway😀
Price tags ain't sh*t, money just make products more desirable for marginal gains or fragility. As I gained skills and experience in cycling I too learned what matters, what I need and usually thats a badass aluminium hardtails.
Thanks for showing us that the more budget friendly bikes for the "normal" people are still very very good, and can keep up with the higher end bikes on the trails and bike parks.
same conclusion I keep landing on.....In 2019, I picked up a barely used aluminum framed version GT Sensor rental bike from a bike dealership via Pinkbike. They only rented it out 5 times, so I got the bike shipped for $1500. Totally transformed how I ride, as it was the first modern geometry bike I'd ridden, and today, I still love riding the bike. I beat the crap out of it, and it just yawns. Sure, I've replaced everything but the cranks, headset, shifters and derailleur, with higher spec kit (shimano saint brakes, rockshox deluxe select +, rockshox revelation 140 with the pike ultimate rc2 damper and air shaft upgrades, hunt endurowide wheels, pnw loam post, spank bar/stem, etc.) It just proves how good bikes are these days, where what most in the biz would consider a lower end bike, can still be awesome. never been a better time to be in MTB, and I've been doing this since the 80's.
Mountain Biking and brand name snobbery is par for the course.
The T7 ( and T8 with Fox and SRAM components) offer incredible value for money.
I've had Specialized, Trek and Avanti, Polygon is not inferior just because it came from an online reseller.
In Indonesia they had chain store around the nationwide named Rodalink
This is so funny I just went from an older Fuel EX8 to a Polygon Siskiu T8.
My first squish is a budget bike and I probably won't get a new one for a while. My 2019 Trance 3 has been a dream to have.
That run down Shy Anne looked fun. I need to go ride WP more next season.
Thanks for this info.. as much as I like trek..these prices fit the world outside the US. When I tell people that I paid 5500 for a bike that I bought in 2010, They can't even imagine paying 10 grand for a bicycle in my country, that would be 20 grand. I sure do miss living in the states for the convenience 35 years...
I love my '21 T7. It was under $2k, and has been amazing. It would be nice if it weighed a bit less, but whatever, i'll just get stronger.
I worked in a shop and alway Frankenbiked stuff together..In 2017 I bought a "cheap" Liv dual suspension. Judy Hopps has been an awesome bike and really have no desired to get another. Well I should say room to get another.
Oh how I miss Trestle... Ridden there about half a dozen times over the years and that place is awesome!
I really appreciate your video style! Keep it up!
I have a Polygon D6 I bought during the pandemic. My first full suspension MTB. Mountain bikes were more expensive back then so it was my budget bike. I have slowly upgraded it over the last few years. The only thing original on it is the breaks and dropper post. It's a perfect down country trail bike for me. I'm thinking you should have gotten the T8 or the Colossus N7. The T7 is a great choice though
It was so disappointing to see so little remedy content after your purchase, especially after buying one myself. I love my remedy though, I’m sure the new bike will be great too!
To be honest, the Remedy 8 was a pretty damn good value bike, it's a workhorse not carbon bling... I had one for a while, it was good, but I wanted to go back to 29".
I feel the same way! If I didn’t have my trek Roscoe 9 and my eminent onset, I would’ve kept the remedy, but I feel like the polygon T7 is more stable on the trails when it comes to regular trail riding without a lot of jumps. I’m trying to stay closer to the ground nowadays lol
Just. Checked out their site. Nice selection and pricing. If I can find a dealer, i might have to check them out and do some test rides in the road and gravel setups
In 1985 I rode a new Rocky Mountain Hammer for 4 years rode ir everyday o. Trail in Canadas Rockies mountains. No shocks total cost 550 buks brand new. It’s insane too think u need a 5-10 grand bike to be involved
The problem is not the initial price of the bike. The problem is amortization price. USA taught the whole world that you need a new everything every year or two. But there is absolutely no reason to do that. The smartest and most economical thing to do is to hold on to things. Bicycles don't evolv nearly as fast as they used to. Your trek will look and work almost exactly the same as a model in 2028. Just keep riding, replace worn out things and you'll be much better of than replacing bicycles with cheap stuff often.
Ill admit i forked out a bit for my first trail rated bike, but its like my 8th bike. All my others where wally world specails i fixed every other week. I honestly never had that many issues with them save the constant maintance (i whent through so many cables on my derailers on thise things) my current bike is scott hard tail i got for around 2k, it was night and day diff, but not for the reasons i thought. It was the drive train. she is my first 1x12. That change felt great. I had only 3 bys till her, and im not going back. I feal finding the right bike is most important, and that bike could be a budgit bike. When i was looking for mine, i was expecting to have to upgrade her over time (i wanted a few bells and whistles) found my girl only needed 3 out of box. Still need to make her tubeless, but im also afaid to, so many goat heads in my area, tube or not its going to be swiss cheese here.
Wow that looks nice! I've been considering a Roscoe in the Spring, but now I don't know. I currently have a 2002 Trek 4500 and weighing whether I want to upgrade at all. Glad its still early...
I HAVE THE SAME BIKE AND I FREAKING LOVE IT. I would love to give the T8 a try tho 🙌🏽🤙🏽
Himalo version 2 Aliexpress bike, best bike I ever built😂 super budget frame and I put all the money on rear shock and front suspension. It's those shocks that makes the bike ride with the best quality.
Ive had a kent trouvaille since april now, and that suffices for my skill.. just regular maintenance and some random upgrades but still well under 1k in cost. I love it
I'm 72 and I ride an emtb. I can honestly say it changed my life.
I enjoy your videos and respect your opinions, your videos were a major factor in why I bought a Roscoe 9. That being said this whole video comes off as a polygon infomercial.
It’s just the bike I have and what I’d rather keep as a full suspension. And it’s hard to beat what you get for the price brand new. My trek Roscoe 9 is still my favorite bike!
i loved my t8, i ended up mulleting it and it made it even more capable. The down side was the travel when it comes to parks and heavy tech. capable but rough on the arms. my perfect compromise has been my spesh status 160. Everything on the t8 was great minus the tektro 4 pots felt horrible after rotors and pads. the first upgrade was a shigura set up that i have moved over to my status. overall polygon the t series are my highest recommended full sus for new riders!
yeah, the tektros are fine for what they are, but when you progress, you will terminate them sooner or later. The good thing is, they take Saint pads so you can get some more "juice" out of them, but they are not the most capable. Thats the next part on my T7 which will get replaced. I just cannot get them back to the power they had when new.
They’re already popular in SoCal, literally every third bike was a Polygon last time I was at the park
That's kinda funny when you compare it to the less budget friendly Collosus T6 and T8 back in the day.
Because it shows that they really should bring back their full carbon mtbs.
The siskiu trail bikes are awesome but the Collosus trail bikes are legendary. Wish they made a 29er version of those though, that way I could choose which size wheel I wanted and not have to only use 27.5.
I think there’s something to be said for long term durability, ease of servicing and availability of part, warranty and service. I know nothing of polygon on these things, just thinking out loud. Also, how well these really perform on some more advanced stuff. These are probably great bikes for most riders
I have a riding buddy who bought one in this exact color, because he wanted an aluminum Canyon Spectral but he doesn't know how Canyon's DTC model works. He's a way faster rider than me, and he gets 10/10ths out of his T7. He has now upgraded to XTR brakes and a 2023 Lyrik Ultimate with Buttercups, but the rest of the bike has remained the same. Polygon is not to be underestimated.
Maybe for the flow trails. But over chunk breaking bumps and drops you will really want a different bike.
The key is there is no perfect one bike, but there is a perfect fleet of bikes for the styles you will be doing
I just bought a cheap haro mountain bike after not having a bike for more than 15 years and I cant believe how much better things are.
Great video! And if you're in Canada, I'd highly recommend the Norco Fluid FS 3. Such great value for the price!
New subscriber.....just came across your channel and watched a few bids, good shit bro 👊
Thank you Andrew!
I’m bought a trek fuel ex 5 and couldn’t justify spending more.
I have had carbon and titanium bikes with XT SLX and all that.
The lower end bikes are so good now. Just a little heavier but so good.
You are exactly right! The only major thing I notice honestly is the weight
That’s awesome- definitely considering the T7 whenever I get a full sus. Except I’d probably upgrade the fork. Nothing against the Recon (which I’ve ridden extensively), but I love the Marzocchi Z2 Bomber that came on my Nukeproof Scout.
The nukeproof scout is an awesome bike! One of my favorites for sure
@@MattyActive yeah dude! Love the vid where you cover it.
Matty, I have a $1k used trek superfly fs 8 full suspension bike with entry level components and I ride probably harder than 90% of bikers on my local trail. I see many high end $4k plus bike get nothing but pedal stroke casual ride. I agree like you that my cheap bike does everything I need on my trail. I see many high end bikes on my trail barely fitting the high end cost. Agree too that I’m stronger because I ride a 11x36 drivetrain. It’s not the bike IMHO. Of course a nice high end bike would be awesome but if all one does is causal pedal sit on saddle there is no justification for a $10k bike.
The biggest difference between a Remedy and a Polygon, will certainly be the suspension and wheels. Polygon wheels are flimsy, and cheap suspension wears out quick. It'll feel good for the first 50 miles or so, then start to act weird. I've blown up every Rockshox Recon fork I've ridden.
Sure the brakes will be fine, Shimano does an awesome job with their low end hydros, you just have 2 piston calipers, cheaper pads, and no adjustment.
As for the drivetrain, fewer gears but similar extremes to a 12 speed. You'll just have a cheaper shifter and heavier derailleur.
This again brings me back to two things; suspension and wheels. Wheels can make or break a bike. I took a Salsa Timberjack with a 35 Rockshox Coil fork and narrow wheels, and swapped on a 36 Marzocchi and a custom set of DT Swiss welded wheels and the bike turned from a flimsy, floppy bike to one that rode like it was on rails.
Things definitely cost more for a reason, sure there is significant markup and corporate greed, but you do get more when you pay more. If you ride all the time, you'll soon see the Polygon's shortcomings.
My dream bike is bad for terms of geometry and stuff like that BUT dayum i loved to have one GT Chucker 2.0
Nothing better than asking to pass someone on the trail when you got the cheaper bike.