21/22 Bikes That Make Your Shorts Tighter.

[smmokan]

I'm not sure I've ever seen that kind of build on a legit bike for such a low price. Maybe it's a "loss leader" to get people to buy into the Polygon brand?

[ASmileyFace]

$2300!!?! Wow that's cheaper than most other brands similar bikes at dealer cost. Crazy.

[toast2266]

Not saying it's not a decent price, but there's a lot of junk components on that bike. The SLX drivetrain is thrown in to make the bike look better, but cost savings were made elsewhere. Considering the likelihood of getting worthwhile warranty support from polygon is pretty questionable, I'm not sure it's actually a better deal than a comparably priced specialized / giant / whatever.

[grinch]

Id take my chances. Probably get the cheaper one with deore and pimp the suspension. Geo is dialed. They even made 2 different swingarms and front triangle for medium 27.5/29. Basically theyve cut out 3 middle men(lbs,distributor, and bike co). The factory is the bike co

Sent from my SM-G950W using TGR Forums mobile app

[gramboh]

There's a longer travel Forbidden that Buchanan is testing, both 29er and mullet setup using the special link they sell for the Druid. He looks fast:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7vJcvhwkf8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOmBA4MRrzU

[SchralphMacchio]

2021 Bikes That Make Your Shorts Tighter.

Having some fun since my wife kind of passively green lighted a new bike for me about a year from now (maybe frames will actually be in stock due to supply chain beefing up and COVID-pumped demand not sustaining???) ... my bike would hand-me-down to her, which is fine, since she really likes my bike, and it is a pretty nice bike.

Any thoughts on this?
- Lightweight - closer to 2015 era bikes than now bikes
- 27.5 front and back (probably like 2.5-2.6F and 2.4-2.5R)
- Really good technical climber (sustained successive roots and step-ups) that can still send sustained 3-4000’ backcountry trail descents at speed ... so I’m not talking gravity/bike park and being able to blast braking bumps and maintain the high speeds already designed into the course, I’m talking about stable handling on steep rocks, being able to navigate tight switchbacks with step downs and chunder, and slowly dialing up speed and playfulness and jumps as exposure / trail steepness / consequences start to come down (but not lose the brakes or shock to overheating)
- Yes to modern geo but not so modern that wheelbase is excessive for sharp switchbacks - I think that basically limits reach to about 455 mm for a medium frame and head angle to 64.5, I might even stick with 65 to 65.4

Basically, I’m looking for a 27.5 aggressive/fun trail bike that compared to my current bike: climbs much better over technical obstacles while dampers are fully open, has slightly better damping over successive crap, has more progressive geo for more playfulness and stability. I could also probably use a more powerful front brake. I’m also extremely lightweight so I can handle lighter weight frame construction and parts that might flex or break under a Clyde but would still be stiff responsive and reliable when I’m piloting. Use is primarily human powered riding in Western Oregon (steep big vert, some chunk but not too much, high trail speeds going down) and occasional road trips throughout the Western US and Canada.

Current bike is:
Bronson v1 CC (-1.5 angleset), 160mm Pike A1 RCT3, Monarch+ RC3 (RWC needle bearing upgrade as well)
Carbon 30mm IW wheels (not boost, Sped Precision)
X01 11-sp / Garbaruk cassette
XT 8000 180mm F/R brakes
Carbon bars

I’m guessing my bike is somewhere around 28.5 lbs

It seems like an SB140 T1 with the full XT build, stick with Fox 36 fork and add carbon rim upgrade would be a top contender, adding climbing prowess stability damping playfulness stronger brakes, same class of other components, without adding much heft ...

What other bikes am I missing here? I haven’t demo’ed much in a while and all I’ve seen is complete bike weights going up in the name of stiffness and shred ...

[caulfield]

27.5 aggressive/fun trail bike

tranny scout

[carlh]

2020 Scout, Newer bronson if you like VPP, Mojo, Current generation Mojo (not hd) if you like dw-link.

[smartyiak]

I'm not a midget, so I picked 29" and am a dick about it, but...

I spent a few hours on an Eskar Elkat and really enjoyed it.

https://eskercycles.com/products/elkat

It would take some $$$$ to get it to 28#, but an SB140 isn't free either.

[bagtagley]

I think weights are going up in the name of durability.

[SchralphMacchio]

2021 Bikes That Make Your Shorts Tighter.

2020 Scout, Newer bronson if you like VPP, Mojo, Current generation Mojo (not hd) if you like dw-link.

I’ll keep those in mind.

On the Scout, I was concerned that Transition tends to be heavier, less focused on tech climbing skills, and the wheelbase might be too long for some of our switchbacks ... looks like with the 2020 updates only wheelbase might be the main concern.

I always have the Mojo in mind - wife has a gen 1 SL which I like for how light and snappy it is, and its climbing skills. But I hate the geo - it’s super small and feels like I’m gonna go OTB if I don’t perfectly stick weighting and tire placement.

I really liked the Bronson V2 - that generation of VPP linkage has serious improvement over mine for both up and down - but now with the tunnel shock linkage I wonder if it’s more bike and more pork than I need, so maybe I’ll
keep the 5010 CC in mind ... those bikes have definitely gotten heavier over the years.

I also have much love for RideGG - the custom ordering platform would allow me to get a pretty customized Shred Dogg and for less cash than a fully built SB140. I just haven’t demo’ed their Revved frame bikes and don’t know how the platform handles climbing over rocky nasty stuff compared to the bikes above.

[ticketchecker]

I think weights are going up in the name of durability.

and lifetime warranties

[SchralphMacchio]

and lifetime warranties

Santa Cruz had that 6 years ago when their carbon frames were a half pound lighter ...

[SchralphMacchio]

Another compelling reason to go Shred Dogg is that I can always get a Smash chain stay kit (and might need a different shock) then pull the boost 29” Pike and 29 x 2.6 wheels off of my Pedalhead and run that bike for road trips in gnarly terrain ...
[emoji848]

[SchralphMacchio]

^ I think that’s the winner, especially because I already have the 29” wheelset (35mm IW) and 29” 150mm fork. It’s another $820 for the Smash seatstay kit plus DPX2 Performance.

Then I’d have a mid travel 27.5 play bike for fun terrain (primary use) and a mid-plus travel 29” trail eating bike for nasty terrain (road trip use). And once I get a truck (for room to bring extra gear plus family) both wheelsets/stay kits can travel with on road trips.

I’ll go back to lurking / ogling this thread now, and trying to save cash smartly over the next year!!!!