Spherical One: Polygon’s $3,299 Collosus N9

This all provides as much as a sizeable 39.25 kilos (17.8 kg) – Collosus looks as if a really becoming title given these numbers.
Body particulars

The body of the Collosus is visibly sturdy; every thing from the entrance shock mount to the double-butted swingarm feels prefer it was constructed to take a beating. All of these hyperlinks and the place of the shock take up precious water bottle area, which implies solely a “common” sized bottle will match within the entrance triangle. Nonetheless, it is higher than nothing. There’s additionally no in-frame storage or accent mounts to be seen. One other function lacking is a common derailleur hanger, one thing that can possible turn out to be extra of a “will need to have” if the rumors about SRAM’s next-gen drivetrain are true.

There’s a ribbed chainstay protector, though it’s a bit brief – additional protection ahead of the chainstay would assist stop paint from being chipped off by the chain. The brake, derailleur and dropper strains are internally routed, though there’s actually nothing contained in the body to cease them vibrating – fortunately I did not discover an excessive amount of noise on my check bike.

It is good to see that the Collosus comes outfitted with a sequence information and bash guard, as a result of smashing a chainring is an efficient option to put a damper on a run. There’s additionally a body guard on the underside of the downtube to guard it from flying rocks or truck tailgates.

Geometry

Most Collosus geometry numbers are in keeping with what has turn out to be the usual for this class. The pinnacle angle is slack, 63.5 levels with a 170mm fork, attain is 480mm for dimension huge, and the seat tube angle is 77 levels. The chainstays are on the shorter aspect at 435mm throughout the board – they do not change with every dimension, a follow increasingly corporations are adopting.

Suspension design

Polygon appears to have an affinity for suspension designs which are a bit totally different from the norm – there was the floating double-link FS3 design in 2014, and the much more extravagant aesthetic of the SquareOne EX9 with its R3ACT suspension in 2017. The Collosus retains the pattern alive, although the general look most likely is not as polarizing as these different two examples.

It makes use of a model of the Impartial Floating Suspension (IFS) design first seen on Polygon’s Mt. Bromo eMTB. The idea is that the 2 decrease counter-rotating brief hyperlinks can be utilized to dictate axle trajectory, whereas the seat stays and toggle hyperlink are used to regulate lever curve or development. All of those linkages could make it simpler for designers to get the suspension traits they need, but it surely additionally means there are 16 cartridge bearings to trace, and the bottom bearing set is immediately in entrance of the rear wheel, the place mud and filth will find yourself on a sloppy trip.

Anti-squat percentages are fairly excessive, hovering round 121 % at sag earlier than regularly dropping because the bike goes by way of its journey. The scaling of the graph makes the development fairly excessive, however in actuality it is round 19%, which is fairly typical for a long-travel enduro bike.

Journey impressions

To anybody who says weight would not matter, I encourage you to provide Collosus a attempt. I’ve spent plenty of time – years, actually – using bikes within the 40-pound vary, and I am nowhere close to a heavyweight, however I am going to admit it is a bit more durable to place collectively the motivation to get on an extended pedal on such a heavy bike. Who is aware of, possibly I am simply getting mushy.

Yeah, I notice the Collosus is not a really costly carbon fiber miracle bike, and I am prepared to loosen it up a bit within the weight division given its value and strong elements equipment, however 39 kilos continues to be fairly large. I am unable to assist however surprise how a lot weight and problem would have been saved by going with a confirmed Horst Hyperlink format, moderately than sticking to the required hyperlinks for the IFS suspension format?

Weight apart, the Collosus Is pedal nicely, particularly for a motorbike with 170mm of journey. The suspension is quiet sufficient that I did not really feel the necessity to flip the Float X2’s climb change, and even on longer rides I used to be completely content material with holding it within the open place. The chainstays are on the shorter finish of the spectrum, however the steep seat angle and slack head angle work collectively to assist hold the bike from feeling prefer it desires to loop on steep climbs. Though it is a fairly strong and free bike, I did not discover it too exhausting to maneuver in tighter switchbacks or extra technical sections – it is actually the gradual rolling tires and the general weight which supplies it a extra subdued really feel when climbing.

When it comes time to descend, the Collosus is not the quickest initially, but it surely feels very strong and prepared for something as soon as it is as much as it. The rear finish is sort of stiff, and this trait mixed with the shorter chainstays makes it simpler to interact and disengage the rear wheel in tight corners, though this comes with barely diminished traction and stability – at instances it regarded just like the rear of the Collosus wheel was extra prone to slide round a bend moderately than draw a pointy arc. It additionally doesn’t have the plushest, floatiest suspension really feel; it is going to take the sting off the tough stuff, it simply would not erase these largest hits the way in which another bikes on this journey rack do.

General, the Collosus N9 gives nice worth with regards to elements spec, and the geometry will not maintain it again so long as you retain it pointed in the direction of steeper, extra technical trails. Weight is the most important draw back, although that is not a lot of a problem for riders who spend most of their time climbing inside a shuttle van or sitting on a chairlift.