![]() The chainstays are on the shorter side of the spectrum, but the steep seat angle and slack head angle work together to help keep the bike from feeling like it wants to loop out on steep climbs. The suspension is calm enough that I didn't feel the need to flip the Float X2's climb switch, and even on longer fire road grinds I was perfectly content keeping it in the open position. Weight aside, the Collosus does pedal well, especially for a bike with 170mm of travel. I can't help but wonder how much weight and complication would have been saved by going with a tried-and-true Horst Link layout, rather than sticking on the links required for the IFS suspension layout? Yes, I realize the Collosus isn't some crazy expensive, carbon fiber wonder bike, and I'm willing to cut it a little slack in the weight department considering its price tag and solid parts kit, but 39 pounds is still pretty chunky. I've spent plenty of time – years, really – pedaling around bikes in the 40-pound range, and I'm far from being a weight weenie, but I'll admit that it's a little harder to muster up the motivation to get out on a long pedal on a bike this heavy. To anyone who says that weight doesn't matter, I encourage you to take the Collosus out for a spin. The scaling of the chart makes the progression look fairly extreme, but in reality it's around 19%, which is fairly typical for a longer travel enduro bike. ![]() The anti-squat percentages are fairly high, sitting around 121% at sag before gradually dropping off as the bike goes through its travel. All those links may make it easier for designers to achieve the suspension characteristics they want, but it also means there are 16 cartridge bearings to keep track of, and the lowermost set of bearings are directly in front of the rear wheel, right where mud and dirt will end up on a sloppy ride. The concept is that the two lower counter-rotating short links can be used to dictate the axle path, while the seatstays and rocker link are used to adjust the leverage curve, or how much progression there is. It uses a version of the IFS (Independent Floating Suspension) design first seen on Polygon's Mt. ![]() The Collosus keeps the trend alive, although the overall look likely won't be as polarizing as those other two examples. Polygon seem to have an affinity for suspension designs that are a little different from the norm – there was the wild-looking floating dual-link FS3 design back in 2014, and the even more out-there aesthetic of the SquareOne EX9 with its R3ACT suspension in 2017. There's also frame protection on the underside of the downtube to keep it safe from flying rocks or truck tailgates. It is nice to see that the Collosus is spec'd with a chain guide and a bash guard, since crunching a chainring is a good way to put a damper on a race run. The brake, derailleur, and dropper lines are routed internally, although there isn't really anything inside the frame to keep them from rattling around - thankfully, I didn't notice too much noise on my test bike. There is a ribbed chainstay protector, although it's a little short – further coverage towards the front of the chainstay would help keep the paint from being chipped by the chain. Another feature that's missing is a universal derailleur hanger, something that's likely to become more of a 'must have' if the rumors about SRAM's next generation drivetrain are true. There's also no in-frame storage or any accessory mounts to be seen. All of those links and the shock position do take up some precious water bottle real estate, which means that only a 'regular' sized bottle will fit in the front triangle. The Collosus' frame is visibly stout everything from the forward shock mount to the double-braced swingarm make it look like it was built to take a beating. 2.6” wide Schwalbe Magic Mary tires are mounted up onto Entity rims that have a 35mm internal width. Unfortunately, those cranks are 175mm long, which may not be ideal for riders in rockier terrain. SRAM Code R brakes with 200mm rotors help keep speeds in check, and Shimano takes care of the shifting via an XT derailleur, Deore cassette, and XT cranks. Suspension is handled by a Fox 38 Performance fork with a Grip damper, and 230 x 65mm Float X2 shock. After a season of enduro racing and refining it's now available, with an aluminum frame and a $3,299 price tag that stands out in stark contrast to the ultra-expensive carbon machines that have been released lately.įor the price, Polygon have put together a great parts package. The bike has 29” wheels front and rear (it's not mixed-wheel compatible), and 170mm of travel. Polygon's new Collosus N9 first emerged in all its urban camo painted glory at Sea Otter this year, complete with the IFS suspension layout first seen on the Mt.
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