The final time Polygon rolled out a motorbike named Collossus N9, it was a 27.5″ carbon enduro bike rocking their FS3 suspension platform. Therein, two brief aluminum hyperlinks linked the entrance and rear triangles, sandwiching the shock and compressing it from each ends to ship 170mm of rear wheel journey. That was again in 2019, and the bike was discontinued thereafter. Now, the Indonesian model is respiration new life into the Collossus N9, and it couldn’t be extra totally different.
Polygon continues its use of pearlescent decals on the Collossus N9
Gone is the FS3 suspension platform, changed by a 6-bar linkage driving 170mm of rear wheel journey on an entire aluminum frameset devoted to 29″ wheels. Look acquainted? That could possibly be as a result of the so-called “Unbiased Floating Suspension” truly debuted in 2021 on Polygon’s Mt Bromo eMTB.
The 2023 Polygon Collossus N9 is the model’s out-and-out enduro race bike, raced this season on the World Enduro circuit by Matt Stuttard and his fellow Polygon Manufacturing facility Staff mates, Dan Wolfe (aka The Huge Dangerous Wolf) and Brady Stone. Herein, we now have every little thing that you must learn about this $3,299 USD enduro bike, in addition to our First Trip Impressions.
All images are credited to Finlay Anderson
Polygon Collosus N9: An Overview
We examined the 2023 Polygon Collosus N9 in Small; it has a 440mm attain, 435mm chainstays, a 77° efficient SA and a 63.5° HA
Polygon has accomplished an ideal job of teasing the Collosus N9 this yr. With three Enduro World Sequence athletes parading prototypes, it wasn’t precisely underneath wraps. In reality, we acquired up shut and private with Matt Stuttard’s experience at EWS Tweed Valley. The completed product launched immediately isn’t too dissimilar to what we noticed then; it has the identical 6-bar linkage, however the seat stays on the manufacturing bike are braced by a bolt-on aluminum bridge, presumably to extend the body’s lateral stiffness.
The small Collosus N9 has house for a 500ml water bottle contained in the entrance triangle, however at full compression of the rear suspension, the chainstay does make contact with the underside of the water bottle.
- Bike: Polygon Collosus N9
- Intention: Enduro
- Fork Journey: 170mm
- Rear Wheel Journey: 170mm
- Wheel Measurement: 29″
- Body Materials: Aluminum
- Weight: 18.15 kg (Small, with inside tubes)
- Value: £3,299 USD (as examined)
The Collosus N9 is spec’d with a customized tuned 205mm x 65mm Trunnion Mount Fox Float X2 air shock, although it’s value noting that Matt Stuttard selected to race his with an Ohlins TTX22 M2 Coil Shock
The is the one mannequin launched immediately, and we’re advised there aren’t any plans for the discharge of different choices within the close to future. It’s bedecked with a 170mm journey Fox 38 Efficiency Fork with the FIT GRIP damper, and a Fox Float X2 Air Shock. The body is authorised to be used with a 180mm journey single-crown fork, however it isn’t examined to face up to forces of a dual-crown fork.
A 12-Velocity Shimano Deore XT Drivetrain with KMC X-12 Chain delivers energy to the rear wheel, and chain retention is taken care of by a an e*13 TRS Plus information with bash guard. The bike rolls on an Entity XL3 aluminum wheelset with XT hubs fitted with Schwalbe Magic Mary 29″ x 2.6″ Tremendous Gravity Tires within the Addix Delicate Compound.
Cables and the rear brake hose are routed internally, however aren’t guided
The Collosus N9 cockpit is house to a 40mm Race Face Aeffect R stem and its complementary 780mm huge 20mm rise Race Face handlebar. SRAM Code R Brakes with 200mm rotors deal with pace administration, although the body can take as much as a 203mm rotor on the rear. All issues thought-about, it’s pretty wonderful bang-for-buck.
A 63.5° head angle definitely helps with confidence on steep and unfastened sections of path, such because the notorious and aptly named Avalanche within the Tweed Valley
Onto the geometry.
On that entrance, the Collosus N9 is bang updated, too. Impressively brief, steep seat tubes are paired with beneficiant attain figures and a slack 63.5° head angle for confidence in fall-line terrain. The Small, Medium, Giant and XL frames boast attain numbers of 440mm, 460mm, 480mm and 500mm, respectively, all paired with 435mm chainstays. If something, i’d say the underside bracket is somewhat excessive, comparatively, for a motorbike of this journey bracket at 353mm.
First Trip Evaluate: Polygon Collosus N9
At 5ft 4″ tall, I opted to check the Polygon Collosus N9 in Small. It has a 440mm attain paired with a 390mm seat tube that’s house to a 150mm dropper seat publish from TranzX. The really helpful sag ranges from 25% to 35%, so I went straight down the center at 30% sag. As per common, I reduce the bar to 740mm and turned all compression and rebound damping dials to completely open. Being comparatively mild at 60kg, I discover this excessive to be a helpful place to begin for bike setup. Situations are about as moist as they get proper now, so 17 PSI within the entrance tire and 19 PSI within the rear appeared cheap.
4 high quality rides is all I had time to dedicate to the Polygon, so that is very a lot “First Impressions” terrain.
Dropping into the primary descent aboard the Polygon Collosus N9, my ideas had been very optimistic. It dived out and in of a snaking part of steep, supported corners in a strong, predictable method and the size felt good. In these off-brake, rail the nook conditions, the bike felt super; planted, secure, and with a lot to push towards as you hit the the apex of the flip.
As issues began to get somewhat extra tough, in rock gardens and on chunky, pure sections of observe the place calm and cautious consideration of line selection is important, the bike was not straightforward to handle. It turned evident the suspension was too vigorous – nearly just like the bike was having a celebration that its rider was not invited to. I credited that largely to rebound pace of the suspension, and somewhat an excessive amount of strain within the Tremendous Gravity Magic Mary tires; I dropped the latter to fifteen PSI up entrance, and 17 PSI within the rear.
At that stage, I used to be joyful sufficient with its use of journey entrance and rear, so turned to the rebound dials in an try and calm issues down somewhat. I added 5 clicks of low pace rebound damping, and one click on of excessive pace rebound damping on the shock, and went to 10 clicks from absolutely open on the fork rebound. I left the compression damping on each ends absolutely open.
With these new settings, the bike is considerably simpler to experience by means of the uneven chunder, however nonetheless not fairly as well-mannered as i’d prefer it to really feel. Within the few days i’ve spent using it, my expertise is that it’s not tremendous intuitive to experience, and would require much more cautious consideration to get dialed in than I’ve thus far been afforded.
The Collosus N9 is a devoted 29″ enduro bike; there isn’t a geometry correcting flip-chip to be used of a 27.5″ rear wheel, and a mullet arrange will not be really helpful by Polygon
Don’t get me mistaken, I really feel there’s baggage of potential right here. I can experience it pretty quick, however not with out an enormous quantity of effort, or with out feeling like i’m near the sting.
I used to be in a position to take a look at the Collosus N9 earlier than truly seeing the geometry chart, which was a reasonably novel expertise. Earlier than taking a peek on the numbers, I took some guesses in regards to the HA, SA, rear-center and attain numbers. On the angles, I used to be spot on; on the chainstay size and attain numbers, I had overestimated.
General, the bike feels as if it has an extended rear-center size than it truly does. I did measure to examine that 435mm is right, and it’s. The bike’s heft could possibly be the perpetrator right here. I weighed the N9 in at 18.05 kg (dimension small). That’s it arrange tubeless with out pedals, a swap to my most well-liked Ergon SMC Womens saddle, and the addition of a Mudhugger EVO and a Syncros bottle cage. It’s doable the load is hindering the bike’s playfulness; definitely, the brief chainstays and really lively rear suspension shouldn’t be holding it again in that regard.
To reiterate, I haven’t spent an enormous period of time on the bike and these are merely my first experience impressions. As I alluded to, I feel the Collosus N9 could possibly be a really quick enduro race bike if arrange correctly for its rider. Actually, Matt Stuttard has confirmed the body’s functionality on the World Enduro circuit this season.
The fact for this novice, nevertheless, is that the ride-feel stands to profit vastly from a key part swap. The Schwalbe Tremendous Gravity casing is overkill for my weight and using model, in addition to for the principally comfortable(ish) terrain we now have right here within the Tweed Valley (not proven). I reckon a extra supple set of tires, maybe Maxxis EXO+ casing, or Continental Enduro, might at the least give the bike a extra acquainted experience really feel and supply a greater place to begin.
A Schwalbe Magic Mary 29″ x 2.6″ is maxing out the clearance on the chainstays, leaving about sufficient house to for some mud and lateral flex, however not heaps.
Additionally, after a quicker run down one in all our EWS race tracks, it was evident the rear finish was giving up its 170mm of journey too simply. I by no means felt any harsh backside outs, however the O-ring was maxed out on the 65mm stroke size. It’s possible the shock would profit from an extra quantity spacer.
What about climbing?
Apparently, the Collosus N9 carries its weight impressively properly up hill. Having weighed the bike, and having thought-about its Tremendous Gravity casing Magic Mary tires, I used to be somewhat involved it might be a horrible slog up lengthy hearth street climbs. I’m joyful to report that I used to be mistaken. Within the climbing gears, the bike is comparatively impartial, with little squat to talk of. There’s a trace of it, however not sufficient to make me attain for the lock out lever.
I’ve not accomplished a lot technical climbing on the Polygon, however i’ve no cause to boost grievance but. The 63.5° head tube angle does drive the rider into an aggressive entrance wheel-biased using place in an try and preserve it from wandering or lifting, however that is to be anticipated, and it’s comparatively straightforward to adapt to.
The general match of the bike feels excellent for my 5 ft and 4 inches. Whereas climbing, the 77° seat tube angle could be very welcomed, and I discover myself profiting from that slamming the saddle ahead on the rails. At my most well-liked saddle peak, there may be round 2 cm of clearance between the saddle and the tire at bottom-out, leaving heaps of house to permit for somewhat body flex.
The chainstay protector comes up somewhat brief, leaving the yoke and weld somewhat too uncovered to a flapping chain
Nonetheless, there’s a clearance consideration right here for shorter riders; in case you are eager to run a saddle peak across the 600mm mark, you’ll need to take care as to the place your saddle is positioned on the rails. In a impartial saddle place, with the seat publish pushed deep into its seat tube and the 150mm dropper absolutely slammed, I can get the again of the saddle to kiss the tire at full compression of the suspension. Operating the saddle in a barely ahead biased place eliminates that potential security situation, and it makes for a greater seated pedaling place anyway.
Professionals
- Fashionable enduro geometry
- Environment friendly to pedal up hill
- Good worth for cash
Cons
- Heavy
- Not intuitive out-of-the-box
- Proprietary Derailleur Hanger
- 14 normal bearings and two spherical bearings to take care of
Collosus N9 Kinematic
For individuals who want to pore over the kinematics of the 2023 Polygon Collosus N9, under you can see the leverage curve, anti-squat, anti-rise and axle path pertaining to its new 6-bar linkage suspension platform.
Left; the Collosus N9 leverage curve, Proper; the Collosus N9 anti-squat curves for a 32T cassette within the 10T, 14T, 21T, 33T and 51T sprockets. Click on picture to enlarge.
Left; the Collosus N9 rear axle path, Proper; the Collosus N9 anti-rise curve. Click on picture to enlarge.
Pricing & Availability
The 2023 Polygon Collosus N9 will solely out there within the mannequin seen and reviewed herein. It retails at $3,299 USD or $4,999 AUD and is out there to pre-order now from numerous on-line retailers together with Bikes On-line, with supply anticipated in Q1 of 2023. The bike is offered with a 5 yr guarantee on the body.
