Polygon has never been afraid to do something different with their bikes. Even their Syncline hardtail is distinctive. At Sea Otter this year, Polygon was showing their latest bike, the Square One, and it continues that heritage.
For a little more background on the R3ACT-2Play suspension platform that makes this bike so unique, check out my article on the Marin Wolf Ridge. Both the Square One and the Wolf Ridge share the same basic suspension design, although the execution differs between the brands.
Why make a bike with 180mm of travel? According to Polygon and NAILD – the company behind the suspension platform – the bike is so efficient, that riders no longer have to choose between a short travel bike that pedals well or a long travel bike that excels at descending. We’ve all heard these claims for years. A bike that climbs like a hardtail, but descends like a DH bike.
Can Polygon deliver on those promises? Will riders finally be able to have a one bike quiver with the Square One? We shall see.
Your Turn: How much suspension is enough? Where do you think mountain bikes will stop with ever-increasing amounts of suspension travel?
That’s probably so much more travel than I’ll ever need, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting one!
Aaron, any idea how much it weighs? I looked on their website and didn’t see a number. Maybe I missed it.
Honestly, it doesn’t sound so original to me. It reminds me a lot like the Pivot Firebird which Pivot has been building with upwards to 180mm travel for several years now. The Firebird climbs technical amazingly and descends like a runaway freight train. The only complaint I have had on the Firebird in the past is its weight. It will wear you down through a day because of its weight, but it is soooooo worth it. The good thing is that Pivot geared it so you could pedal it all day and in steep big country. Now though, the 2017 Firebird weighs only 30lbs with 170mm of travel. Hard to beat that. The two bikes would make an interesting comparison — the upstart Square One vs the tried and tested Firebird.