Polygon Siskiu T8 2022 Review

A well-rounded mid-travel trail bike with a great build at an amazing price.

	This Product Polygon Siskiu T8 2022	YT Jeffsy Base 29 2020	Giant Trance 29 3 2020	Kona Process 134 29 2020	Giant Trance 3 2019
Awards
Price	$2,299 List	$2,299 List	$2,100 List	$2,399 List	$2,000 List
Overall Score	87	93	87	83	77
Pros	Awesome build for the price, versatile, well-rounded performance	Affordable, versatile, hard-charging, solid component spec	Energetic playful feel, lighter weight, 12-speed drivetrain, modern trail bike geometry	Hard charging on descents, long dropper post, modern trail bike geometry	Maestro suspension, beefy tire spec, stable at speed, affordable
Cons	Hard grips, saddle shape	A bit heavy, no climb switch on rear shock, SX Eagle drivetrain	Fork needed immediate service, can be overwhelmed in more aggressive terrain	Heavy, mediocre fork specification, not the fastest climber	Feels heavy, 1x10 drivetrain, suntour fork is tricky to tune
Bottom Line	This redesigned bike is just as well-rounded but rips harder than its predecessor	The 2020 Jeffsy Base easily takes our Editor's Choice Award for its awesome all-around performance	Capable, versatile, and lively, this is a great short travel 29er	Hard-charging riders will love this bike	A capable 27.5-inch trail bike with a preference for the descents
Rating Categories	Polygon Siskiu T8	YT Jeffsy Base 29	Giant Trance 29 3	Kona Process 134 29	Giant Trance 3
Fun Factor (30%)	9	10	9	9	8
Shifters	Shimano SLX 12-speed	SRAM SX 12-speed	SRAM SX 12-speed	SRAM SX 12-speed	Chiman Deore 10-speed
Rear Derailleur	Shimano SLX 12-speed	SRAM SX 12-speed	SRAM SX 12-speed	SRAM SX 12-speed	Shimano Deore 10-speed
Cranks	Shimano MT510 175mm(L-XL)	SRAM SX Eagle DUB	SRAM SX Eagle DUB	SRAM SX Eagle	Praxis Cadet
Chainring	32T	32T	30T	30T	30T
Bottom Bracket	BSA Threaded	SRAM DUB Press fit		SRAM DUB PF92	Praxis Press Fit
Cassette	Shimano SLX 12-speed 10-51T	SRAM PG-1210 11-50T	SRAM SX Eagle 11-50T	SRAM SX Eagle 11-50T	Shimano Deore 10-speed 11x42T
Saddle	Entity XTENT	SDG RDR MTN	Giant Contact (neutral)	Kona Trail	Giant Contact (neutral)
Seatpost	Tranz-X 170mm (L-XL)	YT Postman 150mm (size large)	Giant Contact Switch	TranzX Dropper Internal 170mm	Giant Contact Switch 150mm
Handlebar	Entity Expert 780mm	Race Face Aeffect R 35 780mm	Giant Contact TR35 780mm	Kona XC/BC 35 780mm	Giant Connect 780mm
Stem	Entity Expert 35mm	Race Face Aeffect R 35, 50mm	Giant Contact SL 35	Kona XC/BC 35	Giant Connect
Brakes	Tektro HD-M745 4-piston	SRAM Guide T	Shimano MT400	Shimano Hydraulic Disc	Shimano BR-MT400
Warranty	10 Years on frame	5 years	Lifetime limited warranty on frame	Lifetime limited warranty on frame	Lifetime limited warranty on frame

Should I Buy This Bike?

The 2021 Siskiu T8 is an impressively well-rounded mid-travel trail bike that is offered at a very competitive price. Polygon is a consumer-direct brand and their bikes are sold and distributed by BikesOnline.com in the US. Thanks to the consumer-direct sales model, Polygon is able to offer a price to build ratio that only fellow consumer-direct brands can compete with. That said, the components on the Siskiu T8 are just one of the reasons this bike performs so well on the trail. The 2021 Siskiu T models have a completely redesigned frame with a number of improvements and geometry tweaks that bring it in line with all the modern geometry trends. It may look a lot like the previous version, but suspension kinematics have been tweaked slightly, and it was given a healthy dose of the long and slack treatment. It is still a versatile ride that performs well in all situations, but now it feels more confident and composed at speed and in steep, rough terrain. Despite the recent updates, it retains the responsiveness, agility, and playful demeanor that were the hallmarks of the previous version. Our testers were thoroughly impressed with the Siskiu T8 and we feel it is an excellent, do it all, mid-travel trail bike for the rider on a budget.


The Siskiu T8 is an easy bike to get along with, and it performs well up and down the hill. Well-rounded and agreeable bikes are fun to ride.

Fun Factor

The Siskiu T8 proved to be a blast on the trail. Fortunately, Bikesonline.com has a very user-friendly unboxing process, and we had the T8 ready to roll in about 30 minutes with no adjustments necessary to the drivetrain or brakes. Tools were included and the process was very simple so we could get on the trail and start having fun. We felt comfortable from the minute we threw a leg over our test bike. It was intuitive and it felt like meeting up with an old friend. There was no awkward getting used to it period, it was just game on from the start.

One of the things we liked so much about the Siskiu T8 was how natural it felt. Climbing or descending, high or low speeds, it just felt right. The 135/140mm of rear/front travel is pretty ideal for a lot of riders and locations. It's that perfect middle ground that's still lively and efficient, but it has your back when things get rough and nasty. The updated geometry also does wonders for this bike's descending prowess. It still feels relatively nimble and responsive, but it doesn't falter when speeds increase or flinch when the trail gets steep and rocky. At the same time, it climbs like a goat with loads of traction, responsive handling, and a nice steep seat tube for direct and efficient power transfer. It's not the most playful nor the hardest charging bike we tested, but we find the versatility, well-rounded performance, and user-friendliness of the Siskiu T8 to be loads of fun.


The updated geometry made a noticeable difference in the T8's downhill performance. It's capable of riding as aggressively as you want.

Downhill Performance

When compared to the previous version, the new Siskiu T8 is more capable and confidence-inspiring on the descents. This is due mostly to the updated geometry, which includes a longer reach, wheelbase, and slacker head tube angle. Some minor changes were also made to the rear suspension design to adjust its kinematics and performance. While we liked the previous Siskiu T8, we feel the recent updates have helped make it a more well-rounded and competent descender.

When Polygon redesigned the Siskiu models, they gave the frame a serious overhaul that brought it in line with today's modern trail bike geometry "standards". This includes extending the reach by 25-30mm across all sizes, up to a roomy 480mm in the size Large we tested. The head tube angle has also been slackened by a full degree to 65.5-degrees. The extended reach and slacker headtube resulted in a longer wheelbase, now 1220mm on the size Large. The added length of both the wheelbase and reach has done wonders for this bike's stability at speed, and the slacker headtube helps make it feel more confident when dropping down steep or chunky sections of trail. One might think that the added length or slackness might make the Siskiu feel more sluggish or less agile in tight terrain, but we didn't find that to be the case. The 430mm chainstays are relatively short for a 29er and help to keep the rear end of this bike feeling sporty and easily maneuverable. We wouldn't say it's the poppiest or most playful bike we've tested, but it still had us looking for side hits and trying to manual every dip in the trail.


The Siskiu T8 still likes the fun line and has a little spring in its step.

The Siskiu T8 has a Faux Bar suspension design which is a linkage driven single pivot. The main pivot is on the seat tube a couple of inches above the bottom bracket. There are pivots on the seat stays just above the rear axle, and it has a one-piece rocker link attached about midway up the seat tube. The one-piece rocker link is claimed to add rigidity and lateral stiffness, and it directly drives the seat stays to compress the rear shock. Adjustments to the suspension design have supposedly resulted in increased anti-squat for improved pedaling performance and the Fox Float DPS shock also comes with a light custom tune to make it supple in the initial part of the stroke and have a more linear curve. We found the suspension to feel quite supple over small and mid-size chop and chatter, and there was still enough progression towards the end of the stroke to prevent harsh bottoms outs on larger hits. Anyone seeking more ramp-up at the end of the stroke can easily add volume spacers to the rear shock.

The component specification of the Siskiu T8 works quite well and helps improve its downhill performance. The Fox Rhythm 34 is a very nice fork for a bike in this price range and it easily outperforms cheaper forks on the competition. The 780mm wide handlebar and short stem provide great leverage for responsive handling while the Tektro 4-piston brakes worked way better than we expected. The drifty feel of the Schwalbe Hans Dampf tires takes a little getting used to, but they work well in a huge range of conditions and their 2.6-inch width has loads of air volume and a huge contact patch resulting in excellent braking and cornering traction.


The Siskiu T8 handles the climbs quite well with loads of traction and comfortable geometry.

Climbing Performance

The Siskiu T8 is a competent climber with comfortable geometry and loads of traction. At 32 lbs 8 oz (set up tubeless without pedals), it's not the lightest weight or zippiest feeling on the uphills, but it's certainly no slouch. It performs well in tight, technical terrain and long, steep grinds alike. The quality component spec, specifically the drivetrain and tires, helps bolster its solid climbing performance.

Following recent trends in mountain bike geometry, Polygon steepened the effective seat tube angle on the Siskiu T8 to 76.5-degrees. This lines the rider up nicely right above the bottom bracket for a direct and efficient transfer of power down into the pedals. The steep seat tube also makes the bike's longer reach feel a little shorter than it is, which results in a comfortable, relaxed seated pedaling position. The increased anti-squat of the rear suspension also helps keep the rider propped up, and it doesn't settle too deep in its travel while climbing. Despite the slack-ish 65.5-degree head tube angle and a 1220mm wheelbase, the reduced offset fork helps to keep steering and handling from feeling vague, and testers found the Siskiu to negotiate technical terrain with relative ease.


The T8 is a tad heavy, but it climbs well and can scramble up techy climbs with the best of 'em.

The Faux Bar rear suspension platform has a nice active feel when climbing and it really smoothes over small bumps and trail chatter and helps maintain excellent traction, especially when seated. Out of the saddle efforts did result in noticeable pedal bob, but no worse than most other bikes in this test. Fortunately, the Fox DPS Performance rear shock has a 3-position compression damping/climb switch to help stiffen up the suspension should you choose. Testers mostly rode in the open position, but occasionally would switch to the middle position on longer climbs for a slight improvement in efficiency The firm position came in handy for extended pavement or fire road climbs and we feel it's a nice option to have.

The Shimano SLX 12-speed drivetrain worked flawlessly for us during testing with crisp and precise shifting. We feel it performs much better than SRAM's low-end offerings that are common on other bikes in this price range. A 32-tooth chainring is paired with a 10-51-tooth cassette for a massive range that we found to be adequate for any steepness of hill we encountered. The big ol' 2.6-inch Schwalbe Hans Dampf tires have excellent climbing traction and they hook up well in most conditions and surfaces.


The Siskiu T8 is a stunner. It looks far more expensive than it actually is.

Build

The Siskiu T8 frame is constructed of ALX Alloy and it has clean lines and a stunning paint job. It comes with size-specific wheel sizes and the Large and Extra Large frames come with 29-inch wheels, the Small comes with 27.5-inch wheels, and the Medium can be purchased with either wheel size. The 29-inch wheeled versions have 135mm of rear-wheel travel and a 140mm fork, while the 27.5-inch versions have 140mm of rear travel and a 150mm fork. The frame has internal cable routing, integrated chainstay protection, and room in the front triangle for a full-size water bottle. Attached to the frame is one of the nicest builds you'll find on a bike in this price range.


For the price, the suspension package is quite impressive.

Polygon has equipped the Siskiu T8 with a quality Fox suspension package that is quite impressive for the price. A Fox Rhythm 34 fork handles the 140mm of front suspension in a smooth and controlled manner. The 34mm stanchions and the FitGrip damper are a perfect match for a mid-travel trail bike like the Siskiu, and the Rhythm 34 works well without being overly complicated. The rear travel is controlled by a Fox Float DPS Performance shock with a custom tune, rebound adjustment, and a 3-position compression damping/climbing switch.


A set of tubeless-ready Schwalbe Hans Dampf tires are mounted front and rear on the Siskiu. They've got a drifty feel but they work well in a huge range of conditions.

The Siskiu T8 is clad with a number of Polygon's house brand components, known as Entity, including a set of Entity XL2 tubeless-ready wheels. The rims have a 35mm internal width and pair well with the 2.6-inch wide Schwalbe Hans Dampf Addix Speedgrip tires. The Hans Dampf is a great do-it-all trail riding tire that is known for its somewhat drifty feel and versatility. The tires come set up with tubes, but both the wheels and tires are tubeless-ready and can be converted to tubeless in just a few minutes (and about $30) with the purchase of some tubeless valve stems and sealant.

The cockpit of the Siskiu T8 is comprised of mostly Entity branded components. It is generally pretty dialed, but we did take issue with a couple of things. The 780mm wide handlebar is clamped to a short, stout 35mm stem with a 35mm clamp diameter. This bar stem combo was nice and comfortable and provided a direct, responsive handling feel. A set of Entity lock-on grips are attached to the handlebar, which we found to feel a bit on the thin and firm side for our tastes. At the rear of the bike, a 170mm Tranz-X dropper (S and M frames come with 150mm) gets the saddle down and out of the way on descents. On top of that post is an Entity XTENT saddle. While cool looking, we found the Entity saddle to be a bit short, and the oddly shaped points at the rear were prone to jabbing us in the pelvis on steep descents.

Polygon didn't mess around with the drivetrain on the Siskiu T8. The 12-speed Shimano SLX shifter, derailleur, and cassette create a very impressive drivetrain system that works incredibly well. The Shimano alloy cranks come with a 32-tooth chainring that pairs with the 10-51-tooth cassette to provide ample range for whatever comes your way. A set of Tektro HD-M745 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors handle the stopping duties, and we were quite impressed by how powerful they felt. The brake levers, however, had a long throw and relatively cheap look and feel.

Value

We feel the Siskiu T8 is a great value. This bike brings an outstanding price to performance ratio along with one of the nicest builds you'll find on a bike at this price. Not only were we impressed by its well-rounded trail manners, but the parts attached to this bike work very well and won't have you reaching for your wallet to upgrade anything right away. It also comes with a set of decent flat pedals with adjustable pins, so you won't have to spend money on pedals if you don't already have some.


The Siskiu T8 is a great mid-travel trail bike with a well-rounded performance and a great build at a very reasonable price.

Conclusion

If you're looking for a great mid-travel trail bike and you don't want to spend more than you would on a nice used car, the Siskiu T8 is an excellent option to consider. While other manufacturers keep selling bikes that cost 4 times as much, Polygon continues to deliver quality bikes at a price point that's much easier to stomach. The new T8 is a versatile bike that's easy to get along with, and its updated geometry has made it more capable on the descents. It maintains its responsive handling, lively feel, and climbing abilities, plus it comes clad with a quality component specification you'd find on other bikes that cost twice as much.

Other Versions

Polygon makes an even more affordable version of the Siskiu, called the T7. It features the same frame and geometry as the T8 we tested but comes with a more budget-friendly component specification that drops the price by $500. It comes with a 12-speed Shimano Deore drivetrain, Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, a RockShox Recon RL fork, and a RockShox Deluxe Select+ rear shock.

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