REVIEW | Is the 2020 Polygon Siskiu D6 a Steal of a Deal? Or too good to be true?

 

Wil Tests & Reviews The Polygon Siskiu D6 (Video Courtesy of Flow Magazine

The Siskiu D

Amongst the UNNOs, Yetis and Santa Cruz’ of the world, Polygon isn’t the dreamiest of brand names. Rough I know, but you wouldn’t exactly call it bedroom wall poster material would you? That isn’t necessarily a bad thing though – lusting after a bike is one thing, but being able to afford it is an entirely different kettle of fish. And what the Indonesian brand may lack in curb appeal, it more than makes up for in its value-oriented approach.

We’ve been testing the Polygon Siskiu D6 for the past couple of months, and it’s surprised us in more ways than one.
 

 

Putting together well-appointed bikes for less money than its big-name competitors is a game that Polygon plays exceedingly well, and it’s helped grow the brand’s popularity far beyond its Indonesian-based factories. That value for money is amplified by Bicycles Online, which distributes and sells Polygon bikes direct-to-consumer in Australia, skipping out the middle-man to sharpen the sticker price. And nowhere is the price sharper than with Polygon’s popular entry-level trail bike – the Siskiu D.

Reworked Frame & Suspension

The Siskiu D is Polygon’s 120mm travel trail bike, and for 2020 its received a significant update with an all-new alloy frame. The overall shape and suspension layout looks similar, but the shock anchors a little further up the downtube, so you can now fit a water bottle underneath it. This has also affected the suspension kinematics, and Polygon says the new bike is more progressive as a result.

The Siskiu D gets a new alloy frame for 2020, and it’ll now fit a water bottle underneath the rear shock – hooray!

Frame geometry receives the usual updates – there’s a slacker head angle, a steeper seat angle, and a longer reach. The chainstays have also been shortened, which has been made possible by a switch to Boost spacing. Whereas the old Siskiu D used quick-release dropouts, the new frame features a sturdy 148x12mm bolt-up axle.

You also get a tapered zero-stack head tube with sealed bearings, internal cable routing through the mainframe, and a threaded bottom bracket shell. All suspension pivots roll on sealed cartridge bearings, except for the dropout pivots that utilise DU bushings. It’s a surprisingly well-finished frame – Polygon has even printed torque specifications on the pivot bearing caps, which is a nice touch.

Full Suspension For Less

There are three models within the Siskiu range ranging from $1,599 AUD to $2,299 AUD. All three models are built around the same alloy frame with 120mm of travel front and rear. The Siskiu D6 we have here is the middle-child, and it’s actually a model that’s specific to the Australian market.

You can get the Siskiu D6 in four sizes from Small through to X-Large. The Small rolls on 27.5in wheels, while the Medium and above use 29in wheels. In terms of spec, Polygon has built the Siskiu D6 with a Shimano 1×10 drivetrain, hydraulic disc brakes, a dropper post and air-adjustable suspension front and rear. Pretty incredible for a bike that has a retail price of just $1,899 AUD.

Even more incredible is that Bicycles Online actually sells the Siskiu D6 for less on its website – $1,799. To put that in perspective, that’s a hundred bucks more than the last suspension fork I tested. Crikey!


 

What About The Competition?

Let’s not beat around the bush – this is an extraordinarily cheap bike. For me personally, it’s the cheapest full suspension bike I’ve ever tested. It’s also quite a bit less than many of Polygon’s big-name competitors. Walk into any bike shop on the High street, and these are the entry-level options you’ll see from the biggest brands available in Australia;

• Norco Fluid FS 3: $2,299
• Giant Stance 29 2: $2,399
• Merida One-Twenty 400: $2,399
• Avanti Hammer S: $2,499
• Scott Spark 970: $2,799
• Specialized Stumpjumper ST Alloy: $2,900
• Trek Fuel EX 5: $2,999
   

The Siskiu D6 sits in the middle of the three-model range. Unlike the base level D5 though, this bike comes standard with a dropper post.

Now I’m not suggesting that all of those bikes are equal, because they’re not. It’s simply a comparison with what else is out there at the lower end of the spectrum from the brands that are available through bricks & mortar shops. The Polygon Siskiu D6 is of course sold online, so that presents a different set of advantages and challenges compared to buying a bike from your local bike shop. If we were to compare it to other bikes you can purchase online, here are three of the cheapest options I could find;

• Marin Rift Zone 1: $2,399
• Canyon Neuron AL 6.0: $2,999
• Commencal Meta TR 29 Origin: $2,999
   

Again, this isn’t to say that all these bikes are the same. I’ve listed those examples to provide context for where the Siskiu D6 sits relative to other budget bouncers on the market. And the fact that it’s $400 cheaper than the closest competitor listed here highlights just how aggressive Polygon has gone on price. As you’ll read shortly however, compromises have been made to get the price down to that level.

For less than two grand you’re getting Shimano hydraulic disc brakes, a 1×10 drivetrain and air-adjustable suspension front and rear. That’s unreal value!<

Read the full review here