Dan reviews the Polygon Collosus N7
We tested the Polygon Collosus N9 late last year and came away impressed with its active suspension performance, solid build kit and overall value for the money. Building upon that momentum, Polygon is expanding on the platform for 2024 with the introduction of this brand new Collosus N7 model. It’s built around the same hydroformed alloy frame and IFS suspension platform, but features a more modest spec choice to bring the price down to an astonishing $3,299 AUD. So, is it any good?
Watch our video review of the Polygon Collosus N7 here:
Indeed it’s a bloody good enduro bike for the money, and one that is perfectly at home riding the roughest and rowdiest gravity-fuelled descents.
An overview of the Polygon Collosus N7
The Polygon Collosus N7 is a burly enduro bike that’s equipped with 29in wheels and 170mm of travel front and rear. It’s built around a 6000-series alloy frame that features internal cable routing, a thick chainstay protector and plastic armour plates that bolt to the underside of the downtube.
Out back is the IFS 6-bar suspension platform. This sees the chainstay attaching to the mainframe via two small links that control the rear axle path. The seatstay then drives the shock, with a small rocker link helping to control the leverage rate. It’s more complicated than the single pivot suspension used on the Siskiu trail bike, but Polygon claims the IFS design is worth it for the elevated pedalling and braking performance it brings to the table.
Geometry & sizing
The Polygon Collosus N7 is produced in four frame sizes, with geometry being right up to date for a big travel enduro bike. The head angle is slack at 63.5°, the seat angle is steep at 77°, and the reach measurements are generous across the board.
Thanks to the compact links used in the IFS suspension design, Polygon has been able to keep the chainstays nice and compact. The rear centre length comes in at just 435mm, which is on the short side for a 170mm travel 29er.
The only real bummer is seatpost insertion, which is limited due to the way the IFS linkage interrupts the seat tube.
- Head Angle – 63.5°
- Seat Angle – 77°
- Reach – 440mm (S), 460mm (M), 480mm (L), 500mm (XL)
- Stack – 622mm (S), 626mm (M), 634mm (L), 640mm (XL)
- Rear Centre – 435mm
- BB Drop – 27mm
2024 Polygon Collosus N7 Price & Specs
- Frame | ALX 6061 Alloy, IFS Suspension Design, 170mm Travel
- Fork | RockShox Zeb, Rush RC Damper, 44mm Offset, 170mm Travel
- Shock | RockShox Super Deluxe Select+, 205x65mm
- Wheels | Alloy Hubs & Double Wall Alloy Rims, 35mm Inner Width
- Tyres | Vee Tire Flow Snap, Tackee Compound, 2.6in Front & Rear
- Drivetrain | Shimano Deore 1×12 w/32T Crankset & SunRace MZ800 11-51T Cassette
- Brakes | Tektro HD-M735 4-Piston Front & 2-Piston Rear w/203mm Rotors
- Bar | Alloy, 20mm Rise, 780mm Width
- Stem | Alloy, 35mm Length
- Seatpost | TranzX, 30.9mm Diameter, Travel: 150mm (S-M), 170mm (L-XL)
- Saddle | WTB Volt
- Confirmed Weight | 18.32kg
- RRP | $3,299 AUD
The frame feels solid, the geometry is on-point for high-speed hammering, and the RockShox suspension is fantastic.
What do we dig about the Polygon Collosus N7?
Having already tested the Polygon Collosus N9 last year, we had a reasonable idea of what to expect from the cheaper N7. And despite the more budget-oriented build kit, we’re happy to report that it’s just as capable as its more expensive sibling. Indeed it’s a bloody good enduro bike for the money, and one that is perfectly at home riding the roughest and rowdiest gravity-fuelled descents.
The frame feels solid, the geometry is on-point for high-speed hammering, and the RockShox suspension is fantastic. Sure the base-level Zeb might not have all the bells and whistles of the pricier versions, but the sturdy 38mm chassis still adds a lot of confidence to the front end of the Collosus N7. The suspension is smooth and active, with the rear end delivering loads of grip through blown-out corners and rocky descents. There’s also excellent big-hit support thanks to the Hydraulic Bottom Out function built into the Super Deluxe shock.
Traction is enhanced by the aggressive Vee tyres, which utilise an ultra-gooey rubber compound that moulds to the terrain and helps to dampen high-speed chatter nicely. The robust cornering blocks allow you to achieve a pretty wild lean angle through the turns, and thanks to the short chainstays the Collosus doesn’t take as much effort to change direction as you’d assume it would.
What didn’t we like?
While we’ve been impressed with the upright climbing position and the efficient IFS suspension design, there’s no getting around the fact that the Polygon Collosus N7 is a lot of bike to lug uphill.
Not helping things, the wheelset is very heavy (2.5kg confirmed) and so too are the tyres (1.4kg confirmed, yikes!). The chunky tread pattern and sticky rubber makes for a tonne of drag, slowing you down and sapping your energy on the flats and whenever you’re heading upwards. You can feel the rolling resistance even when on smoother descending trails, making it harder to pump the bike for extra speed.
Changing the tyres to something lighter and faster rolling would make a huge difference to the overall speed and enthusiasm of the Collosus. That said, we do love the grip the Vee tyres provide, and the robust casings will take an absolute hammering.
Component highs & lows
In terms of the spec you get for the money, we’re yet to test an enduro bike that comes anywhere near the Polygon Collosus N7. It’s all decent stuff too, with nothing standing out as needing immediate upgrading.
Riders tackling rocky terrain may want to consider fitting a chainguide and a lower bashguard. We noticed a fair bit of chain-slap due to the lack of coverage around the alloy rear end, so it’d be worth adding some protection to minimise noise and paint-chipping. Otherwise the Shimano Deore 12-speed drivetrain works really well despite being paired with a cheaper SunRace cassette.
The Tektro HD-M735 brakes have been similarly fuss-free. You need to run the brake levers quite far inboard in order to facilitate one-finger braking, though once positioned properly the overall feel is solid even with just a 2-piston calliper at the rear. We thought these might be the weak point, but our 83kg test rider found them to offer sufficient power.
As mentioned earlier, changing out the tyres would be an easy way to improve the rolling speed of the Collosus N7. Otherwise the wheels have been solid and the dropper post works fine. The handlebar is a bit square and could do with some more sweep, so that’s something we’d look at upgrading if this were our bike.
Flow’s Verdict
With its sturdy alloy frame, contemporary geometry and RockShox suspension, the Polygon Collousus N7 represents stonking value for money. It’s certainly no lightweight, and the aggressive Vee tyres make it quite the drag on the climbs. But if you’re after your first enduro bike and your preference is for maximum capability on rough and rowdy descents, we’d be hard-pressed to recommend anything else at this price point.
