The BEST GRAVEL BIKE For $1500!? Ride and Review Series
Вставка
- Опубліковано 17 лип 2024
- Almost 1 year and 1200 miles later, I break down the pros and cons of this bike. Join me for a scenic chat along the C&D Canal between Delaware City, DE and Chesapeake City, MD.
What I ride:
2021 Trek Top Fuel 7 (Size M/L)
www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/bi...
2021 Polygon Bend R5 (Size L)
www.bikesonline.com/2021-poly...
2021 Trek FX 2 Disc (Size XL)
www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/bi...
What my wife rides:
2021 Trek Top Fuel 5 (Size S)
www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/bi...
2021 Trek Marlin 6 (Size S)
www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/us...
2021 Trek FX 2 Disc (Size S)
www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/bi...
GoPro Hero 9 Black settings:
4k - 24 fps (Superview)
HyperSmooth - BOOST
Bit Rate: HIGH
Shutter: AUTO
EV Comp: (-0.5)
Sharpness: LOW
Color: GoPro
Raw Audio: HIGH
Wind: Off
#trek #trekbikes #TopFuel #TrekMarlin #Ibis #GMBN #Marlin6 #MTB #Delaware #Mountainbiking #Specialized #Giant #XC #Polygon #Gravel #Gravelbikes
Great review, Todd! I like how you gave the review while riding, it shows you really know the ins and outs of the bike off the dome! & I dig the 650b with wider tread and the dropper. Sounds like a fun machine. 🤙
Thanks homie!! Tried to do a low key ride and chat, like if friends were riding together. Appreciate you watching! 🤘
Thanks for your feedback on this bike, just picked one up for my sister. Seems like a great entry point with decent components.
Amazing components. She'll love it!
Very helpful review. Thank you
You're so welcome!
I love mine as well, especially happy with the groupset for the money i paid. Dropper post give me the feeling of my MTB.. i like your DT swiss wheelset.. comprehensive review.. 👍👍👍
Thanks bro!!! I love that you have so much Bend R5 content! I have a Redshift suspension stem, Wolftooth 38t oval ring and GRX 810 cranks being installed this week. I'll do a follow up vid on those 😊✌️
You've definitely got your moneys worth on that bike. Love the upgrades too. Good stuff Todd.
Thanks, Sage! I definitely did.
Great review.
Thank you sir!!
I've been impressed with mine since changing seat/stem/bars. Very comfortable and smooth. Such an incredible value. The stock front sprocket is carbon steel and HEAVY. A cheap aluminum replacement is well worth it...
Right? Really fun bike. Thanks for watching!
Are you talking front chain ring? If so, how much does the stock one weigh vs your replacement?
@@BIIIKES I don't know, but the stocker is much heavier.
One of my favorite budget bikes, and one of the best bang for the dollar along with Triban and Marin when on sale. I wish the Polygon Bend R2 came in XL. Also, the geometry is great on both the Bend and path. going to pick one up sooner or later. Right now I'm building up a Marin Headlands frame, which shares the same parent company as Polygon.
Absolutely! My wife has an R2 (my daughter will be learning gravel on it, too). Thanks for watching and keep me posted on your bike!
HI. Thanks for filming this review. Does your Polygon distributor stock the Path X5 and X4?
Here in the UK they only have the Bend models, but I'd like the extra chainring for road riding and the R2 is not as appealing as the R5/X5/X4.
Can I find you on strava to see how fast you go on the R5?
Go to Bikes Online. You can find all Polygon models there.
Thanks for the review. I'm looking at getting this to use mostly for long touring on paved road. It looks like a nice cross between a gravel and. a touring bike. Any thoughts on that? My concerns are only one crank and maybe the wheels are small for mostly road use.
Thanks for watching! You can fit 700c x 40 tires on here, but remember, 650b's with a fatter tire are just about the same diameter as a 700c wheel and tire combo. The 1x's first 4 or 5 gears are pretty redundant to a 2x setup with someone in their big ring. There's only a slight difference with gear ratio when you get into the climbing gears. Most people that are concerned with 1x setups quickly realize it feels the same, with less parts.tonworry about (no front mech to mess with). Definitely the geo of a touring bike.
Around where I live the roads are sandy clay and large gravel. Do you think a gravel bike would be good for that or do I need a mountain bike? For example, in this video you are riding through the well-traveled grooves in the road, but here the whole road would mostly be only lightly packed and the gravel would likely extend across the whole road in varied degrees of packedness.
It depends on if you are looking for speed vs comfort. The bigger, wider MTB tires would offer a more plush ride, but at the cost of efficiency (most times). I would look at a Trek Dual Sport and see if that is up your alley. A little bit of front suspension, but with gravel bike sized tires. Good for gravel, light singletrack, rail trails, commuting, etc. Gravel bikes are extremely capable though. I put a Redshift Shockstop suspension stem on my gravel bike though to soak up some of the chunder during a ride. May want to look at those, too. I love it.
How does this bike compare to the Marin Gestalt X11? Any thoughts?
Very similar!! A couple points go to the Polygon for having all 800 series parts (Marin has 400 series brakes), and the Polygon had a bit more gear range on chainring/cassette combo (38/42 for Polygon and 42/42 for Marin). The Polygon looks to be a bit more affordable, but Marin is based out of California, not overseas (if that means anything to someone). The Marin looks like a fantastic choice as well.
Great review 👍👍 I reserved Bend R5 for £1250 from go outdoor ..I wasn’t sure until watch your video 👏👏. I am 5’ 11 and they says medium size will be perfect for me 🧐 what is your thoughts ? Thanks
Great! I'm 5'11 and went w/ large, but I just shortened the stem. The medium should be perfect for you. Let me know your thoughts!
I´m 1m78cm and went at THAT bike for l/large - the right joyce in my opinion (Indonesian people (where it is built) are not that tall, you know ;-))
polygon bend r5 is great... ☺
Agreed!
Don’t look like they sell that R5 model Shimano grx you have anymore. They have the R7 model now with Sram apex groupset. Same price. Do you think Apex is as good?
You get a lot of bike for the price. Also, just realize that everything on that bike is upgradable. The difference between a moderate and top tier groupset has never been closer. I would spend the money to upgrade the wheels over a groupset, at least at first.
Polygon makes fantastic bikes. But the gear ratios on this one seem “boring”, i mean a 38t chainring would feel dead slow on the flats isn’t it? I have a Heist X7 with a similar crank and i fall asleep on the flats when i ride it on the road( though i realise it isn’t meant for that).
Yeah, I get that. I ride some pretty hilly stuff (for me), So I enjoy it. Always gravel, never road. 42/42 might be better for most on this bike. Good comment!