快適なグラベルライドに！最初の1台にオススメモデル「POLYGON BEND R2」

For a Comfortable Gravel Ride! The Recommended First Bike: "POLYGON BEND R2"

March 31, 2024

Introducing the "BEND R2," an entry-level grade that supports POLYGON BIKES' gravel road beginners.

The "BEND R2" from this brand, which has a strong reputation for its off-road aluminum frames, is recommended as a model with high frame performance while keeping initial costs low!

- Table of Contents -

"About the Model, Price, and Size"
"About Frame Performance"
"About Parts Configuration"
"Summary of BEND R2"

＼BEND R2 is also featured on YouTube／

POLYGON BEND R2

【Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price】￥159,500 (tax included)
【Color (1 total)】BLUE BLACK
【Sizes (approximate height)】153cm~162cm (S), 162cm~173cm (M), 175cm~188cm (L)

About the BEND R2 Frame Performance

As mentioned earlier, POLYGON excels in off-road aluminum frames, and the BEND R2 is an excellent frame for a gravel road bike.

The welded areas are designed to have sufficient surface area to maintain rigidity, while the pipe cross-section thickness is varied to prevent excessive stiffness. The frame is designed with rigidity, lightness, and vibration absorption in mind.

The thick chainstays and dropped seatstays seem to effectively convert pedaling torque into propulsion even on rough uphill climbs!

Additionally, the low center of gravity design provides excellent stability on rough terrain.

The head tube also has plenty of length, and the upright riding position is a design inherited from MTBs!

While it may not excel in on-road acceleration like a road bike, it's a model that allows you to fully enjoy rides through forests and gravel paths, immersing yourself in nature.

Internal dropper seatpost compatibility and thru-axle standards are popular for gravel road bikes.

With numerous eyelets, it's well-suited for bikepacking, and also allows for the attachment of carriers, mudguards, and other accessories, taking load capacity into consideration, making it a great match for camping rides.

The front fork is carbon, offering excellent lightness and vibration absorption, and as mentioned above, it has a very generous number of eyelets.

It's great that the front alone can carry a considerable load.

It's a gravel road bike with a robust aluminum frame derived from MTBs and high-volume expandability. It responds well even on rough uphill climbs!

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About the BEND R2 Parts Configuration

The basic specifications adopt SHIMANO SORA (2x9 speed).

The brakes are mechanical disc brakes (cable-actuated). They are also compatible with flat mount standards, offering a versatile design for customization.

Considering riding in bad weather or on rough roads, customizing to GROWTAC EQUAL is also recommended!

The tires are 650B x 47. It's a welcome feature as there are still few entry-level gravel bikes adopting 650B.

The wheels are aluminum and tubeless-ready.

Although the manufacturer's sample image doesn't show pedals, wide platform resin pedals are standard equipment.

When we measured the complete bike's weight, the S size was 11.69kg! It's slightly lighter than the manufacturer's stated weight, which is a nice bonus!

Overall, it gives the impression of being a perfect base for customization, keeping initial costs down!

While the frame performance is good, for a gravel road bike that offers a wide range of choices in terms of riding style and locations, being able to aim for your own optimal setup is a great advantage!

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Summary of POLYGON BEND R2

Robust aluminum frame derived from MTB
Gravel design suited for rough terrain and high load capacity, enjoyable for beginners
Modern specifications adopted, making it ideal for customization

Since one of our gravel beginner staff members purchased this bike, I had the opportunity to thoroughly test ride it!

My impression is that the handling and stability are excellent. It seems capable of handling even somewhat rocky paths well!

Also, the combination of its light weight and frame design results in good responsiveness when pedaling.

It simply feels like a gravel road bike based on an MTB.

While it might not excel on paved roads, its superior stability makes it an easy-to-ride model for road bike beginners who want to cycle but are apprehensive.

It's a gravel road bike with low initial cost and high frame performance, so I highly recommend customizing it to enjoy it to the fullest!

By the way, there's also the "BEND R5," which comes almost fully equipped with front and rear carriers, a dropper seatpost, and Shimano GRX, so if you're looking to hit the road immediately, check that one out too!

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