Polygon is best known as a mountain bike brand, having previously operated a UCI downhill mountain bike team. Hailing from Indonesia, the brand primarily serves the Southeast Asian market and has a relatively large presence in Australia and has been trying to crack into the US and UK markets.
In the Indonesian market, Polygon is a behemoth. Its parent company, PT Insera Sena, manufactures bicycles not only under its in-house brand but also for several other brands, including Marin. Operating large-scale manufacturing facilities in Indonesia, Polygon produces nearly one million bikes annually.
Joining the Strattos S endurance bike, the new Helios A range represents an update to the brand's all-rounder race option, a bike that Escape reviewed a few years back.
The pricing of the Helios range is particularly eye-catching, undercutting the big brands significantly. Cycling has become increasingly more expensive, accelerated in the post-COVID years, raising the barrier to entry, especially for race-ready UCI-approved models. Polygon, much like Boardman (UK), Rose, Cube, and Van Rysel, may not yet hold the same well-marketed prestige as Specialized, Cervélo, or Trek, but with some models retailing for around half the price of these established competitors, if the Helios hits the right notes, it could be a winner.
I took delivery of the Helios A a few weeks back. Here’s what I’ve learned so far, and what I’ll be testing.
Endurance bike or race bike
Sifting my way through the press material for the Helios, it is described as both a race bike and an endurance bike – a pairing that conventionally doesn’t go hand in hand. For anyone trying to work out exactly if the bike is for them won’t find any clarity from Polygon, with the brand seemingly unsure how to define this bike. More on this later.
There are a few nifty design inclusions that might just mean that the Helios A could masquerade as both. It might not be groundbreaking, but the frame's 34 mm tyre clearance is more than enough for most riders looking for a pure road bike.
A more notable feature is the ability to swap between Polygon’s proprietary aero seatpost and a standard 27.2 mm round post using an adapter. The latter should offer greater fit options to allow riders to get into a position that works for them. To borrow a phrase from Escape’s Ronan McLaughlin, this is an example of a brand offering a usable aero solution. The use of a round post could also allow for greater compliance, something that might aid in the bike's comfort on longer outings.
Still, the frame geometry remains fixed. Tyre and seatpost swaps can’t fundamentally change rider position or handling. So while the Helios A allows for some tailoring, it won’t transform into a true endurance bike, despite what the marketing might suggest.
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