The Polygon Bend R9X is an aluminum framed gravel bike with a fairly premium set of components, which makes it stand out in the otherwise carbon-dominant world of gravel bikes. The gravel industry is one of the fastest growing sectors of the cycling industry and it’s awesome to see a company like Polygon choosing to do things a bit differently, but as we found when testing this bike, those differences may not be for everyone.

Geometry

The aluminum frame on the R9X is by far the thing that sets it most apart from other bikes on the market, and its aggressive geometry puts the bike squarely in the mountain bike inspired side of the gravel spectrum. It has a seriously slack 70.5 degree head tube angle (70 degree on size S), an equally steep 75.5 degree seat tube angle, and long 440mm chainstays. This puts the wheelbase on the size large test bike at 1,078 mm, which is on the long side of the spectrum. This made the bike feel stable and planted on fast descents without feeling overly lethargic or cumbersome at lower speeds. A big part of this stability also came from the short 495mm seat tube and low standover height that allows you to lower your center of gravity.

The Bend’s long rear end is paired with a relatively short reach; which is just 396mm on the size large. That, combined with the steep seat tube and tall 621 mm stack gives the bike a very upright riding position. As a mountain biker, I felt right at home with this body position, but riders looking for the fastest, most efficient bike should probably look elsewhere.

Frame Features

The Polygon Bend R9X was the first alloy gravel bike I’d had the opportunity to ride and I was cautiously optimistic that the dropped seat stays and slim tubing utilized on the rear triangle would provide the bike with more compliance than I’d otherwise expect from an aluminum frame. Sadly, this wasn’t the case. Even with the generous 44mm tires it was still a jarring experience, especially on wash-board fire roads. This was more noticeable on the rear of the bike as the carbon fork and padded bar tape managed to minimize the feedback. In light of this, the Bend could be a good candidate for running an insert in the rear to help dampen the vibration and allow for lower pressures.

Speaking of tires, the frame has fender mounts and a claimed tire clearance of up to 50mm tires, but by the looks of it I wouldn’t be surprised if you could squeeze some 57s or even 2.25” 29ers in the frame. One last highlight of the Bend’s frameset that I sadly didn’t get to utilize while testing is the whopping 16 mounting points between the frame and fork. This makes it a great contender for those looking to use it as a touring or bikepacking bike.

SRAM Rival AXS Groupset

The R9X sits in the middle of the three Polygon Bend models and lists for $2,999. A major highlight of the spec on this build is the wireless shifting and dropper post. The SRAM Rival AXS groupset performed flawlessly while testing. This was my first time on SRAM’s mid-tier gravel groupset and I was consistently impressed by how crisp and quick the shifts were, even under load. My only complaint was the relatively narrow 10-44t cassette, that paired with a single 40t chainring left me wanting a bit more gear range, specifically on steeper climbs. The top tier Bend V9X comes with a 10-52t SRAM GX cassette which would be a smart upgrade for riders looking to spend a significant amount of time on single track. The Rival brakes paired to 160mm Paceline rotors on the other hand were more than enough for my needs, even on long fire road descents.

RockShox Reverb AXS Seatpost

Another talking point on the bike is the seatpost, and while I’m a big fan of dropper posts on gravel bikes, the Bend’s short seat tube really deserved to be specced with a longer travel post than the 75mm RockShox Reverb XPLR AXS it came with. I had to run the post at the minimum insertion point, and even still would have appreciated another inch or so of saddle height. It should be noted that at 6’1” I’m on the tall end of Polygon’s size range for a size large Bend, but taller riders or those with long legs will either need to replace their post or size up when purchasing a Bend.

Carbon Wheels and Aggressive Tires

One of the more surprising and exciting inclusions on the Bend R9X are the carbon fiber Novatec G24 Disc wheels. This wheelset alone lists for $1,100 dollars, over a third of the cost of the bike, and plays a large part in keeping the weight of the size large test bike at a respectable 22.7 pounds; that’s setup tubeless without pedals. These hookless rims have an unremarkable 24mm width and 28mm depth, and went more or less unnoticed while testing. Any kind of damping their carbon profile may have provided was lost to the harsh feel of the frame. These rims are wrapped in a pair of 44mm Vee Tire Co. Rocketman tires. These dual compound tires feature a relatively aggressive dual compound tread pattern and armored sidewalls. I was continually surprised by how well they found grip on a variety of trail surfaces, albeit at the cost of not being quite as fast rolling as other, more traditional gravel tires I’ve spent time on. Better yet, despite riding the bike a bit harder than it probably deserved from time to time I never had a puncture. 

How Does It Compare

The Polygon Bend R9X is relatively comparable in terms of price and spec to the Canyon Grizl CF SL 7 eTap and the Trek Checkpoint ALR 5 AXS. All of these are formidable bikes costing around $3,000, but each one brings something a little different to the table. 

	Bend R9X2024 Polygon	Grizl CF SL 7 eTap2023 Canyon	Checkpoint ALR 5 AXS2024 Trek
MSRP	$2,999	$3,299	$2,899
Spec Level
Weight	1.6 lbs (frame)	20.5 lbs	21.5 lbs
Frame	Aluminum	Carbon	Aluminum
Wheels	Carbon	Aluminum	Aluminum
Wheel Size	700c	650b / 700c	700c
Groupset	Rival XPLR AXS, Rival AXS	Rival XPLR AXS, Rival AXS	Apex XPLR AXS, Apex AXS
Drivetrain	1 × 12 Electronic	1 × 12 Electronic	1 × 12 Electronic
Where to Buy	$2,999 At Bikes Online		$2,899 At Trek

View In-depth Comparison →

Like the Bend R9X, the Checkpoint ALR 5 comes with an alloy frame dotted with a plethora of mounting points, a dropper post, and 1x electronic drivetrain, though the Trek does come with the lower end Apex groupset as opposed to the Rival on the Polygon. Their weights are also largely the same, despite the Checkpoint coming with alloy wheels. Where these bikes differ the most though is in their geometry, and the trek has a much more aggressive riding position, akin to what you’d expect on a road bike. All in all, these are both great bikes, and for riders entering gravel from the road world or looking for a bike that could double as a road bike, albeit with the addition of a front derailleur, I’d steer them towards the Checkpoint. On the flip side the Bend should be the obvious choice for riders looking to do more aggressive, mountain bike-inspired riding.

Moving on to the Canyon GRIZL CF SL 7 eTap, which sets itself apart by way of a carbon fiber frame, making it the lightest of the three bikes in our comparison. Like the R9X, it features SRAM’s Rival groupset, but swaps out the dropper post for Canyon’s proprietary carbon fiber VCLS shock absorbing seat post. In terms of geometry, the GRIZL sits right between the Polygon and the Trek, both in rider position and handling. All in all, the GRIZL is an excellent option for riders who prioritize a lightweight bike and don’t require the low seat tube and standover clearance found on the bend.

Conclusion

Going into this review I was very optimistic about the Bend R9X. As a mountain biker, I was excited for the no frills, aggressive aluminum frame paired with a solid line of parts. While I appreciated the uniquely aggressive frame geometry and high quality spec , my lasting impression of the bike sadly came down to some of the quirks associated with those very parts. At a minimum, I’d need to replace the dropper post in order to get full extension while pedaling and make the most of the low slung frame. Speaking of pedaling I’d likely want to replace the cassette as well, and these replacements start to add up when you’re starting with a list price just shy of $3,000.

All in all, the Polygon R9X is a great bike, albeit with a slight caveat for long legged riders who may run out of seatpost length rather fast. The aggressive aluminum frame, carbon fiber wheels, and high quality groupset makes it a solid choice for riders looking to push the conventional limits of gravel riding. It should also be noted that Bend is available in two other builds. The most affordable model is the Bend R7 that lists for $1,499 and features an 11 speed mechanical Apex drivetrain, mechanical dropper post, and alloy wheels. As I alluded to earlier the Bend is also available with a 40mm Fox 32 Taper Cast fork by way of the V9X which lists for $3,999 and is otherwise nearly identical to the R9X.