EDIT:***
Thanks for all the feedback so far. With that have looked more and have adjusted my current list!
Currently leaning toward either the YT Jeffsy Core 1 or Rocky Mountal Elemental A 50 especially if I can get at local shop with price match.
Web purchases:
YT Jeffsy Core 1 ($1,999) seems like a great value. Web purchase and no local shop as downside.
https://us.yt-industries.com/products/bikes/jeffsy/core-1/637/jeffsy-29-core-1/
Poly T8- ($1,799) great value for components. Overall very positive reviews but more negative than I've seen while searching for the YT.
https://www.bikesonline.com/polygon-siskiu-t8-dual-suspension-mountain-bike~21415
Local shop purchases:
Switching from the Instinct (link below) to the Rocky Mountain elementral A50 if able to get my local shop to get and price match ($2,099) Great components.
https://www.jensonusa.com/Rocky-Mountain-Element-A50-Shimano-Bike
Still considering the Stumpy: local shop, service, and can get service plan.
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/stumpjumper-alloy/p/199784?color=320393-199784
Other shops in the area include a Giant shop so consider the Trance 29 2: Good components, less travel on suspension for the rock and more DH stuff.
https://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/trance-29-2-2022
Have a trek dealership so the Fuel EX 5 Gen 5 ($2,199) just feels like paying a premium for the name as well as having a shop nearby.
***
New rider and looking to get my first mountain bike and was hoping to get some guidance.
Will be doing some single track trails around the KC area (roots, rocky) and may eventually take it down to NW Arkansas for fun trips.
Trying to stay around or under $2000 unless a good reason to go above.
Currently have it narrowed down to three options but open to others if strong recommendations:
Current options:
2024 Polygon Sisiu T8: https://www.bikesonline.com/polygon-siskiu-t8-dual-suspension-mountain-bike~21415
2022 Stumpjumper Alloy: https://www.specialized.com/us/en/stumpjumper-alloy/p/199784?color=320393-199784
2023 Rocky Mountain Instinct A10: https://bikes.com/products/instinct-a10-22-23?srsltid=AfmBOopj6g_24VnicPU7iWL0GWegW6xIkdyUqK4gKe7B1pmcHyGe1g1S
I am new to components so this is just from what I have gleaned from reading recently.
Polygon seems to have the best components when it comes to the suspension, drivetrain and brakes. Have read a little about concerns of customer service and handlebar geometry which gives a little pause.
The Stumpjumper and Instinct are both from a local shop and on sale for 1800-2000 as well. The Instinct seems to have better drivetrain but stumpjumper may have better brakes and similar suspension although air vs coil for the forks.
I am leaning toward the polygon due to better components but if one of the other has better frame/geometry that makes up for the components also could do either, and open for suggestions. Thanks!
by jddgfd
11 Comments
I lean stumpy. Buying local is preferred and a lot of the times shops will offer free or discounted services on bikes purchased through them.
Don’t get too hung up on the components. The stumpy platform is tried and true. Don’t go off switching brands because you are getting an SLX chain instead of a Deore chain
Rocky is currently going through some business restructuring. It’s unlikely they will completely go under, but there is enough concern that unless I had a strong preference for the Instinct I would look elsewhere.
https://www.jensonusa.com/Rocky-Mountain-Element-A50-Shimano-Bike
I own a 2023 T8 and don’t recommend it. It was fun at first and the specs are great on paper, but I had a couple of minor issues with it that were enough to make me regret my purchase and I think the newer specs have an additional con I will mention.
1. Weight. A small 27.5 build weighed in at 35 lbs stock. The wheels and tires it came with felt like boat anchors. The wheels needed truing out of the box and the tires didn’t have great grip for the size and weight. This makes the bike really tiring to pedal, although it does climb relatively well. I replaced the wheels and tires and dropped like 2.5 lbs! The weight may have been more tolerable if I lived somewhere with high elevation and long downhill runs, but in Oklahoma we just have rolling hills that require constant pedaling.
2. Derailleur cable only has internal routing for the front triangle but it is zip tied in the rear. The overall design causes the cable to get constantly sucked into frame due to suspension compression and this causes bad shifting due to changing cable tension. Over time it wears down the shifter housing where it feeds into the derailleur and I had to replace it after only a few months of riding. This is a known issue that you can find other T-series owners discussing online.
3. The current builds come with a Sunrace cassette instead of a Shimano SLX. This is listed on the website. The Sunrace cassette doesn’t shift nearly as well as any of the Shimano 12-speed cassettes and is heavier than the SLX. With Shimano 12 speed drivetrains it’s important to have a matching cassette, chain, and chainring to reap the benefits of Hyperglide+ that enable you to shift under load (while pedaling). Another issue is that the Shimano cassettes require a Microspline freehub body, but the sunrace uses the older HG freehub body, so you would need to get a new hub or new rear wheel if you wanted to install your own Shimano cassette later on.
4. It came with a rotor that said “resin pads only” but with metallic pads installed. I quickly changed the pads and had much smoother and quieter braking.
5. The Tektro brakes suck. They work and will stop you when needed, but the overall feel in your hand just doesn’t inspire confidence. Also, had an issue with the right lever reach adjusting itself and I had to put thread locker on the adjustment screw.
Lastly, it was simply the wrong bike for me. I didn’t have as much knowledge when I bought and I figured it wouldn’t hurt to have more travel than I needed, but I quickly realized I would’ve preferred something under 130mm since the trails in my area (OKC) are mostly XC trails so I never get up to the speeds or terrain where this bike shines.
If your LBS offers after purchase support, go that route over direct to consumer. My LBS offers free adjustments on any specialized bikes they sell. While many people work on their own bike as I do, it is greatly appreciated when something isn’t working right to be able to hit the shop up for help. I’m partial to the SJ because it was my first bike I bought it late Jan 2023.
I prefer the SJ 12 speed over the 11 speed instinct, but you might upgrade derailer at some point.
Here’s my review of the bike and upgrades.
https://www.reddit.com/r/MTB/s/m1JabSg70g
Stumpy is one of the worst part builds in the industry, and Rocky Mountain is better but potentially going bankrupt so not the best buy… Also that may still be one of the press fit BB models which is like salt on the wound there.
I would check out Giant Trances, Norco Fluids, and Marin Rift Zones before committing to the Polygon. But all of them are great bikes, including the Polygon.
I’d also consider the YT Jeffsy Core 1 just as an alternative to the Polygon, though they are fairly similar dollar per dollar. You just get a bit ‘more’ bike for the Jeffsy, as long as you put up with the NX drivetrain or whatever.
https://99spokes.com/compare?bikes=polygon-siskiu-t8-2024%2Cgiant-trance-x-3-2022%2Cyt-jeffsy-core-1-29-2024%2Cgiant-trance-29-2-2022%2Cmarin-rift-zone-27.5-xr-2024%2Cmarin-rift-zone-2-2025%2Cnorco-fluid-fs-a2-2024
Also some footage of me on the Polygon T7 I upgraded to T8 level back during the covid times: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=la2m5Qgsp_M
I know the top guy wrote a scientific paper on why to not get it but it’s kinda not that big a deal. Or more so he ignores how few options you have at that budget and how the other ~2k options are likely worse.
1) SJ 2) PG 3) RM
Happy with carbon Stumpys. Know a few with alloy. One is a beginner and doing skinny bridges and stuff, the other had done DH. He likes the alloys durability and frame. I ride what the wife rides so I’m kinda happily where we r at.
Check out the GT Sensor Carbon on Jenson. Similar geo to yeti SB140, Santa Cruz Hightower, Propain Hugene, etc. Get Jenson on the phone and they can give you additional discounts!
Love my stumpy 2021 alloy
I own a 2021 SJ Alloy and I still ride it. Great frame, but I actually ended up replacing almost every component on the bike. The original components are actually kinda trash. I ride a lot though, like 2,500+ miles on this frame. If you ride that much, then the parts won’t last well and can become expensive to upgrade.
Check out this deal. A much higher spec stumpy for not much more. https://www.reddit.com/r/MTB/s/O90Lf072gY