I have a hard tail but I'd liked to experience full suspension. I negotiated the seller down 50 bucks. They did upgrade the fork from a 34 fox to 36 fox. The trials around me are usually pretty technical and I find my rear tires slipping out all the time even thought my rear tire pressure is already 20psi. I wonder if rear suspension would help with that. I also have a short commute that might use it for. How is the pedaling efficiency different on full sus.
by Lawrence_skywalker
11 Comments
I can’t speak on efficiency difference based on suspension, as I’m pretty new, but if the bike was actually garage kept and well maintained, it’s a solid deal. I just bought a new T8 with the 34 fork for 2k after shipping, and it absolutely shreds.
Rear tire slipping a bunch is more indicative of a technique issue. However, a full suspension allows more room for error.
That’s a great deal as long as there’s no considerable damage, especially with the fork upgrade. The Siskiu’s already run cheaper than most bikes with equivalent spec, and this basically takes another $800 off a typical sale price for new.
With that tire choice, it will definitely have more drag compared to your gravel bike, and you’ll lose some efficiency from dual suspension, but it’s not horrible. 135mm of travel is enough to be cushy but not so much that it’s a slug! Rear suspension will help with grip while riding in chunk, but the tires will also help a lot with that. Dissector has a nice predictable level of grip and a controllable break-away, I had that as my back tire for about 2 years.
Overall, I’d say it’s a great price for a first full-squish, and a well-reviewed bike overall!
If your rear is slipping on your current bike, it’s probably more body positioning, wheel weighting, and tire tread rather than the suspension. Unless it’s through some real choppy sections. Then a full sus would help.
Regardless, 1250 is a great price for that bike. Great spec, doesn’t need anything for a long time.
I bought this bike in 2023 and paid full Covid pricing for it lol – it’s been totally worth it and I love it. Hurts to see a 2025 priced so low but understand my delusions and the market right now lol
Insane deal
Great bike, and they upgraded the suspension
First off this is a great bike. My son rides one and I have ridden it. If your primary reason for buying this bike is to improve climbing then it’s not the right bike. The bike is heavy, slack and long and climbs poorly compared to an XC mountain bike. My primary bike is a Trek Remedy and the Remedy out climbs the T8 all day. Where the T8 excels is flying downhill. The bike is planted and stable and loves to rip fast and straight. The T8 crushes the Remedy on downhill performance.
The reality of it the T8 is way more fun in a bike park than on XC trail. While it’s a great deal it just seems to be the wrong use case for what you are trying to achieve. Polygon’s D series (downcountry) are much better climbers than their T ( trail) series bikes and I would recommend one of those which I have also ridden over the T8 for what you describe as your riding style.
You may want to question that fox 36 upgrade. It comes with a dps shock which is fox short travel shock. The 36 is going to be longer travel and heavier than the fox 34 that came with the bike. At a minimum it would be 140. The rhythm is entry level that I only comes speced oem. What I am saying is depending on what you are looking for out of that bike it might not be an upgrade and may change the way the bike rides in a way you don’t want.
Great deal
Great deal especially with h rh 36 on it.