The BEST GRAVEL BIKE For $1500!? Ride and Review Series
5,521
Published 2023-01-13
What I ride:
2021 Trek Top Fuel 7 (Size M/L)
www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/bikes/mountain-bikes/cr…
2021 Polygon Bend R5 (Size L)
www.bikesonline.com/2021-polygon-bend-r5-650b-grav…
2021 Trek FX 2 Disc (Size XL)
www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/bikes/hybrid-bikes/fitn…
What my wife rides:
2021 Trek Top Fuel 5 (Size S)
www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/bikes/mountain-bikes/cr…
2021 Trek Marlin 6 (Size S)
www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/us/en_US/bikes/mountain…
2021 Trek FX 2 Disc (Size S)
www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/bikes/hybrid-bikes/fitn…
GoPro Hero 9 Black settings:
4k - 24 fps (Superview)
HyperSmooth - BOOST
Bit Rate: HIGH
Shutter: AUTO
EV Comp: (-0.5)
Sharpness: LOW
Color: GoPro
Raw Audio: HIGH
Wind: Off
#trek #trekbikes #TopFuel #TrekMarlin #Ibis #GMBN #Marlin6 #MTB #Delaware #Mountainbiking #Specialized #Giant #XC #Polygon #Gravel #Gravelbikes
All Comments (17)
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Great review, Todd! I like how you gave the review while riding, it shows you really know the ins and outs of the bike off the dome! & I dig the 650b with wider tread and the dropper. Sounds like a fun machine. 🤙
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Thanks for your feedback on this bike, just picked one up for my sister. Seems like a great entry point with decent components.
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You've definitely got your moneys worth on that bike. Love the upgrades too. Good stuff Todd.
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Very helpful review. Thank you
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I love mine as well, especially happy with the groupset for the money i paid. Dropper post give me the feeling of my MTB.. i like your DT swiss wheelset.. comprehensive review.. 👍👍👍
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Great review.
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One of my favorite budget bikes, and one of the best bang for the dollar along with Triban and Marin when on sale. I wish the Polygon Bend R2 came in XL. Also, the geometry is great on both the Bend and path. going to pick one up sooner or later. Right now I'm building up a Marin Headlands frame, which shares the same parent company as Polygon.
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I've been impressed with mine since changing seat/stem/bars. Very comfortable and smooth. Such an incredible value. The stock front sprocket is carbon steel and HEAVY. A cheap aluminum replacement is well worth it...
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HI. Thanks for filming this review. Does your Polygon distributor stock the Path X5 and X4? Here in the UK they only have the Bend models, but I'd like the extra chainring for road riding and the R2 is not as appealing as the R5/X5/X4. Can I find you on strava to see how fast you go on the R5?
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Around where I live the roads are sandy clay and large gravel. Do you think a gravel bike would be good for that or do I need a mountain bike? For example, in this video you are riding through the well-traveled grooves in the road, but here the whole road would mostly be only lightly packed and the gravel would likely extend across the whole road in varied degrees of packedness.
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Thanks for the review. I'm looking at getting this to use mostly for long touring on paved road. It looks like a nice cross between a gravel and. a touring bike. Any thoughts on that? My concerns are only one crank and maybe the wheels are small for mostly road use.
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Don’t look like they sell that R5 model Shimano grx you have anymore. They have the R7 model now with Sram apex groupset. Same price. Do you think Apex is as good?
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How does this bike compare to the Marin Gestalt X11? Any thoughts?
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Polygon makes fantastic bikes. But the gear ratios on this one seem “boring”, i mean a 38t chainring would feel dead slow on the flats isn’t it? I have a Heist X7 with a similar crank and i fall asleep on the flats when i ride it on the road( though i realise it isn’t meant for that).
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Great review 👍👍 I reserved Bend R5 for £1250 from go outdoor ..I wasn’t sure until watch your video 👏👏. I am 5’ 11 and they says medium size will be perfect for me 🧐 what is your thoughts ? Thanks
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polygon bend r5 is great... ☺
