Polygon Cascade 2 (2018) - Review

The Polygon Cascade 2 is an MTB built on a top notch AL6 alloy frame. The tubes on the frame aren’t as bulky but can take a good amount of hard hitting from moderate trails. The thin seat and chain stays surely makes the frame a lightweight one, which helps in acceleration. This is a hardtail MTB and comes with a Zoom CH-565D front suspension fork with a 1mm travel. During the test ride, the travel worked comfortably up to 7-8mm which was more than sufficient for rough urban roads good enough for flat trails.

The Cascade 2 is an entry level MTB and it comes with entry level Shimano Tourney front and rear derailleurs. These 21-Speed derailleurs are the most basic it can get and does have its limitations when it comes to smooth shifting. There will be some tuning of gear cables required from time to time to keep the derailleurs shifting up and down without any lags. These gears are low quality and are just enough for commuting and short trail rides.

The bicycle which I test rode came in a Black-Red frame colour. This dual shade blended in both the colours smoothly for a refreshing design. The White and Red graphics on the frame are neatly done. The gloss paint job is of good quality and gives a shiny finish to the frame. The colour coded rims, fork and saddle definitely enhance the aesthetics of this bicycle.

The Tektro MD28 Mechanical Disc Brakes handled the stopping power on the Polygon Cascade 2 (2018). These brakes performed well during the test ride on both rough and smooth roads. Both interval braking and jamming of brakes felt safe and balanced. The brake levers were also responsive.The 68mm handlebar was wide enough for a comfortable riding posture as well a slight raise from the middle to give the rider an upright riding position.

The Trax 27.5” x 2.1” MTB tires on the Cascade 2 are heavily treaded and performed well during the test ride. The bulky treads help maintain traction on dry and wet surfaces and on fast corners as well. The stock saddle was not just amazing on the design front but also perfect with its size, to make sure the rider is free from saddle soreness. The overall ride quality was comfortable.