Polygon Cascade 4 (2018): ChooseMyBicycle.com Expert Review

The Polygon Cascade 4 which we test rode is built on a full alloy frame. This frame geometry is inspired from XC MTB’s with a slanting top tube and a taller build, giving the bicycle more ground clearance. The thin seat and chain stays are strong enough to withstand the vibration from the surface at the rear half of the frame but they mainly contribute towards lowering the overall weight of the frame.

As a hardtail MTB, this one comes with a Suntour XCM front suspension fork with 100mm of travel and a pre-load adjuster. During the test ride the suspension fork was smooth in functioning.

The Cascade 4 which I test rode came in a dual colour shaded frame. A neat balance of turquoise blue and black on the frame fades in between to create a nice texture. There are shades of red and white as secondary colours on the frame, rims and fork as well. The matte finish paint job was of superior quality and gave a smooth finish to the frame.

This hardtail MTB comes with a unique combination of Shimano Tourney at the rear and Shimano Altus at the front as derailleurs. This is unique because, usually when there is a component mix in the drivetrain, the lower ranked component is in the front and higher ranker component at the rear thus making the smaller gear changes better at the rear. In this case the Altus at the front has actually made the bigger gear jumps easy and smooth to change with no lags. Altus and Tourney are entry-level MTB components but they perform well for flat trail riding and urban commuting. The 24-Speed trigger shifters were easy to use.

Braking on the Polygon Cascade 4 is taken care of by Tektro MD-M280 Mechanical Disc brakes at both the front and rear. These brakes felt balanced and are useful especially when you are riding in wet weather and need reliable braking performance when stopping during fast paced trail rides.

The 680mm handlebar was wide enough for a comfortable riding posture as well a slight raise from the middle to keep the rider little upright while riding.

The Trax 27.5” x 2.1” MTB tires on the Cascade 4 are heavily treaded and are the same as found on the Polygon Cascade 2 (2018). The treads on these tires are massive for 27.5” standards, making it generate a lot of traction even on wet trails. The stock foam saddle from Polygon was ergonomic in design with the perfect width to keep those sit bones in place. The overall ride quality was comfortable on rough urban roads and flat trails.