The bike that I bought is a hardtail Polygon Cozmic CX 3.0. This is the 2013 model, which means that it comes with improved components compared to previous years' bikes. The reason I chose this bike is because for the price of 1.1k, this is probably the best spec-ed bike you can find out there! Let us take a closer look at the individual components on this new MTB.
First, the drivetrain. It is a good 30 speed Shimano DynaSys drivetrain, with a mix of Deore and SLX components.
Deore crankset and FD, SLX RD.
A nice Hollowtech II Deore crankset, much stiffer than square taper cranksets. Worth the extra money. DynaSys 42-32-24T.
Front triple Deore FD. Solid performance for an affordable price.
Pretty high end SLX Shadow RD. This is the new 2013 SLX M670, with a new outer link design. This one is the normal version without the Shadow Plus clutch mechanism.
New RD hanger design! Direct mounting for the RD is possible, without the need for an extra plate as seen on conventional Shadow RD. Makes rear wheel removal easier. But this also means that it is not possible to mount non-shadow RD.
This is the older SLX M660, with an extra link between the hanger and the RD as shown. Fits all bikes with conventional hangers.
Deore grade 10 speed 11-36 cassette, CS-HG62-10.
Comes with the new SLX SL-M670 shifters too! This version does not have the optical gear display.
Shimano hydraulic brakes, BL-M445. Not the best around, but definitely better than the commonly found Tektro brakes.
Shimano hydraulic brake calipers and rotors.
Centrelock disc rotor mounting system, for ease of removal without having to unscrew all 6 bolts.
Rear brake caliper, mounted on the chainstay instead of the more conventional seat stay.
Shimano MT55 wheelset, decent performance for an affordable price.
Nothing much to shout about, but I'm not too particular about tires as long as it does not give me problems. May change these Kenda Kharisma II tires to some Schwalbe ones in the future.
This bike comes with a pretty decent suspension fork! A Rockshox Recon Solo Air. Would probably cost $300+ on its own.
A lockout switch is expected. But no remote lockout here.
100mm travel, more than sufficient for light offroad.
A simple table to help you set the air pressure in the air spring.
At the bottom of the right suspension leg, there is also a knob to control the speed of the rebound.
Here is a brief summary of the bike specifications:
Fork: Rockshox Recon Silver Solo Air, 100mm travel
Crankset: Shimano Deore FC-M590, 170mm, 42-32-24T
Front Derailleur: Shimano Deore FD-M590
Rear Derailleur: Shimano SLX RD-M670SGS
Cassette: Shimano CS-HG62-10, 11-36T
Chain: Shimano CN-HG54
Shifters: Shimano SLX SL-M670
Brakes: Shimano BL-M445, BR-M446
Wheelset: Shimano MT55
Tires: Kenda Kharisma II, 26" x 2.10
Entity brand stem, handlebar, seatpost and saddle. Ritchey headset.
The stock pedals were pretty lousy, being flimsy with bad bearings, so I changed them out for a pair of Wellgo pedals that I had lying around. A bit small, but it will do until I find a pair of proper MTB pedals.
Overall, for this price, this bike comes with pretty good specs! It is a fun bike to ride, with the large wheels and suspension fork absorbing all the bumps. It offers something very different from my folding bikes.