Few publications understand the demands of off-road riding quite like AMBMag. As one of Australia’s most authoritative mountain bike and adventure cycling media outlets, AMBMag has built its reputation on rigorous, trail-tested reviews that go well beyond spec sheets.
When they turned their attention to the 2023 Polygon Bend V9X, they brought that same no-nonsense lens to a gravel bike that’s been turning heads since its release — and their verdict is worth reading carefully.
First Impressions: A Gravel Bicycle That Means Business
AMBMag’s reviewer arrived with a clear benchmark in mind: a truly versatile gravel bike needs to be quick on smooth surfaces and genuinely capable when conditions get rough. It’s a high bar, and one that many bikes in the category only partially clear.
The Bend V9X clears it in its own way. The first thing the reviewer noted is the riding position more upright than most gravel bicycles that have evolved from road bike geometry, and immediately more accessible for riders coming from a mountain bike background.
How the Bend V9X Performs on Trail?
Climbing: More Range Than You’d Expect
On extended climbs, the wide-range SRAM drivetrain, a 40t chainring matched to a 10-52t GX Eagle cassette, proved its worth. A
MBMag’s reviewer completed 15-minute climbs with gradients pushing 18% without issue, noting the gearing was more than adequate for unloaded riding.
Riders planning heavily loaded bikepacking trips on very steep terrain may want to plan ahead, but for the vast majority of gravel and trail use, the range on offer is genuinely impressive.
Descending: Fast and Capable, With Honest Limits
On longer descents, the Bend V9X impressed. Speed came easily, and the bike held its line with composure. Where the reviewer was candid was on rockier, steeper sections, territory where a mountain bike’s edge knobs and longer travel would offer more margin.
The Bend V9X doesn’t pretend to be a trail bike, and on that terrain, a slightly more cautious pace was needed. That’s not a criticism, it’s an honest reflection of what this category of best gravel bikes is designed to do.
Suspension: The Fork Changes Everything
The Fox 32 TaperCast fork earned consistent praise throughout the review. On a conventional gravel bicycle, rough sections demand a more defensive, rearward riding position to protect the front wheel.
The Fox fork removes that hesitation. Running around 125psi through the Grip damper, the 40mm of travel absorbs transitions cleanly and keeps the front end tracking with confidence. Compression adjustment is accessible directly from the top cap, making it straightforward to firm things up when returning to road surfaces.
Product Takeaway
AMBMag concluded that the Bend V9X delivers something genuinely rare at its price point: a premium component package, wireless SRAM groupset, carbon wheels, suspension fork, and dropper post on an alloy frame that stays accessible near the $5,000 mark.
For riders who want to push well beyond traditional gravel riding without stepping up to a full mountain bike, the Bend V9X makes a compelling case.
Explore the full range gravel bikes here!
