Few cycling publications carry the authority of Bicycling Australia Magazine, a long-standing editorial institution in the Australian cycling scene and a trusted benchmark for riders seeking rigorous, real-world bike evaluations.
When their team set out to test the 2023 Polygon Bend R9X, they did it properly: packed a bikepacking bag, caught a bus to collect the bike, and put it through its paces across flat roads, undulating trails, rough fire tracks, and everything in between.
First Impression: A Genuinely Unique Gravel Bike
From the moment Bicycling Australia laid eyes on the Bend R9X, it was clear this wasn’t going to be a straightforward review.
The deep nautical blue hydro-formed alloy frame carries shapes, angles, and a geometry that reads, in the best possible way like a considered mashup of a hardtail mountain bike, a lightweight XC rig, and a cutting-edge gravel bicycle.
Add to that an almost countless number of mounting points, a wireless dropper post, a more upright riding position, and touring-influenced finishing kit, and the Bend R9X starts to reveal its true identity: a serious adventure bike built for riders who want to go further, carry more, and explore without limits.
Bicycling Australia noted that Polygon itself rarely leans on the word “gravel” to describe the Bend, and with good reason.
This is a gravel bike engineered around the spirit of adventure, designed to handle rugged terrain, challenging trails, and long-distance exploration with equal confidence. The R9X is less concerned with fitting a trend and more focused on delivering genuine versatility.
How It Feels on the Road and Off It?
The ride quality of the Bend R9X genuinely surprised Bicycling Australia’s reviewer. Despite an all-alloy build and aggressive 44mm VeeTireCo RocketMan rubber, the overall experience was far more comfortable than anticipated.
Much of that comfort comes from deliberate build choices. The bike ships with extra-thick bar tape with additional padding underneath, a small detail that meaningfully improves grip and reduces hand fatigue on long, rough sections. The flared 420mm Entity Expert aluminium bars added both control on technical terrain and a useful tuck position on road descents.
The real standout, however, was the RockShox XPLR wireless dropper post. Deployed with a simultaneous tap of both brake levers, it dropped approximately 75mm to clear a gnarly rock garden on a local fire trail, proving more than just a premium spec item. It’s a functional tool that genuinely expands what this adventure bike can tackle.
Completing the package are Novatec C24 carbon wheels, a surprisingly premium inclusion at the R9X’s price point, with a combined weight of 1,575g and a tubeless-ready factory setup. Bicycling Australia noted these wheels retail at around AUD1,380 independently, underlining just how strong the overall value proposition is.
The drivetrain, SRAM Rival AXS wireless with a 1x 40T chainring and 12-51T cassette, delivered smooth, reliable shifting across every gradient encountered during testing. Not a setup chasing podium times, but one perfectly calibrated for going long and going anywhere.
Product Takeaway
Bicycling Australia’s conclusion was direct: the Bend R9X is a bike that earns its place in any serious cyclist’s garage as the ultimate go-anywhere touring and adventure companion. Remarkably well-specced, genuinely comfortable, and built with a versatility that few bikes at this price point can match.
Whether it’s a gravel bike, an adventure bike, or something else entirely, the 2023 Polygon Bend R9X is the kind of machine that makes riders want to load up and head out the door.
