Last December, I received a bike from a little-known Finnish company that would change how I thought about mountain bike geometry. That bike was the Pole Evolink 140, and over the next few months I grew to love how its radical shape allowed me to ride. This summer, I travelled to Finland, to meet Pole’s founder, Leo Kokkonen, and ride the other four bikes which make up the company’s radical range.
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Pole’s five full-sus bikes cover everything from XC to DH, yet share a lot of common features. Massive wheelbases, slack head angles, steep seat angles and an unusual suspension design characterise Pole’s distinctive ride.
We’ve ridden all five in the rocky, unforgiving and downright weird terrain that makes up their proving grounds in Finland. Expect full reviews of the individual bikes in due course, but for now, take a look at the key stats for each bike:
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Evolink 110
- Travel: 110/120mm
- Wheel size: 29”
- Head angle: 66°
- Wheelbase: 1,308mm (XL)
- Weight: 12.1Kg (XL)
Evolink 130
- Travel: 130/140mm
- Wheel size: 27.5+
- Head angle: 65°
- Wheelbase: 1,310mm
- Weight: 14.5Kg
Evolink 140
- Travel: 140/150mm
- Wheel size: 29”
- Head angle: 64.5°
- Wheelbase: 1,315mm (L)
- Weight: 14.4Kg
Evolink 150
- Travel: 150/160mm
- Wheel size: 27.5”
- Head angle: 63.5°
- Wheelbase: 1,320mm (L)
- Weight: 14.8Kg
Evolink 176
- Travel: 176/200mm
- Wheel size: 27.5”
- Head angle: 62°
- Wheelbase: 1,355mm (L)
- Weight: 16.7Kg
Pole's bike characteristics
1. Slack head angles, and not just for downhill
2. Long reach and short stems
3. Steep seat angles
4. Unfashionably long chainstays
5. Suspension designed to minimise feedback, not bob
Three questions with Pole founder, Leo Kokkonen
Pole isn’t alone
You can read more at BikeRadar.com
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