Finland’s Pole Bicycles is certainly an interesting brand: They’ve created a lineup of full suspension mountain bikes that all look very similar, yet their purposes range from XC to DH. The company owners have some interesting ideas about frame flex, suspension and geometry, and furthermore their EVOLINK bikes are foldable for easy storage and transportation.
Company owners Leo Kokkonen (also a DH racer) and Patric Wladimirov set out to design bikes that handle well at high speeds, suck up hard impacts from jumps and still pedal efficiently. Basically, they wanted DH geometry combined with XC pedalling capability. Pole’s bikes feature long wheelbases and slack steering angles- In fact, they’re claiming to have the slackest folding 29ers available.
Below we’ll check out Pole’s EVOLINK 110 and 140 models, two long and low trail focused 29ers with 110mm or 140mm of travel, as the names suggest. If you’re a jet-set type or downtown denizen with a taste for unique, customizable bikes read on for more info…
Pole’s EVOLINK bikes can be folded into a fairly compact shape by removing the front wheel and a single bolt from the swingarm. The swingarm rotates over the front triangle (as shown above) which could be ideal for storage in small apartments, crowded garages, etc. With the handlebar and rear wheel also removed, Pole says the bike will fit into standard oversized luggage for travelling.
EVOLINK is Pole’s dual short link, concentric BB suspension configuration which aims to provide a firm pedalling platform with limited pedal feedback and suspension bob. The bikes are specifically optimized for use with finely-tunable air shocks, and the frames can accommodate large-volume air canisters. Since air shocks have a naturally progressive spring rate, the frame’s leverage increases at the end of the stroke to allow full use of the bike’s travel while still resisting bottoming out. Chain growth is also short enough that riders can run clutch style rear derailleurs without hampering the suspension’s movement.
Pole’s frames are all made from straight, triangular shaped 7005 Aluminum tubing. The EVOLINK bikes all feature the same core design, except that they stretch out to accommodate the varying travel options. All of Pole’s frames come with titanium axles and high quality bearings in their pivot points, and the rear swingarms are available with either 142mm or Boost 148 spacing. The frames also include two bottle cage mounts, ISCG 05 chain guide tabs, 73mm threaded bottom brackets, and the option for internal cable routing.
Pole offers a few stock builds of each bike, but if those options don’t float your boat customers can also use their online Bike Builder to choose from a huge range of component builds and customizations.
The EVOLINK 110 is a 110mm travel trail machine with a 66° head tube angle and an effective seat tube angle of 77.5°. A size medium frame boasts a reach of 480mm, and its 455mm chainstays contribute to a stretchy 1248mm wheelbase.
The 110 is available in either the recreational level TR build or the competition grade XC model. The TR model sells for approx. $4,486 USD and the XC model for $6,236, plus the 110 frame can be purchased alone for $2,570. The TR comes in Pearl Turquoise paint, while the XC wears Radiant Blue. Sizes XS – XL are available, check out Pole’s website for geometry and full build specs.
Pole’s EVOLINK 140 also comes in two flavours, the TR or EN. With 140mm travel, this bike is focused towards more aggressive trails or enduro-style riding, and their head tubes are very slack at 64.5°. The effective seat tube angle, reach and chainstay measurements are virtually identical to the medium sized 110, but the wheelbase grows to 1284mm.
Again, the TR model is built with weekend warriors in mind while the upgraded EN has a higher-end component build better suited to enduro/gravity racing. The EVOLINK 140 TR’s price is $4,486, and the EN goes for $6,127. Stock frame colors are Red for the TR and Velvet Black for the EN. The 140 frameset sells for $2,570, and is available in XS – L sizes.
Pole Bicycles are available online to customers worldwide.
