Earlier this fall we covered the latest news regarding Pole Bicycles’ forthcoming Machine. Originally planned for Chinese production in full carbon, Pole later announced they decided to construct their new super-enduro & DH bike entirely of CNC machined aluminum. Citing uneasiness with the environmental impacts of carbon fiber production, and a desire to build their frames closer to home, Pole will now fabricate the all-aluminum bike in Finland.
Pole Machine, CNC machinedalloy enduro mountain bike
At first, a machined aluminum frame seems like an evolutionary step backwards. But Pole’s chief engineer Leo Kokkonen, makes a sound argument for this new direction. By machining their frame from 7075 T6 aluminum billet, they can better allocate material within each component to augment stiffness without excess weight. Even hydroforming can’t match the precision of CNC machining, nor is it as easy to modify tube shapes throughout the design process. Using a 7075 alloy keeps weight low without compromising rigidity. No frame weight numbers have been released as of yet to substantiate those claims.
This is not the first time a mountain bike frame has been CNC machined. But the Pole process claims to be the most advanced. Since 7075 aluminum can’t be welded, the various machined components must be bonded together. If this sounds like a less than durable means of tube joinery, these are the methods used in automotive and aerospace applications (and in Shimano cranks many of us ride), so it is proven technology.
Designed to do-it-all
For those of you who subscribe to the notion of the quiver-killer, Kokkonen designed his new enduro trail 29er to excel in ALL riding conditions. Biased towards proper enduro applications, 160mm travel at the rear pairs with 180mm up front.
It still features Pole’s crazy long geometry, said to have been empirically tested as faster down a technical track than almost any other bike in existence – no matter the price. We’ve ridden some Pole Evolink bikes, and were pleasantly surprised with how well they rode, and even how easily they navigated tight, techy trails.
An asymmetrical shock mount helps create more seat tube insertion. Cables routing stays externally to keep it simple. Anyway, the down tube features drilling for three bottle cages.
Pole made additional adjustments to their kinematics to improve on the existing Evolink system. By rotating the shock 90º, the Machine now has improved standover. Tire clearance within the swingarm was optimized as well, to accommodate a 3” tire. That should provide ample latitude for a mud-choked 2.35” tire.
Pole indicated future models could be available in a variety of colors. But for now they’re content offering the Machine in raw aluminum to highlight the beauty of the machining process. Pre-sale orders begin today, check out the link below for more. Prices start at 3,450.00€ for the frame with complete bikes listed at 6,950.00€.
