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Polygon Helios A vs Ribble Ultra-Aero SL
Pick up to 4 bikes. Rows line up component by component. Highlighted rows differ, and green marks the best value where lower or higher is clearly better.
Key differences
- The Polygon Helios A starts $481 cheaper ($3,999 vs $4,480 for the Ribble Ultra-Aero SL).
- Our verdict scores the Polygon Helios A higher overall: 82/100 vs 70/100.
- The Polygon Helios A comes in 7 sizes, the Ribble Ultra-Aero SL in 5.
Polygon Helios A
Ribble Ultra-Aero SL
| PolygonHelios A | RibbleUltra-Aero SL | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Brand | Polygon | Ribble |
| Build | Helios A0 AXS | Ultra-Aero SL Ultegra Di2 |
| Build notes | Sunset Rush paint. USD price from Polygon US. Polygon lists crank arms without lengths. Polygon's spec list names no front derailleur. | Regular price; Ribble's end-of-season sale, ending 2 November 2026, offered it at £3,599 / $5,015. Ribble doesn't list the crankset. |
| Price (MSRP) | €8,999$8,999€8,999 | $6,660$6,660£4,449 |
| Bike weight | — | 8.4 kg18.5 lb |
| Weight measured on size | — | M |
| Model year | 2026 | 2026 |
| Generation | All-new Helios A (2025) | — |
| Launched | 2025-06 | — |
| Discipline | Aero road | Aero road |
| UCI legal | Yes | Yes |
| Verdict (out of 100) | ||
| Overall score | 82 | 70 |
| Aero | 78 | 76 |
| Frame | 78 | 60 |
| Components | 80 | 56 |
| Fit | 82 | 66 |
| Practicality | 82 | 72 |
| Price | 93 | 93 |
| Weight | — | 68 |
| Frame & fork | ||
| Frame material | Carbon (ACX, UCI approved) | Carbon (T1000 and T800 monocoque) |
| Fork material | Carbon (ACX) | Carbon |
| Frame weight | 800 g28.2 oz | 1,200 g2.65 lb |
| Fork weight | — | 580 g20.5 oz |
| Weight measured on | Polygon's claim; size and finish not stated | Ribble's figures |
| Frame sizes | XXXS, XXS, XS, S, M, L, XL | XS, S, M, L, XL |
| Colours | Sunset Rush (A0 AXS), Velvet Ember / Candy (A9 Di2), Midnight Pine / Chrome Rocket (A8 Di2), Cosmic Plum / Black Phantom (A7 Di2); framesets also in Black Phantom, Candy, Chrome Rocket, Cosmic Plum, Midnight Pine, Sunset Rush and Velvet Ember | — |
| Also available as | — | Ultra-Aero SL R: same design with a lighter, higher-grade layup and the Ultra-Aero bar |
| UCI frame approval | Approved 17 Jan 2024 as 'HELIOS A GEN 3.0' (frame and fork), sizes 3XS - XL (7), code POLYGON-1 (UCI list version 2026.10.02) | — |
| Compatibility & standards | ||
| Brake type | Hydraulic disc | Hydraulic disc |
| Wheel size | 700c | 700c |
| Max tire width | 34 mm | — |
| Bottom bracket standard | T47 threaded (85.5 mm) | BSA 68 mm threaded |
| Front axle | 12x100 thru-axle | — |
| Rear axle | 12x142 thru-axle | — |
| Cable routing | Internal, routed through the semi-integrated LINC bar and stem | — |
| Hydration & storage | ||
| Bottle mount locations | Down tube with two cage positions: low for large bottles, high for smaller ones | — |
| Fit & adjustability | ||
| Cockpit | Two-piece: LINC carbon handlebar and separate carbon stem (31.8 mm clamp), hoses routed internally | One-piece bar and stem (Ribble RI-2 carbon) |
| Seatpost type | Aero carbon seatpost (35 mm aero, 351 mm) included; a standard 27.2 mm round post fits via an adapter | Ribble Ultra-Aero SL R/SL setback carbon seatpost |
| Aerodynamics | ||
| Manufacturer aero claims | 5.2 seconds faster than the previous Helios A (Polygon; test distance and speed not stated). Polygon's pages also cite a 31% drag reduction versus previous generations. | — |
| Tube profile | Truncated airfoil down tube, seatpost and head tube | — |
| Travel, maintenance & warranty | ||
| Headset bearings | Integrated, IS52/28.6 top and IS52/40 bottom | — |
| Proprietary parts | Aero seatpost (a round 27.2 mm post can be used with an adapter) | — |
| Frame warranty | 5 years on carbon frames and on rigid forks, for the original registered owner (Polygon warranty terms) | — |
| Sold via | Polygon dealers and Polygon's official online store | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Groupset | SRAM Red AXS E1 | Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8100 |
| Launched | 2024 · current generation | 2021 · current generation |
| Speeds | 12-speed | 12-speed |
| Electronic | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless | Yes | — |
| Drivetrain | 2x | 2x |
| Shifters | SRAM Red AXS E1 | Shimano Ultegra Di2 ST-R8170 |
| Crankset | SRAM Red AXS E1 Power Meter | — |
| Chainrings | 48/35 | — |
| Power meter | SRAM Red AXS E1 Power Meter | — |
| Launched | 2024 · current generation | — |
| Bottom bracket | SRAM DUB T47 | Shimano BB-R60 |
| Standard | T47 (85.5 mm) | BSA 68 mm threaded |
| Front derailleur | — | Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8150 |
| Rear derailleur | SRAM Red AXS E1 | Shimano Ultegra Di2 R8150 |
| Cassette | SRAM Red XG-1290 E1 | Shimano Ultegra R8101 |
| Range | 10-33 | 11-34 |
| Speeds | 12-speed | 12-speed |
| Chain | SRAM Red E1 | Shimano CN-M8100 |
| Brakes | ||
| Brake levers | SRAM Red AXS E1 | Shimano Ultegra Di2 ST-R8170 |
| Brake calipers | SRAM Red AXS E1 | — |
| Type | Hydraulic disc | — |
| Rotors | SRAM Paceline X | Shimano RT-CL800 |
| Front rotor | 160 mm | 160 mm |
| Rear rotor | 140 mm | — |
| Mount | Center Lock | — |
| Wheels & tires | ||
| Wheelset | Zipp 303 SW | Mavic Cosmic S 42 |
| Internal rim width | 25 mm | — |
| Material | Carbon | Carbon |
| Tubeless ready | Yes | — |
| Hubs | Alloy, sealed bearings, Center Lock; 12x100 mm front, 12x142 mm rear, 20H front and rear | — |
| Spokes | Sapim CX-Sprint | — |
| Tires | Goodyear Vector R SW | Vittoria Corsa N.EXT TLR |
| Tire width | 30 mm | 30 mm |
| Cockpit | ||
| Handlebar | LINC Carbon handlebar | Ribble RI-2 Carbon Integrated |
| Type | Drop bar | One-piece bar and stem |
| Integrated stem | No | Yes |
| Widths available | 400 mm (XXXS, XXS, XS), 420 mm (S, M), 440 mm (L, XL) | — |
| Cable routing | Internal (semi-integrated with the stem) | — |
| Material | Carbon | Carbon |
| Notes | 31.8 mm clamp. Polygon lists 'R/D' -134.2 mm (XXXS-XS) / -138.2 mm (S-XL) and 'B/R' 92.5 mm (XXXS-XS) / 89.7 mm (S-XL). | — |
| Stem | LINC Carbon stem | — |
| Stem length | 90 mm (XXXS), 100 mm (XXS, XS), 110 mm (S, M), 120 mm (L, XL) | — |
| Notes | -7.5 degree, 31.8 mm bar clamp | — |
| Headset | Integrated sealed bearing, IS52/28.6 top, IS52/40 bottom | — |
| Saddle & seatpost | ||
| Saddle | Fizik Vento Antares R3 | Selle Italia SLR Advan Superflow L3 |
| Rails | Kium, 7 mm | — |
| Seatpost | Carbon aero seatpost | Ribble Ultra-Aero SL R/SL Setback Carbon |
| Material | Carbon | Carbon |
| Notes | Aero 35 x 351 mm | — |
| Geometry (smallest – largest size) | ||
| Sizes | XXXS, XXS, XS, S, M, L, XL | XS, S, M, L, XL |
| Rider height min | 143–180 cm4′8″–5′11″ | 160–185 cm5′3″–6′1″ |
| Rider height max | 153–187 cm5′0″–6′2″ | 165–191 cm5′5″–6′3″ |
| Stack | 493–571 mm19.4–22.5″ | 506–583 mm19.9–23″ |
| Reach | 370–420 mm14.6–16.5″ | 379–410 mm14.9–16.1″ |
| Seat tube angle | 73–75° | 73.3–75° |
| Head tube angle | 71–73° | 72–73.5° |
| Head tube length | 90–170 mm3.5–6.7″ | 105–180 mm4.1–7.1″ |
| Effective top tube | 502–598 mm19.8–23.5″ | 515–585 mm20.3–23″ |
| Seat tube length | 395–536 mm15.6–21.1″ | 470–560 mm18.5–22″ |
| Chainstay | 410 mm16.1″ | 410 mm16.1″ |
| Wheelbase | 969–1,024 mm38.1–40.3″ | 975–1,014 mm38.4–39.9″ |
| BB drop | 71.5–78 mm2.8–3.1″ | 69 mm2.7″ |
| BB height | 266–272.5 mm10.5–10.7″ | — |
| Fork offset | — | 45–53 mm1.8–2.1″ |
| Front centre | — | 518–613 mm20.4–24.1″ |
| Standover | 662–799 mm26.1–31.5″ | — |
| Wheel size | 700c | 700c |
| Crank length | — | 165–172.5 mm6.5–6.8″ |
| Stem length | 90–120 mm3.5–4.7″ | 80–110 mm3.1–4.3″ |
| Handlebar width | 400–440 mm15.7–17.3″ | 380–420 mm15–16.5″ |
Geometry overlay
Pick a size for each bike to see frames and arm-pad ranges on top of each other.
Drawn to scale (how to read it).