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Polygon Helios A vs Stevens Arcalis
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 Stevens Arcalis starts €100 cheaper (€3,899 vs €3,999 for the Polygon Helios A).
- Our verdict scores the Polygon Helios A higher overall: 82/100 vs 80/100.
- Tire clearance: up to 34 mm on the Polygon Helios A vs 30 mm on the Stevens Arcalis.
- The Polygon Helios A comes in 7 sizes, the Stevens Arcalis in 6.
Polygon Helios A
Stevens Arcalis
| PolygonHelios A | StevensArcalis | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Brand | Polygon | Stevens |
| Build | Helios A0 AXS | Arcalis Shimano 105 |
| Build notes | Sunset Rush paint. USD price from Polygon US. Polygon lists crank arms without lengths. Polygon's spec list names no front derailleur. | Base price for this groupset in Stevens' custom configurator (Germany, EUR), as listed on the Arcalis page; wheels, cockpit, tyres, saddle, crank length, colour and many other parts are chosen when ordering and some options cost extra. Base wheelset DT Swiss E 1800 alloy. |
| Price (MSRP) | €8,999$8,999€8,999 | €3,899€3,899€3,899 |
| Model year | 2026 | 2027 |
| Generation | All-new Helios A (2025) | Aero Arcalis launched in 2021, with a lighter frame since the 2024 model |
| Launched | 2025-06 | 2024 |
| Discipline | Aero road | Aero road |
| UCI legal | Yes | Not stated |
| Verdict (out of 100) | ||
| Overall score | 82 | 80 |
| Aero | 78 | 80 |
| Frame | 78 | 80 |
| Components | 80 | 62 |
| Fit | 82 | 90 |
| Practicality | 82 | 74 |
| Price | 93 | 94 |
| Frame & fork | ||
| Frame material | Carbon (ACX, UCI approved) | Carbon ('Carbon SL Fiber') |
| Fork material | Carbon (ACX) | STEVENS Full Carbon SL, carbon steerer |
| Frame weight | 800 g28.2 oz | 950 g33.5 oz |
| Fork weight | — | 462 g16.3 oz |
| Weight measured on | Polygon's claim; size and finish not stated | Stevens' claims ('about 950 g' frame); size not stated |
| Max system weight | — | 115 kg253.5 lb |
| Frame sizes | XXXS, XXS, XS, S, M, L, XL | 48, 51, 54, 56, 58, 61 cm |
| 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 | Dusty Lavender, Twilight Darks, White Petrol, Black Illusion |
| 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) | On the UCI list of approved framesets as 'ARCALIS' (code STEV-ARC), approved 16 Apr 2021 in sizes 48-58 (6) (UCI list version 2026.10.02); Stevens now sells sizes 48-61, and the list doesn't say whether the lighter 2024 frame is a separate approval |
| Compatibility & standards | ||
| Brake type | Hydraulic disc | Hydraulic disc |
| Wheel size | 700c | 700c |
| Max tire width | 34 mm | 30 mm |
| Bottom bracket standard | T47 threaded (85.5 mm) | — |
| Front axle | 12x100 thru-axle | 12 mm thru-axle |
| Rear axle | 12x142 thru-axle | 12 mm thru-axle |
| Drivetrain compatibility | — | Shimano 105, 105 Di2, Ultegra Di2 and Dura-Ace Di2 and SRAM Rival, Force and Red AXS E1, all 2x12, in the configurator; the frame kit comes with parts for mechanical, electronic or wireless groupsets |
| Mechanical shifting possible | — | Yes |
| Cable routing | Internal, routed through the semi-integrated LINC bar and stem | Fully internal with integrated cockpits; semi-integrated routing also selectable |
| 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 | Chosen in the configurator: two-piece FSA or Deda stem and 31.8 mm bar sets, or one-piece Deda Alanera RS or FSA Vision Metron 5D ACR EVO carbon bar-stems (extra cost) |
| Standard stem and bar possible | — | Yes |
| Seatpost type | Aero carbon seatpost (35 mm aero, 351 mm) included; a standard 27.2 mm round post fits via an adapter | Arcalis carbon aero seatpost, 0 or 20 mm offset |
| Fit notes | — | Stem lengths 70-130 mm and bar widths 38-44 cm depending on the cockpit chosen; one-piece options come in fixed stem-length and width pairs. Spacers can be chosen when ordering. Crank lengths 165-175 mm on most groupsets. |
| 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. | Stevens cites TOUR's 2021 wind-tunnel result of 207 W at 45 km/h |
| Testing method | — | Wind tunnel |
| Tube profile | Truncated airfoil down tube, seatpost and head tube | — |
| Travel, maintenance & warranty | ||
| Headset bearings | Integrated, IS52/28.6 top and IS52/40 bottom | — |
| Maintenance | — | Shimano builds can be ordered with 160/160 or 160/140 mm rotors; Stevens recommends 160/140 only for light riders on flat terrain. Trailers, racks and child seats are not permitted. |
| 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 | Custom-built to order via Stevens' online configurator and Stevens dealers |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Groupset | SRAM Red AXS E1 | Shimano 105 |
| Launched | 2024 · current generation | — |
| Speeds | 12-speed | 12-speed |
| Electronic | Yes | No |
| Wireless | Yes | — |
| Drivetrain | 2x | 2x |
| Shifters | SRAM Red AXS E1 | — |
| Crankset | SRAM Red AXS E1 Power Meter | Shimano 105 |
| Chainrings | 48/35 | 50/34 |
| Crank lengths available | — | 165, 170, 172.5 or 175 mm |
| Power meter | SRAM Red AXS E1 Power Meter | — |
| Launched | 2024 · current generation | — |
| Bottom bracket | SRAM DUB T47 | — |
| Standard | T47 (85.5 mm) | — |
| Rear derailleur | SRAM Red AXS E1 | — |
| Cassette | SRAM Red XG-1290 E1 | Shimano 105 R7101 |
| Range | 10-33 | 11-34 |
| Speeds | 12-speed | 12-speed |
| Chain | SRAM Red E1 | — |
| Brakes | ||
| Brake levers | SRAM Red AXS E1 | — |
| Brake calipers | SRAM Red AXS E1 | — |
| Type | Hydraulic disc | — |
| Rotors | SRAM Paceline X | Shimano SM-RT70 |
| Front rotor | 160 mm | 160 mm |
| Rear rotor | 140 mm | 160 mm |
| Mount | Center Lock | — |
| Wheels & tires | ||
| Wheelset | Zipp 303 SW | DT Swiss E 1800 Spline 20 DB |
| Internal rim width | 25 mm | — |
| Material | Carbon | Aluminium |
| Tubeless ready | Yes | Yes |
| Hubs | Alloy, sealed bearings, Center Lock; 12x100 mm front, 12x142 mm rear, 20H front and rear | — |
| Spokes | Sapim CX-Sprint | — |
| Weight | — | 1,650 g3.64 lb |
| Notes | — | Center Lock |
| Tires | Goodyear Vector R SW | — |
| Tire width | 30 mm | — |
| Cockpit | ||
| Handlebar | LINC Carbon handlebar | — |
| Type | Drop bar | — |
| Integrated stem | No | — |
| 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 | — |
| 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 | — |
| Rails | Kium, 7 mm | — |
| Seatpost | Carbon aero seatpost | Stevens Arcalis Carbon |
| Offset / setback | — | 0 mm (20 mm optional) |
| Material | Carbon | Carbon |
| Notes | Aero 35 x 351 mm | 330 mm, 400 mm optional |
| Geometry (smallest – largest size) | ||
| Sizes | XXXS, XXS, XS, S, M, L, XL | 48, 51, 54, 56, 58, 61 |
| Rider height min | 143–180 cm4′8″–5′11″ | — |
| Rider height max | 153–187 cm5′0″–6′2″ | — |
| Stack | 493–571 mm19.4–22.5″ | 491–594 mm19.3–23.4″ |
| Reach | 370–420 mm14.6–16.5″ | 378–411 mm14.9–16.2″ |
| Seat tube angle | 73–75° | 73–75.5° |
| Head tube angle | 71–73° | 71.8–74° |
| Head tube length | 90–170 mm3.5–6.7″ | — |
| Effective top tube | 502–598 mm19.8–23.5″ | 496–581 mm19.5–22.9″ |
| Seat tube length | 395–536 mm15.6–21.1″ | 471–576 mm18.5–22.7″ |
| Chainstay | 410 mm16.1″ | 415 mm16.3″ |
| Wheelbase | 969–1,024 mm38.1–40.3″ | 971–1,018 mm38.2–40.1″ |
| BB drop | 71.5–78 mm2.8–3.1″ | 70 mm2.8″ |
| BB height | 266–272.5 mm10.5–10.7″ | 272 mm10.7″ |
| Fork length | — | 371 mm14.6″ |
| Fork offset | — | 45 mm1.8″ |
| Front centre | — | 567–613 mm22.3–24.1″ |
| Standover | 662–799 mm26.1–31.5″ | 746–846 mm29.4–33.3″ |
| Wheel size | 700c | — |
| Stem length | 90–120 mm3.5–4.7″ | — |
| Handlebar width | 400–440 mm15.7–17.3″ | — |
Geometry overlay
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