Founded in Finland in 2013 by Leo Kokkonen, Pole Bicycles have built a reputation for radical innovation in the bike world. Their unconventional geometry, which is characterised by longer reach values, slacker angles and a strong focus on stability at higher speeds, quickly earned the brand cult status. Few bikes have made as strong a case for CNC-machined aluminium as the Pole MACHINE, an enduro bike that forced the industry to reconsider what modern frame design could be., After launching their first e-mountain bike, the Pole Voima, in 2022 and filing for bankruptcy two years later, the brand’s founder is now back with a new project. The Pole Hiisi marks Leo Kokkonen’s return to the industry. And no, Hiisi isn’t a typo. According to the manufacturer, Hiisi originally referred to a sacred place surrounded by untouched forest in Finnish mythology, before later evolving into the name of an unpredictable force.
A CNC-machined frame carved from solid aluminium instead of a carbon fibre
With the Hiisi, Pole Bicycles continue to take a distinctly different approach to frame manufacturing.
Rather than sourcing a carbon frame from Asia or falling back on welded tube construction, Pole CNC-machine every frame component from solid aluminium billets in Finland. The individual parts are then mechanically fastened and permanently bonded with a specialised adhesive, leaving the finished frame entirely weld-free.
This manufacturing process allows for a high degree of automation while ensuring exceptional production accuracy. Every frame is produced in Jyväskylä, Finland, where Pole also offer a custom configurator with a range of personalised build options. The Hiisi is available in three frame sizes and is designed to accommodate riders between 155 cm and 198 cm tall.
A small change to the shock mount allows you to adjust the rear wheel travel between 152 mm and 200 mm, which gives the Hiisi impressive versatility across a wide range of riding styles.
Pole will offer the aluminium frame in three colours: Raw Silver, True Gold and Hero Bronze.
Pole Hiisi: one frame, multiple bike categories.
Most bikes are defined by a specific category based on their suspension travel. Not so with Pole. With the Hiisi, the Finnish manufacturer is taking a different approach. The frame has been designed to adapt to a wide range of riding styles and requirements. As Leo explained, you could initially configure the bike as a trail build and later upgrade it to 200 mm of travel front and rear without having to replace the frame.
You also have the choice between a full 29er setup and a mullet wheel configuration.
If you’d like to see how the geometry changes across the three frame sizes, the different travel options (152 mm, 173 mm, 180 mm and 200 mm) and the various wheel configurations, you can explore all combinations using the configurator on Pole’s website.
The motor of the Pole Hiisi
We asked Leo Kokkonen why he chose the Swiss-made maxon Air S motor for his new eMTB rather than a drive unit from Avinox, Bosch or another established manufacturer:
“When it came to the motor, reliability and a natural ride feel were our top priorities. The maxon is very light and feels incredibly natural on the trail, while still being powerful and compact. With the Hiisi, we want to stay as close as possible to the pure mountain bike experience.”
The maxon AIR S, where the “S” denotes “Made in Switzerland”, is among the lightest full-power motors on the market. At 2.03 kg, it delivers 90 Nm of torque and a peak output of 620 W, placing it in the same weight and size bracket as many lightweight systems despite its full-power credentials.
For comparison’s sake, the FAZUA Ride 60 tips the scales at 2.04 kg and delivers 60 Nm of torque with 450 W of peak power, whereas the TQ HPR60 combines the same amount of torque with a lower peak output of 350 W and 1.94 kg weight.
For more information about the Swiss e-drive specialist, check out our feature on our visit to maxon’s headquarters and our in-depth test of the maxon AIR S.
Pole’s configurator allows you to tailor the spec of the Hiisi down to the smallest detail.
You can see how Leo configured his own bike in the photos below:
The Pole Hiisi can be ridden without a motor
Remove the motor, take out the battery, install the Manual Converter Kit, and the Hiisi coverts into a motorless enduro bike. That said, Leo made a few more modifications before flying from Finland to the Atlantic island of Madeira, where he raced his motor-free Hiisi in a six-day enduro event.
Conclusions about the new Pole Hiisi
With its CNC-machined aluminium frame, adaptable concept and lightweight maxon drive system, the Hiisi stands apart from the current eMTB crowd. Rather than chasing peak motor output or ever-larger batteries, Pole have focused on manufacturing quality, individuality and a character that is distinctly their own. For riders deliberately looking beyond the e-MTB mainstream, that makes the Hiisi a particularly compelling proposition.
For more information, visit the Pole Bicycles website.
Words & Photos: Manne Schmitt
About the Author
Manne Schmitt
Manne Schmitt is a Procurator at 41 Publishing, contributing a wealth of methodological expertise from his career as a Chief Analyst for a state authority. This background ensures the journalistic depth of his research, and the acquisition of exclusive news for E-MOUNTAINBIKE, ENDURO, GRAN FONDO, and DOWNTOWN. Active in cycling since 1989, he combines operative test support with administrative responsibility, strengthening the quality of editorial processes. The world of racing remains a passion; no one on the team knows the EDR professionals better than Manne.
