review mbr - YT Industries

NOTES ON THE NUMBERS
BIKE TEST
Conclusion
Why BB height doesn’t tell the whole story
TEST
WINNER!
The bottom bracket heights of our four test
bikes hover around the 350mm mark. But this
measurement can’t be taken at face value, as all
of the bikes have different amounts of suspension
travel. So, if we assume that all of the bikes are
T
here’s a ton of hype surrounding enduro right
now. There are bogus ‘enduro’ events that
are more uphill than down, dubious enduro
products that aren’t really any different to what
we’ve already got and, it seems, every man and
his dog is now an enduro racer (mbr staff included!).
Cut through the marketing spiel, however, and one thing
is crystal clear: longer-travel bikes are better than ever
before, and we have enduro to thank for it.
The reason is simple: racing breeds development.
The latest enduro bikes may not look dissimilar to the
all-mountain bikes of yesteryear, but in fact they are
very different animals. Due to the nature of the racing,
this new breed is more DH-focused, with slacker angles
and better high-speed handling. In fact, the geometry
isn’t too far off what you’d see if you strolled the pits at
a World Cup DH race.
That is why you shouldn’t rush straight out and buy
a sexy new enduro bike if most of your saddle time is
spent trail riding. If you do, you’ll quickly find that you
are totally over-biked for the majority of your riding.
Even the lightest bikes, like the Specialized Enduro in
this test, are overkill on all but the toughest trails.
Timing has also played a massive part in making the
latest crop of enduro bikes so good. With bigger wheels,
1x11 drivetrains and carbon frame construction trickling
down to ever-lower price points, the latest bikes truly
can be lighter, stiffer, faster and more capable.
One bike that did everything better than the
competition was the YT Industries Capra Pro. When
we heard that it had 170mm of travel we thought YT’s
designers had gone too far, but our opinion soon
changed when we rode it. Yes, it’s got a boatload of
suspension, but the Capra only uses exactly what’s
needed at any given instant, so it never feels over the
top or sluggish. The extra travel means that it smoothes
out the rough stuff as well or better than any 29er, and
the unique feel of the ultra-plush and composed Bos
suspension makes this bike a force to be reckoned with. It
pedals efficiently and climbs surprisingly well, but it really
comes to life when you point it downhill and let gravity
work its magic. If ever there was an enduro bike that’s
guaranteed to help you post faster race times, it is the
new YT Industries Capra Pro. And, given that it’s also so
much cheaper than the competition, you’ll have plenty of
change left for more race entries in the season ahead.
A Head angle
Kona Process
153DL
Specialized
Enduro Expert
Trek Slash 9
YT-Industries
Capra Pro
66.1°
67.1°
65.4°
65.2°
B Seat angle
68.2°
68.8°
67.5°
70.8°
C BB height
350mm
348mm
353mm
350mm
D Chainstay
426mm
436mm
436mm
433mm
E Front centre
768mm
757mm
771mm
760mm
F Wheelbase
1,192mm
1,193mm
1,207mm
1,193mm
G Down tube
715mm
726mm
703mm
760mm
H Top tube
628mm
600mm
601mm
610mm
I Reach
470mm
445mm
460mm
445mm
that the Specialized has more BB drop than the
other bikes, as the axles of the 29in wheels are
higher than for the 650b wheels, and this gives the
Specialized added stability.
H
A
I
B
G
D
E
C
F
S P E C I F I CAT I O N
This month’s bikes at a glance
Make/model
Kona Process 153 DL
Specialized Enduro Expert Carbon
Trek Slash 9
£3,999
£4,600
£4,300
€3,333
Weight
14.7kg (32.4lb)
13.06kg (28.8lb)
13.73kg (30.3lb)
13.76kg (30.3lb)
Contact
konaworld.com
specialized.com
trekbikes.com
yt-industries.com
S, M, L, XL
M, L, XL
15.5, 17.5, 18.5, 19.5, 21.5in
S, M, L
L
L
19.5in
L
Frame material
6061 aluminium
Fact IS-X 11m carbon/M5 Alloy
Alpha Platinum aluminium
HM Carbon/ alloy chainstays
Price
YT-Industries Capra Pro
FRAME
Sizes
Size tested
If ever there was an enduro
bike guaranteed to improve
your race times, it’s the Capra
Suspension fork
RockShox Pike RCT3 SoloAir
RockShox Pike RL SoloAir
Fox 34 Talas Factory
Bos Deville TRC
Rear shock
RockShox Monarch Plus RC3
Fox Float CTD Performance
Fox Float CTD DRCV Performance
Bos Kirk
Front travel
160mm
160mm
160/130mm
170mm
Rear travel
153mm
155mm
160mm
170mm
WHEELS
Hubs
Shimano XT
Roval Traverse
Bontrager Rhythm
Mavic Crossmax
Rims
WTB Frequency Team i25 TSC
Roval Traverse 29
Bontrager Rhythm Comp
Mavic Crossmax Enduro
Sandvick stainless
DT Swiss Super Comp
Stainless steel
Mavic
Maxxis High Roller II 3C 2.4in
Specialized Butcher/Purgatory
2.3in
Bontrager XR4 Team Issue 2.35in
Mavic Charge/Roam XL 2.4/2.3in
SRAM X9 2x10
SRAM X01 1x11
SRAM X01 1x11
SRAM X01 1x11
SRAM X7
n/a
n/a
E13 XCX+ guide
Spokes
Tyres
GROUPSET
Shifters
Front mech
RANGE FINDER
Rear mech
Our test winner’s stablemates
YT INDUSTRIES CAPRA COMP 1
€ 3,4 9 9
Crank
YT INDUSTRIES WICKED PRO 650b
€ 2 ,9 9 9
At the current exchange rate, the Wicked Pro 650b costs just over £2,500,
and that’s incredibly good value for a 160mm-travel enduro
bike with Bos suspension, X01 gears,
Avid Trail brakes and a RockShox Reverb
Stealth dropper. The alloy frame
doesn’t sport YT’s latest V4L
suspension design, but this is
pretty much a 650b version
of the Wicked Pro that we
tested back in September
2013, so we know it still
works a treat.
SRAM X0
SRAM X01
SRAM X01
SRAM X01
SRAM X9 36/22T
SRAM Carbon S-2200 32T
SRAM X01 32T
SRAM X01 32T 170mm
Bottom bracket
SRAM PF92
SRAM PF30
SRAM pressfit
SRAM PF30
Brakes
Shimano XT
Avid Elixir 7 Trail
Avid XO Trail
Avid XO Trail
Rotor sizes
203/180mm
200/180mm
200/180mm
200mm
WTB Volt Team
BG Henge Comp
Bonty Evoke 3
SDG Duster YT
KS Lev Integra 150mm
Specialized Command Post IR
125mm
RockShox Reverb Stealth 125mm
RockShox Reverb Stealth 150mm
Race Face Atlas FR 785mm
Specialized XC Mini Riser 750mm
Bonty Rhythm Pro Carbon 750mm
Renthal Fatbar 780mm
Kona 40mm
Specialized Trail 70mm
Bonty Rhythm Pro 50mm
Renthal Duo 40mm
COMPONENTS
Saddle
The Comp 1 is the second-tier bike in YT’s new Capra range, but the
build-kit can hardly be considered second rate. Sharing the same carbon
frame as the Capra Pro, the Comp gets
a RockShox Monarch Plus shock and
Pike fork, with the switch in suspension
components knocking the
travel down to 165mm on
the rear and 160mm up
front. There’s also a Capra
Comp 2 for €3,299, with
the only difference being
the 2x10 drivetrain.
148 mbr MAY 2014
set up with 30 per cent suspension sag, then the
YT will actually have the lowest BB height and
the Kona will have the highest, even though both
started out at 350mm.
Another point to note about the BB heights is
Seatpost
Handlebar
Stem
Rating