Game Changer: Introducing the YT Capra

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<b>Introducing the all-new 2014 YT Capra.</b>
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<b>Meet Markus Flossmann, the founder, owner and CEO of YT Bikes. He's a shredder, too!</b>
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<b>We spent a week with YT in Israel launching their latest creation. There were times when we considered driving off into the woods with the loot and never looking back... - Photo by Daniel Roos</b>
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<b>Bikes are a numbers game, and YT got them right on the Capra: 160/170mm travel, 13kgs, 65.5 degree HA, 75 degree SA, and 27.5" wheels. It's DH-capable yet oh-so-easy to get back up the hill.</b>
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<b>The spec is every bit as impressive as the numbers: carbon frame (with aluminum chainstays), BOS, XO1, Mavic, Renthal, and Reverb for the top-end model, at prices that will have you thinking the bean-counters got it wrong.</b>
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<b>YT spec their bikes like the high-end custom machines that they are - there really is nothing you need to change out of the box.</b>
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<b>Available in four colorways, the Capra keeps the styling relatively sober but oh so pretty in the flesh. We immediately felt at home on the the bike - a testament to just how well-executed the whole design is.</b>
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<b>YT is short for Young Talent, and you are going to hear a lot more from these youngsters over the coming years.</b>
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<b>The finish of the samples we rode was impeccable. The last of the pre-production runs pointed out no flaws, and YT are getting ready to ship the Capra as you read these lines.</b>
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<b>BOS front and rear for the top-end model. The French suspension specialist provides a race-ready package that takes some dialing in to get right, but that delivers in spades once you do. There is a Rockshox option available as well.</b>
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<b>A mix of internal and external cable routing keeps it all very tidy. The prices offered by YT are every bit as tidy - the top-end BOS-spec Capra goes for EUR 3999 (~USD $5500) while EUR 3499 (~USD $4800) buys you the Rockshox Pike version. US prices not final.</b>
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<b>The Capra rides every bit as good as it looks.</b>
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<b>Hanging out at the lowest point on Earth. Good news for YT fans, the bikes will be available in many countries outside of Europe as of 2015!</b>
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<b>Zink, Lacondeguy, Granieri... and now Bryan Regnier. The YT family of pro riders is defined by a certain flair and a tendency to put fun first.</b>
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<b>The latest recruit wasted little time showing up the boss and anybody else who threw a leg over the bike.</b>
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<b>If you're getting a sense of Cedric Gracia deja vu, it's probably with good reason - Bryan went to school with the Sergeant of Shred for two years, and it shows both on and off the bike.</b>
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<b>#pinned!</b>
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<b>We spared no effort to put Bryan in the line of fire... - Photo by Daniel Roos</b>
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<b>Always happy to go up "just one more time."</b>
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<b>In the end, he still came out on top. #funfirst #pinittowinit</b>
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<b>Bryan's moto roots are obvious - he's only been riding MTB for three years but was carrying silly speed into every new line, every time. Top 20 in the EWS overall in 2013 after missing one race - there is no doubt of his potential.</b>
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<b>Bryan races Enduro, but confided that he would love a shot at Rampage one day. He'll certainly have enough inspiration on the YT team!</b>
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<b>Did we mention that Bryan used to ride moto?</b>
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<b>Putting the "mountain goat" through its paces in the Israeli desert.</b>
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<b>Bryan discovered his new ride at the same time as we did, and he looked very comfortable on the Capra from the very first runs.</b>
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<b>This is what Enduro looks like in 2014, boys and girls. Bryan's eyes are on the Top 10, but count on plenty of whips along the way!</b>
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<b>Letting it all hang out. He should fit right in with the rest of the nutcases on YT's roster.</b>
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<b>Speed, style, and no fear.</b>
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<b>Whip it! Whip it good!</b>
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<b>The team chemistry was obvious from day one, and Israel provided a spectacular backdrop, awesome trails, and the best riding weather anywhere to make sure good times were had by all. Humus, baby!</b>
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<b>This little cabin in the woods was home base for the YT crew and a couple of lucky journalists for the week. The Capras never broke stride.</b>
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<b>Stay tuned for more. We'll be bringing you an in-depth review of the Capra soon. It's an exciting ride that is sure to stir things up in 2014!</b>
Every now and then, a bike comes along to shake things up a bit. YT's all-new Capra is such an animal. This carbon-framed, 170mm travel Enduro bike weighs in at 28.5lbs and features a parts list that leaves no room for excuses, yet sells for far less than comparable models on the market today.



We spent one week with YT in Israel, discovering this exciting new ride in the company of a few select journalists. The bike launches today, February 28, 2014 - check out the first look feature above, then dive into specs and build info below.






Geometry








Build Kits and Pricing








Visit www.yt-industries.com for more details.



Photos, feature, and truck driving by Johan Hjord
38 comments

View replies to: Game Changer: Introducing the YT Capra

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dhstone
10 years ago
Amazing bike, as usual from YT Industries this is by far the best enduro bike out there, and at, less then half the prize of the other brands. Well done YT you done it again :D
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zo
10 years ago
Game changer?

Complete bikes with no dealer network, that are available exclusively through mail order?

Sounds more like a solution to a problem that doesn't exist...
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kimbers
10 years ago
after getting my new process 153 i was really unpset to see how good this bike looks for the price! now Ive seen that the reach is so much shorter Im not so bothered !
Kona have nailed the geometry
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smutysmith
10 years ago
Looks nice, but that Bottom Bracket is about half an inch too far from the ground for my tastes, lower is faster, until you clip your pedals!
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Snfoilhat
10 years ago
(I am aware there are some countries outside of North America, but) this story is worthless without a clear definition of what 'franchise' means to YT. If at the end of whatever business gymnasitcs the bikes are not sold direct, then in NA it's just another bike brand, and the EUR pricing simply translated to dollars (today's exchange rate) in articles like this is totally misleading.
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iceman2058
10 years ago
YT could have taken that route 2 years ago, but didn't want to just end up selling through a distributor. The franchise concept is taking them a bit of time to develop, but should be worth the wait as they intend to keep selling direct with low prices in the franchise markets. They promised more details shortly.
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bturman
10 years ago
To add to Johan's reply, I requested the converted EUR to USD prices be included to help give the rest of the world a sense of the prices. The slideshow does state that US pricing isn't final.
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SlowUpFastDown
10 years ago
Great looking bike, lived up to the hype we've waited for for months. Great price and spec too....just not sure on sizing. Seems a little wrong, the Large is not Large enough and no XL.
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Ian Collins
10 years ago
drooling over the BOS spec'd one...hats off to whoever specs those things...looks amazing
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tbox
10 years ago
Will buy as soon as they come to the USA. Provided they keep the same part specs and pricing.
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Karlkarlton
10 years ago
Selling direct to the customer is great for keeping prices down, but the shops that will inevitably have to work on these bikes need to be selling them to stay afloat. Sweet looking bike, but their business model shits on the guys the customers will be relying on for the long term. Hopefully that "franchise model" they were talking about gives shops a cut.
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emsley
10 years ago
check their sizing--i ride both an XL mojo HDR and 29er stumpjumper evo. while the sj is a monster, the specs for the HDR are similar to the capra. in particular, the stack is the same, but reach on the capra is ~1.5in longer. the prob would likely rise w the 19" seat tube--it'd be fun to snap that thing off while stretching out a seat post.......
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shutter2ride
10 years ago
Regardless of the so called "reach", the top tube is way too short for us that need room. That Large is stupid short compared to my XL Banshee Spitfire V2.
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jon123
10 years ago
shutter2ride: When you say "so-called reach" what do you mean? Just wondering if you're not sold on reach seeming to be the new standard for measuring?
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nightfuel
10 years ago
Me too ride an XL Rune V2, and I would definitely look elsewhere for the length of the TT is way too short to use a 40mm stem as I like
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bturman
10 years ago
Why are you comparing an XL Banshee to a Large YT? A Large Rune is very similar to the Large Capra.
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shutter2ride
10 years ago
yes but e.g. a Large SB66 is similar to an XL Banshee. The Large Capra is just very short in my opinion. I'll be honest, I'm very happy that Banshee makes a bike for my size & preferences but I get a bit frustrated with some new & interesting bikes being 'short' and not being a good next option. Transition made the same mistake for a while with recommending their short 'Large' for tall riders and had to later revise their line up by adding an XL. I hope YT fixes this, they should have plenty of tall Europeans looking for an XL.
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dfuse
10 years ago
Indeed, just like the Banshee Darskide I'm longing for..no XL announced for the moment. Will probably have to go for the Transition TR500 because that one is available as an XL.
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slyfink
10 years ago
Not sure I understood what he said the distribution model would be in North America...?

Interesting bike for sure.
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Scamid
10 years ago
Expensive? Its a Carbon bike with top of the line specs for 4K. You aint getting them cheaper then this..
If you want cheap go for a alu bike like that Yt wicked comp..
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kellen1230
10 years ago
Lets be clear - we are talking about 4,000 Euro - That amounts to $5520.00 + tax (lets call it $5900.00 out the door). Don't get me wrong - its a good price. It will be higher than that once they pay import fees to the US as well. Again - decent price assuming the bike performs well, but there are a number of players who are in that ballpark for the same part spec. I just bought a custom build Specialized S-Works Enduro for a little less than this (yes, I am GOOOOOD friends with my shop) and even with some of the heavy parts I spec'd my build came in at 29 lbs. with DX pedals.
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kimbers
10 years ago
the top line spec is 400 euro the cheaper version with a killer spec pikes etc- more reliable than bos is 1000 euros less!
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gazelle11
10 years ago
yea sure..i ride a bike just for fun..okay, everyone is love this bike..but my life is not just for bike..
but i agree the term "hobby is expensive"
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s.kausch
10 years ago
Let's compare german prices:

- Specialized S-Works Enduro Complete 7999€
- Lapierre Zesty AM 727 Complete 5100 €
- YETI SB-66 Carbon Frame 3000€
- Santa Cruz Bronson C Frame 3400€
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Nicholast
10 years ago
Holy awesome price to build spec ratio, Batman. And a good looking bike as well. Well done YT.
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