2022 YT Capra 29 Core 4 Bike

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The latest edition of the YT Capra comes just in time to challenge the newest crop of all-day capable long-travel 29ers. While YT has a strong downhill racing pedigree, its offerings have been loved by the “fun first” crowd for a long time. Though this new update is certainly EWS capable, it really shines at the bike park. But don’t let the downhill-focused playfulness worry you, when the switch is flipped on the rear shock, this bike will climb more than well enough for a bike of its big-hit capabilities. Let's dig into how our Capra held up in the long run.

Highlights

• Carbon fiber frame
• 29-inch wheels (MX models available)
• 170mm (6.6-inches) of rear-wheel travel // 170mm (6.6-inches) fork travel
• Virtual 4 link (V4L) suspension design
• Tapered zero-stack headtube
• Internal cable routing
• Double sealed pivot bearings
• Space for water bottle
• Tool mounts under the top tube
• Press-fit bottom bracket with ISCG 05 mounts
• Boost 148 rear spacing with 12mm through axle
• Measured weight (size Medium, no pedals): 33.1 pounds (15kg)
• MSRP $5,999 USD

The frame design shows a gravity-focused intent, with a sloping top tube offering a generous standover. It offers plenty of space to move around to manipulate the bike in sticky situations, or for throwing shapes on the jump lines. The internal cable routing is clean and well thought out. Rear shock access is easy, which allows for simple tuning or easy access to the compression switch for long fire road climbs. The tool mounts under the top tube are a great addition for those who would rather leave the pack in the truck. Mud clearance appears adequate although we didn’t get a chance to really test it out.

Geometry

Portions of the Capra's geometry fall in line with most modern long-travel 29ers, although it may actually be on the steeper side with a 65-degree head angle. It allows plenty of stability (thanks to 29-inch wheels) while not making the bike too long to manipulate in switchbacks or in the air. A 76-degree (effective) seat tube angle is middle of the road as well, but puts the rider in a good climbing position and allows enough weight on the back end for grip on steeps. Our medium Capra's 447mm reach is decidedly on the shorter end of the spectrum while a 438mm chainstay falls in line.

Setup

We started with the recommended shock and fork settings from YT’s website (30% rear sag and 25% fork sag) which was a great place to start. The fork performed admirably as expected. The rear suspension was active but not overly so, although we wondered how it would feel with a volume reducer installed. We didn’t vary much from these baseline settings throughout the test, but we did add two fork tokens for a better ramp-up on hard hits. If we were racing we’d likely add air to the rear shock to increase pedal and pumping efficiency.

We immediately felt comfortable swinging a leg over the Capra. It has a very neutral feeling cockpit, although at 5’9” we were on the upper height limit for the size M. The shorter size did leave us feeling a bit cramped at times on switchback climbs, but the shorter wheelbase was a lot of fun to toss around in the more interesting parts of the trail. The bike is more than stable enough to allow for sizing down without sacrificing much stability. At 447mm, the reach is among the shortest our tester has ridden for some time but was totally comfortable. At times we did feel like the bike tried to leave us off the back, which is likely a result of the overall shorter-feeling ride.

On The Trail

We rode the bike over the winter and spring, in the Lost Coast of CA, Nevada City, CA, and at home in Reno, NV. From lower slope flow, to local bike parks, to desert chunk, we put the bike to the test in a good variety of conditions. We even were able to test the Capra’s ability as a tow-rig while towing our 5-year-old to the top of the trails more than a few times. While we had a good diversity of trail types and conditions, we were left wishing for a little time on some chairlifts.

The Capra handled lower slope trails surprisingly well for a bike with this much suspension. The smaller size was welcome when the trails turned flatter. The chunky desert trails offered a good look into how the bike handles repeated square-edge hits.

Above all else, the Capra was easy to ride.

DH/Technical Performance/Fun Factor

Above all else, the Capra was easy to ride. It’s really a setup-and-go type bike that offers comfort and stability whether charging hard or cruising. It surprised us with its ability to adapt easily to many trail types from steep and rough to flow runs. It’s certainly more on the playful side of the spectrum. It’s a bike that likes to find the fun, boosty lines and side hits rather than a planted, stable type feel. The front end comes up easy to manual rollers and pumps well despite its long suspension travel.

Rear Suspension Performance

Small Bump performance was average. Although the rear suspension was active and responsive, it did leave some extra feedback. Square edges did slow the bike down a bit and were best handled with a little care. Chatter was a little harsh at times, although the bike did seem to find traction despite a little extra feedback. G-outs were relatively supported and returned stored energy in a timely and manageable fashion. Drops were smooth as butter. Bigger hitters would do well with a volume spacer in the fork and shock. Jumps were the Capra’s sweet spot. Tons of pop allowed for even small hits to be totally worth boosting.

The Capra had an active feel (for better or worse). It handled jumps and drops very well. Shortcomings were in repeated chatter or mid-sized hits at speed. It still held its line relatively well but did feel a little ‘hung up’ at times. Mid-stroke support was just fine, allowing us to push into the suspension when needed to get a little extra pop to get over a big gap, or for trailside stump jib lines. We spent most of our time in the low/slack setting and didn’t feel a major amount of difference between the two settings. The suspension felt balanced front to back, and very predictable. Letting air out of the FOX 38 bleeders before every ride made a big difference in the fork’s suppleness and overall performance.

Unique Features 

We were happy to see YT accommodate a (small) water bottle in the frame as we prefer to ride without a pack. The top tube rivets are a nice touch that allow for mounting tools/pumps/etc on the frame and out of your pockets. The chainstay protector is well-designed and kept the bike quiet and scratch-free.

Geometry

The Capra’s geometry doesn’t sit at either extreme end for a bike in this class, but it seemed to fit the suspension character just fine. The bike fit a little short for its given size, but that allowed us to keep the long-travel beast under control. This isn’t a big, long, ‘sled’ type bike as many of its long-travel 29er competitors. The Capra is more of a bike built for boosting big lines, or giving a rider a larger margin of error when pushing their limit. It’s manageable in a confidence-inspiring way that many other big 29ers aren’t. 

Perceived Weight

When discussing weight, it should be noted the tires as specced are simply not up to the task. Heavier casings would add some weight, but we’d highly recommend it. All that said, the bike never felt overly heavy. It surprised us with its quick ability to change direction, and ease of getting back to speed after corners. It also seemed to roll fairly well despite the aggressive Maxxis tread patterns.

Sprinting

The bike sprints quite well for its size. The response was fairly quick when standing up and mashing. Mistakes resulting in loss of speed could be recovered quite well.

Climbing

The steep seat angle, combined with short-ish reach and moderate head tube angle allowed the YT to climb quite well for its stature. The climbing grip was plentiful, challenging us to send the steepest tech climbs we could find. There is some noticeable pedal bob when mashing hard, but seated ‘cruising’ type climbing was pretty efficient. We only felt the need to use the shock’s compression lever on long, steep fire roads. 

Build Kit

The build kit was (mostly) chosen quite well, with priority given to fork and shock which we agree with. Brakes were consistent and the SRAM drivetrain gave no issues. The big issues we had with the build were with the tire spec and the YT-branded seatpost. The tread pattern choices are great, but we felt a bike of this caliber deserved Double Down casing. The rims seemed to feel the same way as they came away with a couple of small dings, but no flats or dents that required replacement. 

We swapped the 125mm YT Postman dropper seatpost quite quickly for a 180mm Oneup unit, which seemed to have a shorter overall length. In our opinion, 125mm simply isn’t enough for a bike with gravity-focused intentions. 

Fork Performance

The FOX 38 Factory 170mm fork was flawless throughout our test. Sensitivity can be maintained with the air bleeder ports on the fork lowers (it makes a big difference!) Nothing really to be said that hasn’t been said before, the Factory 38 is a stellar fork that you simply don’t think about while charging.

Tire Performance

As we mentioned, this was one major gripe we had. The Maxxis Assegai/DHR 2 combo is a great choice, but we felt strongly the bike deserved Double Down casing to match the bike’s big-hit capability. Perhaps even a rear tire insert would make sense for a lot of riders as well.

Wheel Performance

The Crank Brothers Synthesis Alloy wheels were a solid choice and offered no issues, although we did suffer a couple of minor dings. We did feel the wheels had a tough task, as they should be protected by a more stout tire casing. Wheels and tires came tubeless and stayed inflated without issue, despite more than a few hits that we thought may have been enough to cause a pinch flat.

Brake Performance

The SRAM Code RSC Brakes performed well enough out of the box. We appreciated the 200mm front and rear rotor spec. Modulation was sufficient and feel was consistent even at the end of long descents. Despite bedding the brake pads as advised by SRAM, we did experience some brake squeal, especially at lower speeds.

Drivetrain Performance

The SRAM X01 Eagle drivetrain was very consistent and we very rarely thought about it as it performed exactly as expected. Some minor cable tension adjustment was necessary on the first 1-2 rides as expected, but beyond that, shifting worked exactly as expected.

Noise

Other than the brake squeal, this is a quiet bike. We never heard any internal cable rattle, chain slap, or otherwise. The rear hub is quieter than most.

Given the fact that we actually did change the dropper seat post for a longer-drop model, we’d definitely recommend doing the same. We’d also recommend changing the rear tire to a more supportive sidewall, and probably changing the front tire as well. Otherwise, it’s quite a solid build kit with a great platform to upgrade as parts wear out.

Looking at other available build kits, we felt the Core 4 was a fabulous value despite the need for replacing a couple of the parts to get the most out of the platform.

Long Term Durability

The YT frame held up quite well throughout the test period, never developing any sloppiness or creaking in the rear suspension. The paint seems to be quite durable, and the suspension linkages are relatively easy to service. The most likely issue would be with the rims of the EXO casing tires are left as-is with a heavier, more aggressive rider. YT offers a 5-year warranty on the frame.

What's The Bottom Line?

The YT Capra Core 4 is a great value for the money. It’s a long travel 29er that doesn’t feel like a downhill bike on mellower trails. While it doesn’t have the feel of a race bike, it certainly makes up for that in the fun factor. It doesn’t have to be ridden super hard to be enjoyed, although it can handle almost everything you can throw at it. If you’re a rider that likes to boost every hit you can find, likes to shuttle (or ride lifts), doesn’t mind a pedal to the top, and appreciates a little extra suspension, you’ll love the Capra. 

Visit YT-Industries.com for more details.

About The Reviewer

Casey Coffman // Height: 5-foot 9-inches // Weight: 180 // Years riding: 21

As a reformed racer, Casey prefers straight lines in rocks and finding bonus doubles to keep it fun. Casey's many years racing the professional downhill, super-d, and enduro ranks are evident in his riding. He brings raw power and unflinching commitment to his lines. After lining up at a few Megavalanche races, he has the confidence to tackle anything put in front of him. With blatant disregard for the well-being of his wheels, Casey knows the fastest way through the rough is a straight line.