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New 2020 YT DECOY Shred for maximum downhill performance

The new YT DECOY Shred promises to make even the gnarliest trails seem like a walk in the park. The new eMTB is designed for maximum fun on the descents with super capable suspension to back it up. What else makes this bike so special?

YT DECOY Shred | 170/165 mm (f/r) | 29 / 27.5″ | Shimano STEPS E8000/540 Wh | € 5,999 | Manufacturer’s website

With super fun handling on the descents, the YT DECOY already delivered a convincing performance in our big group test featuring the 25 best eMTBs of 2020. Now, the German direct to consumer brand have made it even more capable. The DECOY Shred isn’t a special, limited edition model but rather an integral part of the latest DECOY range. Priced at € 5,999, it comes in just below the flagship CF PRO RACE model. It also relies on a 29″ wheel up front paired with a 27.5″ wheel on the rear, offering 170 or 165 mm travel and is powered by a Shimano STEPS E8000 motor. The motor is fed by an integrated but removable 540 Wh battery, hidden in the downtube.

The YT DECOY Shred extends the range, slotting in between the flagship model and the more affordable alternative, priced at € 5,999
The DECOY features carbon front and an aluminium rear triangle
AThe DECOY Shred is also powered by Shimano’s STEPS 8000 motor
Which draws its energy from an integrated 540 Wh battery
The E7000 display indicates your chosen support level

The componentry of the YT DECOY Shred

The highlights of the new DECOY Shred are the new FOX 38 fork, which we’ve reviewed previously, and the DHX2 coil shock. The beefy fork is perfectly suited for the extreme demands of an eMTB and the coil shock should provide maximum traction. You’ve got Shimano’s 12-speed XT drivetrain to take care of the shifting. The short, 165 mm cranks should provide enough ground clearance while a set SRAM CODE R brakes keep your speed in check and YT’s in-house Postmann dropper post gets the saddle out of your way. The E13 cockpit keeps everything looking on-trend with its 50 mm stem and 800 mm wide handlebar.

Burly as: the FOX 38 is perfectly suited for the new DECOY Shred, both in terms of performance and looks.
The bleed valves on the casting are not installed on the Performance 38, but the fork is prepared for it.
The coil shock is supposed to turn up the dial on the descents, though it doesn’t have a climb switch
Shimano’s 12-speed XT drivetrain offers proven and smooth shifting
The SRAM CODE RSC brakes provide decent stopping power, but we would have preferred a 220 mm rotor up front
The EXO and EXO+ casing of the MAXXIS tires are bound to get punctured if you ride this bike as intended.
A tire with MAXXIS’ DoubleDown casing would be a more suitable option for the rear.

The geometry of the new YT DECOY Shred

The DECOY Shred is available in sizes S – XXL. The geometry corresponds exactly to that of the previous DECOY Pro Race. At 450 mm, the reach is rather compact, the 442 mm chainstays are moderately long and the head angle should be just fine at 64.5°. On paper, the 76° seat tube angle isn’t extremely steep nor overly slack, but the effective angle slackens as the dropper post extends. Thanks to the short seat tube, you can easily size up for more reach, so if L is too compact, the XL is likely to fit just fine.

The geometry at a glance

Size S M L XL XXL
Seat tube 400 mm 420 mm 445 mm 470 mm 495 mm
Top tube 569 mm 591 mm 612 mm 635 mm 658 mm
Head tube 95 mm 100 mm 105 mm 115 mm 125 mm
Head angle 64.5° 64.5° 64.5° 64.5° 64.5°
Seat angle 76° 76° 76° 76° 76°
Chainstay 442 mm 442 mm 442 mm 442 mm 442 mm
BB Height 340 mm 340 mm 340 mm 340 mm 340 mm
Wheelbase 1182 mm 1204 mm 1226 mm 1251 mm 1275 mm
Reach 410 mm 430 mm 450 mm 470 mm 495 mm
Stack 623 mm 628 mm 633 mm 642 mm 651 mm

Our first impression of the new YT DECOY Shred

The new YT DECOY Shred is aimed primarily at riders who are looking for maximum fun on the descents. Apart from the tires, the componentry has been specced with a lot of thought and the suspension in particular promises to be more capable pointed downhill in demanding terrain compared to the CF Pro Race. As it is, the previous DECOY wasn’t the fastest on the climbs and the new Shred is unlikely to change that with its even plusher suspension. The Shimano motor still performs well, but it’s starting to look slightly outdated compared to the competition. The battery capacity isn’t on par either with its 540 Wh, though it should be more than sufficient for most since, after all, it comes down to the overall concept. We’re excited to find out how the DECOY Shred performs on the trail with its even more capable spec.

As well as the DECOY Shred, YT also launched an etra-burly CAPRA Shred. Check it out at our sister magazine ENDURO

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