Riding the YT DECOY
We already had the opportunity to ride the € 6,600 YT DECOY CF Pro Race in size L on the dusty trails of the Côte d’Azur. After an initial setup of the FOX Factory suspension with 30% sag at the rear and 20% sag at the front, we hit the trails: get on and have fun!
Going uphill, the 22.3 kg YT DECOY climbs confidently and remains stable. Despite the 165 mm cranks, we managed to get hung up on them several times. Thanks to the steep 76° seat tube angle, the seated climbing position is still very central with the suspension sagged; you never get the feeling of hanging too far over the back of the bike. Nevertheless, you’ll still have to shift your weight forward on steep terrain, while the 442 mm chainstays help in that regard. The flip-chip on the shock mount, as we’ve already become acquainted with on the JEFFSY and the CAPRA, allows you to change the geometry: switching from the Super-Low position to the Low position raises the bottom bracket and steepens the head and seat tube angles by 0.5°. The difference is clearly noticeable on the climbs, making long rides more enjoyable as the bike becomes more agile and precise in its handling and the risk of hitting the cranks on rocks or roots is reduced.
For extended rides with lots of climbing, the higher flip-chip position makes sense. If you prefer to use the DECOY as a shuttle for adrenaline-filled descents, you should definitely stay in the Super-Low position.
Descending, the YT DECOY unfolds its full potential and convinced us right away of its excellent handling: The DECOY devours large rocks, nasty roots and any bumps for breakfast, feeling as composed as a downhill bike. It feels super stable in the air and invites you to whip and style it up and have as much fun as possible.
The fairly tall front end – not least thanks to the 30 mm Rise on the handlebars – instils you with confidence, no matter how steep the terrain. The low slung top tube in combination with the short seat tube offers a lot of room to shift your weight around on the descents, giving you the confidence to go for it or easily hop off the bike if necessary. The balance is good, but on flat terrain, you have to work a little bit harder to get enough weight on the front wheel when cornering. The steeper the terrain, the better the bike feels. Incidentally, the same applies to the level of difficulty of the trail: on easy, flowy trails, the suspension feels a little too plush, and especially active riders will want a bit more feedback from the ground, the potent suspension just swallows everything!
In size L, you have to actively push the YT DECOY through tight corners, lacking a bit of agility in those situations. On high-speed sections, however, it means you can let off the brakes and let the grin on your face grow – the faster, the better. With the flip-chip in the Low position instead of Super-Low, you will notice that the bike is not quite as composed on the trail, feeling a bit top heavy, although it will get around tight corners more easily.
The bike itself is very quiet, with no annoying chainslap or a rattling battery or rattling cables, which, together with the plush suspension makes you feel like you’re simply floating over all the obstacles. Just let it roll! The only limit are the tires with the EXO or EXO+ casing, which resulted in many punctures on the rocky trails of the Côte d’Azur. Unfortunately, the 27.5″ x 2.8″ Minion DHR II is not available with the more durable DoubleDown casing.
Shifting takes some getting used to on the flagship DECOY model, as the Shimano E7000 remote isn’t nearly as ergonomic as the classic Shimano XT Di2 shifter. On the left-hand side of the cockpit, the minimalist E7000 remote works perfectly to select and change the support mode. Positioned beneath that, you’ve got the RaceFace lever for the FOX Transfer dropper post.
The steel E*thirteen TRS Plus e*spec cassette is said to provide increased longevity, but it’s quite noisy on the trail, especially when dropping multiple gears – a typical problem of most derailleurs. A 1-speed shifter like the SRAM EX1 would be desirable.
During testing, we had two temporary losses of power (about 5 to 10 seconds) from the Shimano motor – a phenomenon that we’ve previously encountered on other bikes with batteries from other manufacturers. We were unable to get to the bottom of the cause during the two-day on-site test. We assume that this is due to the battery management system, which occasionally misinterprets riding data such as cadence and torque, thereby providing less energy. We will get to the bottom of it; however, a software update should be able to resolve any issues.
Is the YT DECOY the Specialized Levo Killer?
In terms of design, handling, trail performance and value for money, the YT DECOY is a serious rival to the current Specialized Turbo Levo; especially once the announced 700 Wh battery becomes available – even if this will affect the weight and handling of the YT DECOY. In general, we would consider the DECOY to be a more potent, downhill-oriented bike, while the Levo is more balanced and better suited for long rides and all-round use. In terms of app and connectivity, Specialized has the edge. That’s it for our initial assessment – a head-to-head duel between the two bikes will bring clarity. We can’t wait!
Conclusion
With the YT DECOY, the direct-to-consumer brand from Forchheim has made a strong entry into the eMTB market. The YT DECOY not only looks like a YT, but it also embodies YT qualities and philosophies such as Good Times, Live Uncaged and Friendship Redefined. The meaning of the name of the YT DECOY is on point too: it’s the decoy that will get you off the couch and the decoy that you need for the hunt: on the hunt for even more trails, even more experiences and more good times!
Both beginners and experts will have a lot of fun on this bike, feeling confident to tackle any terrain! The handling is benchmark suspicious and we’re curious to see how it will fare in a direct comparison with the likes of the Specialized Levo and co.
PS: Sorry for all the repeated YT marketing slogans in this conclusion, but as we find, they summarise the character of this bike perfectly!
More information at: yt-industries.com
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