The YT DECOY SN is the very first light eMTB from the German direct-to-consumer brand. In our light eMTB comparison test, it takes on the competition with a striking design language, first-class trail performance and FAZUA Ride 60 motor with a 430 Wh battery, aiming to make the rest of the test field look dated. Did it manage to do so?
21.2 kg in size L | € 8,500 | Manufacturer’s website
YT’s eMTB portfolio has remained untouched for some time now. So far, the German manufacturer has only had one full power eMTB in their portfolio, the YT DECOY, which was launched back in 2021. However, YT’s development team has rolled up their sleeves lately and presented two new bikes within a short space of time, including the revised versions of their analogue trail bike, the JEFFSY, and their DH bruiser, the TUES. Now YT has surprised the world with yet another bike, the YT DECOY SN, which is their first light eMTB, and comes equipped with a FAZUA Ride 60 motor system and 430 Wh battery. According to YT, it’s meant to give you superpowers with its slim carbon frame, 170/160 mm of travel and mullet wheel setup. Tipping the scales at 21.2 kg in size L, the Core 4 flagship model is the second heaviest bike in our comparison test, but at € 8,500, it’s also the cheapest. Can YT keep their promise, and how does the DECOY SN stack up against the rest of the test field?
Click here for an overview of this comparison test: The best light eMTB of 2024 – 9 of the most exciting bikes in direct comparison.
It’s a match – What sets the YT DECOY SN apart from the competition?
With its slim, rectilinear carbon frame, the YT DECOY SN looks very promising at first glance. Particularly striking is the beefy coil shock, which merges seamlessly into the seat tube and underlines the bike’s intended use. The frame is coated in a two-part paint finish: dark blue meets matt gold, with the FOX Factory suspension and SRAM cranks adding some additional golden accents.
The cables are routed internally and disappear into the frame through conventional cable ports, where they’re securely clamped to prevent rattling noises. The YT DECOY SN also comes with several practical features, like a tool strap on the underside of the top tube, which allows you to carry a spare inner tube or a tool, and even includes tire levers and tubeless plugs – very cool! A flip chip allows you to steepen the head angle and seat tube angle.
At the heart of the YT DECOY SN lies a FAZUA motor system, which is seamlessly integrated into the frame and delivers 60 Nm of torque and 350 watts peak power. Particularly practical is the Boost mode, which allows you to release up to 450 watts for a short period of time, just by keeping the remote ring pressed for a few seconds. Speaking of the remote: the motor is paired with a FAZUA Ring Control Remote, which can be used to switch between support modes, as well as to activate Boost mode – and it also doubles as a power button. Unfortunately, the remote looks cheap and fails to convince in terms of workmanship and haptic feedback. Plus, it’s pretty flimsy, meaning that it could easily break in the event of a crash and stop working.
The motor draws its power from a 430 Wh battery, which is permanently integrated into the down tube. It can be charged using the easily accessible charging port just above the motor. The integrated FAZUA LED hub in the top tube shows all basic riding data, including battery charge status and current support mode. Another practical feature: if you lift the LED hub slightly, you’ll find an integrated USB-C charging port to charge your smartphone on the fly.
The FOX Factory suspension fits the YT DECOY SN like a glove, and we don’t just mean the colour – as much as the fancy Kashima coating suits the bike very well, we’re more excited about the countless adjustment options and excellent trail performance. It consists of a 38 mm Factory fork with the new GRIP X2 damper, and a matching DHX2 Factory coil shock. The YT is the only bike in this test to feature SRAM’s powerful new MAVEN Silver four-piston brakes, which are paired with 200 mm rotors front and rear, providing reliable, powerful deceleration even on long, steep descents. Shifting is taken care of by an electronic SRAM GX Eagle Transmission drivetrain, which ensures fast, butter-smooth gear shifts. YT’s in-house 200 mm Postman dropper post offers plenty of freedom of movement on the trail – top! For the wheels, YT rely on a Crankbrothers Synthesis alloy wheelset and Continental tires, combining a Kryptotal FR in the soft SuperSoft rubber compound at the front and Kryptotal RE in the slightly harder Soft compound at the rear, both in the robust Enduro casing – this is a pretty rare tire combination on stock bikes.
YT DECOY SN
€ 8,500
Specifications
Motor FAZUA Ride 60 60 Nm
Battery FAZUA Energy 430 Wh
Display FAZUA LED Hub
Fork FOX 38 Factory GRIP X2 170 mm
Rear Shock FOX DHX2 Factory 160 mm
Seatpost YT Postman 200 mm
Brakes SRAM MAVEN Silver 220/200 mm
Drivetrain SRAM GX Eagle AXS Transmission 1x12
Stem Renthal 50 mm
Handlebar Renthal FatBar 800 mm
Wheelset Crankbrothers Synthesis 29"/27.5"
Tires Continental Kryptotal Fr, Super Soft, Enduro/ Continental Kryptotal Re, Soft, Enduro 2.4"
Technical Data
Size S M L XL XXL
Weight 21.2 kg
Perm. total weight 140 kg
Max. payload (rider/equipment) 119 kg
Trailer approval no
Kickstand mount no
Specific Features
Flip-Chip
And off you go! The YT DECOY SN on the trail
The YT DECOY SN not only looks impressive, but delivers a tremendous performance on the trail. The central, integrated riding position is very comfortable and makes you feel at ease from the get go, with the high front end inspiring huge amounts of confidence. This encourages beginners to venture beyond their usual blue lines to more technical singletracks.
Just like the MERIDA eONE-SIXTY, the YT is extremely composed, allowing you to glide through nasty rock gardens, and making the competition look dated. Despite its composed character, the YT DECOY SN is incredibly agile, making it easy to flick the rear end around tight corners and to spontaneously change your line. This shows that good weight distribution is more important than the weight of a bike alone.
Alongside the Orbea Rise, the YT DECOY SN has some of the best suspension in the entire test field. The coil shock literally sucks itself to the ground and generates huge amounts of traction in rough trail sections. At the same time, the suspension provides enough support to enable an active riding style, and enough reserves to bail you out with botched landings. Another plus point: unlike many other bikes in this test, the YT DECOY SN is as quiet as a mouse downhill – nothing rattles or annoys you while enjoying your descent.
On your way back to the trailhead, the YT DECOY SN impresses with an upright, comfortable pedalling position that’s suitable even for long days in the saddle. The rear suspension with coil shock generates tons of traction on technical climbs, making it easy to negotiate even steep climbs with roots and loose terrain.
Although the FAZUA Ride 60 motor isn’t one of the most powerful motors in this test, it’s noticeably more powerful than the TQ-HPR50 of the SCOTT Voltage or the Specialized SL1.2 drive of the Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo SL. Despite its impressive trail performance and near-perfect spec, we can’t recommend the YT DECOY SN without reservation, as the FAZUA motor system has often struggled with reliability problems in the past.
The YT DECOY SN skilfully combines composure and agility while inspiring huge amounts of confidence in the process.
Who should take a closer look at the YT DECOY SN?
The YT DECOY SN is the perfect match for riders who want to get rowdy downhill, looking for a potent light eMTB with excellent trail performance. The integrated riding position and high front end inspire huge amounts of confidence, making the YT an excellent companion for beginners too. The eye-catching look makes it a stylish companion on any trail. If you’re looking for performance in an appealing overall package, you should take a closer look at the DECOY SN.
Our conclusions about the YT DECOY SN
The YT DECOY SN impresses not only with its eye-catching look, but also with unbeatable riding performance on the trail. It offers a high level of safety, and it skilfully combines composure and agility. The near-perfect spec and fair € 8,500 price tag make it an attractive option. However, our previous experience of the FAZUA Ride 60 motor clouds the overall harmonious picture and prevents the YT DECOY SN from taking the coveted place of best buy.
Tops
- Very good mix of composure and agility
- High-quality spec
- Inspires huge amounts of confidence
Flops
- FAZUA motor system can be prone to breakdowns
- High system weight in relation to the low motor power
For more information, visit yt-industries.com
The test field
Click here for an overview of this comparison test: The best light eMTB of 2024 – 9 of the most exciting bikes in direct comparison.
All bikes in test: Cannondale Moterra SL1 | GIANT Trance X Advanced E+ Elite 0 V2 | Mondraker Dune RR | MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 10K | Orbea Rise | Santa Cruz Heckler SL XX AXS RSV | SCOTT Voltage eRide 900 Tuned | Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo SL | YT DECOY SN
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Words: Mike Hunger Photos: Mike Hunger
