First Look: YT Industries TUES CF
Following recent news that Young Talent (YT) Industries have expanded into North American and Oceania markets, the German brand finally launches the much anticipated, carbon framed version of the TUES DH. There have been spy shots floating around for some time, and after their first foray in to carbon with the Capra it comes as no surprise that they have taken this material to their-best selling model (yes, downhill bikes are YT's best seller) and of course, added 27.5 inch wheels in to the mix. After adding carbon and bigger wheels to the incredible value of their complete bikes, it's likely you'll be seeing a TUES CF on a hill near you soon.
TUES CF Details:
• Carbon main frame and seat stay, aluminium chain stay and linkage
• Frame is one KG lighter than 2014 alloy model
• 27.5" wheels
• 4VL suspension system
• 208mm travel
• 150x12mm rear spacing
• 63.5° head angle
• Colours: Green/White Comp - Red/Blue Pro
• Sizes: S, M, L
• Price: MSRP €3499 Comp - €3999 (North America and Oceania TBD)
• Contact: YT Industries
 | Two years of development, considerable brain power and engineering skill as well as input from YT athletes such as Andreu Lacondeguy and Cam Zink have all led to the creation of something close to the perfect downhill bike. - YT press release |
Specs and Geometry
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Official YT Press Release:
Das TUES CF – it is done. YT’s flagship downhill bike now in carbon. In April 2015, Forchheim-based bike manufacturer YT Industries will bring a brand new carbon version of its TUES downhill bike to the market. The heir to the much-acclaimed aluminum version is the result of two full years of development effort, and sets a new standard for big bikes. The heart of this speeding bullet is a new carbon frame featuring modern “race” geometry, which when coupled with the proven characteristics of the TUES AL is sure to make waves and turn heads on the trails.
If YT Industries is all about Good Times, the TUES CF is about even Better Times! The latest brainchild of YT’s developers raises the question: an even better version of an already award-winning bike? Hard to imagine, but a reality as of this spring. Two years of development, considerable brain power and engineering skill as well as input from YT athletes such as Andreu Lacondeguy and Cam Zink have all led to the creation of something close to the perfect downhill bike. And now, after getting a first glimpse of the prototype during Crankworx 2014 in Whistler, riders from Europe, USA, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Israel can look forward to the production version, available for purchase directly from the manufacturer of course.
Like its aluminum predecessor, which Andreu Lacondeguy rode to victory at the Red Bull Rampage, the TUES CF features a low center of gravity, extremely agile handling, and great mid-stroke stability and support. It is fast and maneuverable, not only due to the carbon diet which saw the frame drop 1 kg of weight, but also thanks to its modern “race” geometry featuring significantly longer reach. The frame features our award-winning “V4L” suspension system, which provides plush and linear action over rough terrain with just the right amount of progressiveness to deal with the bigger hits. Talking about the development of this DH weapon, “of course we put our heart and soul into this project” said Stefan Willared, Head of Development at YT and father of the TUES CF. “Our goal is always to build the best bike. Like most manufacturers, we receive quite a lot of helpful feedback from our athletes. The big difference is, we take it into consideration too! I am very happy with the result, and I am confident that we have made a bike that will play in the Champions League as well as bring many riders much joy on the trails.”
The standard issue TUES CF COMP is suitable for almost any rider. The suspension components are easy to adjust and already offer great performance out of the box. The bike’s handling is forgiving and confidence-inspiring, yet competitive, for beginners and pros alike. In contrast, the premium CF PRO model is designed for high performance alone. Whether you are ripping laps in the bike park or going big in natural, technical freeride terrain, the TUES CF PRO delivers ultimate fun and performance from the first meter of the trail to the last. The highly sophisticated and fully tunable suspension is recommended for advanced riders with good understanding of bike set-up.
A pro-level ride! What in theory sounds like a “next level bike” can ultimately only be described by the feeling and fun it procures on the trail.
| There are no options to adjust geometry or wheelbase on the TUES. YT say that they want to keep it simple so consumers don't confuse themselves about set-up and can concentrate on getting out and having fun. |
Geometry-wise, the bike is well rounded, offering similar numbers to the existing alloy TUES. Nothing crazy or ground-breaking with a 63.5 degree head angle, 435mm chainstay and a 450mm reach for the large size. The only palatable difference is a 10mm longer top tube and a 2mm lower bottom bracket. People around or over the six-foot mark will be cramped, but anybody under will have an option of a suitably sized machine. There are no options to adjust geometry or wheelbase on the TUES. YT say that they want to keep it simple, so consumers don't confuse themselves about set up and can concentrate on getting out and having fun.
A couple of short days riding the TUES in Malaga certainly wasn't enough to write a solid review of the bike, but I gained a few impressions. If you want simplicity then the RockShox equipped Comp would be the bike for you. Choose the correct spring, dial in some rebound and you can be on the hill before you know it. Apart from that, there isn't much to adjust except the cockpit without pulling the suspension apart yourself or sending it to a specialist. If you need more tune-ability in your suspension, the BOS equipped Pro offers huge performance, but you will need a good knowledge base, time, and patience to get the best out of it. I felt the RockShox version to be a little more playful and more suited to bike-park style riding, whereas the suppleness and control of the BOS would be better for the race track.
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First Impression:
| If I was sitting at my desk, poised to hit the 'Buy' button, I would have to drop the extra 500 euros for the Pro. I don't know why you wouldn't opt for the BOS equipped bike and its better value over the Comp. The overall package offered by YT is impressive. The smooth lines, great finish and attention to detail, combined with the components selection, including touches like the Renthal cockpit, customized SDG i-beam saddle and Sensus grips. You get the feeling that YT have really sweated it out over the details. Above all, the overwhelming aspect of the Tues is the value you get for your money - 3999 Euro with full BOS suspension? At half the price of some competitors, you can buy a bike with better damping capabilities than many professional downhill racers, even with factory support can achieve. To buy the fork alone, direct from BOS, would blow a 2090-Euro hole in your bank account. It's almost illogical how they can offer such value. - Paul Aston |
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"€3999 (North America and Oceania TBD)"
edit : it's said TBD but doing the conversion its something like 4500$ and its the same price on their web site
Yeah I didn't notice that I compare with the price of the cheapest CF version.
there is a difference of something like 500$ for shipping I think
Slay the saint cows, slay them! Chop their heads off and bathe in their blood hahahaha! Young Talents FTW!
The price has to do with the model of business not the company... SC, Spesh, Trek, have make money for their dealers. If a YT bike works for you and you have the skill set to put it together and do your own maintenance then hell yeah its sweet (Please make an XL!!!), but if you want the service of an LBS and what not you will have to pay the wholesaler markup.
Direct to consumer is great for the industry and provides people with more options so if YT can deliver in that model successfully (talking US here) we will all get better value out of all of our bikes and parts.
Capra: Excitement, then annoyance at delays, then a few came up broken, then complaints about fit and finish, then the stock wheelset had heaps of problems, more cracked frames, redesigned dropouts, old ones still being supplied, Then more delays. people waiting for weeks and weeks to get replacements sent from europe.
Nomad: Excitement, then everyone started getting their bikes, and then full-on stoke from release date until present. I think a few people had to chase some threads in their frames because of paint overspray...
YT make good, well-priced bikes. But there's a reason SC bikes cost more than YTs. If you're okay with taking a bit more risk then get the YT. If you're prepared to pay more for less risk and less downtime and stuffing about, and many people are, then SC is a pretty good bet.
Basic wrenching is fairly simple but your average newb doesn't know how to setup a derailleur (i don't), and don't have the proper tools for installing a BB or headset cup. I still need a shop for certain things.
And yes, there still is, in many shops, a bit of negativity shown towards online purchasing. The fact is the LBS cannot compete there is such a huge gap now between direct online pricing and LBS retail pricing that the LBS purchase can rarely be justified.
AND, the killer for me, there is nothing special about any of the "service" I've received from several LBS's in my area. In fact, quite the contrary.
I like my LBS, but do I need to pay $8k when I can have something roughly equivalent for $5k? I'd pay a bit of a premium to support local and to be able to see it, but not 60% more...
Less overhead if your not selling completes
I have a large YT Wicked Pro - but at 6'3" it's just not quite big enough for me.
Hurry up with the XL sizes guys - cold hard cash waiting
...which sucks because i am trying to sell my old DH bike but won't get any money for it...
Anyway i don't really blame YT for the fact that no one wants to drop a buck on a used bike... that was more a try for hidden advertisement of my own cause as my DH bike is posted for sale here on PB
What I want to say - this is my third order of a bike in 5 years time and I have to say that communication of YT is probably one of the weakest so far.
I hope Mr. CEO of YT will read lines above. Thx and sorry for this long post ;-)
I wonder if YT will ever give upgrades so people dont have to wait as long.
Btw on their website the order status is: "Your order has not been processed yet."
Great colors too.
You have a source for that? Like some others, the kid sizes won't cut it for me.
"YT promise there is an extra large in the pipeline"
That quote makes you wonder when a suspension manufacturer will go direct... the OEM on that BOS is what, probably 800 Euros? Less?
My tues and capra both had QC issues.
And it was pain the a*s to send my bikes back to Germany when i live in Indonesia.
I had to spend my time and money to deal with YT's QC.
IMHO, YT's condition right now is like Evil's in the past.
But, let's look now. The company is slowly but surely correct errors they have done before, and also improve the quality of their products.
Come on....
Let this company grow and see what they got in the future.
If they still make the same mistake and there was no change at all, don't buy from YT.
Nobody wants to fall into the same hole, am i right?
Oh and they blow all other forks out the water when you ride them properly
Website says you're suited for a medium
2000euro BOS Idyle Fork
1000euro BOS Void Shock
1000euro Deemax Wheelset
= more than the retail price of the old alloy YT...
Then sell the YT frame and get a Carbon Frame-set form another brand.
Looks f*cking amazing!
dirtmountainbike.com/longform/yt-industries-tues-carbon-review#frFetrHYBEHOzfyj.97
It's actually pretty simple. They charge consumers more than they would dealers, cut out the bike shop, and make more money off a bunch of sheep who think that YT actually cares about them.
Everyone wants their cake and to eat it too. No one here would demand to pay half price for a Ferrari, but in the same breath demand a Ferrari bike without having to pay for the quality. Yes, prices will drop, which many will argue is great for consumers. That loss in profit comes at a cost, and that cost is the local bike shops and many industry employees.
It's easy to say "find a job in an industry where this doesn't happen" or "adapt or go out of business," but you are ignorant if you think any industry is immune to downsizing as technology and business methods evolve. There is a point where wealth and power become so isolated that adapting doesn't change anything. Bike shops can't adapt with no clothing to sell, no parts to sell, and now no bikes to sell. They will simply go away. A select few may stay make slim pickings off of service, but it's tough to make a lot of money doing that.
Funny how dumb consumers are. They run around chasing a cheap price, and then they bring up a lack of jobs as an issue during every election. Wal-Mart, Amazon, YT, all these companies are "innovative" in the sense they've maximized efficiency by cutting out employees and labor costs. At what point do we continue to call this innovative, and realize it's destructive in the end game? Cheer for low prices now, just don't complain as jobs disappear and incomes remain stagnant.
And while most on here will snub their nose at their LBS, the vast majority of people who ride now would not be riding if it was not for their bike shop helping them get their feet wet. We aren't talking about buying a t-shirt. We're talking about a fairly sophisticated retail setting with experts required to educate new users, which is highly beneficial. Removing bike shops and making bikes cheaper won't grow the sport as everyone claims it will.
I can order from our suppliers, and the wait time is usually no more than a day or two. That isn't good enough for customers. They want it now. They want it cheap. They want the best and want to pay for the worst.
Yes many shops are making it work, adapting here and there. That strategy will run out, though. It has an expiration date, because you represent a minority of consumers, and the market is driven by consumer demand.
"No one here would demand to pay half price for a Ferrari[...]" - yeah, some guys just buy Corvettes or GTRs. Which hasn't put Ferrari as a brand out of business, has it?
I can't believe it's so hard for you to understand that there's a market for value goods and and a market for boutique goods, and its the same with pretty much EVERY f*ckING PRODUCT AVAILABLE. I don't assume you're unintelligent, therefore you have got to be a troll.
"They charge consumers more than they would dealers" - no shit, Sherlock. Are they somehow morally obliged to charge the consumer the same amount that they would a dealer? How does that make their customers sheep? Why do you assume bad will on YT's part? Of course they run a business to earn money (again, no shit) and they simply understand that to be successful they must offer a good product at a good price. Does making good money automatically exclude caring about your customer? If that's the way you see it, no wonder you're so bitter. Just know that not a lot of people would like to work with/be a customer of someone like you...
"Bike shops can't adapt[...]" - that's simply not true. But even if it were, as sad as that would make me, so be it. There've been a shitload of jobs that just disappeared in the short history of human beings doing work for other human beings in exchange for currency.
i guess @ckcost forgot unemployment rates.
I never said YT is morally obligated to charge the same amount as anything. I also never said YT is bad willed. I simply called out the "sheep" here who don't understand business, purporting YT cares about customers and that they don't care about profits. They do. And they put their profits above the bike shops.
"bike shops can't adapt, that's simply not true." You're just ignorant on this topic. Next, you'll tell me Wal-Mart and Target didn't put out of business THOUSANDS of companies and industries. You'll tell me Amazon didn't put out THOUSANDS of retail stores. You'll tell me Home Depot didn't put out of business local hard ware stores.
No one can prove me wrong on these issues. The facts are on my side. You just think the outcome is good, where I think a lack of bike shops is bad.
The fact you don't understand the parallel between Wal-Mart and YT shows you don't understand the YT business model and how it compares to the Wal-Mart business model. The fact you compared Corvette to YT shows you also don't understand, @bananowy
This isn't exclusive to the bike industry, either. That is my biggest point. You don't need to look far to see what this sort of business model has done to other industries. It removes jobs, isolates profits, and removes the authenticity of the industry into a boring website to consumer model. I'm just tired of hearing everyone on hear cheer it on like it isn't screwing tons of people at the same time.
""sheep" here who don't understand business, purporting YT cares about customers" - so you ARE assuming they don't care about customers. You really can't comprehend that someone who wants to make money can (and should) think about their customers' needs in the first place. The less people like you run businesses, the better for all of us.
Your constant comparisons of YT to Walmart are as irrelevant as they can get - and you're calling me ignorant. Why are you putting words in my mouth? Why would I tell you Walmart has not put some smaller shops out of business? And most importantly, what has it got to do with the bike industry? Is YT somehow going to put Spec or Trek out of business? Or smaller boutique brands like Stanton? What you can't grasp is the difference between luxury goods and FMCG. The market for boutique bikes (or watches etc.) is not going to disappear anytime soon, while there never has been a market for "boutique lettuce". If Rolex can sell 10000 USD watches in high street shops (even though you can order a 10 USD watch online), then you don't have to worry about neither Spec, nor the LBS that carries them.
And finally,
"you are far smarter than the people you are arguing with[...]" - that's where you've stopped being worthy of any real discussion, you stuck-up, self righteous a*shole.
Over and out.
truth-out.org/images/033013-7-chart.jpg
So you essentially just justified people losing their jobs so you can take a trip to Whistler?
You save $4000. I fire 7 of my employees, because they are "middle men." 6 make roughly 20K a year, 1 makes 30K a year. That's roughly $150,000 in income they no longer get. Meanwhile, you justify that with "I saved 4K, and spent some money on gas."
But let's not stop there. I'm one bike shop. There are roughly 3500 in the United States. You want to cut them out; let's assume they staff labor at half my cost, so $75,000 in income per shop disappears. 75K x 3500...
That's $262.5 MILLION in lost wages. To your 4K..... And that's only the IBD; that doesn't include the downsizing of bigger companies who will, to compete with costs, lower prices and cut labor.
For the record I don't think that LBS will disappear as blockbuster did, because direct sales are not much of an improvement compared to what shops offer, but for sure they will have to reduce some personal and maybe work more assembling/servicing bikes rather than selling them.
The way you argue business should not become more effective and cut out people for work, does that go for the farming industri as well? Get rid of the tractors so people need to work in the fields like its 1860? Money saved from not having to staff people will be reinvested, which create jobs.
This transition will be painful for some, for you probably, but this is how capitalistic economy works. Don't get me wrong, I got a lot of negative things to say about capitalism, after all I'm raised in socialistic country where the Stockholm school and Keynesian economics theory has ruled, but this is not one of the negative aspects.
Then you go on to comparing YT to Wall Mart aka worlds largest company by revenue aka biggest private employer in the world and complaining that all the wealth and power will be to concentrated, well I agree not enough competition is bad. So why don't start of with Giant? You know the world largest bicycle manufacture with over 6 million bikes sold per year. Throwing YT under the buss...LOL, just LOL.
...and oh, the reason I won't make an elaborated answer is not cause Im dumb like you presumed, its because I appreciate my free time and wants it to enjoyable. Writing analyzes of World Trade Organisation cases will make that to you.
Edit: Actually I rather see money spend at Whistler, Oregon and other places with a healthy bike scene, it creates a incentive for having great trails.
Why would I compare Giant to Wal-Mart? There is nothing wrong a big company that competes fairly with others. Specialized is a fraction of the size of Giant, and it's business practices are viewed as unethical in many ways by many people. I have no issue with a large company that allows for competition; so that's why you won't see me comparing Giant to Wal-Mart, because they are nothing alike besides their size. Also, Giant doesn't cut out the middle men, Wal-Mart became it's own middleman to reduce prices and cut out the rest of the market. You'll have difficulties explaining how Giant does anything close to this.
Your farming example is ridiculous, by the way. This isn't an issue of absolutes. Technology is a great thing for productivity, but there is a point where capitalism cannibalizes its own workforce, stagnating incomes and isolating wealth. YT doesn't represent this in its entirety, but it does represent this process at least partially.