YT Industries release the all-new Capra today, which sees a whole raft of changes for the new MKIII model. You may well recognise a similar shape, as well as brand-identifying features such as the distinctive head tube, but it’s an all new bike. YT compares the Porsche 911 to the Capra, suggesting that both models occupy a similar space in each brand's line up. And, much like the 911, the Capra does have a recognisable look and shape that carries on through each iteration.
Capra, which means “goat” in Latin, is the brand’s do-it-all enduro bike. YT have tried to not only enhance its capabilities but also give riders the choice between two bikes. There is the full 29” and the mixed-wheeled MX platform. YT suggests that the 29 is the bona fide race bike with an emphasis on speed whereas the MX combines the stability of the larger wheel with the maneuverability of the 27.5 in the rear.
Frame, Geometry and KinematicsThere will be two options in regards to the material used in the frame: the ultra modulus and the high modulus frames. The materials share many of the same properties and will provide a very similar feeling, however, the ultra modulus frames will be around 300g lighter. There will be three build specs in the Capra range. The Core 3, Core 4 and the Launch Edition MX. The ultra modulus frames will be the Core 4 and limited edition release model. The Core 3 bike will use the high modulus carbon.
Both versions undergo increased reach compared to the previous version, as well as steeper seat tubes and slacker head angles. You may also see the addition of a bottle cage to these bikes. To enable this, the bike has to use a single sided wing. All bikes come with the bottle cage as stock. The bikes also undergo a complete reworking in regards to stiffness and flex. The lower parts of the bike, particularly around the downtube and BB junction, have been reinforced to give a lower centre of gravity as well as a stiffer platform.
The bikes have the same headtube design as the Izzo. You can see the box section, which not only allows for clean cable intakes but also is there to generate more stiffness in the headtube area. The internal cable routing is rattle-free and there is also new chainstay protection that aims to keep the bike quiet whilst maximising heel clearance.
The bike uses a flip chip to offer 0.3 degrees of adjustment and a SRAM universal hanger to allow for convenience should something go awry.
The two bikes share the same front triangle, but have different yokes and rear ends to not only allow for different wheel sizes but also to change length and suspension kinematics. The 29” Capra has 5mm longer chainstays as well as slightly less progression to suit air shocks whereas the MX is more progressive and will pair well with a coil shock.
Here we can see the comparative differences between the 29 and the MX, as well as their respective MKII models. Whereas the MX largely echos the curve of its predecessor, albeit at a higher leverage rate, the 29 platform has less progression than before, which should make it easier to make the most of its travel without running into any harshness in the mid- and end-stroke.
Around sag both bikes have anti squat-values above 100% but only just. In theory a value of 100% should mean that the suspension neither extends nor compresses under acceleration, but it's
more complicated than that. For comparison's sake, you can see the the MX platform has a drastically higher value that the MKII 27.5 Capra.
Capra 29In YT's own words, this bike is their "fast" bike and summarises the 29" platform as "60% for downhill and 40% for uphill". The bike, much like the MX, is available in two main build kits: the Core 3 and the Core 4. The Core 4, pictured is the higher-spec and includes Fox Factory suspension, SRAM XO drivetrain, Code RSC brakes and Crankbrothers Synthesis Enduro Alloy I9 wheels.
The bike, in its slacker setting, uses a 64.2 degree head angle and a 77.6 degree seat tube angle. The 29" bike uses 5mm longer chainstays and is 3mm longer in terms of reach. The leverage ratio of the shock is also more linear compared to the MX.
Capra 29" Details
• Wheelsize: 29"
• Travel F / R: 170 / 165mm
• Ultra or High Modulous frame
• Head angle: 64.2° / 64.5°
• Sizes: S / M / L / XL/ XXL
• CS length: 438 / 438 / 438 / 443 / 443mm
• Reach: 427 / 447 / 467 / 487 / 507mm
• Base price: €4,499.00 / £3,999.00 / $4,499.00
The Core 3, pictured, is the entry level spec and includes Fox Performance suspension, SRAM GX drivetrain, Code R brakes and Crankbrothers Synthesis Enduro Alloy wheels.
Capra MX
The MX is their "shred" bike that places a further emphasis on downhill performance. YT say it's more of a 70% - 30% split. Apart from the launch edition which is only available in the MX, the bike is available in the same build kits as the 29".
The MX uses a more progressive leverage rate to make it well suited to coil shocks. It's 0.2 degrees slacker in the head angle but shares a very similar effective seat tube angle as the 29". It also benefits from 0.3 degrees of adjustment via a flip chip.
Capra MX Details
• Wheelsize: 29/27.5"
• Travel F / R: 170 / 170mm
• Ultra or High Modulous frame
• Head angle: 64° / 64.3°
• Sizes: S / M / L / XL/ XXL
• CS length: 433 / 433 / 433 / 438 / 438mm
• Reach: 424 / 444 / 464 / 484 / 504mm
• Base price: €4,499.00 / £3,999.00 / $4,499.00
The Lauch Edition build kit includes a RockShox ZEB Ultimate, Cane Creek DB Kitsuma, SRAM X01 Eagle expansion drivetrain, SRAM Code RSC brakes, Cane Creek eeWing titanium cranks, a Renthal cockpit set-up and Crankbrothers Synthesis Enduro Carbon wheels. This build kit is only available in the MX, and is priced at $7,999 USD.
The paintwork is inspired by the "Goatman". The canon of this character, and what seems to be an interwoven approach between a comic book story and a bicycle is all a bit bewildering to me but maybe it's your bag. Think of him like Tony the Tiger or Colonel Sanders.
New Pre-Order System and AvailabilityYT also introduces a new way to pre-order bikes as part of the Capra launch. Customers who wish to pre-order a bike with an availability lead time longer than 8 weeks will be asked to pay a 10% fully-refundable deposit to reserve their bike, with the balance being charged four weeks before the bike ships. This deposit ensures the reservation of a bike and orders can be canceled at any time with full refund. YT expects to start shipping the first Capras in
late 2021 with production volumes ramping up significantly in early 2022.
I think the big problem with this year is that it’s a sellers market with every bike being sold out at any price. I expect that these prices will come down in 2022, but who knows.
The MX bike looks pretty good though I reckon. Just need to be robbing banks or scraping teeth!
Online "rents" have risen significantly and to provide the level of service for performance level bikes commiserate with the price/market experience there is a lot of infrastructure that you need to provide that more traditional brands share with their distributors/bike shops - hence the markup for the shops.
Additionally, for most brands in the performance area the average price of bikes they sell are $6,000-$8,000 (Yeti, for example, is $7,800). The cohort that pays this much for a bike is made up of largely people who are fine paying for convenience (i.e. support of a shop).
For the 2022 bike there were some good upgrades though. Specifically an XO1 cassette and a few other items. It did not add up to $1K though. To be fair the bike was a good deal even at $5K for an XO1 setup on a full carbon frame.
Back to the Capra pricing, $8K is a decent deal for this build. Unfortunately the Reach is really short and the warranty issues are well documented. Not worth saving 15% and then having to deal with a lousy warranty if something happens.
Yeah some of these increases have been pretty steep. I'm super curious whose going to roll back pricing if supply chain and shipping issues get sorted out (maybe (?) a year from now) or if these hikes are going to be permanent. The Spesh hike was pretty big. Ripmo carbon frame jumped 17% from $3k to $3.5k.
Now, £5k (plus brexit rip off tax) for the mid range one, yea its cheaper than a santa cruz or a yeti, but its certainly no bargain.
Nukeproof are now a better deal for us silly brits.
However the Megatower comes with a Yari, SD Select, NX drivetrain, Guide RE's & some awful OE SRAM wheelset.
Vs
38 Elite, Float X Elite, GX Eagle, CB wheelset, Codes, etc.
To get close to the spec, the equivalent Megatower is over £6k.
You can get Fox Factory stuff on Propains for 4500€ or under and spec it with a cheaper drivetrain.
The other big Direct Brands Like Canyon/ YT became more and more expansive, thats absolutely true.
Which is on par with LBS premium brands where you get decent service and warranty
Regarding taxes, levies and fees. We got what was voted for. Just buy a new bike when on holiday...
Same thing happened with a buddy that bought a large strive, bought it within 2 hrs of notification. THere were 2 megas in stock and they were both out within 48hrs.
Dude believe that you don't want to go through this shit. Waiting for a mere reply after you spilled a ton of cash (for some) for a bike. It breaks your heart, and trust. Not worth the little money you save in the end.
Alternatively, you could hop out the seat, spin 180 and ride sitting backwards while reaching and sipping your bottle
I was first into bikes with my front brake on the left. Then I got into a motorcycle with my front brake on the right (it did feel right at home surprisingly)
I thought I'll change my bike front brake to the right. I did. It felt super odd. I have it almost half a year before changing it back where it felt right a home from the first ride. There's no right or left, I mean wrong
Yeti: yeah but change it a little so the teacher doesn’t know
- by removing the shock and drinking from the bottle itself
- through an internally routed straw that exits at the stem
holy sht this should have been part of the launch video.
make mtb fun again.
But a year?!?! No thanks.
Just sayin’.
Again only commenting on my experiences so far
Having the YT Mill is hopefully only going to make things better.
I know there is a shortage of components, but after the flak YT get anyway, why would you even bother!!!
Real shame. I’ve had 3 YTs over the years and loved every one.
Nukeproof my go-to brand now. Brexit was the twist of the blade.
I reckon it might be a go-er.
(Reminds me of 2010-2011 when their Tues 1.0 had tons of issues without breaking chainstays only for YT to drop the design and go for the 2.0 in 2012 while old customers got "reinforced" stays that broke as well...)
They also dont really know what they are actually producing. Some people are getting the replacement chainstays without any drainage/welding holes in the yoke but if you ask the customer service, they claim that there are only versions with holes in them as without them they could not make the chainstays... It seems they have lost all overview of what is going on at this point.
BTW: The ones without holes break as well, dont get your hopes up
Geo seems relatively conservative for a 'big bike' - maybe things are now long and slack enough?
This looks cool, but I'll beat in my own damn blue jeans.
So to sum it up, cool idea, bad execution.
right in your face right handed european people!
PS: Cube sells a well specd full carbon enduro in a brick and mortar store with fox performance suspension for 3000€.
At 3199€ you still got year ago Capra with Performance Elite Fox kit, Sram GX and carbon frame.
Then came the Shred and suddenly you had to pay for the same bike 3499€ but for more money you lost carbon frame and got aluminium.
Now you pay 4499€ for same spec Capra with bottle cage.
And for reference last year Decoy with same spec was 4999€. Must be a hell of a bottle cage to be worth over 1000€...
last year I could buy a nuke mega frame for something around 2300-400 USD; now, I paid 3k for nuke giga frame...; and don't get me started on Fox components. I could not be bothered to detune the fox x2 in order to sell it and tune specifically an RS SD ultimate for the Giga(or maybe even a coil) because I hated the fact that for the price of one fork, I could have brought another fork and a shock. FFS, on the lyrik ultimate that I brough last year I paid 550 euros.. discounted price of course but still... 550 vs 1300 euro. There is no way in hell the '38 is 2.5 times a better fork than the lirik ultimate.
This was on my radar, but not disappointed I pulled the trigger on a Giga (especially because I get to, you know, ride it in 2021). MX was a no brainer, and glad to see it because shorter riders deserve the confidence of a 29er front too! Steeper seat tube angle needed IMO but 78-79 is my ideal number.
fir the fit4, I've obtain pretty decent results by puting 3 volume spacers, opening up the LSC a few clicks away from fully open and lowering the PSI a little. This made the fork smooth on the initial part of the travel, resist the dive which most foxes have(curios to check the new '38, to see if it has this trait as well) and have a big-ish ramp-up from 60-70% towards the end of the stroke. Mid-stroke was pretty good as well(I'd crank up the LSC a little for the courses where I needed more support) but it was fine for most of the time.
Marketing team: Hey we want to release a model that is painted but shows carbon on wear points, you know like the jeans the kids buy with holes already in them
Manufacturing team: WTF, you want us to make a good paint job bad and then add a clear barrier coat? That will cost like +50 per frame, add weight and look liek shit. Are you nuts...
Marketing Team: Glad you understood right off the bat, last time it took us a few exchanges for you to understand. Get on It, we've pre-sold almost 100 untis already.
Note: this comment was not generated by an AI bot
It would, however, have been great if they'd have designed linkage, water bottle-fit, and seat post angle for a longer dropper post insertion. Then, they could also have shortened the seat tube length for shorter-legged riders, but for me that would maybe have looked weird with the seat post not inserted far in the frame. ♂️
Let the record show 3 people tried super hard at snarkiness your honor
options:
1. fork it to 180 w/ a 27 front wheel
2. drop bar
3. negative rise stem
You're trying super hard for upvotes with stuff like this:
"wow you’re really stupid "
"would u like some cheese with that whine?"
"shaddup you ride a Jamis"
"answer the question you godam coward"
"mtbrider71, you're annoying. STFU!"
I speak honestly about topics from a viewpoint that might be unpopular. I cussed out a bunch of overdramatic millenials & a guy who ran around this site stalking and insulting me.
Are you gonna be my new stalker?
Your posts seem to indicate you aren't a deep thinker with contributions that make an impact. They seem like a guy trying to get a reaction. Good luck.
The Specialized Enduro, however, has horribly short insertion length in my opinion, not being able to take more than maybe a 160 dropper at most.
Every year bikes get a few mm’s longer and the tiniest bit slacker. If a bike wants to be ground breaking and not be out dated in a year or two companies need to start pushing themselves slightly more.
I’m 183cm or 6ft and ride a 515mm reach and a 62.5 head angle and love it. Nothing I can’t do as well as my previous bikes
No ones getting taller, mountain bikes are just evolving from road bikes very slowly.
Two reasons pros aren’t on progressively sized bikes;
Sponsorship: the company doesn’t have a long enough bike with a short enough seat tube in their catalog. Their job is to sell bikes, so if you see a rider going fast on a bike, you’ll believe it’s the bike.
Rider habit: rider x has been getting top 10’s on their current bike, is it worth the risk to try something new that might not give them instant top 10’s?
Pro’s are pro’s: they are insanely skilled, they will be fast on a broad range of bikes, me on the other hand needs all the help I can get.
There’s no point in arguing about it until you try a modern bike with a steep seat tube and a longer reach
How old is their designer, 5 years old?
Ships Latest March 2023. "
World just did go crazy
Do not get angry with me, but with the designer, from whichever side you look at it, nothing changes, it still remains UGLY AF !
Looks like a relic'd Stratocaster to me.
Porsche would never defecate any of their models with ugly/stupid white trash graphics associated with getting sloppy hammered, or make them look pre-owned.
Do they think making a sorta pink bike with male inspired dumb graphics is gonna make up for all their marketing which is so offensive to the image of women?
It’s as though one of the designers just said screw it and let his kid design it. the kid procrastinated till the last minute, then copy/pasted his Borderlands weapon skin onto the bike.
100 bikes are like april's fools joke, no one will see those bikes.