YT Jeffsy CF Comp 1 - Review
There was no shortage of hype surrounding the YT Jeffsy, partially due to the extensive (and slightly odd) ad campaign that YT ran in the months prior to its release. When the cloak of secrecy was lifted to reveal a 140mm 29er, there were certainly some surprised riders out there.
After all, this is the same company whose focus has been on maintaining a 'No f*cks given' image, with wild men like Andreu Lacondeguy and Cam Zink representing the brand – a 29er trail bike isn't exactly what comes to mind when you think of those two riders. The thing is, most riders don't have Red Bull Rampage-sized hucks in their backyards, which is why it made a lot of sense for YT to add a more well-rounded bike to their arsenal.
YT Jeffsy CF Comp 1 Details
• Intended use: trail / all-mountain
• Rear wheel travel: 140mm
• Wheel size: 29"
• Carbon fiber frame
• BB92 bottom bracket
• 12x148mm rear spacing / 15x100mm front
• Sizes: S, M, L, XL
• Weight: 28.8lb lb / 13.06 kg (size large)
• MSRP: $4,599 USD
• www.yt-industries.com / @YTIndustries
• Intended use: trail / all-mountain
• Rear wheel travel: 140mm
• Wheel size: 29"
• Carbon fiber frame
• BB92 bottom bracket
• 12x148mm rear spacing / 15x100mm front
• Sizes: S, M, L, XL
• Weight: 28.8lb lb / 13.06 kg (size large)
• MSRP: $4,599 USD
• www.yt-industries.com / @YTIndustries
The CF Comp 1 reviewed here checks in at $4,599 (it's currently on sale for $3,499 - the 2017 version will be $4,299) and comes equipped with a SRAM X1 1x11 drivetrain, and a 140mm RockShox Pike RCT3 paired with a Monarch RT3. Race Face takes care of the cranks, stem, and handlebar, while SRAM's Guide RSC brakes help keeps the speeds under control.
The rear derailleur cable is routed through the carbon frame, with all of the other housing running along the top of the down tube.
A flip chip on the seatstays allows for two different geometry settings (the low position is shown).
Frame Details
The Jeffsy looks like what would happen if you took YT's enduro beast, the Capra, and put it on a strict diet of smoothies and soup for a few months. The overall outlines are similar, but the Jeffsy has a more svelte look, and the brace that runs between the seattube and the downtube on the Capra isn't present on the Jeffsy. This allows for just enough room to squeeze in a pint-sized water bottle, an accessory that's available as an add-on from YT.
A full-size water bottle won't fit, but YT do offer the Thirstmaster 3000, a small, squat bottle and cage designed specifically for the Jeffsy.
It's nice to see a 150mm dropper post in place on the M, L, and XL sizes.
YT resisted the lure of going wild with internal cable routing, and with the exception of the rear derailleur housing, everything runs along the top of the downtube. It might not be quite as aesthetically pleasing as hiding all the housing inside the frame, but it does make installation and maintenance much less of a hassle.
There aren't any ISCG 05 tabs to be seen on the Jeffsy, which means there's no way to run a bashguard, but it is possible to put the front derailleur mounts to good use and run an upper guide in order to eliminate the chance dropping the chain.
Suspension Design
YT went with their Virtual 4 Link suspension layout for the bike's 140mm of travel, a design that sees the rearmost pivot located on the chainstay, underneath and in front of the rear axle, and a short link that connects the seatstays to the bike's downtube. Like the Capra and the Tues before it, the Jeffsy has a very progressive suspension curve, with a strong ramp up in the later portion of its travel. This also makes the bike work well with a coil shock for riders looking to try something different.
Geometry
The Jeffsy has two geometry choices, which can be changed by flipping the small chip located where the shock is bolted to the seatstays. In the high position the bike has a 67.6-degree head tube angle, while the low setting kicks that back to 66.5-degrees. I'd classify the 445mm reach for a size large as modern, but YT haven't gone too crazy with the numbers either.
One notable feature is the difference in chainstay lengths between the large and XL bikes (440mm) and the medium and small frames (435mm). According to YT, this was done in order to preserve the balance of the bike and help maintain the same handling traits between sizes. YT aren't the first company to use this idea - Norco comes to mind as a company that has been doing something similar for a number of years - but it's a trend that makes sense, and it's good to see others catching on.
Specifications
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Climbing
What differentiates a trail bike from an all-mountain bike? These days, that's a good question, especially considering the increasing number of genre-blurring options hitting the market. For me (and I'd imagine for most riders), a good trail bike needs to shine while climbing and going downhill – after all, if the climbs aren't going to be at least slightly enjoyable, why not lug around something with slacker angles and more travel?
Thankfully, the Jeffsy hits the mark, with a very composed and efficient feel while climbing. It doesn't quite have the small bump sensitivity (and the resulting traction) as Yeti's SB5.5 or Trek's latest Fuel EX, but it's not far off, with a satisfying quickness at every pedal stroke. Checking in at a hair under 29 pounds, the Jeffsy's weight is very reasonable, especially considering that the frame is the only part that's made from carbon fiber – a weight conscious rider could easily upgrade select components to drop that number even further.
There's a little extra motion with the shock fully open, but it's minimal enough that running it open all the time is certainly feasible. I ended up using the fully open position to gain traction on chunkier, more technical sections of trail, and then ran it in the middle compression setting for smoother climbs. The bike's fit is well-suited for long bouts of climbing, thanks in part to the 74.7-degree seat tube angle (in the low setting), which, combined with that moderate reach number, creates a more upright, rather than stretched out, riding position.
Donny Allison dropping in aboard the Jeffsy.
Descending
There's no shortage of 29ers sporting 130-140mm of rear travel these days, and for good reason – those numbers seem like the sweet spot for creating a bike that can be pedaled all day while still delivering a good time on the descents. That's certainly the case with the Jeffsy, and while its geometry numbers aren't wildly radical, it has a very neutral feel out on the trail, which allows the rider to be the pilot, rather than a passenger hanging on for dear life.
In steeper terrain the Jeffsy remained easy to handle, a trait that became especially apparent during a trip to Colorado where I ended up riding some seriously strange trails, ones that were extremely loose (think knee-deep kitty litter), and punctuated with tight, slow speed corners. I managed to make it through without dabbing (or cartwheeling through the spindly trees), partially due to dumb luck, and also thanks to the Jeffsy's ability to wriggle its way through awkward terrain without getting hung up. The relatively slack head angle, and the fact that YT chose to spec a fork with 46mm rather than the more common 51mm of offset, help create a bike that strikes an excellent balance of quickness and composure in the steeps.
As composed as it is on technical terrain, compared to the Yeti SB5.5, the Jeffsy doesn't encourage quite the same level of brakes off, bombing down the fall-line. It's like comparing a broadsword to a chef's knife – the Yeti tears the trail apart in one stroke, while the Jeffsy would rather slice and dice, bounding from one feature to the next. Regarding the overall handling, I'd say that Specialized's Stumpjumper 29 is the Jeffsy's closest contemporary, which makes sense considering the geometry and suspension design similarities, although the Jeffsy seemed more resistant to bottoming out from large impacts, and had a slightly poppier feel out on the trail.
 | That playful and peppy nature is due in part to the the Jeffsy's progressive suspension curve, which makes it incredibly well-suited to trails filled with bermed turns, rollers, and jumps. |
That playful and peppy nature is due in part to the the Jeffsy's progressive suspension curve, which makes it incredibly well-suited to trails filled with bermed turns, rollers, and jumps. On those types of terrain features the strong ramp up kept the Monarch RT3 in the sweet spot of its rear travel, providing a welcome platform to push into while snapping out of a turn or off the lip of a jump.
What about running a coil-sprung shock? I was curious about that too, so when Push offered the opportunity to try running their ElevenSix I took them up on the offer. Of course, the price of that shock is nearly 1/3 of the Jeffsy's entire asking price, but it did allow me to get a feel for how the bike's personality changed with a coil rather than an air sprung back end. The difference was instantly noticeable, and while I hadn't thought the amount of traction was lacking before, the ElevenSix helped keep the rear wheel glued to the ground in rough terrain, making it easier to feel confident charging into rocky, rubble-filled sections of trail.
The Jeffsy's sprightly nature was slightly diminished, but the strong ramp up, even with a coil spring, meant there was still plenty of pep left for lofting off of jumps and bounding from one side of the trail to the other. The stock Monarch RT3 holds its own out on the trail, as does the 140mm RockShox Pike, but I can see riders looking to morph the Jeffsy into an even more aggressive machine going the coil shock route, and possibly going with a slightly longer travel fork up front. The good news it that the bike works well with a coil shock, and the 200x57mm dimensions means there are a number of suitable options.
The 140mm RockShox Pike worked flawlessly...
...although issues cropped up with the Reverb post and Guide RSC brakes.
Component Check
• RockShox Reverb Dropper Post: I've lost count of how many RockShox Reverb posts I've spent time on over the last few years, and for the most part they've been entirely trouble free. However, every once in a while one shows up that's not up to snuff, and that was the case with the post on the Jeffsy. After only a couple days of riding it developed roughly 20mm of play, squishing down into its travel whenever I sat on it. RockShox took care of it quickly, and the replacement held up for the remainder of the test period without any further trouble, but it's unfortunate that even after the recent redesign the new version of the Reverb still isn't immune to this issue. On a side note, I also wish that the remote was located on the underside of the handlebar rather than on the top.
• SRAM Guide RSC Brakes: SRAM's Guide brakes are another component that I've had extremely good luck with, but the front brake on the Jeffsy didn't want to play nicely. The lever would occasionally 'stick', refusing to return to its fully extended position without some assistance. This is an issue that would be covered under warranty, and according to SRAM, they've since made changes to the tolerances of the master piston that should make this problem less likely to occur.
The DT Swiss M1700 Spline wheels made it through the test period unscathed, but this bike is a prime candidate for wider rims.
Onza's Ibex tires aren't the grippiest option for wet weather riding.
• Race Face Turbine Stem / Bar: The Jeffsy comes spec'd with 760mm bars and a 60mm stem on the size large, numbers that will be just fine for some riders, but I'd still like to see wider bars and a shorter stem come as stock equipment; after all, this is a bike that YT claims has “gravity oriented geometry.”
• Onza tires: Onza's Ibex tires are nice and wide, and they offered up plenty of traction in moderately soft conditions, but the side knobs had a tendency to want to squirm around during hard cornering. Part of this could have been due to the pairing of a 2.4” tire with rims that have a 22.5mm internal width – there's not as much support to keep the sidewall from folding over. The tires also had trouble handling slippery roots, with a disconcerting tendency to slide out unexpectedly. For more aggressive riders, and anyone whose frequently rides in wet conditions, I'd recommend swapping these out.
Pinkbike's Take:
| The Jeffsy leaves little to be desired out on the trail, and no matter whether your ride takes you on a mild XC loop or a more wild, technical trail, a lively, energetic performance is in store. There were a few component related issues, and riders in wetter climates should be prepared to swap out the tires, but on the whole, the Jeffsy's price vs. performance ratio is a tough one to beat. - Mike Kazimer |
Visit the high-res gallery for more images from this review
About the Reviewer
Stats: Age: 34 • Height: 5'11” • Inseam: 33" • Weight: 160lb • Industry affiliations / sponsors: None Twenty years deep into a mountain biking addiction that began as a way to escape the suburban sprawl of Connecticut, Mike Kazimer is most at home deep the woods, carving his way down steep, technical trails. The decade he spent as a bike mechanic helped create a solid technical background to draw from when reviewing products, and his current location in the Pacific Northwest allows for easy access to the wettest, muddiest conditions imaginable.
Stats: Age: 34 • Height: 5'11” • Inseam: 33" • Weight: 160lb • Industry affiliations / sponsors: None Twenty years deep into a mountain biking addiction that began as a way to escape the suburban sprawl of Connecticut, Mike Kazimer is most at home deep the woods, carving his way down steep, technical trails. The decade he spent as a bike mechanic helped create a solid technical background to draw from when reviewing products, and his current location in the Pacific Northwest allows for easy access to the wettest, muddiest conditions imaginable.
Author Info:
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That version comes with a fox evol/34 though, which are more sensitive than the monarch/pike.
also, sadly, the US version of the jeffsy when not doing promo is significantly more expensive than if you bought it in the EU even after conversion. Basically if you live in NYC you could fly yourself to Frankfurt, buy the bike, and fly back, and pay about the same price overall (including flight)
Oh and finally, while I don't care much for tires (I swap em most of the time..) I found the saddle and grips to be a little sub-par even thus it's always a bit of a personal thing, swapped these too, which adds to the cost.
Got the jeffsy pro for 4750USD ( after converting EU/USD) about 1mo after release day after pre-ordering.
Not least because the SB5.5 that was reviewed ran on Fox Factory 36 and Float X.
In this case it's easy, I think: It is the lack of debon air. The leverage curve would allow it for sure, see the findings with a coil spring. So no idea why YT is sacrificing small bump compliance and mid stroke support on the damper. Avg leverage ratio also isn't too high, so go for debon air/evol/corset, if you like going down the hill.
Also I don't get the comparison to the SB5.5 and Stumpy when it comes to ploughing, gigidi. Why, just why is it worse in that area than the Yeti and more comparable to a bike with a 1° steeper head angle a tad less rear wheel travel? I cannot make sense of that. That needs deeper analysis imo. The potential should be there. For me it all seems to come down to suspension setup. But in the review it sounds like it is the "bike's" fault.
I've said it before and I will say it again: I wanna see more in depth analysis (maybe with changing parts or at least tuning the suspension) to get to the root of unwanted behaviour and unfold the true potential. Theory and practical experiences should thereby be in consensus with each other. Maybe I am asking too much and I am the only one thinking in that direction. But in my mind the review does not offer enough to make a buying decision for example.
I guess a lot of people just want to buy something that works out of the box without having to change things.
You can get more info about the Jeffsy Linkage here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1OrxmEQK4g
But besides the futility of such comparisons what strikes me is how used we have got to 29 pounds bikes. Don't get me wrong, it is not just YT, with everything getting bigger and heavier most 29 in the 130-140 range are getting close to 30 pounds ... beasts of bikes for a ton of money!
Concerning real world: It can be hard to trust any tester, because there are 7 billion real worlds out there. And I have read complete misinterpretations of certain behaviours in the past (not only on PB). That's why the tendency to trust the theory a bit more. But It is getting better and better and don't get me wrong, your reviews are among the better ones for certain. Sometimes I just miss that geekiness of a Steve Jones or Chris Porter for example. But that could be just me. So yeah, sorry if my tone was a bit radical, It try to be more moderate next time...
The issue is price point... obviously specing a cheaper shock / fork is going to save the customer but does not the bike any favours in terms of reviews.
Maybe this is why it is always better to compare the top speced bikes with each other. That said you also need to know how a mid spec bike compares to the top speced bike and decide whether the extra cost is justified... a real mine field if you ask me.
Maybe bike companies need to let the customer spec their bikes in a similar way they do with cars (I think Canyon do this as well).
Some good points. The new Stumpjumpers 29 now have 150 instead of 140 forks and the SB-5.5 has 160. I could see a lot of riders wanting a 150 for this bike as well as a piggyback rear shock.
Maybe YT should offer a 150 fork and piggyback for the top couple models? A longer stroke air shaft is only like $30 though and not horrible to install.
You're welcome.
THanks for eplaining, thought you meant the guys at YT Industries
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www.youtube.com/watch?v=xreZdUBqpJs
The ticking noise while under pressure could actually be the machine, the pins that hold it in place will tick as they bend ever so slightly, without being there to determine where the noise is comih from its hard to say if its microfibres snapping or not. Its a known issue with carbon as stated above downtube protectors are standard. This will be where most rock strikes happen. But if you crash you can potentially have a pointy rock going anywhrre.
The elephant in the room though is high end bikes with carbon are made to win races. That means outperforming the competition one time only. After that, replacement is required to get the same performance. Its the same for any race based sport. The high end stuff just isn't built to last, its built to perform in a single event. A good example is brakes that don't work at all once the pads are half worn down and pad replacements are required. Its not a rule of thumb everywhere l, but it does seem to be the 'planned obsolescence' of bike manufacturers. Obviously they will deny this, but when you sell a million bikes a year, you want at least half of those customers to come back and buy again. If they all had bikes that lasted forever, the market would shrink.
Manufacturers like santa Cruz will put these videos out to promote carbon fibre because they sell at a higher price, thus making their portfolio much more attractive to investors.
Not always true. I cracked my Enduro half way round the seat tube just up from the bottom bracket and it didn't fail completely.
Rock guard got smashed off riding the Swiss national track and took a couple of nice chunks out of the BB shell, took it back to the reputable retailer I bought it from in Cardiff and they told me it was fine but it was always in the back of my mind.
Eventually I'd noticed the brake and gear cables had worn to huge gouges through the shock tunnel and I lost faith in the frame. Back on an Ali DH sled now and will leave carbon for the pros
The final straw and the brake and gear cables had worn through the frame down to the tubes containing the rear linkage bearings, I had that frame from new for 2 years! given that the linkage bearing tube was now exposed and I was hitting some pretty decent sized stuff on it I wouldn't say it was an irrational fear.
Would you have bought a second hand carbon frame with that level of damage? I know I wouldn't
www.pinkbike.com/photo/13284123
That's why it had to go
Personally I think the Hightower is more in keeping with modern geometry as it has slightly longer reach numbers, but more importantly the seat tubes are short enough to accommodate longer dropper posts (XL frame ST is 490mm compared to the Jeffsy's 520mm), and I think that's at least as important a number on a modern frame as reach, especially when hoping to size up.
You just explained perfectly why I want a shootout. At least then we can get into a relative comparison. I think it's the only way to have a meaningful review these days. Many brands seem to be converging on excellence and we have to start relying on colour preference or brand loyalty to select. I don't get to ride a lot of demo days so I rely on the rectangle to tell me what's worth buying. I know there are other shootouts but I happen to like the way PB writes and goes into the gory details.
@vinay
I meant a sus and HT category. But yeah, there is a lot of that XC reference going on. depends on the writer.
But I can tell you from my experience based opinion that it doesn't really matter if it's a Fatbike or a XC racing full susser put together - they still ride like a - hardtail and a - full suspension bike. The only time when they feel similar is the roughest bits. Fat and Plus bike rolls over small stuff like a 160 Enduro bike but hit something big with that fat tyred thing and you soon realize it is a HT deep to the core.
As for shootouts, I initially didn't have an opinion about shootouts. But when Dirt went out of print, my subscription was transferred to MBUK and they pride themselves on their reviews and shootouts. I quickly grew to hate them, makes for a horrible read. (I'm subscribed to Cranked now, no reviews at all
There was a recent vote here on PB for what was the best hardtail (or something along those lines). It may not be exactly what you're looking for but it might come close. I developed a crush on the Kingdom Vendetta (raw finish, 2017 version), never heard of that one before. Sure you'll realize when you hit something big but then again I don't go and hit something big only to not realize it.
I haven't yet ridden a hardtail with 160mm forks in the front. Only up to 140mm but I didn't feel I was on the limit. My previous hardtail (a steel Voodoo Erzulie) got a bit steeper in a crash and I've been riding it for months after that (with an 85mm fork). Twitchy indeed. Could still adapt to that so I expect it goes the other way around as well (slacker with more travel). In fact I found it harder to adapt to a full suspension bike. I can live with the fork diving in corners and while braking and landing, but much harder to cope with if the rear suspension extends. Yes I should apparently lean back more to keep it from extending but this is simply not something I have to worry about on a hardtail. On rough less tight terrain yes I can go very fast on the fully simply hanging on and it compensates for mistakes as well. But that's not the way I like to ride. The hardtail allows me to be more precise and if I'm not then well, I'll know right away. As for practice on asphalt and pumptracks I haven't had trouble with my 130mm forks. Haven't tried the fully on asphalt and pumptracks yet. Velosolutions will probably build a pumptrack 3 minutes from home (really happy) and I see no reason to bring anything bigger than the BMX for that.
But yeah at the end of the day it depends on what suits your style and terrain. A hardtail is a good match for me and I welcome a bit more travel for the more rough terrain. I'm standing up anyway so the rear end is reasonably free to fly about. For most of the riding that I do, it is good fun. And I fully understand that those doing epic full day rides on rough terrain and who find themselves seated a lot are much better off with a full suspension bike. That said, there definitely is a time, place and rider for a long slack hardtail with a long travel fork. Not solely from a budget perspective.
@conv3rt One company I think is quite clever with their direct sales model is Propain. Some riders register as "friend" (if I recall correctly) and potential buyers can hook up with them to ride their bike. Of course these friends benefit from certain advantages from Propain. I think it is a very clever and honest way to test a bike, rather than try it at an lbs. You may want to check if could test ride one of their bikes in your area. Not sure if they cater for Canada yet. Otherwise it may come soon. It seems like those German companies have only recently found their way to North America. Also because much of their full suspension bikes were built around a Horst Link design which they used to have to pay Specialized for in order to sell them over there.
For the price of the CF pro, you're into Specialized Enduro 29 territory and I think I know which one I'd prefer...
The "highend model" is still lower priced than everyone else's by like $2k with equivalent spec. I picked mine up on sale for the cost of the bike they tested $4600 shipped. If someone needs a small they still have them on sale for $4,499! Thats a steal for this bike which really well spec'd! dt swiss carbon wheels, renthal bars, next sl cranks, guide ultimates, a good dropper and suspension.
if you ride rough trails you might want to buy a longer air shaft for the pike and run it with 150 or 160mm travel.
My reverb has the same problem as stated in the review. But mine now sqishes down half of its travel when sitting on it. annoying! still waiting for help from yt...
Hahahahahaha! That sounds familiar.
It would be great to know how this bike compare against the Capra?
For example, you could say something like 'for those of you who like to pop off every root and bump, you'll like the whatever-suspension curve' or 'for riders who prefer the sit-and-spin approach to climbing, you might find the slack seat tube and short chain stays difficult on steep ascents. That sort of stuff, because -in all honesty- every review reads exactly the same.
.....come back home immediatly !!
Meanwhile, in the Real World:
www.google.co.uk/search?q=%22carbon+fibre%22+cracked+frame&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwirrsGEscfRAhWiI8AKHVT3DcAQ_AUICSgC&biw=1920&bih=1012
Yes a carbon frame "may" be more fragile in certain conditions but they are almost always repairable.
I only say this because PB reviews have gotten a lot better lately, and this one doesn't quite hit the bar for thorough- and thoughtfulness. They already did a first ride review of this bike, why not make the (supposedly) long-term review more considered, detailed, and in-depth?
"anyone else feel like he rode the bike twice ..."
THAT is complete BS. Grow a pair and ask @mikekazimer how long the bike was being tested for instead of asserting that he didn't put much effort into the test based on nothing more than a baseless suspicion in your gut.
You do realize you've basically insulted the guy by claiming he isn't doing his job, right?