2022 YT Industries Capra Base AL

Caseyo

The YT Capra delivers an awesome ride at a solid price.

Alex Evans

The Capra Mk III Core 2 strikes an almost perfect price-to-performance ratio for the cash-conscious enduro rider

Jamie Darlow

YT launched its new version of the Capra last year, featuring a full carbon frame and top end Fox suspension it quickly became one of the best enduro bikes going. A year later and they’re repeating the process in aluminium, first with the Uncaged 9 and now with the brand’s most budget-friendly Capra to date, this Core 2 model. At just north of £3,000 it’s in the same ballpark as bikes like the Privateer 161. The big question though, does switching to heavy metal from subtle carbon lose any of the bike’s sharpness and turn of speed? YT Capra Core 2 need to know New Core 2 model comes in 29er or mixed wheel (29in and 27.5in rear) MX options 29er bike gets 165mm travel, MX uses 170mm, and both have 170mm forks Aluminium frame mimics the carbon bike, with Side Wing design, water bottle, and clip chip geometry adjust MX bike has a shorter back end and increased progression, the 29er here gets more linear performance. Five sizes, from S-XXL MX model gets different chainstays, shock yoke and kinematics, with more progression and anti-squat The frame I’m almost always impressed by just how good modern aluminium bikes appear, and the Capra is no exception – YT has done a great job mimicking the carbon frame, from the asymmetrical Side Wing brace that makes space for a water bottle to the flattened top tube and swooping downtube. Much like the Crank Brothers Synthesis wheels the bike comes with – first launched in carbon fibre – you’ll be forgiven for tapping at it with a questing finger, trying to figure out the material you’ve got going on. As you’d expect from a new bike there are bang up-to-date details on the frame too, with mounts under the top tube for an enduro strap for your banana, a SRAM UDH hangar, threaded BB and internal cable routing. Sizing and geometry The Capra is in no way a progressive bike in terms of sizing; I rode the size Large and found its diminutive 467mm reach measurement way too cramped for my 6ft 1in size. That’s Ok though as there are two sizes bigger in the range. Step up to XL and above and the bike also comes with a longer chainstay to ensure the front to back bias remains in balance. Geometry wise the bike is decently low, slack and long but nothing out there in the modern era of sub-63degree head angles. Of course there’s a flip-chip just like on the carbon bike, located on the shock yoke and that changes the head angle a smidge (0.3°). More importantly, it will also lengthen the back end of the bike and drop the BB height by around 5mm, so while the head angle adjustment is pretty pointless I think being able to raise or lower the ride height might prove useful. With just one quick ride on the Core 2 it’s hard to say for sure though. I’d like to see YT increase …Continue reading »