2023 YT Industries

Capra CORE 2 MX

How did the YT Capra Core 4 fare against the competition in our search for the best enduro bike of 2024?

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It’s hard to believe but the Capra is nearly a decade old, having launched in 2014 with a carbon frame, killer parts list, 27.5in wheels (modern indeed) and a price tag literally half that of the competition. And while it’s true this Mk3 version isn’t the absolute giveaway the Capra once was, thanks to stiff competition from the other direct sales brands, it’s still unbelievable value.  Best enduro mountain bikes: 150 to 180mm monsters In fact that gave us something of a problem because the Core 2 GX mullet version is on sale right now for £2,799, and if YT could guarantee it would stay there we’d have been obliged to bump it up a mark on price alone. It couldn’t, so let’s get back on track. YT introduced the third iteration of the Capra back in 2021 in carbon only, the reworked asymmetrical Side Wing design made space for a badly needed water bottle and better geometry, specifically the improved seat tube angle for improved climbing.  A year later this alloy version turned up, and impressively it mirrored that of the carbon bike in both form and function. There’s a choice of MX or full 29in wheels, the mullet version gets 5mm more travel at 170mm and more importantly extra progression when you get to the bottom of it. On top of those bare bones the Capra uses a UDH, internal cable routing, and downtube protection from rock strikes. The two biggest sizes in the range get longer rear triangles to keep the bike in balance as the front centre grows. It’s not exactly true proportional geometry, but it’s useful, and rare at this price point. The XL felt a little cramped with its 480mm reach, but with five sizes to pick from – including an XXL above the XL we tested – everyone should find the right fit. YT Industries Capra 29 Core 2 first ride review Also the Capra has an ace up its sleeve in the flip chip, this means you can steepen the bike by a degree and raise the BB 5mm if you’re riding mellow terrain. Then hop in the car to the Lakes or South Wales and the low position puts you in the best position for flat out descending. Suspension Just like the Canyon Torque, the Capra uses a four-bar suspension design to deliver its 170mm travel but here there’s a linkage driving the shock rather than the seatstays. This gives YT more control over the suspension characteristics, and it’s an easy place to fit that flip chip. The Fox Float X Performance shock has a climb switch that we used extensively on the ups, and you can adjust low-speed rebound too. Best mountain bike forks: XC, trail and enduro forks reviewed and rated Up front, there’s a Fox Float 38 Performance fork, it’s not the superlative Grip2 damper but the fork is super sensitive and does have a compression dial that we used to help prop it up. Components YT should …Continue reading »

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A very capable bike that shines in a variety of situations, with supple and smoothly progressive suspension

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