First Rides
£4,838.80 (shipped) With updated geometry and suspension, our favourite trail bike of last year is now more capable than ever
We sling a leg over the YT Je sy 29 CF Pro Race, the Norco Aurum HSP C2 650b DH bike and Specialized’s Enduro Comp 650b
YT’s previous Je sy 29 won our Trail Bike of the Year test in 2018, thanks to its grin-inducing ride. While technically there were ‘better’ bikes in the test, the Je sy was the one we all wanted to sling a leg over. For 2019, it’s been updated and, on paper, should be even better.
The frame
While the latest Je sy sticks with the same ‘V4L’ four-bar linkage suspension design used throughout YT’s range, it now has 10mm more travel front and rear. Like on the direct-sale brand’s Tues downhill bike, all of the pivots are accessible from the same side, to make maintenance easier. Fans of packless riding will be pleased to hear there’s room for a 600ml bottle within the front triangle.
The geometry has been updated too, with more aggressive, contemporary figures. We rode the large size, which has a reach of 470mm, up from the very short 445mm of the previous model. The head angle is a full degree slacker, at 66 degrees, while the seat tube sits at a climbing-friendly 77 degrees. A relatively short seat tube (435mm on the large) allows the use of longer dropper posts and makes it easier to size up if you feel the need for even more reach.
The kit
As the top-of-the-line model, the kit on the Pro Race is pretty swish. The 36 GRIP2 fork, DPX2 shock and Transfer dropper post are all from Fox’s top-end ‘Factory’ range. YT have a strong relationship with e*thirteen, and on this build the American brand provide the TRS Race carbon wheels and TRS Race (front) and TRS Plus (rear) tyres. Their TRS Race cranks drive the chain over an 11-speed TRS Plus 9-46t cassette, with a TRS Race SL chain guide providing a bit of extra security. Shimano take care of the rest of the drivetrain, with their top-spec XTR M9000 rear mech, chain and shifter. Renthal supply the 50mm stem and 800mm Fatbar Carbon bar, ODI the grips, SDG the saddle and SRAM the Guide RSC brakes with 200/180mm rotors.
The ride
The Jeffsy’s suspension was always nicely progressive, increasing in
resistance throughout its stroke to give a poppy, fun ride. But the antisquat figures were quite low on the old version, making it feel sluggish on the climbs, especially when this was combined with the slack seat angle and draggy tyres. This revamped bike has a much peppier feel, thanks to increased anti-squat and the steeper seat angle.
While it’ll never win any crosscountry races, it feels faster and more nimble when the gradient heads up. This tauter feel under pedalling helps its performance on the flat too, with the bike maintaining momentum easier and feeling more eager to accelerate out of turns. There’s still a fair bit of pop available, thanks to that progressive suspension.
The head angle is reasonably slack (for a 29er trail bike) and, combined with the extended reach, it puts plenty of bike out in front of you, so you can push it into corners and trust the front wheel to do its thing as you carve through berms. With its latest-generation ‘GRIP2’ damper, the Fox 36 fork feels sublimely composed. Whether you’re taking on small or large hits, blasting through tight rock gardens or railing berms, it takes a lot to really start to rattle this bike.
It’s not all fun and games though. Because the bike is longer, it’s not quite as playful as the previous model. Also, the mix-and-match Shimano/e*thirteen drivetrain doesn’t deliver the smooth shifting that a bike like this deserves. We experienced creaking and small derailments when back-pedalling, and the shifting across the block wasn’t quite as good as it could be.
Overall, this new Je sy is an improvement on the 2018 model – technically, at least. The suspension still has that progressive composure but now climbs better, and this is backed up by improved tube lengths and angles. We can’t help but think, though, that this additional capability has caused the Je sy to lose a touch of the fun-loving character that first endeared it to us. TOM MARVIN www.yt-industries.com