YT Izzo Pro Race
A sharp choice for different styles of riding
A sharp choice for different styles of riding
Some bikes are very clear about who they are for and what kind of riding they were designed to do. Others are more open to interpretation. The Izzo, YT’S first short-travel bike, is a machine that lets you have more input on how it should be ridden.
The German direct-to-consumer brand is traditionally more gravityfocused. This heritage shows in the Izzo. It has a playful nature and is quick to accelerate out of downhill corners. The Izzo, however, shows more complexity than simply a smaller version of YT’S enduro bike. It has more potential, but also different limits.
YT builds the Pro Race model with parts that would be the envy of many marathon XC racers. Other than the stout 130-mm Fox 34 fork, the Pro Race components tend more toward endurance racing than trail riding, down to the Rockshox Twistloc Sprint Remote for the rear shock.
But, when tires hit dirt, the Izzo is more fun than race-focused. The thin Maxxis Forekaster tires help YT hit the light 12 kg (26.5 lb.) weight, but are out of place on a serious trail-bike build. Even as a race build, the Izzo deserves better rubber.
With the addition of more trailworthy tires, and a few other tweaks, the Izzo can become a bona fide trail bike. It still prefers flowing and fast terrain to steep and burly. Its stiff chassis and overbuilt bottom bracket transfer speed through corners, but are less forgiving when conditions get really rough. Some trail bikes perform beyond their travel numbers. YT focuses the Izzo on performing really well within a more narrow range of trails.
But, despite its stiff frame and cross country-worthy parts, the Izzo never quite has the same snappy feel as a dedicated racing bike. It is more capable on the descents. With the lockout engaged, it can be competent on the climbs. But its preference is toward long, steady climbs over standing sprints. The bike could suit those riding stage races or longer XC races, where the added travel is a bonus, and especially racers who want their bikes to be fun every other day of the season.
Some riders might not take to the Izzo’s ambiguity. It’s part fun-focused trail bike, but has potential as an efficiencyminded endurance racer. Others, especially the budget conscious looking for a full-on race bike, will see an opportunity. With an extra set of tires and a few small parts, you can have two top builds for a very good price. Sure, $7,300 isn’t cheap, but YT delivers the Izzo Pro Race with components you’d expect to see on much more expensive bikes. DT Swiss xmc 1200 Spline wheels and Fox Factory suspension help edge the Izzo into marathon race bike weight, without losing its trail-bike capabilities.
Izzo is a type of Japanese sword used by samurai. This bike isn’t as pure of purpose its name implies. But, on the other hand, it will slice several different lines through trails, depending on how you wield it. It’s capable with XC tendencies, too. If you are looking for a bike that can perform on different types of routes, but you’re working with the budget for only one bike, YT Izzo is worth a look.