YT CAPRA MX UNCAGED 9
YT’S new Capra MX gets a dream build spec minus the nightmare price tag
£3,799 / 29/27.5in / yt-industries.com
YT has always exploited its small size and short production runs to respond to market trends and exploit leftfield supplier options – remember the original YT Capra with its BOS suspension? With global supply chains in turmoil, and hardcore consumers increasingly customising their bikes with boutique suspension parts, YT’S evolution of this concept – dubbed Uncaged – is more relevant than ever. It also fits the brand’s punk, anti-establishment image like a studded leather glove.
In the case of this MX Capra Uncaged 9, there’s something irresistible about the Öhlins suspension, Crankbrothers wheels, Maxxis tyres and Renthal bar and stem that appeals to the magpie in all of us. Who doesn’t want other riders rubber-necking your bike in the car park or on the trails? And pairing that yellow spring and gold anodised damper with a deep purple paintjob that sparkles and shimmers in the sunlight, is a masterstroke. Colour me smitten.
While YT is bold as brass when it comes to an eclectic spec and aggressive price point, the Capra frame is actually quite conservative for a modern enduro bike. Consider the geometry: the head angle is pretty average at 63.3° in the slack position (the flip-chip makes so little difference that it’s barely worth the effort). But the sizing is genuinely restrained: the size Large runs a claimed 467mm reach, but my test bike only measured up at 460mm. Take account of the tall conical spacer and the effective reach is actually more like 450mm. So you’ll need to source a new top cap if you want to slam your stem and get
see on the YT website, so the bike had been ridden by World Cup shredder Josh Lowe.
As such, it had a 457lb spring fitted, which was too firm for me. Öhlins makes a comprehensive range of springs and YT had provided me with a couple of different rates to try out, so I dropped down one spring rate to 434lb, which gave me bang on 30% sag (sitting with all my weight through the rear suspension). Perfect, right? Well yes, but the size Large bike actually comes shipped with a 388lb spring – which gave me 35% sag. Heavier riders then, may well find they need a firmer spring. We mentioned this to YT and it said that it takes a balanced view on average rider weights for each frame size and has erred on the softer side given the Capra’s remit, but concedes that this may not work for everyone. The bottom line being that you may have to spend some time (and money) trying different springs to get the suspension the way you like it.
One of the things I really liked about Canyon’s approach to its recently released Torque mullet bike, is that it gives you two extra springs free of charge (£50 each aftermarket) to make