The Routt is Moots’ do-it-all gravel-racing shred-venturing bike that is available in a number of different build options, including the Routt YBB.
The Routt YBB is a cushy soft tail-equipped model and we have one in for testing right now, and it's already won over the hearts of much of BikeRadar.
Moots Routt YBB full specs
- Fork: Moots flat-mount disc cross carbon
- Stem: Moots Ti
- Seatpost: Moots 27.2 cinch post
- Headset: Chris King I7
- Groupset: Shimano Ultegra 8070
- Handlebar: Fizik Cyrano R3 Aluminum
- Tape: Moots bar tape
- Saddle: Fizik Aliante R3 K:Ium
- Wheels: Mavic Ksyrium Allroad Elite
- Tyres: WTB Riddler
- $8,345 / £7,535 as specced
A soft-what-now?
Matthew makes his triumphant return to our YouTube channel and talks us through Moots' oh-so-lovely Routt YBB
The YBB system is Moots’ signature soft tail suspension system. This elastomer-spring hybrid system is located in the wishbone-style seatstay and offers around 20mm of undamped travel.
There are no pivots on the chainstays and it instead relies on the inherent flex of the frame to allow everything to work.
It’s worth stressing that this system shouldn’t be thought of as suspension in the traditional sense of the word — the 20mm of cush is built into the frame to reduce chatter and improve comfort rather than absorb large impacts.
The YBB system has actually been around since the early nineties when it was first introduced onto Moots’ mountain bikes of the time (which could probably very well pass as today’s most up-to-date gravel bikes, but I digress).
Two mountain bikes in Moots’ range — the Mooto X and the Mountaineer — are still available with the YBB system.
A beautifully practical bike
The whole bike is, as Matthew eloquently describes it in the video, beautifully practical. The bike is built around a mechanic-pleasing threaded bottom bracket, the frame bristles with three bottle cage mounts and the bike will happily take full-cover mudguards/fenders, with the eyelets neatly hidden away on the side of the fork.
The frame also has clearances for tyres up to 45mm wide and is compatible with both 1x and 2x drivetrains — this really could be your do-it-all year-round dream forever bike.
As decided in this older video, we reckon even the non-YBB-equipped version of the Routt could be a perfect do-it-all bike
The jazziest finish around?
Pushing practical concerns aside for a moment, it also bears mentioning the incredible finish of the bike.
Funky colour-shift anodising is nothing new in cycling, but Moots (and to be fair, its contemporaries such as Firefly) has truly mastered tastefully incorporating it into the overall design of a bike.
Less jazzy finishes are available, but I personally think that if you go for anything else you’re doing yourself a great disservice — it honestly looks so, so good in the flesh.
Moots Routt YBB build
Our build features just about everything you could want from a modern gravel bike.
The bike is built around a Shimano Ultegra Di2 drivetrain — which is paired with a clutch-equipped Ultegra RX rear derailleur — that will provide hassle-free service and won’t be phased by grimy conditions.
The wheelset also leaves little to be desired. The Mavic Ksyrium Allroad wheels are fitted with WTB Riddler tyres, which are one of our all-time favourite gravel tyres and should perform well in pretty much all conditions.
Moots supplies its own titanium stem and seatpost with Fizik supplying the handlebars and saddle.
Moots isn’t in the business of making cheap bikes, so the somewhat heady price of $8,345 / £7,535 as pictured should come as no surprise.
Check out our full first look on our YouTube channel for all of the juicy details and be sure to leave your thoughts on the bike in the comments below!
