Relative newcomer YT, another German direct-buy brand, took top marks in one of our tests last year with its Capra CF trail bike – so we had high expectations for this well priced, impressively specced downhill mahine. How would it deliver when the going got tough?
- So Good: Balanced suspension and great geometry; smooth, supple yet supportive fork; stable at speed but still agile enough on slower trails
- No Good: Low spring rate means shock won’t suit lighter riders
Frame and equipment: love/hate looks meet no-nonsense spec
The Tues's eye-catching frame has some unusual lines and tube shapes, which divided opinion within our test team. The head tube is almost completely engulfed by the down tube and the more bulbous and prominent top tube – a design YT has dubbed the ‘Headbox’ – which helps create one tough front end.YT’s Virtual Four Link (V4L) four-bar suspension system is packaged nice and low down in the frame to dramatically drop the bike’s centre of mass, and delivers 200mm (7.9in) of well-tuned rear wheel travel via a RockShox Vivid R2C shock. Our medium test bike came with a 225lb spring, which felt pretty much perfect for testers around the 70kg mark. Lighter riders may struggle though, because the lightest Vivid spring available is 200lb.
It's easy to get the Vivid R2C shock tweaked to your requirementsFor the bottom bracket, YT has gone down the press-fit route. This won’t please everyone, but we had no issues with the BB during testing, even after some really hard riding.The 63-degree head angle tallies nicely, as does the 1,208mm wheelbase and 338mm chainstays. To complement all that low-slung weight, YT has kept the bottom bracket height to a corner-railing 340mm. The Tues also features 650b wheels.
The Tues AL Comp gets a Boxxer Team fork with RockShox’s seriously smooth Charger damper, which features adjustable low-speed compression and rebound damping. Maxxis' High Roller II Super Tacky treads dish out consistent, predictable grip in myriad trail conditions, while SRAM’s Guide RS brakes offer plenty of punch and modulation even in the wet. The SRAM X9 Type 2 10-speed rear derailleur may not be a flash option, but if and when you damage it – something that doesn’t tend to take downhill riders that long – it won’t be too expensive to replace. Finding a spare at a race weekend should be straightforward too.
DT Swiss's 650b YT2020 hoops keep you rollingThe Vivid R2C shock has a smooth, controlled feel and is easy to get dialled in. The whopping 800mm Race Face Atlas bar feels comfy, and if you're a rider with a penchant for that extra bit of width you won’t be disappointed.
Ride and handling: sorted speed merchant
Straight off the line, it’s clear that the Tues is keen on one thing and one thing only – going fast. It takes just a couple of pedal strokes before you feel really at ease aboard the YT. The proportions and riding position just feel right from the get-go.
As you'd hope, the Tues is not remotely shy about heading downwards at great speedHit the first technical section and the balance front to rear is impressive and confidence inspiring. YT has done a great job with the suspension, producing a nicely progressive rear end that really rewards the harder rider. It’s not uncomfortable or harsh in any way, just a smooth stroke that ramps up towards the end before touching full travel, and offers a decent amount of feedback so you know what’s going on beneath your tyres.Push it harder and harder and the speed will keep increasing without the Tues ever feeling out of its depth. Though it’s certainly not a ‘point and plough’ machine, it’ll still let you make mistakes, veer off line and keep you out of trouble should you take your eye off the ball for a split second too long. On more physical tracks where the bike needs to be launched, hopped and lofted, there’s an agile, playful element to the Tues that makes more mellow, jump-riddled situations a lot of fun.
The low-slung suspension system and bottom bracket mean the Tues is a demon in the turns
That low centre of mass and bottom bracket mean the YT is keen to rail turns as hard as you’re comfortable doing so too. It takes quite a bit to unstick the Super Tacky High Roller IIs – their predictable bite is a racer favourite for good reason. As a complete package, the Tues really does tick a lot of boxes and offers great value for money – and a lot of fun.
- Shipping: within EU €60 / US$79 (Hawaii / Alaska US$289) / AU$200
- YT Industries Bike Box: €20
