FIRST RIDE REVIEW

THE NEW YT DECOY SN

YT’S BEST ENDURO BIKE?

Words by Robert Johnston  |  Photos by Daniel Roos & Ale Di Lullo

For their first mid-power eMTB, YT Industries began by attempting to create the best enduro bike they had ever made. They then decided to add a Fazua Ride 60 system, allowing rides to increase in length and for more laps to be enjoyed. The result is the Decoy SN, a lightweight electric mountain bike that YT reckons to make you feel “SuperNatural”. We ripped one for a couple of days in the Austrian Alps to deliver you our first impressions of this SL Enduro eMTB.

ABOUT THE YT DECOY SN

FRAME AND FEATURES | YT is releasing the Decoy SN with only an Ultra Modulus carbon fiber frame, which is their highest level carbon fiber. The 160mm rear end is paired to a 170mm fork and MX wheel setup only. YT worked to maximize dropper post insertion depth across the size range, letting them spec long dropper posts relative to each size.

There’s plentiful space inside the front triangle to fit a standard water bottle; and mounts under the top tube to attach a tool and spare tube. The frame is well protected with the chainstays and down tube receiving custom guards. Cable routing is internal, utilizing a new clamp design for YT for easier operation and less chance of rattle.

DRIVE UNIT AND ELECTRONICS | For the Decoy SN, YT Industries opted to fit the Fazua Ride 60 mid power eBike system. This relatively lightweight system is capable of producing 60Nm Torque and up to 450W Peak Power, which ranks it highly in its class.

Inside the down tube of the Decoy SN is a fixed 430Wh battery, which requires the motor to be dropped out of the frame in order to remove it. This may lose points for convenience with some riders, but allowed YT to save a whopping kilo (2.2lbs) of frame weight.

YT equipped the Decoy SN with a bolt-on skid plate to fend off any damage to the motor. Up on the handlebar there is the Fazua Ring Controller, which is used to change the power mode and to enable walk mode. The top tube is fitted with the LED Hub, which displays the power mode selected and indicates battery life remaining in 20% increments.

The Fazua app can be used to tailor the different power modes and obtain the ride feel desired, as well as to update firmware and see battery life to the nearest percent.

SUSPENSION | YT gave the Decoy SN’s V4L (Virtual Four Link) four bar suspension design 160mm of travel. They revised the kinematics to work best with the mid-power assistance of the Fazua Ride 60 system, whilst retaining a high level of grip and comfort on the descents.

GEOMETRY | YT Industries has given the Decoy SN an aggressive geometry package that’s fitting for an enduro eMTB. Taking a look at the geometry table, the Stack heights are quite high across the range and the bottom bracket is fairly low. Otherwise, the numbers are typical of a modern enduro eMTB. A choice of five sizes with long dropper post insertion and fairly low standover heights should ensure most riders are able to find a comfortable fit.

BUILD SPECS | YT is offering the new Decoy SN in a choice of three build specs initially, all based around the same Ultra Modulus carbon fiber frame. Shared across the specs are a pair of Continental Kryptotal tires with Enduro casing and the new Super Soft rubber compound up front and Soft in rear. YT’s Postman dropper post is fitted to all builds in long lengths across the size range. 160mm e*thirteen Helix Race alloy cranks let riders spin with minimal pedal striking risk.

The Core 2 is the entry level at $/€/£6,499, featuring a RockShox ZEB and Vivid Select suspension combo; Shimano SLX drivetrain; DT Swiss H1900 Wheelset and TRP DH-R EVO brakes. The mid-level Core 3 costs $/€/£7,499, and receives a bump up to an Ultimate level RockShox ZEB and Vivid suspension pairing; SRAM S1000 T-Type drivetrain, and Crankbrothers Enduro 2 wheelset.

The YT Decoy SN Core 4 build tested retails for $/€/£8,499, and features a well considered build with some high end components where it counts. A Fox Factory 38 170mm fork and DHX2 coil shock combo are highly adjustable top performers. SRAM provides the GX T-Type drivetrain and a pair of Maven Silver brakes to slow things down. A Crankbrothers alloy wheelset with Enduro front rim and eMTB rear are laced to Industry 9 1/1 hubs. And a murdered-out black Renthal Apex Stem and Fatbar hold things down. The claimed weight for this build in a size medium is 20.6kg (45.4lbs).

RIDING THE NEW YT DECOY SN

YT Industries invited a selection of mountain bike media outlets to Saalbach, Austria, to give a preview of the Decoy SN on some suitable trails prior to its release. I was one of the lucky attendees and logged two solid rides on their new mid-power eMTB to get to the bottom of its performance and provide some insight to accompany its release.

Though my time on the Fazua Ride 60 system is not extensive compared with most other mid-power drive units, it’s one of my favorites in the category. The ring controller was fairly intuitive and ergonomic, and the display made it easy to quickly glance at battery life and the mode selected. The power delivery felt natural in the stock tune, demanding that the rider input some of their own power before it’d provide a good push. The Nitro mode is the only exception, allowing the full power to be delivered whether soft pedaling or hammering.

Mid-power systems and their accompanying smaller batteries have their work cut out for my 100kg (220lbs) mass. That said, range felt to be fair on the Decoy SN. The long term test will allow me to obtain a better feel for exactly how far a single charge can take me.

On the way down the hill, YT Industries’ gravity DNA was very apparent. The Decoy SN is a bike that everyone in attendance of the press camp was able to hop on and instantly start charging hard. The high front end gave a reassuring and safe stance on the bike, with suspension capabilities to back up the confidence. Stability was plentiful for the higher speed portions of trail, but the Decoy SN never felt overly sluggish, much to my enjoyment.

With the head angle and rear end both being slightly conservative, the result was a bike that was able to whip around corners and play. Similarly, the suspension instilled confidence without lacking support or pop. Add a dialed and burly build package, and you’ve got a bike that strikes a fine balance between hard-charging descending performance and a more playful aspect.

The Wolf’s First Impression

My initial rides on the YT Decoy SN have left me with some extremely positive impressions. It has climbing geometry and suspension kinematics that allow for the Fazua Ride 60’s power to be harnessed well, and the descending performance is versatile and simply excellent. I’m excited to welcome one in for its long term test.

Website: YT-Industries.com