Tested: YT Decoy CF Pro Race

Words: Ryan Walsch                                              Photographers: Jack Tennyson, Johan Hjord

For the last three years, YT Industries have been quietly working on a “digital bike”. The concept has been thoroughly researched to decide what attributes when combined would make the ultimate eMTB. A low centre of gravity, handling like an “analogue bike” and not looking like an eMTB were at the top of the list, which is where the all new YT Decoy gets its name.

Like all YT bikes, this digital version shares the same distinct Virtual Four Link, striking angles and overbuilt hard-hitting approach. The Decoy is an eMTB on steroids which finds itself at home on both technical terrain or shredding the local bike park. But instead of just matching what other brands have created, YT feel that they have surpassed others and made something that really suits riders who want to push their bikes hard, but have the benefits of an eMTB.

Utilising the Shimano Steps E8000 drive unit, YT designed their own battery and chose to run a front 29er wheel and 27.5” rear wheel. YT has created a balanced, no holds barred eMTB that is built to party. There is 160mm travel up front with 165mm out the back. It sounds the wrong way around but with the two wheel sizes it balances out.

I had the YT Decoy CF Pro Race on test, and it tops out the range of three models made up of two full carbon models and a carbon with alloy rear stays. The CF Pro Race is specced with Fox Factory suspension and dropper, XT Di2 and E-Thirteen’s Carbon eMTB wheel set coming in at $11999. That’s a lot of coin, but considerably less than some top-shelf eMTBs on the market.

I put two full days putting the Decoy through some gnarly terrain in and around France’s Maritime Alps region, to see how it stacks up against the competition. With a full charge, a fanny pack full of Clif bars and a good crew I was ready to cruise up some climbs.

Initial Impressions

The key to getting the weight low down and centred was working with vendors to produce a 540wh battery that sat as close to the motor as possible, while still dissipating heat efficiently. YT opted for a more durable aluminium battery housing which is anchored by a large diameter bolt at either end running through the alloy housing and dampened by an elastomer eyelet. This high level of unseen detail ensures the battery is held silently and securely when you are getting rowdy an any terrain. Further within, the use of “moto foam” which is a medium density foam inlaid between the motor housing and motor itself keeps unwanted dirt and debris from entering into places that are hard to get to and may lead to drive unit noise and creaking that does plague some eMTBs. Kudos to the team and the extensive testing that has been carried out under some demanding and very talented riders.

Possibly the most unique feature, and honestly one that I didn’t notice for at least 30 minutes while setting up the bike before hitting the trail was the different size wheels. Yes that is a 29inch x 2.5” up front running on a 31mm internal E*Thirteen carbon rim and a 27.5 x 2.8” rolling on a 36mm internal E*Thirteen carbon rear rim. All excuses aside, the larger bagged tyre and bigger rim width make things look like they mean business and most importantly brought the back end of the bike in to an impressive 442mm chainstay length which is a great balance of short yet stable. If you look at the spec sheets on other eMTBs you’ll see how much shorter this is than others, and it means the ride really matches the rest of the YT range.

The Decoy comes in five sizes, Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large and Extra Extra Large. Small starts with a 415mm reach and each sizes goes up by 20mm per size to 495mm on the XXL. Thanks to the low stand over and fairly short seat tube riders will be able to choose a size based on their reach rather than by the seat tube length. I’m 178cm and went with the Large with a 455mm reach, which when combined with the 40mm Renthal Apex stem and 30mm rise Fatbar makes for a comfortable and stable position.

Like all YTs out of the box the bikes are plug and play, requiring very little setup at all. At the YT Decoy launch we were spoilt and had World Cup racer Erik Irmich and MTB hall of fame and freeride godfather Richie Schley on deck to get us set up and ready to shred. When setting up your own YT Decoy, suspension settings are always available on the website.

With all the components chosen for their functionality, there is only considered spec on the entire Decoy range. My test bike came in just a hair under 22kgs.

While the bike is specced with Maxxis Minion DHF and DHR tyres they are EXO+ casings front and rear, it will be interesting to see how these handle the abuse and added weight of the eMTB. The E7000 shifter is not the most ergonomic shifter I have seen looking like it may be more at home as a climbing shifter on a gravel bike, will I be able to find the right gear on awkward pinches?

On The Trail

We started our ascent in the hills behind Mandelieu, just west of Nice in the south of France. The region is strewn with rock, steep ridge lines and plenty of fast locals like guys by the names of Loic Bruni and Loris Vergier, the perfect stomping ground to let an E-Enduro bike loose. Our climbing consisted of fire roads, tarmac and super technical singletrack pinches. And you can be assured that the descents were rowdy!

Onboard the YT Decoy, a comfortable central body position is achieved with a really steep 76.5 degree seat tube angle and 455mm reach (size large). Shifting around on the Decoy is an easy task thanks to the low stand over and 800mm bars, making what is quite a hefty machine more like a bike than expected. The slack 65 degree head angle is exactly what you would expect on this sort of bike, and the YT Decoy runs a slightly reduced 46mm offset to keep some agility along with the slack head angle. The longer reach and steep seat angle also add to help keep the front end down when climbing, as even with pedal assist if the geo doesn’t work for getting back up the hill an eMTB can still be a pig! The reduced offset fork and short stem also means it will get around corners a whole lot better than some super long and slack bikes.

There is a small flip chip that can be used to adjust the bottom bracket height by 7mm. The higher position does steepen the head angle by 0.5 of a degree and slackens the seat angle by a similar amount. Given that an eMTB only gives you assistance if you’re pedalling, a higher bottom bracket height is a good trade off if you live somewhere with rocky trails, to give you a little bit more pedal clearance. It might also suit you if your rides don’t have super long climbs and descents, meaning you’re on the gas more than just letting the bike fly on the descents before a long climb back up. Crank lengths are 165mm which already reduces the chances of pedal strike – a super smart move by YT.

Pointing up the hill, the Decoy finds plenty of traction but did require the right gear selection to keep the Shimano Steps system on the boil and within the cadence range of choice. I found this quite difficult when the going got rough or when I got tired, the E7000 shifter is in a completely different spot to a conventional shifter and it felt un-natural to lift my thumb upward and releasing my grip on the bar to do so. When I fumbled my way into the correct gear, it was just a matter of keeping the pedals turning and finding balance over the front and rear to find traction and refrain from wheelies. Keeping my weight forward on the not super comfortable SDG Radar saddle was key to keeping the front wheel on the ground.

While Boost mode on the Steps system is loads of fun and keeps the power on that bit longer after a slight back pedal to clear mid climb obstacles, I found the Trail mode to be more tractable on the very loose dry over hardpack we were climbing. The initial power delivery of Steps is pretty snappy, heaps of fun but it got me into trouble on the tight tech stuff. While on the topic of shifting, the eMTB specific E*Thirteen cassette looked to be an all steel unit with an alloy 44 tooth. Considering the load I was shifting under, it was flawless unlike some E*Thirteen cassettes used in the past and most importantly there was no creaking!

Dropping back into the steep trail entry and its off like a freight train on rails, up to 25kmh and then leg power takes over or is supposed to. The additional weight is noticeable, and most apparent when the going gets choppy with deep braking bumps with a tendency to fall deeper into them which did result in a burped front tyre. With extra tyre pressure and a few additional clicks of high speed compression the YT Decoy was evenly glued to the ground with a feeling of control.

While the Decoy does require a little extra effort to manoeuvre, it is by far the most analogue bike feeling eMTB I have ridden with the climbing abilities of a goat.

Throughout the test, there was a few flat tyres in the group and the odd loose rear through-axle which was pretty impressive given what the bikes where getting put through. It’s interesting to see that the new Schwalbe Eddy Current eMTB tyres do come in sizes that would suit the YT Decoy. That could be an option for riders who really want to push the limits of the YT Decoy.

Our Take

The YT Decoy is an eMTB that matches what YT do. It is a whole lot of fun and really built to take advantage of burly trails. The frame design deals with the greater loads and specific demands of an eMTB, with a few unique extra elements do stop any quirky problems that can plague other designs. There is no questioning the modern geometry, which is based on optimising the descending prowess of the YT Decoy, while not taking anything away from it’s inherent ability to get you back uphill without the need for a shuttle, a chairlift, or too much hard graft.

Like all dual suspension bikes, regular attention to pivot bolts and in the case of eMTBS looking after your battery in accordance with the manufacturer’s requirements will be key to the longevity to your ride. The heavier bikes do take a lot more load, and the load points like pivots, drivetrains, wheels, tyres and brakes need more attention. YT do use eMTB specific items for the majority of these parts – but that’s not an excuse to not service them.

If it was my own bike I would change out the shifter for an E8000 under bar shifter, a different saddle (it didn’t work for me) and down the line maybe some thicker tyres. All of these are more of a personal preference rather than deal breakers. If you are looking for a way to maximise your time shredding, on an eMTB that likely outrides your current enduro bike, then the Decoy could be the bike for you.

While some countries with receive their Decoys with a top speed of 32 kilometres per hour, Australian customers bikes will be detuned to 25 kilometres per hour. While this is a non issue on climbs, 25kph is very easily achieved downhill and when assistance stops, it becomes a heavy bike again. We hope with time, these laws are relaxed and brought in line with other regions as most mountain bikers can exceed these speeds without electric assistance anyway.

Brand: YT Industries
Model: Decoy CF Pro Race
RRP: $11999
Weight: 22kgs

From: au.yt-industries.com
Available Sizes:  S, M, L, XL, XXL
Frame Material: Full carbon
 
Fork: Fox 36 FLOAT Factory E, 160mm
Shock: Fox X2 FLOAT Factory, 165mm
Shifter: Shimano E7000 Di2 on bar shifter
Derailleur: Shimano XT Di2 11sp
Crank set: Shimano XT 165mm
Chainguide: E*Thirteen E spec plus
Drive unit: Shimano STEPS E8000
Cassette: E*Thirteen TRS 9/46tooth E-bike
Chain: Shimano XT chain
 
Wheel set: E*Thirteen E Spec Race carbon wheels
Tyres: Maxxis DHF 2.5 EXO+/Maxxis DHR 2.8 EXO+
Brakes: SRAM Code RSC 200/200mm rotors
Handlebars: Renthal Fatbar 35, 800mm width
Stem: Renthal Apex 35, 40mm length
Seatpost: Fox Factory Transfer dropper post
Saddle: SDG Radar