YT’s Capra Mk III now has a high-performance, low-budget alloy frame and build option

YT’s newest addition to the Capra enduro bike range, the Capra Mk III Core 2, is intended to offer top-tier enduro bike performance at the lowest price possible.

This alloy-framed Core 2 bike is an all-new model that the German brand has based on the latest Mk III carbon fibre Capra, and has all the changes made to the carbon model when it was first introduced, superseding the Capra Mk II.

The Core 2’s aluminium frame shares the geometry, suspension kinematics, wheel-size options – both 29in front and rear and a mullet 29in front, 27.5in rear setup – and frame details of its carbon counterparts, such as the Capra Uncaged 6 we reviewed recently.

Both the Core 29 and MX mullet bikes retail for £3,199 / $3,399 / €3,199.

2022 YT Capra Mk III Core 2 frame

Jam-packed with features, YT hopes the Core 2 frame represents everything the discerning enduro racer or bike-park shredder is looking for.

The hydroformed tubing looks sleek and smooth, and is visually very similar to the carbon bike.

The MX and 29 version of the Core 2 look almost identical, except the MX bike has shorter seatstays. Both models share asymmetrical chainstays, claimed to offer an impressive stiffness-to-weight ratio.

A first for an alloy-framed Capra, the asymmetrical strut that spans the down and seat tubes means there’s space for a full-size 630ml water bottle beneath the rear shock.

On the underside of the top tube are mounts for accessories, too.

It has internally routed cables through the front triangle, chain-slap protection on both the driveside seatstays and chainstays, plus underside down-tube protection to reduce the chance of damage from rock strikes. There’s also a port for a remote lock-out cable, should you wish to fit a compatible shock.

2022 YT Capra Mk III Core 2 suspension

Like the carbon fibre Capra Mk III, the Core 2 has two travel options, with the 29er getting 165mm and the MX version offering 170mm.

It uses YT’s V4L suspension that employs a Horst-link design, with a pivot in front of the rear axle connecting the chainstays and seatstays.

Each wheel size's suspension kinematics have been tuned specifically, where the 29er has slightly less progression compared to the MX bike. The 29in-wheeled bike is roughly 33 per cent progressive, while the MX bike is around 38 per cent progressive.

This level of progression means the bike should be well suited to both coil- and air-sprung shocks.

2022 YT Capra Mk III Core 2 geometry

The Core 2, like the carbon bikes, is available in five sizes from small to extra-extra-large, with reach figures starting at 427mm and rising to 507mm.

Once again mirroring the carbon model, the Core 2 has the same longer, slacker, lower adjustable geometry. That adjustment is taken care of by a shock yoke flip chip, giving 0.3 degrees of adjustment of the head angle (from 64.2 degrees in the low setting to 64.5 degrees in high) and seat tube angles (77.6 degrees and 77.9 degrees). It changes the bottom bracket height by 5mm, from 349mm to 354mm.

2022 YT Capra Mk III Core 2 specifications and prices

Not only is the Capra’s frame, suspension and geometry enduro- or park-ready depending on its wheel configuration, so is its spec.

The German brand has built its reputation on offering amazing performance at bargain prices, and the Core 2 is no exception.

Up front is Fox’s 38 Performance fork with 170mm of travel and top-performing GRIP damper. It’s matched with a Float X Performance rear shock with a lockout lever and externally adjustable rebound.

It’s fitted with SRAM’s 12-speed NX Eagle drivetrain, SRAM’s Code R brakes with 200mm rotors and Crankbrothers' Synthesis Enduro alloy wheels.

Those rims are wrapped in Maxxis rubber, with an Assegai up front and a Minion DHR II out back, although both tyres only have EXO carcasses and are dual-compound versions rather than the stickier 3C rubber.

E*thirteen takes care of the bars, stem and chainguide, while ODI provides the grips. It’s fitted with YT’s Postman dropper (with 150mm of travel) and an SDG Bel Air 3.0 saddle.

For the price, that’s one impressive spec list.

2022 YT Capra Mk III Core 2

• Frame: Alloy frame, 165mm (29in wheel) or 170mm (27.5in wheel) travel
• Shock: Fox Float X Performance
• Fork: Fox 38 Performance, 170mm travel
• Drivetrain: SRAM NX Eagle
• Brakes: SRAM Code R
• Wheelset: Crankbrothers Synthesis Enduro alloy
• Tyres: Maxxis Assegai EXO TR WT 29x2.5in (f), Maxxis Minion DHR II EXO TR WT 29x2.5in (r) or Maxxis Minion DHR II EXO TR WT 27.5x2.5in (r)
• Price: £3,199 / $3,399 / €3,199