YT launches Capra Mk III with two versions – ready for the bike park and enduro

German direct-sales brand YT has launched its newest Capra model with not one but two versions, designed with enduro and bike park riding in mind respectively.

YT says the new Capra is the brand’s most important bike since its launch in 2014, and back then it received massive praise from the MTB media for its performance and price.

The bike industry has progressed quickly over the last seven years, though, so does the latest model keep YT relevant in a demanding marketplace?

YT Capra MX and 29 frame details

So why launch two bikes? Well, YT wanted to cover everything the Capra stood for, which included not only being a thorough-bred enduro race bike but also a gravity-fuelled, park-shredding whip.

Not wanting to compromise on either, YT has built two frames – the park-ready Capra MX and enduro-focused Capra 29 – with geometries and kinematics to suit each bike’s demands.

The Capra MX is built around a mullet bike setup with different wheel sizes front and rear (29in front, 27.5in rear), whereas the Capra 29 is, as the name suggests, built around 29in wheels at both ends.

Unsurprisingly, both the MX and 29 are longer, lower, slacker and steeper than the outgoing Mk II models, reflecting the latest trends in mountain bike geometry to improve rider position on the bike.

Five frame sizes are available from small to extra-extra-large across both models.

Construction-wise, YT uses two different carbon lay-ups across both the Capra MX and Capra 29, depending on the build.

The Core 3 build uses YT’s more cost-effective, high modulus carbon fibre, while the Core 4 and limited-edition Launch models use YT’s ultra modulus lay-up, which is claimed to provide the same strength, stiffness and ride characteristics as the high modulus carbon fibre but at a lower weight and, of course, higher price.

New tube profiles lower the frame’s centre of gravity, while the cross-sections of the down tube and chainstays have been increased, and the top tube and seatstays slimmed down.

The new bikes still sport the very familiar Capra silhouette and the frame ‘wing’ that connects the down tube and seat tube for added stiffness. However, it’s now only used on the driveside, allowing space for YT’s Thirst Master 6000 water bottle to be fitted within the front triangle – a welcome addition for anyone wanting handy hydration on their enduro bike.

YT’s HeadBox is used to stiffen the head tube and acts as a neat cable entry point for the internal cable routing through the front triangle. On the underside of the top tube, two rivets act as a tool mount for storing spares on the frame.

All 2021 Capra frames use SRAM’s Universal Derailleur Hanger, which should be easy to source if you need a replacement in a hurry.

There’s new chainstay protection to help prevent damage from chain slap and the associated noise, and the down tube has a bolt-on to fend off rock strikes and the like.

For frame longevity and ease of maintenance, an additional layer of seals has been added to the bearings too, to help minimise water and dirt ingress – a feature found on the YT Tues downhill bike.

YT Capra MX and 29 geometry

While the Capra MX and Capra 29 share the same front triangle, the geometries are slightly different for both bikes, with the Capra MX delivering 170mm of rear travel and the Capra 29 165mm.

They also use a flip-chip located in the Yoke, which gives you the option of running the bike in a high or low geometry setting; changing the head tube and seat tube by 0.3 degrees and raising the bottom bracket 5mm.

Bikes are delivered in the low position.

Capra 29 geometry

The biggest update to both bikes is the steeper effective seat tube. The Capra 29 ditches its slouchy setup for an upright 77.6 degrees (low position) and gets almost one degree shaved off the head tube angle for a pretty aggressive 64.2 degrees.

A subtle 2mm bottom bracket drop and 7mm increase in reach numbers across the board give reach figures ranging from 427mm to 507mm in 20mm jumps from size S to XXL.

The chainstays have increased by 3mm and now measure 438mm for the S to L sizes and 443mm for the XL and XXL frames.

Capra MX geometry

The Capra MX’s geometry is tweaked slightly due to the 5mm shorter seatstays and smaller back wheel, but still has a steeper effective seat tube angle at 77.5 degrees (low setting), a 64-degree head tube angle, and reach values that range from 424mm to 504mm, also in 20mm jumps across the five sizes.

The chainstays are shorter, too, at 433mm for the S, M, and L bikes and 438mm for XL and XXL.

For both models, the XL and XXL frames also lose height off of their seat tube lengths, so riders can upsize more easily or can run longer dropper posts.

YT Capra MX and 29 suspension details

The suspension kinematics have been tailored for both the Capra MX and Capra 29 bikes to suit their intentions.

The Capra MX has more progressive suspension to help with the bigger park features and jumps this bike is designed to handle.

The Capra 29 has less overall progression and is claimed to suit enduro laps that aren’t lift-assisted.

Both bikes produce an anti-squat of over 100 per cent at sag, so they should be pedal-friendly enough.

The anti-rise has also increased, meaning the bikes should better maintain their geometry under braking but possibly lose some suspension sensitivity.

YT Capra 29 and MX bike models and specifications

Two models are available for both the Capra 29 and Capra MX bikes – the Core 4 and the Core 3 – as well as a 100-piece-worldwide limited-edition Capra Launch.

YT Capra Core 4 – MX and 29

The Core 4 is the higher-spec edition and uses YT’s ultra modulus carbon frame.

It’s kitted out with Fox Factory suspension with its hard-hitting Fox 38 fork (170mm travel) and Float X2 shock.

SRAM provides its X01 mech, shifter and cassette as well as the Code RSC brakes with 200mm rotors front and rear, while Descendant supplies the carbon cranks and ethirteen the TRS Plus chain guide.

Crankbrothers’ Synthesis Enduro Alloy wheels with i9 hubs are fitted with a Maxxis Assegai EXO MaxxGrip 29x2.5WT front tyre and Maxxis DHR II EXO MaxxTerra 27.5/29x2.4WT rear tyre.

It gets a Renthal cockpit with a size-specific Fatbar 35 handlebar (800×20mm rise for sizes S to L, 800×30mm rise for sizes XL and XXL) with a 50mm Apex stem.

The YT Postman dropper is size-specific too: 100mm drop size S; 125mm drop size M; 150mm drop size L; and 170mm drop sizes XL and XXL.

An SDG Bel-Air saddle finishes off the build, and not forgetting the YT Thirst Master 6000 water bottle and cage.

YT Capra MX Core 4 and YT Capra 29 Core 4 spec

• Weight: 14.9kg Capra 29 (size small without pedals); 14.5kg Capra MX (size small without pedals)
• Frame: YT Ultra modulus carbon fibre – 29: 165mm (6.5in) travel /MX: 170mm (6.7in) travel
• Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
• Fork: Fox 38 Float Factory, 170mm (6.7in) travel
• Shock: Fox Float X2 Factory
• Headset: Acros AZX-576
• Wheels: Crankbrothers Synthesis Enduro Alloy (15×110mm front, 12×148mm rear axles)
• Hubs: Industry 9 1/1
• Tyres: Maxxis Assegai 29in×2.5in WT I 3C MaxxGrip I EXO I TR front / Maxxis Minion DHR II 29in×2.4in WT | 3C MaxxTerra | EXO | TR rear
• Crankset: SRAM Descendant Carbon 170 mm, 32t
• Bottom bracket: SRAM DUB Pressfit BB DUB PF MTB 92
• Derailleur: SRAM X01 Eagle with ethirteen TRS Plus (1x12)
• Shifter: SRAM X01
• Cassette/chain: SRAM XG-1195, 10-52t
• Brakes: SRAM Code RSC with 200/200mm rotors
• Bar/stem/grips: Renthal Fatbar, 800mm / Renthal Apex, 50mm / ODI Elite Motion V2.1
• Seatpost: YT Postman (100 mm (S); 125 mm (M); 150 mm (L); 170 mm (XL-XXL))
• Saddle: SDG Bel-Air 3.0
• Colours: Nox Blue / Black Magic

YT Capra Core 3 – MX and 29

The Core 3 model is the more affordable choice but still comes decked out with trail-ready parts that should handle whatever you can through at them.

The Core 3 gets the same Fox 38 fork and X2 shock but from its Performance Elite range, meaning you get all the same adjustability just without Fox’s Kashima coating.

The drivetrain drops to SRAM’s GX range with SRAM Descendant 7K cranks and an ethirteen TRS Plus chain guide, while SRAM Code R brakes deliver the stopping power with 200mm rotors.

A complete set of Crankbrothers Synthesis Enduro rims and hubs are shod with the same Maxxis Assegai and Minion DHR II tyres as the Core 4.

There’s a size-specific ethirteen Plus 35 cockpit (800×20mm rise for sizes S-L; 800×35mm rise for sizes XL and XXL) and the same YT Postman dropper post and SDG Bel-Air saddle.

YT Capra MX Core 3 and YT Capra 29 Core 3 spec

• Weight: 15.0kg Capra 29 (size small without pedals); 15.5kg Capra MX (size small without pedals)
• Frame: YT high modulus carbon fibre – 29: 165mm (6.5in); MX: 170mm (6.7in) travel
• Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
• Fork: Fox 38 Float Performance Elite, 170mm (6.7in) travel
• Shock: Fox Float X2 Performance Elite
• Headset: Acros AZX-576
• Wheels: Crankbrothers Synthesis Enduro Alloy (axles 15×110mm front, 12×148mm rear axles)
• Tyres: Maxxis Assegai 29in×2.5 WT I 3C MaxxGrip I EXO I TR front, Maxxis Minion DHR II 29in×2.4 WT | 3C MaxxTerra | EXO | TR rear
• Crankset: SRAM Descendant 7k 170mm, 32t
• Bottom bracket: SRAM DUB Pressfit BB DUB PF MTB 92
• Derailleur: SRAM GX Eagle with ethirteen TRS Plus (1x12)
• Shifter: SRAM GX
• Cassette: SRAM XG-1175, 10-52t
• Brakes: SRAM Code R, 200/200mm rotors
• Bar/stem/grips: ethirteen Plus 35, 800mm/ ethirteen Plus 35, 50mm / ODI Elite Motion V2.1
• Seatpost: YT Postman (100 mm (S); 125 mm (M); 150 mm (L); 170 mm (XL-XXL))
• Saddle: SDG Bel-Air 3.0
• Colours: Deep Yellow / Lava Red / Black Magic

YT Capra MX Launch Edition

Finally, there’s the 100-piece worldwide, limited edition Launch Edition YT Capra MX. This is specced out with some genuinely lust-worthy kit and a paint job inspired by YT’s Return of the Goat marketing projects.

The RockShox Zeb Ultimate fork takes the hits upfront, with a Cane Creek DB Kitsuma coil and Vault Progressive spring controlling the back end.

The SRAM X01 drivetrain is paired with Cane Creek’s luxury eeWings titanium cranks. Cane Creek also supplies its Synthesis Enduro carbon rims laced onto Industry9 1/1 hubs. The same Maxxis tyres are fitted as the Core 3 and Core 4 models.

The Launch Edition also shares the same Renthal cockpit as the Core 4 and the same SRAM Code RSC brakes and YT Postman seatpost, but this model is finished off with an SDG Radar MTN saddle.

YT Capra MX Launch Edition spec

• Weight: 14.5kg (size small without pedals)
• Frame: YT ultra modulus carbon fibre, 170mm (6.7in) travel
• Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
• Fork: RockShox Zeb Ultimate, 170mm (6.7in) travel
• Shock: Cane Creek Kitsuma Coil with Cane Creek Vault progressive spring
• Headset: Cane Creek Hellbender 70
• Hubs: Industry9 1/1
• Wheels: Cankbrothers Synthesis Enduro Carbon (15×110mm front, 12×148mm rear axles)
• Tyres: Maxxis Assegai 29in×2.5 WT I 3C MaxxGrip I EXO+ I TR front, Maxxis Minion DHR II 29in×2.4 WT | 3C MaxxTerra | EXO+ | TR rear
• Crankset: Cane Creek eeWings 170mm, 32t
• Bottom bracket: Cane Creek Hellbender 70
• Derailleur: SRAM X01 Eagle with e.thirteen TRS Plus (1x12)
• Shifter: SRAM X01
• Cassette/chain: SRAM XG-1195, 10-52t
• Brakes: SRAM Code RSC, 200/200mm rotors
• Bar/stem/grips: Renthal Fatbar, 800mm/Renthal Apex, 50mm/Renthal G121
• Seatpost: YT postman (100 mm (S); 125 mm (M); 150 mm (L); 170 mm (XL-XXL))
• Saddle: SDG Radar MTN

YT Capra pricing and availability

• YT Capra 29 Core 3: €4,499 / £3,999 / $4,499 / CAD$6,299 / AU$6,999
• YT Capra MX Core 3: €4,499 / £3,999 / $4,499 / CAD$$6,299 / AU$6,999
• YT Capra 29 Core 4: €5,999 / £4,999 / $5,999 / CAD$8,399 / AU$8,999
• YT Capra MX Core 4: €5,999 / £4,999 / $5,999 / CAD$8,399 / AU$8,999
• YT Capra MX Launch Edition: €7,499 / £6,699 / CAD$7,999 / AU$11,199

YT is introducing a new pre-order service for the Capra where the lead time for availability is longer than eight weeks.

Customers can secure their bike by paying a fully refundable 10 per cent deposit, with the balance due four weeks before the bike ships.

YT says that “customers can see their projected ship date when placing their order and the bikes will be shipped in the order that deposits are received”.

YT expects to start shipping the first Capras later this year with more availability expected in early 2022.