YT TUES CF PRO RACE

The Tues CF sports a full carbon mainframe with a carbon upper stay and aluminium chain stay on the swingarm. It weighs in around a kilo less than the aluminium frame and is the same spec as the frame on the bike Gwin raced to victory at the Leogang World Cup last weekend. An exceptional finish and classy graphics add desirability to this YT; the detailing really is up there with the best. A big question is whether YT will offer this DH bike in a 29” wheel format in the future?

FRAME AND SUSPENSION:

YT’s in-house designed V4L suspension layout is the same as the aluminium framed Tues and is designed to give a sensitive suspension response, getting more progressive through the stroke. With a switch to Fox last year, this CF Pro race model is air sprung front and rear with Factory spec 40 fork (that’s over £1700 on its own) and X2 shock on suspension duties.

Four sizes are now available with an XL thankfully added for 2017. Geometry and sizing is bang now with a 63.5° head angle and 435mm chainstay length being consistent on all sizes. Reach measurements of 450mm (L) and 470mm (XL) sit close to those of the Mondraker Summum.

SPECIFICATION:

It’s a strong brew of SRAM XO1 DH mixed with e*thirteen for the transmission. The LGR1 wheels are driven by an e*thirteen crank, chain device and cassette, working with the seven speed SRAM DH gearing. Gwin is on TRP brakes and we see them here too – the G-Spec Quadiems with 203mm rotors front and rear.

The finishing kit is straight from our Dirt 100 picks with Renthal and ODI for the cockpit. YT has not cut any corners here.

PRICE: £4299

YT JEFFSY CF PRO RACE 27

We immediately fell for the original 29er Jeffsy trail bike when it arrived last year and it was one of our first shortlisted bikes for the 2017 Dirt 100. It’s no secret that we’re keen on the larger wheel trail bike, when done well. But hey, it seems that not all of you are and YT are now giving you a wheel size choice within their trail bike category. This top spec Pro Race version of the Jeffsy 27 runs 160mm of travel front and rear (all the other models are 150mm F/R) bringing it very close in numbers to YT’s much loved Capra. But the Jeffsy 27 leans towards ‘trail’ where the Capra’s heart is very much in the harder hitting ‘enduro’ camp. It’s a fine line to tread.

FRAME AND SUSPENSION:

YT’s V4 link suspension design is seen again here on this carbon frame, driving a Fox Float X factory shock with a Fox 34 fork leading the charge. A ‘flip chip’ allow you to drop the bottom bracket height (344-350mm) and slacken out the head angle a touch for more aggressive riding. Four sizes have size specific chainstay lengths (430/435mm) but the head angle is consistent at 66/66.5° depending on the flip chip setting. Good numbers all round with the only comments being that some may prefer a shorter seat tower to allow for a longer travel dropper post.

SPECIFICATION:

As with the Tues CF this Jeffsy 27 is absolutely stacked with top drawer kit. It’s all very considered too, with a deliberate move away from a full groupset. Take the transmission – here we have an eleven speed 9-44T e*thirteen cassette being driven by a carbon Raceface Next SL crankset. The shifters and mech are SRAM XO1 but it’s an interesting diversion from a SRAM Eagle 12 speed set up. YT use e*thirteen for the wheels and tyres too, keeping the ‘factory’ feel to this build. SRAM Guide Ultimates are on of our favourite brakes here and are great to see, as are the Renthal bar/stem and Reverb dropper post. A very complete spec for a bike below £4000.

PRICE: £3799

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