YT Capra MX Core 4 review

Can the YT Capra still hold its own against newer bikes?

This competition is now closed

By Luke Marshall

Published: August 2, 2023 at 9:00 am

The Capra was the bike that put YT on the map and it’s still the brand’s most important model.

This dedicated mixed-wheel bike gets YT’s top-spec carbon fibre frame and plenty of bling kit.

It dishes out 170mm of travel front and rear with a bias for aggressive riding. The Capra MX provides a touch more playfulness for those who like to huck further and shralp harder.

The Capra Core 4 uses YT’s Ultra Modulus carbon fibre, the brand’s highest-quality carbon, which gives the frame-stiffness characteristics YT wanted but for lower weight over its less expensive options.

The asymmetrical ‘wing’ between the seat tube and down tube adds stiffness to the frame and leaves space to fit YT’s Thirstmaster 6000 (620ml water bottle) that comes with the bike.

The head tube is also designed to improve stiffness and allow neat cable entry with YT’s ‘Head Box’ construction.

The frame is well protected, with guards to fend off rocks and chain slap. The down tube is well covered, and the chunky chain and seatstay covers should reduce noise and damage to the frame.

Another durability feature is the additional bearing cover to help prevent dirt and water ingress. It also uses SRAM’s Universal Derailleur Hanger, a press-fit bottom bracket and Boost rear hub spacing.

The Capra MX dishes out 170mm of travel from its V4L (Virtual 4 Link) Horst-link suspension platform that’s intended to provide decent pedalling with bump-swallowing, bike-park shredding capabilities.

The suspension is very progressive, around 37 per cent across its 170mm travel. It also starts with a high leverage ratio of around 3.46.

This means the Capra MX should be very supple in the initial stroke, and the progression should deal with the heavy compressions you’d expect in a bike park.

At sag, YT says the Capra’s anti-squat is just above 100 per cent, which should provide decent pedalling traits, but the high leverage ratio may mean pedal bob is accentuated.

The Capra MX is available in five sizes, from small to extra-extra-large. The current Capra MX was released in 2021, and while the geometry is capable and fitting for its enduro and bike park purpose, it’s not wildly extreme or boundary-pushing like, for example, the latest Canyon Strive CFR.

The frame features a flip chip that gives two geometry settings.

I tested the size-large Capra MX in its low setting. Due to the frame’s five sizes the large falls in the middle. I would ride a medium frame from most brands.

The reach is a moderate 464mm and is matched with snappy 433mm chainstays.

The XL and XXL sizes get longer size-specific 438mm chainstays. The head tube angle is 64 degrees in this setting, with the effective seat tube angle a now typical 77.3 degrees.

The low setting has a bottom bracket drop of 12mm from the rear axle and 30mm from the front axle.

My large test bike has a 445mm seat tube, which is manageable for my 173cm height. However, riders wanting to size up may find it tougher to balance reach numbers and seat tube lengths that could stop them from getting the seat low or high enough for descending or climbing.

There isn’t much more you could wish for from the Capra MX Core 4 in terms of spec. The suspension comprises Fox’s Factory 38 fork and Float X2 shock, which is top-class kit.

It also gets SRAM’s top-spec Code RSC brakes with 200mm rotors and a SRAM X01 Eagle drivetrain with a SRAM Descendant Carbon crankset.

Rolling stock comes from Crankbrothers and Maxxis, with the Synthesis Enduro Alloy rims laced onto Industry Nine 1/1 hubs.

These are matched with a Maxxis Assegai 3C MaxxGrip EXO+ 29×2.5in front tyre and Maxxis Minion DHR II 3C MaxxTerra EXO+ 27.5×2.4in rear tyre.

To complete the bikes, there’s a Renthal cockpit with a Fatbar 35 handlebar and Apex stem, along with a YT Postman dropper and SDG Bel Air 3.0 saddle.

This combination of high-level tech and carbon frame tips the scales at 15.31kg without pedals.

I tested the YT Capra MX Core 4 by lapping BikePark Wales and more natural trails in the Forest of Dean, in the south west of England.

These locations provided a good mix of fast and rough bike park trails with rocks, jumps, drops and big compressions, along with more natural and steeper off-piste tech with roots, ruts and mud.

With the YT’s air-sprung suspension, it was easy to get the bike set up for my 75kg weight. I ran 88psi in the forks with two volume spacers.

I fully opened the high- and low-speed compression damping in the forks and used eight clicks of nine from closed on low-speed rebound and six clicks of nine from closed on high-speed compression.

With the shock, I set the air pressure to 180psi, which gave me 30 per cent sag. High-speed and low-speed compression was run fully open for my personal preference.

I set the high-speed rebound to five clicks from closed out of eight, and low-speed rebound to 12 clicks from closed out of 16.

The YT isn’t going to win you any KOMs on the climbs, but it’s not uncomfortable to pedal thanks to its steep 77.6-degree effective seat tube angle and moderate 607mm effective top tube length.

This puts you in a good, seated position to grind your way up even the steepest trails. The suspension isn’t the most pedal-friendly and it helps to use the shock’s lockout to firm up the rear end.

This isn’t a true lock-out and still delivers some travel for comfort and traction on more technical climbs.

The Capra has more pedal bob than the Propain Spindrift Al Performance and Intense Tracer 279 Expert I’ve also tested.

It’s also lighter than those bikes, at 15.31kg, and the EXO+ casing tyres mean you don’t feel like you’re riding through treacle on the way up to the top of the trails.

The Capra MX will cruise to the top of most climbs admirably compared to other bikes in its class, you’ll just need to use the climb switch.

Through technical sections of trail, the bike is great at tracking the ground and offers plenty of grip in loose corners, and over rocks and roots.

However, the progression builds later in the shock stroke.

The softer mid-stroke doesn’t support the bike as well through deep compressions and high-load turns, where it becomes a bit more bogged down compared to the Intense and Propain.

This is the trade-off for having such smooth and ground-hugging traction.

The Fox suspension has plenty of low-speed compression to wind on, if you want more support, but I found running the compression open gave the bike a lively feel, which I preferred.

Even though the mid-stroke isn’t the firmest, on heavy hits and flat landings, the compression builds smoothly through the suspension travel without a harsh ramp-up at the end of the travel. Heavy hits were dealt with in a composed fashion.

The Capra is a versatile bike, suited to a wide variety of trails. It’s equally at home on slower, more technical terrain and hard charging bike park pro lines.

Through the corners, the Capra MX is easy to feel comfortable on; it initiates turns easily and can change direction without hesitation.

From the first ride, I was able to push the Capra with confidence in the turns and trust it would have my back.

Thanks to the Maxxis tyres, there was plenty of traction on offer, which helped me maximise the nimble 433mm chainstays that allowed me to pump through turns to maintain and generate speed.

The spec list on the YT is hard to fault, although there are a couple of issues I’d like to change.

The 150mm-travel dropper post on the size large isn’t long enough and it would be a welcome change to see a longer post installed.

The frame uses a seat tube spacer featuring a tall sleeve, which prevents the post being lowered fully into the frame.

Also, a flat headset cap would give more scope to change the stem height. I found the top cap put the handlebar at the upper limit of where I wanted it, with no possibility to move it lower.

For UK customers, you’d have to say the YT is better value for money, because for a similar delivered price you get YT’s carbon frame.

Still though, on the trail the Propain’s extra 10mm of travel goes unnoticed on the climbs thanks to the bike’s supportive PRO10 suspension platform, moderate weight and identical tyres to the Capra.

That said, both of these bikes are comfortable climbers, but the Propain takes the lead on efficiency.

The extra travel is helpful on the downhills, too. The Propain has a little more in reserve for when the going gets tough. Its supportive suspension deals with big compressions in the bike park better, although it doesn’t offer the same comfort and control on more natural trails.

The YT is more versatile over a wider range of trails, but isn’t king of the park.

The YT is an impressive all-round long-travel bike. Its supple suspension is smooth and soaks up rough trails impressively well.

Its progressive linkage and air shock deal with big hits in a controlled manner that keeps the bike stable.

Value for money is good, considering the kit you get and when compared to bikes such as the Santa Cruz Megatower CC X01 AXS RSV.

It might not climb as well at the best enduro bikes, but it does an acceptable job. On the downs, it will deliver plenty of smiles and take you from the bike park to enduro trails within its comfort zone.

A few small tweaks to the dropper post and headset cap, and it would be even better.

The bikes here made up a long-travel, mixed-wheel bikes test. These bikes should excel in the bike park and on the steepest, roughest natural tech there is.

If gravity-fuelled action floats your boat, but you’re not riding the uplift every weekend, these bikes should still be able to get you to the top of the hill under your own power and provide a wide smile on the way back down.

Technical writer

Luke Marshall is a technical writer for BikeRadar and MBUK magazine. He's been working for both titles since 2018 and has over 20 years of mountain biking experience. Luke is a gravity-focused rider with a history of racing downhill, previously competing in the UCI Downhill World Cup. Educated to a degree level in engineering and with a penchant for full-throttle speed, Luke is more than qualified to put every bike and product through its paces to bring you informative and independent reviews. You'll most likely find him on a trail, enduro or downhill bike riding the off-piste tracks around south Wales and the south west of England. He often makes an appearance on BikeRadar's podcast and YouTube channel.