YT Launch Top-Spec Capra Uncaged 12

Sep 7, 2023
by Seb Stott  
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YT has made a reputation for offering solid value for money. But with their latest offering, they decided to push the boat out with their "stratospheric" Capra Uncaged 12 build.

It uses YT's Ultra Modulus carbon fibre frame, with a higher strength-to-weight ratio than their High Modulus carbon material. The geometry is unchanged from other Capra models - the brand's long-standing enduro platform - but this model is 29" specific (there's no mixed-wheel option).

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RockShox Flight Attendant
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A Quarq power meter is a nice touch

The parts list is chosen to splash the cash, with an emphasis on maximising climbing performance. Crankbrothers Synthesis Enduro 7 Carbon wheels and a Renthal Carbon handlebar help with the weight-saving theme. RockShox Flight attendant suspension amis to maximise pedalling efficiency, while SRAM XO Transmission promises surefire shifting under load. A crank spindle-mounted Quarq power meter is the cherry on the cake, allowing for careful monitoring of effort in a neat package - ideal for those who want to track their training progress. It also feeds into the electronic suspension's algorithm, so it may decide to open up when you're not pedalling or firm up when you sprint.

Meanwhile, thick HS2 rotors and a DoubleDown tire fitted on the rear stay true to the chassis' enduro intentions. Perhaps the only letdown is the RockShox Reverb AXS seatpost, which tops out at 170 mm travel. Here's a full list of specifications.

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YT say the bike weighs 15.2 Kg (33.5 lb) in size small (without pedals).

The price? YT says it will go on sale for €5,999 / £5,999, which for a top-level build isn't half bad. But if you're after something more affordable, YT offers the Capra in several cheaper builds, currently starting at €2,299. The Uncaged 12 is not currently available outside Europe & UK.

For more information, check out yt-industries.com


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Posted In:
Reviews and Tech First Looks Enduro Bikes YT Industries Yt Capra


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92 Comments
  • 91 0
 A decent way to get rid of all the RockShox Flight attendant suspension stuff they bought. Even if they just break even.
  • 2 0
 Wonder if I can get it without the flight attendant for the same price
  • 2 1
 I really did not enjoy riding with Flight Attendant on the YT Jeffsey I tested. The constant zzz-zzz of the motor with what seemed like negligible gains was annoying for me.
  • 77 5
 Pricing really makes brands like Scor and Santa Cruz look even more greedy
  • 42 43
 Ever dealt with YT warranty? How about SC warranty? Trust me, you get what you pay for.
  • 28 0
 Yes, was flawless, but in Germany. Might be different abroad.
  • 14 0
 @jomacba: Yes, I'm in europe so maybe better service: got my Jeffsy frame replaced due to a bearing issue, took about 3 weeks. They sent out a spare chainstay for my Capra that I replaced myself, just had to send a picture and the chainstay arrived within a week. Very happy with the service.
  • 14 18
flag jomacba (Sep 7, 2023 at 9:00) (Below Threshold)
 @Mugen: That's not terrible. I know people out here that have waited months. SC I have never waited more than 5 days, and warranty process is effortless. Brilliant bikes, brilliant service. Worth every penny in my opinion.
  • 13 1
 @jomacba: Im in US, had a frame issue and was replaced in 3 weeks.
  • 16 0
 @joebiden: shhhh, he knows a guy.
  • 3 1
 @RonSauce: Warranty is all good in North America nowadays. 2 YT bikes 0ver 8 years, never used it however.
  • 17 1
 @jomacba: that's funny to be because I got a yt jeffsy cransket replaced for free, but on my newer hightower sc only proposed discounts... sc's warranty is dodgy (they reserve the right to not honor it for _any_ reason even if it's a defect, so it's lifetime "if they feel like it"), read the fine line on their site and search mtbr for people with the same experience.
  • 9 0
 @jomacba: How much does a 'top-spec' SC cost? Twice as much. I'd rather have 2 bikes.
  • 4 0
 @jomacba: I’ve dealt with both.. great experiences with both, but I’d say YT was much less stringent with the process. Two separate claims with YT, had a rear triangle and a linkage replaced no questions asked. They also overnighted me a few der. hangers when I was in a pinch and broke the only one I had. SC required detailed photographs to determine if it was a warranty or crash replacement, which is fine. Fast response, and good results, but my SC cost over 2X what my YT cost.
  • 7 0
 @jomacba: To be honest, when you can go out and legitimately just buy an entire brand new bike and still come in under the price of a santa cruz, I think you're probably doing okay. When you can buy 3-4 frames, even with NO warranty at all the YT looks like a better deal.

Santa Cruz pricing right now makes sense if it were 2021-2022 when disposable income was a thing. Now that credit rates are higher, free money is gone, their prices are bananas.

But hey, if they're selling them for that much, good for them
  • 6 0
 Funny thing is, the others have increased their prices so much that Santa Cruz these days is pretty much the cheapest of the high-end brands.
  • 2 0
 @jomacba: albeit it took 12 weeks they did just give me a full frame replacement for what looks like a crack in my headtube although it may just be a cosmetic scratch. They are letting me keep the old frame.

Ive had great luck with their warranty department even though in the past they def hit rough patches. They seemed to have highly refined their customer service but……. If you want fast, YT is not it compared to santa cruz, however SC is far more expensive.
  • 4 0
 @jomacba: I've dealt with SC and had to wait 3 months. YT & canyon both had me sorted in 2 weeks...
  • 1 0
 @jomacba: yup. Been great. Bike was damaged by the shipper. Took care of me immediately.
  • 4 0
 @jomacba: Sure did and they sent me a brand new frame no questions asked...I had a friend who broke his Reserve wheelset and it was a pain in the ass dealing with SC...I guess every company can have good or bad after sale service.
  • 2 0
 @jomacba: Yes, in two cases - Both were on YT's own initiative as they offered to replace a Renthal stem and an e*thirteen hub assembly free of charge due to manufacturer recalls.
  • 2 0
 @jomacba: Yeah I struggled for a couple months with SC warranty. Bought a brand new aluminum Nomad, the frame was crooked. SC did not want to admit to the bike being faulty, in the end they replaced the swingarm only which didn't solve the issue.
  • 3 0
 @jomacba: that argument does not count any more. YT really have stepped up their game with warranty within the last years
  • 1 0
 @stefkrger: Bases on what I have seen from a couple friends, I fully agree. They used to be the scruffy DTC upstart when I first got a Capra, they went through some growing pains and rough patches, and emerged a fully-functional global bike company.
  • 1 0
 @jomacba: They were amazing got taken care of right away
  • 2 0
 @jomacba: I too like to complain about known problems from 5 years ago
  • 1 0
 @jomacba: Yeah, had absolutely no issues with my Capra here in Calgary. 5 days turnaround on a new frame from Kelowna when I had a bearing issue.
  • 45 10
 Not sure who this bike is aimed at?

Tech obsessed Tesla driving Dentists who’ve recently switched from road biking to mountain biking and are therefore still obsessed with weight.

Would normally have bought a bells and whistles Santa Cruz but in the middle of a messy divorce so need to keep one eye on the pennies.

Niche.
  • 5 2
 @henryquinny comment gold
  • 12 0
 If that was YT's target market they would make this build available in North America.
  • 3 0
 "Would normally have bought a bells and whistles Santa Cruz but in the middle of a messy divorce so need to keep one eye on the pennies."

life tends to be complicated like that
  • 8 7
 Where does your anger stem from for others that choose to spend lots of money on crap that makes THEM happy. You sound single and poor. Let people spend their hard earned money on whatever they please. Those are future deals on buy/sell for everyone else after they find their next hobby. CHeers
  • 6 1
 @sixwonsix: so, it is now *immoral* to be "single and poor"? many *bad* people around eh? must be a shitty world.
  • 1 1
 @baca262: haha love it.
  • 1 0
 Obsessed with weight? 15,2kg (size S!) doesn't even sound so light.
My cheap Al frame in XL, with DH casing, coil shock, gx level stuff, 220mm discs, zero carbon wheels/handlebar, is only 1,6kg heavier.
I guess that carbon frame is not that light at all
  • 4 2
 I love this websites hate for people that have jobs/money to afford nice things and get into our sport. Nice, lets shame them for wanting nice things, who gives a F how often they ride or how hard they shred. Ya think everyone who drives a porsche audi mercedes etc races formula one?
  • 25 0
 6 batteries.
  • 6 2
 Only six?
. Fork
. Shock
. Shifter
. Rear mech
. Seatpost
. Seatpost remote
. Crankset

That's nothing. Add
. Garmin device
. ShockWiz on fork
. ShockWiz on shock
. TireWiz on front wheel
. TireWiz on rear wheel
. headlight
. taillight

Then we'd be talking. Just be glad it doesn't come with pedal assist.
  • 1 0
 And…

Handlebar light
Spare axs battery
  • 25 3
 how does going 29 only keep the weight down...
  • 6 1
 No flip chip? Save a whopping gram and a half maybe?
  • 2 2
 @FaahkEet: I would think the added tire and rim diameter add more weight than a flip chip. If weight was the reason, I would expect them to say mullet only.
  • 3 0
 @adrennan: of course, but I was thinking about being swapped around in either configuration you'd want to run it in there's that gram and a half added to either MX or 29. Not sure how often riders switch between MX/29. Also, I was being mostly facetious as the statement really doesn't make sense.
  • 2 0
 It has a power meter, I feel ripping the rear wheel into everything was their second priority on this one.
  • 15 6
 Is there someone really wanting the flight attendant stuff?
I have no idea why you should prefer that over regular suspension on an enduro bike.
More expensive, more ways it can break, heavier and who cares about uphills?
  • 12 1
 bigger rear wheel to save weight, eh?
  • 11 1
 Make your seat tube shorter
  • 3 4
 That's what she said.
  • 9 0
 The Price is hot!!! Makes the SCOR look even more overpriced.
  • 4 0
 Almost makes me want to buy it and swap all the parts over to a better frame. But no sales in the US.
  • 11 0
 You could fly to EU, buy and fly back with it, and still save verse a comparable spec'd Yeti.
  • 1 1
 @ReformedRoadie: meh frame, not a great deal.
  • 2 1
 The good news-frame should be pretty solid. The bad news-the frame should be pretty solid because it weighs about what an aluminum frame would. Throw a CushCore or 2 in, thread some pedals on and it's a 35-36 pound bike.....not any lighter than an Slash 8 with the same tires on it.
  • 5 0
 All that and still a pressfit BB... bummer man
  • 4 0
 Was really expecting everyone to be more excited about the power meter
  • 5 0
 Kind of out of place on this bike, or anything with more than 150mm.
  • 1 0
 Would actually expect that if they were forced to hand Quark their money, they'd have gone with the ShockWiz and TireWiz units. That would have been more interesting considering they went with airsprings front and rear. I have no experience with power meters. Can they also help you analyze how well you're pumping your rollers and berms?
  • 1 0
 Everything with transmission is gonna get a cheap compatible power meter now, this is all srams fault
  • 2 0
 @vinay: I've got a fairly cheap 4iiii power meter on the road bike. I like it for telling me to stop slacking on training rides and to make sure I don't get over eager and kill myself early on long rides. I have zero desire to put one on the mountain bike. Fine for XC or marathon, but on a Capra?!
  • 3 0
 When did YT last make a change to their bikes other than components?
  • 5 0
 Capra Mk3 2021, Decoy Mk1 2019, Jeffsy Mk2 2019, Izzo Mk1 2020, Tues 29 2019
  • 2 0
 @FaahkEet: so yes, the last time they changed their bike was when they added a water bottle to the Capra and made the Jeffsy aluminum. The previous Capra change was 2018 I believe, a slight lengthening from the previous (2015+?) Capra
  • 1 0
 @fewnofrwgijn: The Capra was changed more than that for the Mk3 which was 2021. Steeper seat tube, slacker HA, the clevis mount from shock to seatstays and one wing instead of a solid bridge in the Carbon frame, and bigger reach. I have the Capra Mk2 LTD from late 2019 that has MY2020 Fox suspension, so new Mk3 was definitely after that.
  • 1 0
 @FaahkEet: two years then. R&D department working hard at YT
  • 1 0
 @ctcampbell: it’s hardly changed, but there’s no need to fix what isn’t broken, at this point so many brands are on the extra-long design style that the Capra is more unique than ever before. There’s nothing I’d wanna change about my Capra’s frame
  • 1 0
 @ctcampbell: yeah, I thought by now for sure the Jeffsy would have been changed up. As is its just a longer travel Izzo.
  • 2 0
 capra + “emphasis on maximising climbing performance”

Thats YT jumping the shark then.
  • 4 0
 It's a capra. Climbs like a goat.
  • 2 0
 What about these crankbrothers wheels? They seem to be on every factory build right now. Are they any good?
  • 1 0
 The carbon ones are very well reviewed and they see a fair amount of WCDH usage. If I recall correctly, the Commencal Muc-off was spotted using them while still sponsored by ENVE...

I have a friend who rode the alu version a full bike park season, durability wise they seem like a nice step up from the cheap e13/wtb alu rims commonly spec'd but not quite as durable as DT Swiss.
  • 1 1
 Doesn't matter; CB has burned too many bridges with past "looks great; no durability" products (i.e. me) to ever get another penny.
  • 1 0
 @IsaacWislon82:

The Aluminum Ones on my Core3 lasted half a Season after 3 Months the were unable to hold air anymore. They had the first dents after 3 days in the Bikepark. I even manages to dent the front rim on the Alu Synthesis Rims. That's a thing I never had before even on the cheapest M1900 DT Rims. Seems to me like the CB Rims are made of real soft Aluminium.
  • 1 0
 they warrantied my front triangle. took longer than I would liked to get it but otherwise is was an agreed yes in days. luckily this winter was lots of NS snow.
  • 2 1
 They need to up all thier dropper post sizes. Larges should have 200mm drop. Postman droppers are also horrid and to my knowledge axs isnt offered in 200mm yet.
  • 2 0
 Really easy to sell an AXS dropper and get into anything else for net zero or maybe less.
  • 2 0
 Don‘t who really needs flight attendant, but otherwise really good spec for the price.
  • 2 0
 Good pricing, but reach seems a bit short for the seat tube length
  • 2 1
 Pricing is bananas. Not sure how that is even possible unless SRAM is desperate to dump Flight Attendant.
  • 2 0
 Shiiiii. My Capra Shred works just damn fine 3 years in.
  • 1 0
 Change the name.. That water bottle placement looks fairly caged up to me..
  • 2 0
 ”Isn’t half bad”??
The 12k Slash has lesser spec…
  • 1 1
 That is incredible value, the model below makes more sense for 90% of people though
  • 1 0
 If only it didn’t come with that live valve suspension.
  • 1 0
 The E7 Crankbros wheels - they the new star ratchet ones?
  • 1 0
 You can really splash the cash at that press-fit BB.
  • 1 0
 ummm... nice colour.
  • 1 0
 It’s a great bike !
  • 4 5
 nice bike apart from all the SRAM crap on it
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