The new YT CAPRA on the trail
During YT’s press camp we had the chance to test the brand new CAPRA on the varied trails around Sintra in Portugal. Our test rider spent an entire day riding the 27.5” version and the following day on the 29” model. To suit his body height of 180 cm and a soft-spot for long bikes the YT Team recommended an XL frame size.
We kicked off the first day on the CAPRA 27 CF Pro Race with its lush 180 mm of travel. Straight away we realized that this bike has incredible reserves. The ultra-sensitive rear-end smoothly filters the irregularities of the trail and provides for impressive amounts of traction. When pushing hard an acceptable amount of feedback combined with good support make you feel connected to the trail and allows for lively direction changes. The CAPRA 27.5” also feels nicely balanced. The high stack (626 mm size XL) makes you feel comfortably integrated between the wheels and the Renthal cockpit provides for a real moto feel.
The CAPRA is most fun when you ride over the back wheel. The long frame wants you to lean back and hammer descents like you were sitting on a downhill bike. Even the nastiest rock-gardens won’t feel as scary on the new CAPRA and you’ll notice that you’re involuntarily riding much faster than you would normally. Only in narrow sections, the long bike requires slightly more physical effort. Less active riders are better off with a version with less travel.
Although we covered most of our ascents in the seat of a comfortable shuttle bus we still had a chance to test the uphill abilities of the bike. The riding position on climbs is pretty centred but we still think that the seat angle could be a little steeper. However thanks to a relatively drive-neutral rear-end and the suspension lock-out the CAPRA rides effortlessly up any sort of climb.
The following day it was time to test the CAPRA 29 CF Pro and again we opted for an XL size. Unfortunately there weren’t any CF Pro Race models available for testing which means a direct comparison of the two bikes was difficult because of the different amounts of suspension travel. Translated in numbers our 29er test bike had a whole two centimeters less travel than the 27.5” we tested on the previous day – and you can really tell the difference.
Whilst the YT CAPRA 27 CF Pro Race seems to have endless amounts of reserves on tecchy downhills the 29er gives you clearly more feedback. It feels more progressive and somehow firmer and yet it can take a good beating without losing composure. Despite the big wheels and the XL size of our test bike the 29er version of the CAPRA feels nimble and direct. Changes of direction are quick and thanks to the lower bottom bracket (25 mm) and the handlebars with a 35 mm rise you feel like you’re nicely integrated in the bike. The superior rolling characteristics of the big wheels provide for an extra boost of confidence especially when riding new trails.
Spoilt for choice: which wheel size and frame size should I go for?
Having only tested the bikes for two days it is difficult to give you a straight answer especially considering the difference in travel of the two models we tested. The suspension platform of the CAPRA 27 CF Pro Race is outstanding and the endless reserves make it the optimal choice for regular bike-park visits with plenty of airtime, manmade berms and nasty drops. The 29er on the other hand seems to be the better all-rounder after a few tests. It feels more relaxed on climbs and provides great stability and composure despite the reduced travel (160 instead of 180 mm). The big wheels allow for a more centred riding position, more cornering grip and more confidence on unknown trails.
CEO Markus Flossmann answers this question:
“Definitely not an easy choice […]Both CAPRAs are an explosive cocktail of speed, agility and traction. At the end of the day it will be a mix of your riding style, type of terrain and personal preferences to decide for you. Just to make it simple: the 29er is more composed and controlled on fast downhills while the 27” makes a better impression in terms of manoeuvrability and with its longer travel”.
But there is still the sizing dilemma. Personal preferences are the deciding factor in this case: if you like a flickable, nimble bike we would recommend a Large size for body heights of 180 cm. But if you like steaming through rock gardens and generally attacking the trails you should seriously consider to go up a size and get an XL. On the YT webpage you’ll find all the info you need to help you make your decision.
If we had to decide we would take the 29er home … ideally the CF Pro Race version.
Our conclusions for the new YT CAPRA 2018
YT has absolutely nailed it with their new CAPRA. The previous version was already a hit but this new one is simply superb. It’s built for the gnarliest trails and literally begs you to buy a season ticket for your local bike-park. And still it’s pleasantly nimble and climbs well. The new CAPRA is the ideal partner for all of you who won’t take any compromises on downhills and still want to reach the trailhead with the power of your own legs. And proper YT style the price is also more than fair.
All info and bikes are available on the YT Webpage.
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