New 2025 YT Tues on test

YT finally ripped off the black frame cover and released a revised version of the Tues, the 2025 MK4 model – just in time for the start of the new World Cup season. So, what’s new on YT’s DH evergreen? What exactly did the German manufacturer retouch and how does the bike fare on the trail? To find out, we put the new 2025 Tues through the wringer on the iconic DH tracks around San Remo!

One of the biggest surprises of the off-season was Vali Höll’s return to her former sponsor YT. Only a short time after the Austrian rider rejoined her old team, the first pictures of a new downhill prototype appeared on social media. The most hotly debated topic was the pulley you can see in the pictures, which hinted at high-pivot rear suspension. Now the new 2025 YT Tues MK4 has just been unveiled at the first Downhill World Cup in Fort William and, much to our surprise, doesn’t rely on a high pivot design after all, instead relying on YT’s proven V4L four-bar linkage. Nevertheless, it has already clinched its first World Cup victory under the fast Austrian rider.

Just like its predecessor, the Tues generates 200 mm of travel at the front and rear. However, the latest descendant of the Tues dynasty can be configured both as a full 29er and as a mullet bike, with a smaller 27.5″ wheel at the rear, regardless of the frame size. Furthermore, it offers countless adjustment options, allowing you to fine tune the geometry to suit your needs and riding style. The new Tues is only available with a carbon frame and in two spec variants, Core 4 and Core 2, which retail at € 5,999 and € 3,999, respectively.

The new 2025 YT Tues in detail

All cables are routed internally and disappear into the frame through conventional cable ports, ensuring a tidy, elegant look. The rear brake line and shift cable reappear briefly at the transition between the main frame and swingarm, only to disappear back into the stays. Despite not being secured to the frame in this section, they don’t rattle on the trail. A generously sized chainstay protector prevents paint chips and chain slap. The frame of the new Tues comes standard with bump stops in the headset area, which prevent the fork from damaging the frame in the event of a crash. A big TPU plate on the down tube shields the frame against stray rocks and nasty impacts.

The spec of the new 2025 YT Tues

The new 2025 YT Tues is available in two variants, both of which rely on a full carbon frame. The Core 4 flagship model retails at € 5,999 and comes equipped with a FOX Factory 40 GRIP2 fork and matching FOX DHX2 coil shock. Shifting is taken care of by a 7-speed SRAM X01 DH drivetrain. What’s particularly exciting is that the new Tues relies on a UDH mech hanger, which is very easy to get hold of, and raises our hopes for a direct-mount DH rear derailleur.

TRP DH-R EVO four-piston brakes do stopping duties, providing reliable and powerful deceleration together with the big 223 mm rotors front and rear – you can find out more about these brakes in our big 2024 MTB brake comparison test. For the wheels, YT rely on a Crankbrothers Synthesis DH alloy wheelset and MAXXIS Assegai tires front and rear, both in the robust DH casing and soft MaxxGrip rubber compound. We’re particularly fond of the 148×12 mm Boost rear hub spacing, which is standard on most enduro bikes and therefore makes it much easier to source spares.

For € 3,999, you get the cheaper 2025 YT Tues Core 2 model, which comes equipped with a basic RockShox/SRAM spec and is aimed primarily at beginners, both in terms of trail performance and suspension adjustability. If you like to get rowdy on gnarly DH tracks or bike parks, it’s definitely worth spending the extra cash for the Core 4 variant.

The geometry of the new 2025 YT Tues

The new 2025 YT Tues is available in five sizes, S to XXL, which is a rather wide selection for a downhill bike. Reach values grow in 20 mm intervals, with our test bike in size L measuring 470 mm reach in the lower geometry setting. The new Tues has a total of three flip chips: one in the lower shock mount, which alters the bike’s geometry, one on the rear linkage that allows you to convert the bike from a full 29er to a mullet bike, and one in the chainstays to adjust the wheelbase. In frame sizes S and M, the Tues comes standard as a mullet bike with a smaller 27.5″ rear wheel, while all other frame sizes roll out of the factory with big 29″ wheels front and rear. Unfortunately, YT don’t let you choose the wheel configuration when buying your bike, meaning that you’ll have to purchase a smaller rear wheel separately if you want to run a mixed wheel setup on a bigger frame size.

The flip chip in the chainstays lets you alter the chainstay length by 5 mm. On top of that, YT rely on size specific chainstay lengths, with three different lengths across the five frame sizes. If you want, you can also adjust the reach using different headset cups, though these have to be purchased separately. Overall, the Tues offers countless geometry adjustments, allowing you to customise your ride to suit your preferences and riding style.

The geometry of the YT Tues in high setting with long chainstays

Size	S	M	L	XL	XXL
Wheel Configuration	MX	MX	29	29	29
Top Tube	579 mm	602 mm	624 mm	646 mm	668 mm
Seat Tube	390 mm	390 mm	420 mm	420 mm	510 mm
Head Tube	100 mm	105 mm	110 mm	115 mm	120 mm
Head Angle	63.2°	63.2°	63.2°	63.2°	63.2°
Seat Angle	76.7°	76.6°	76.5°	76.4°	76.3°
BB Drop	25 mm	25 mm	25 mm	25 mm	25 mm
Chainstays	443 mm	443 mm	445 mm	455 mm	455 mm
Wheelbase	1230 mm	1252 mm	1276 mm	1309 mm	1331 mm
Reach	430 mm	450 mm	470 mm	490 mm	510 mm
Stack	633 mm	637 mm	642 mm	646 mm	651 mm

The new 2025 YT Tues on the trail

Unloading the new YT Tues from the truck or lift, you can’t help but notice the limited steering angle. The beefy FOX 40 doesn’t turn in more than 45°, which is due to the chunky rubber bump stops on the frame. The first impression is that the steering angle is significantly narrower than with your average DH bike. While we had no problems with this on our fast DH test track in Sanremo, it’s definitely something you should keep in since it could be a very different story on different kinds of trail.

When gravity takes over, the Tues MK4 feels extremely composed, which is exactly what you’d expect from a potent DH rig. Initially, the high front end and integrated riding position result in a slightly rear-heavy riding position, but this ensures balanced handling on steep descents. On our test bike in size L, the big 29″ rear wheel generates plenty of traction in all situations, which is partly due to the two MAXXIS ASSEGAI tires in the super-soft MaxxGrip rubber compound and robust DH casing. Even on very rough trails, you can fully open the tap and let the 200 mm of travel smooth out the trail for you. At the same time, the Tues still provides enough feedback from the ground to keep you in control, and let you decide which way to shred your way back down into the valley. This makes it easy to push the bike into compressions and allows you to generate significantly more speed than you would expect from a bike in this travel category. When the going gets a little too fast for your liking, the TRP DH-R EVO brakes with massive 223 mm rotors provide powerful deceleration and excellent modulation, making it easy to finely control the braking power before a berm and ensuring good traction on nasty brake bumps. On steep chutes and near-vertical slabs, however, the big 29″ rear wheel restricts freedom of movement, making it harder to shift your weight back over the bike’s rear end. A mullet setup with a smaller 27.5” wheel would improve things in this respect and would also ensure a more agile character, something which would be very helpful in fast, consecutive turns and spicy bike park jump trails. It’s a real shame that the wheel setup is tied to the frame size and that YT don’t let you choose the configuration that suits you best, as this would make the Tues even more interesting for park-rats.

Our conclusions about the new 2025 YT Tues

Evolution rather than revolution! While most of the changes are in the small details, when buying your new 2025 YT Tues you can choose from countless frame sizes and, once you get it, to alter the geometry to suit your very own needs and riding style. On the trail, the new Tues impresses above all with plenty of speed and composure, and the option of converting to a mullet setup with the bigger frame sizes would ensure even more liveliness.

For more info, visit YT Industries’ website.

---

Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of ENDURO, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality mountain bike journalism. Click here to learn more.

Words: Peter Walker, Julian Schwede Photos: Peter Walker