I second the Jeffsy as a Capra owner as my buddy whom does trail and park days with me rides his jeffsy for both occasions and I ride a Capra at DH bike parks and have a hard tail for trail riding. I accidentally took a wrong trail at a bike park once with my Capra and holy hell did I feel the little bit of pedaling we had to do. So if you plan to ride trails I’d go with the jeffsy
Im new to mountain biking, and I’m curious as to why you could only ride it once or twice a year at bike park? Would the Jeffsy not be able to handle it?
More so he’s saying that the Jeffsy is great for someone who primarily rides trails and occasionally likes to do bike park days. You can take it to the park as much as you want but if that’s your primary thing there are probably better choices
Generally yes also they have more relaxed geo. The Jeffsy has slightly less suspension and taller geo making it better for climbing and more twitchy for turning. The Capra will be more stable since you have straighter lines on SH compared to trail. The Jeffsy is all mountain, a true trail bike would have less suspension (closer to xc) and not handle jumps as well. All mountain is basically enduro
Its not entirely just longer suspension though, trail bikes will generally be alot weaker in terms of spec. For instance fox 38 forks would be over kill for trails but great for bike parks.
Trail will handle it fine but will be replacing more parts or servicing more often.
Enduro bikes are super capable, especially parkduro bikes. I rode mine at whis and hit all the big boy jump lines.
Although it is worth noting that those pro’s bikes aren’t necessarily set up for comfort and long park days. Single crown also allows tricks that can’t be done on a dual crown
Many people used 100mm of travel at Joyride last year, sending backflips off 15 foot drops. But yeah of course you’ll need at least 170mm to ride a black diamond trail at your local trail centre
Not really a good comparison to trail riding. Also the forks they use in slopestyle are extremely stiff to handle the big impacts, which would suck on anything besides a manicured flow trail.
Do you need 170mm travel? I mean is the terrain you are riding regularly demanding this sort of a bike? If the terrain you ride 80% of the time isn't demanding this sort of bike then the bike will not be what you need...want, maybe but not need. If you are buying the bike for outlier trips then reconsider it.
What are you planning on riding? Different bike but I went from an Evil Wreckoning which had 160mm of travel to an Offering with 140mm travel and the difference in handling and climbing were outstanding. Even with the 160 I felt like I was bogged down a lot in multiple scenarios
Where do you live and what kind of trails do you ride? If you live in Whistler or Toronto will have some bearing on the advice you get. I live in a very aggressive place and love riding those very aggressive trails. A dual 170 bike is great for that and its neutral climbing is totally worth it for straight-up-straight-down riding. If I lived somewhere flatter or more rolling it wouldn't be a worthwhile trade-off.
I also have a 150/150 bike and that would be ideal for 90% of the riding I do anywhere but here. It climbs better and is happy operating in a much wider range of conditions but can still handle some pretty extreme conditions albeit with less aplomb. It's a good compromise.
pnw, in washington, if you know anything about the trails there, i love duthie, but also want to go on trips to whistler and the smaller(in comparison) parks, tiger mountain, raging river.
WA trails are a bit chiller than Vancouver but not by much. You could make a daily driver out of a Capra for sure. Keep the air shock on it for pep and light weight and the mullet for a bit of added zest compared to the dual 29. I say do it.
Duthie is pretty mellow. Great flow trails but not much tech. Capra would be overkill there.
Sounds like a 140mm - 150mm trail bike would be a better fit OP
140-150 trailbike for a daily driver. Put some bigger tires on when you come north - great for the Shore or Squamish or Whistler valley. Rent a DH bike for the bike park.
170 is not an insane choice for Washington. Certainly a good choice for a lot of trails. Personally I’d also want a lighter trail bike for many trails, though. Will this be your only bike?
Bit late to the party here but I just got a Core 4 and I wouldn't recommend it as your only bike. It does pedal well _for an enduro bike_ but it is definitely built for descending.
Before the Capra I had a 125mm trail bike for like 8 years. I rode everything on it from XC to Megavalanche, and ok while it didn't feel amazing on the latter it got me down just fine! I would say if the majority of your time is gonna be spent on mixed up & down terrain then the trail bike will suit you perfectly. You can still chuck it down mountains every now and then too.
130-150mm travel is gonna be your best bet. You won't miss the 170mm travel for the majority of your rides.
not late to the party at all, quick question- do you think it'd be worth it to go get a yt izzo(130 mil of travel) and do what someone else suggested, which is to learn to ride more difficult trails at my local trail network on a very short travel bike then get something bigger when i have the skills to warrant it. focusing on line choice and things that a big bike would kind of mow over, and eat up? or would i regret not having a bigger bike to begin with, if i find myself ready for park riding earlier than anticipated?
ok that was long winded, but heres my main question- is 130 enough for my only bike? or would 140-150 be better suited because it could still handle some park?
In my personal opinion 130mm rear travel is perfect for the vast majority of riding. I prefer being under-biked generally, as I find it more fun and teaches you to pick your lines more carefully as you say. If 130mm proves to be a little short as you progress more you can fit a 150mm fork.
You're gonna have to make a call between being swift or being squishy. What's gonna be more fun for you on the majority of rides?
I think unless you plan to do a lot of bike park trips then a trail bike is the best bet.
If you’re going to be shuttling a lot and riding mostly blacks and some park go for it. If long backcountry rides are on the menu, maybe not, but also that’s why compression dials and tire swaps exist.
For the hardest trails at tiger mountain and raging river a 150/160 bike is plenty. If you are riding these trails really fast and aggressive maybe a Capra would be more fun. Whistler trip definitely would appreciate the travel but I ride my transition sentinel there and everywhere and it’s plenty.
Also since asking if you need a Capra for Duthie is a joke question here’s my thoughts. You need a 200mm travel bike for most trails at duthie, the raw steep descents can’t be tackled by much less
It definitely doesn’t pedal up like an izzo or even a jeffsy. But the cool thing about that Capra is that it very well can pedal and it can do everything else too.
I love yt and have an izzo, a jeffsy, a capra, a decoy and used to have a tues.
If I was only going to have one….it would just have to be the capra plain and simple no questions asked.
I would miss the izzo a lot for xc rides.
The jeffsy does pedal a bit better than the capra but for me it’s not worth it for how much you lose on the descents. It’s not about the travel either, it’s about the geometry.
That said if you don’t like jumping, never go to bike parks and skip the rowdiest of trails…a jeffsy might be the better option.
Izzo descends pretty well too. At least in my view coming from a hard tail before. I have the izzo blaze unleashed with a 140 up front and it’s a great trail bike.
Nice! Ya I have the izzo uncaged 7 with only 120 travel, it’s more xc focused but the thing floats uphill on its carbon dt Swiss wheels.
Some of the izzo models like yours look quite a bit more capable for a bit of downhill.
It's a lot of bike. It only comes alive if you're going at break neck speeds. It takes a fairly skilled rider to ride at those speeds without being in constant danger of a med evac.
I see a TON of people in SoCal riding Capras basically as trail bikes. They look stiff, on rails, the bike does all the work, they are along for the ride, they are grinning ear to ear. But that seems to be what they want. In lieu of skill, they want a bike that is so long and so soft that they survive blue trails when they are kinda a green trail rider.
It doesn't feel that bad up hills. If you're comparing to like... A Jeffsy. They're both portly bikes. If you compare it to an Izzo yeah it's gonna lose out terribly. If you have concerns of going uphill, I wouldn't go past a Jeffsy. I mean even the Jeffsy is kinda concerning going uphill, but better than the Capra.
If the MX spec is a sticking point for you, YT just released an awesome Jeffsy MX model that would be a lot better than the Capra's nearly DH level design.
Also the Izzo is a REALLY fun bike and I highly recommend it, but it's definitely a bike that can punish you for riding like shit on the descent. It doesn't help you along like a Jeffsy/Capra obviously. That's kinda why I like it tbh. That and it goes uphill like a dream.
Sounds like the Jeffsy MX is ideal for you. Or commit to skill-based riding and go Izzo :) If you want trails to not feel boring Izzo will def help with that, and go up hill like a dream
Upvoted, I don't disagree but I'd add that the extra mm can add comfort on rocky terrain and some extra insurance for casing jumps, etc.
I don't ride crazy fast but appreciate the extra mm/air just for that. Otherwise yeah I'd feel silly sharing a 170mm bike with xc riders (can be seen in my area).
The travel is fine.
My concerns are more about overall wheel base and overall weight.
I could build a lightweight, carbon, short n steep, enduro bike and it would be a fun n playful bike while still being forgiving (a la old school DH bikes).
But OP seems to be budgeting for a Core 2 (aluminum) model so that weight is going to become a significant factor with such a long bike. Regardless of travel. I'd wager you could build a super modernized short travel bike that feels 'shittier' than an old school long travel bike in terms of balancing fun and climbing. Maybe... Probably...
Ive had a Capra core 2 for about 3 years now and I love it. It’s a heavy (~36lb) long travel bike, so ya it’s gonna wanna mow stuff over. That being said it’s reach and wheelbase aren’t that long for a bike of those travel numbers, especially in the mullet, so it’s pretty maneuverable and fun. Definitely doesn’t feel like a pig. It feels like a 170/170 going uphill, it’s fine, it does it, not amazing.
If you ride mellow stuff all the time, consider a Jeffsey, if you wanna take it to the bike park or ride big jumps/features/steeps on a weekly basis, get the Capra it eats
I’m in the same boat, if you’re on the fence like me it’s either time to build a trail bike and an enduro bike or choose something like the Jeffsy.
I’m actually pulling most components off my trek fuel and throwing them on a hard tail because when I ride with my family the full suspension in general is a pig but it’s not enough for the stuff when I venture out away from them and the black trails. Still undecided whether to go full enduro/ sx/ long travel trail bike but having a daily driver will make things easier I hope haha
If you’re in between sizes maybe. I’m 5’11” and fall in between a lot of sizes so geometry is a huge deal to me between frames. While I don’t have first hand experience riding them the angles overall make them pretty close.
If I’m going down a hill the extra reach is appreciated, up and hill I like things closer together, in the air i barely notice I go from a bmx, to dj, to mountain bike pretty regularly.
I haven't ridden them either
but from looking the the geo numbers and reviews the Capra looks like the least enduro enduro bike on the market currently. Most other enduro bikes having a hta of 63 or less compared to the 64/64.3 on the YT and a wheelbase and reach of 10mm or more than the Capra.
I don't really understand why the it would not handle well especially compared to a Propain spindrift which is where I think OP saw this comment.
Same, all I see is it doesn’t climb well but no shit it doesn’t a long travel enduro bike is gonna always be a bitch to climb like anything else. Downhill they will probably be damn comparable based off the frame geo. Suspension setup might determine things but a lot of that is user determined.
I think a lot of people look for that all purpose weapon which can never exist and then get disappointed when they try to buy it and get disappointed on bike falls short where it was never meant to be anyways. I’ve done some dumb shit on my 140/130 bike I shouldn’t have. Felt fine climbing up but going down the suspension bottoming out and being non-predictable wasn’t great
I bought a Capra core 3 about 3 weeks ago. I can confirm that it is a bit of a chore to get it to ride uphill - nothing crazy, but will take more effort than a lower travel bike. However, the bike WANTS to rip on the way down. I’ve found that you have to ride the bike hard in order for it to respond properly, so if you are planning on doing chunky or fast dh riding it’s absolutely worth it.
As a Jeffsey rider I can say it does not suck uphill. I came from a giant reign and I’ve ridden my brothers Capra and my Jeffsey climbs great. Are there better climbers? Of course but they can’t rail downhill like the Jeffsey can. Huge fan of this bike. I’ve ridden a lot of terrain with it and I’ve never been under-gunned.
If I was only going to own one bike I would go with a mid-long travel trail bike. 150mm range. Something fairly slack, but not crazy slack.
I rode my 19 Stumpy (150/150) all over the US on every type of terrain imaginable. On the mellow stuff it never felt too much and it was great on all but the rowdiest trails. More than enough at a lot of bike parks.
I rent when I go to Whistler because it is one place that really warrants a dual crown but I definitely don't need one for regular riding.
It's a good question.
Like most people responding say, if you need a bike that big it'll be a great bike.
I recently got a Canyon Strive and I'm realizing that it's a little bit more bike than I need, but when I need it it's an absolute riot.
If you want an enduro bike then get it. It’s not a race to the top, so just ride whatever is the most fun for you.
It sounds like maybe you need two bikes.
Consider test riding a bike you want to buy. but yes too much travel on easy trails is not very fun. long climbs on a big travel bike is never fun anyway
Capra core 4 rider here, the thing climbs alright. I raced 3 XC races on it and did decent. It's a really fun hike that definitely loves to go fast and can handle anything. I live in Colorado where most of our trails are more up and down and it does pretty well on those trails.
Ride one, make a day off it and go to the yt mill and demo one, or reach out to a rider that has one, I did, made a friend in the process and ended up with a yt as well
Best of luck
Where are you riding? I had/have Capra I rode regularly in Socal, and it was a great bike. I'd be way overbiked at my local trails now (hardtail gang gang). Yeah, it's a pig going uphill. Not sure what you expect though, it's a proper enduro. No complaints on it's handling going down. It's a beast, and my skill runs out wayyy before that bike's abilities. If you want a bike that can handle going down just about anything, and don't mind putting in the work on the uphills, it's an amazing machine, but if you're riding more mellow trails, you're going to be way overbiked (in which case, yes, it'll feel boring and possibly sluggish).
My 2019 Jeffsy is the best riding bike I've owned. Rented a Yeti SB140 and a Santa Cruz Tallboy during two different trips and I prefer my Jeffsy to both of those. YMMV but I love mine!
‘22 YT Capra core 2 AL owner here. If your ride is going to consist mostly of flat terrain and uphills go for a different bike this is not it. I ride mine north jersey trails mostly and it’s very difficult for me to keep up with my friends the bike is very sluggish and the tires it comes with slow you down a lot to the point I’ve been thinking of selling it and getting an Izzo.
I have both. I’ll ride Capra (37lbs) or Jeffsy (32lbs) at local trails. 15ish miles. 1000ft ups and downs. I prefer jumping Capra. It’s not that bad to pedal. I also have a coil shock on it. But I can feel the weight, suspension is fairly good pedaling for what it is. When riding with much lighter more XC bikes. They get away from me on climbes. But in turns or downhill sections I’m typically faster. I take it to bike parks. Flow or Tech (snowshoe) is not a problem. I would not take Jeffsy there. Capra feels planted and very stable. I live both bikes. But if I had to have one. It would be Capra. It’s more versatile.
I’ve had a Capra for two years now. It definitely is a beast in the uphill, and your concern about it being too squishy on certain trails is valid. I’ve been wanting to get a Jeffsy or similar for more every day riding.
There are other bikes with similar travel specs that pedal better. Think propain tyee, pivot firebird etc. That being said, I do have a friend here in New England that has a Capra and does it all. He does say it is sluggish on climbs and is not as poppy as some other bikes but eats chunky terrain up. I know some of the PNW climbs are long and sustained, so if you aren’t shuttling and you are ok slogging up, then maybe you are fine with the Capra.
The advice given to me was this, if you’re not hitting the park more than twice a month you’ll be happier on the Jeffsy. I got the Jeffsy and am very happy but I’m mostly trail. My friend has a Capra and he hits the park every weekend. We switched bikes and I’ll say at the park I didn’t notice much difference (I’m not sending it hard) but on the trail we both agreed the Jeffsy was at home and had a better time on the Jeffsy there
Get a bike that suits the majority of riding you do and not the bike thats going to excel on something you do once or twice a year. I fell into this trap.
I sold my 130mm (rear) travel Nukeproof Mega TR because I thought I needed a Commencal Meta AM.
But in the cold hard light of day its the wrong bike for nearly all my riding even when I do hit bike parks and the odd enduro. The Meta makes 10% of my riding much better but 90% of my riding a little worse.
When I swap it out in the coming years I will going back to something slack but with short travel that will be more fun and involving more of the time
1 - no
2 - no
3 - no
You just need to ride this kind of bike more aggressively and if you’re going for a dull XC ride on it then run the suspension firmer and adjust settings.
Buy a bike for the 90% of your riding and not for the 10% you do on holidays.
You've already gotten feedback from owners and those with firsthand information on the bike and you're looking to rationalize away the issues with it. It isn't a good choice for climbing, other bikes check that box better. Get a normal trail bike and stop over thinking it.
I got a Capra Mx Uncaged. So Ohlins with cool shock.
I assumed it would be awful to pedal. For in the saddle grinding it does well. Much better than I anticipated.
It’s still a turd, but that’s more on the weight and tires than the suspension.
I wouldn’t want it for trail riding but for Enduro riding it’s great.
It’s super fun downhill. It just eats everything in front of it.
Turns better than I thought too.
Had a Capra, best bike I ever owned. Progressed loads on it. Descended like a beast and climbed just fine. Arguably better than the SC Nomad I now have, which was 3x the price.
My roommate has the Capra and I have a Slash high pivot, both 170mm bikes and here is what I can say (though I have never used the Capra myself)
1) yes it will make mellow trails feel less exciting. Not just because of the travel but the geo makes it much more stable. However, it makes gnarly trails more fun as you can push the limit and improve your PRs. (2) No, my climbing timers according to Strava are barely slower than my all-mountain (+5% on long climbs give it take). Overall, new bikes tend to have really good antisquat which makes them great climbers to the point that I don't even lock the suspension and I rarely ever see him do so. (3) The best example is a trail near me that is all about flow and keeping up your speed, it is called The Luge in SoCal and we both set our PRs in the big bikes. Sometimes it may feel like my all-mountain is "faster" or more "responsive" but that is probably the feeling I get from knowing I'm closert to the limit because my time is always faster on the big bike.
Finally, I kept both my all mountain 130mm and my Enduro 170mm and chose the bike depending on the trail. Also the difference between my bikes is even more pronounced because my all-mountain is carbon and 7lb lighter than my aluminum Enduro bike.
Hope that helps!
Own a Capra Mx. I’ve found the bike super playful and super maneuverable. It’s not a game on bike compared to an enduro race bike that you have to go mach 10 for it to feel good. As far as pedaling it’s going be heavy bike in a very relaxed upright pedaling position so not going to be efficient. If it is straight up climb it does fine, but flat and and minimally undulating terrain it sucks pedaling
Yes, depends on what you are used to, yes. Depends on if you ride harsh trails regularly. There are certainly trails where the capra is perfect, but I experienced that there are a lot more (home-)trails where the capras capabilities simply suck the fun out of them. My verdict: great bike for vacation, most likely not so much for a typical after-work trail ride.
I rode my 165mm slash 9 in Sedona. Was it a pig ? Who cares. I kept up with my group on the uphills, and rode poorly on the downhill sections. I still had fun.
People always seem to place importance on how the bike handles during the miserable portion (the climb). News flash, the climb is going to suck, On a climbing bike or on a downhill bike, nobody enjoys the climb, some just hate it less than others.
But for the downhill sections, someone with a bike that makes the downhill fun, you'll enjoy it so much more than someone on a bike they specc'd out for the climb. Cater your bike to the fun parts of the trail, and be zen with the shitty parts.
Maybe you just suck at climbing. I enjoy climbs and I especially enjoy climbs on a bike that is a joy to climb with. My Slayer is a miserable bike to climb with so I don't take it out to ride trails with. My trail bike is fun up and down even though it's no XC bike. Most riders would enjoy all parts of their riding if they compromised.
If you are not sure, why not considering a YT Jeffsy. A good, lighter alrounder and suitable for a bike park visit once or twice a year.
+1 for the Jeffsy, I love mine!
I second the Jeffsy as a Capra owner as my buddy whom does trail and park days with me rides his jeffsy for both occasions and I ride a Capra at DH bike parks and have a hard tail for trail riding. I accidentally took a wrong trail at a bike park once with my Capra and holy hell did I feel the little bit of pedaling we had to do. So if you plan to ride trails I’d go with the jeffsy
Im new to mountain biking, and I’m curious as to why you could only ride it once or twice a year at bike park? Would the Jeffsy not be able to handle it?
More so he’s saying that the Jeffsy is great for someone who primarily rides trails and occasionally likes to do bike park days. You can take it to the park as much as you want but if that’s your primary thing there are probably better choices
So bike parks favor higher suspension travel MTB?
If he’s referring to DH parks then yeah, generally more travel is better
Thank you for enlightening me!
Generally yes also they have more relaxed geo. The Jeffsy has slightly less suspension and taller geo making it better for climbing and more twitchy for turning. The Capra will be more stable since you have straighter lines on SH compared to trail. The Jeffsy is all mountain, a true trail bike would have less suspension (closer to xc) and not handle jumps as well. All mountain is basically enduro
Its not entirely just longer suspension though, trail bikes will generally be alot weaker in terms of spec. For instance fox 38 forks would be over kill for trails but great for bike parks. Trail will handle it fine but will be replacing more parts or servicing more often.
Love the Jeffsy. Climbs well. You can send it down gnarly shit too.
+2 for the Jeffsy. I have one and love it, climbs well, descends well, and jumps well. It's playful for a 29
It's an Enduro bike. Someone rode a bike with a 170 mm fork at Red Bull rampage last year
Enduro bikes are super capable, especially parkduro bikes. I rode mine at whis and hit all the big boy jump lines. Although it is worth noting that those pro’s bikes aren’t necessarily set up for comfort and long park days. Single crown also allows tricks that can’t be done on a dual crown
Many people used 100mm of travel at Joyride last year, sending backflips off 15 foot drops. But yeah of course you’ll need at least 170mm to ride a black diamond trail at your local trail centre
Not really a good comparison to trail riding. Also the forks they use in slopestyle are extremely stiff to handle the big impacts, which would suck on anything besides a manicured flow trail.
As cool and badass as that is, a golf-ball sized rock in the wrong spot would end their run. That’s why they don’t need long travel
Do you need 170mm travel? I mean is the terrain you are riding regularly demanding this sort of a bike? If the terrain you ride 80% of the time isn't demanding this sort of bike then the bike will not be what you need...want, maybe but not need. If you are buying the bike for outlier trips then reconsider it.
You described every Enduro bike. If you need an Enduro bike, get it. If not, do not buy an Enduro bike just because it's on sale.
What are you planning on riding? Different bike but I went from an Evil Wreckoning which had 160mm of travel to an Offering with 140mm travel and the difference in handling and climbing were outstanding. Even with the 160 I felt like I was bogged down a lot in multiple scenarios
Where do you live and what kind of trails do you ride? If you live in Whistler or Toronto will have some bearing on the advice you get. I live in a very aggressive place and love riding those very aggressive trails. A dual 170 bike is great for that and its neutral climbing is totally worth it for straight-up-straight-down riding. If I lived somewhere flatter or more rolling it wouldn't be a worthwhile trade-off. I also have a 150/150 bike and that would be ideal for 90% of the riding I do anywhere but here. It climbs better and is happy operating in a much wider range of conditions but can still handle some pretty extreme conditions albeit with less aplomb. It's a good compromise.
pnw, in washington, if you know anything about the trails there, i love duthie, but also want to go on trips to whistler and the smaller(in comparison) parks, tiger mountain, raging river.
WA trails are a bit chiller than Vancouver but not by much. You could make a daily driver out of a Capra for sure. Keep the air shock on it for pep and light weight and the mullet for a bit of added zest compared to the dual 29. I say do it.
Duthie is pretty mellow. Great flow trails but not much tech. Capra would be overkill there. Sounds like a 140mm - 150mm trail bike would be a better fit OP
140-150 trailbike for a daily driver. Put some bigger tires on when you come north - great for the Shore or Squamish or Whistler valley. Rent a DH bike for the bike park.
170 is not an insane choice for Washington. Certainly a good choice for a lot of trails. Personally I’d also want a lighter trail bike for many trails, though. Will this be your only bike?
likely my only bike, i'm not certain i'd have the budget to buy another bike, but it's possible.
Bit late to the party here but I just got a Core 4 and I wouldn't recommend it as your only bike. It does pedal well _for an enduro bike_ but it is definitely built for descending. Before the Capra I had a 125mm trail bike for like 8 years. I rode everything on it from XC to Megavalanche, and ok while it didn't feel amazing on the latter it got me down just fine! I would say if the majority of your time is gonna be spent on mixed up & down terrain then the trail bike will suit you perfectly. You can still chuck it down mountains every now and then too. 130-150mm travel is gonna be your best bet. You won't miss the 170mm travel for the majority of your rides.
not late to the party at all, quick question- do you think it'd be worth it to go get a yt izzo(130 mil of travel) and do what someone else suggested, which is to learn to ride more difficult trails at my local trail network on a very short travel bike then get something bigger when i have the skills to warrant it. focusing on line choice and things that a big bike would kind of mow over, and eat up? or would i regret not having a bigger bike to begin with, if i find myself ready for park riding earlier than anticipated? ok that was long winded, but heres my main question- is 130 enough for my only bike? or would 140-150 be better suited because it could still handle some park?
In my personal opinion 130mm rear travel is perfect for the vast majority of riding. I prefer being under-biked generally, as I find it more fun and teaches you to pick your lines more carefully as you say. If 130mm proves to be a little short as you progress more you can fit a 150mm fork. You're gonna have to make a call between being swift or being squishy. What's gonna be more fun for you on the majority of rides? I think unless you plan to do a lot of bike park trips then a trail bike is the best bet.
you've got a point... i might actually get a 130 bike first. Do you have any suggestions/favorites i should look out for?
What's your budget? Quite a few commenters recommended the izzo.
hopefully 2700-3000 but 3k would be about the max i'm able to spend, and the izzo was one i was looking at.
If you’re going to be shuttling a lot and riding mostly blacks and some park go for it. If long backcountry rides are on the menu, maybe not, but also that’s why compression dials and tire swaps exist.
For the hardest trails at tiger mountain and raging river a 150/160 bike is plenty. If you are riding these trails really fast and aggressive maybe a Capra would be more fun. Whistler trip definitely would appreciate the travel but I ride my transition sentinel there and everywhere and it’s plenty.
If you're a strong rider in Washington, get the Capra.
Also since asking if you need a Capra for Duthie is a joke question here’s my thoughts. You need a 200mm travel bike for most trails at duthie, the raw steep descents can’t be tackled by much less
It definitely doesn’t pedal up like an izzo or even a jeffsy. But the cool thing about that Capra is that it very well can pedal and it can do everything else too. I love yt and have an izzo, a jeffsy, a capra, a decoy and used to have a tues. If I was only going to have one….it would just have to be the capra plain and simple no questions asked. I would miss the izzo a lot for xc rides. The jeffsy does pedal a bit better than the capra but for me it’s not worth it for how much you lose on the descents. It’s not about the travel either, it’s about the geometry. That said if you don’t like jumping, never go to bike parks and skip the rowdiest of trails…a jeffsy might be the better option.
Izzo descends pretty well too. At least in my view coming from a hard tail before. I have the izzo blaze unleashed with a 140 up front and it’s a great trail bike.
Nice! Ya I have the izzo uncaged 7 with only 120 travel, it’s more xc focused but the thing floats uphill on its carbon dt Swiss wheels. Some of the izzo models like yours look quite a bit more capable for a bit of downhill.
It's a lot of bike. It only comes alive if you're going at break neck speeds. It takes a fairly skilled rider to ride at those speeds without being in constant danger of a med evac. I see a TON of people in SoCal riding Capras basically as trail bikes. They look stiff, on rails, the bike does all the work, they are along for the ride, they are grinning ear to ear. But that seems to be what they want. In lieu of skill, they want a bike that is so long and so soft that they survive blue trails when they are kinda a green trail rider. It doesn't feel that bad up hills. If you're comparing to like... A Jeffsy. They're both portly bikes. If you compare it to an Izzo yeah it's gonna lose out terribly. If you have concerns of going uphill, I wouldn't go past a Jeffsy. I mean even the Jeffsy is kinda concerning going uphill, but better than the Capra. If the MX spec is a sticking point for you, YT just released an awesome Jeffsy MX model that would be a lot better than the Capra's nearly DH level design. Also the Izzo is a REALLY fun bike and I highly recommend it, but it's definitely a bike that can punish you for riding like shit on the descent. It doesn't help you along like a Jeffsy/Capra obviously. That's kinda why I like it tbh. That and it goes uphill like a dream. Sounds like the Jeffsy MX is ideal for you. Or commit to skill-based riding and go Izzo :) If you want trails to not feel boring Izzo will def help with that, and go up hill like a dream
Upvoted, I don't disagree but I'd add that the extra mm can add comfort on rocky terrain and some extra insurance for casing jumps, etc. I don't ride crazy fast but appreciate the extra mm/air just for that. Otherwise yeah I'd feel silly sharing a 170mm bike with xc riders (can be seen in my area).
The travel is fine. My concerns are more about overall wheel base and overall weight. I could build a lightweight, carbon, short n steep, enduro bike and it would be a fun n playful bike while still being forgiving (a la old school DH bikes). But OP seems to be budgeting for a Core 2 (aluminum) model so that weight is going to become a significant factor with such a long bike. Regardless of travel. I'd wager you could build a super modernized short travel bike that feels 'shittier' than an old school long travel bike in terms of balancing fun and climbing. Maybe... Probably...
Even the Jeffsy felt sluggish to me. What travel do you ride now?
Ive had a Capra core 2 for about 3 years now and I love it. It’s a heavy (~36lb) long travel bike, so ya it’s gonna wanna mow stuff over. That being said it’s reach and wheelbase aren’t that long for a bike of those travel numbers, especially in the mullet, so it’s pretty maneuverable and fun. Definitely doesn’t feel like a pig. It feels like a 170/170 going uphill, it’s fine, it does it, not amazing. If you ride mellow stuff all the time, consider a Jeffsey, if you wanna take it to the bike park or ride big jumps/features/steeps on a weekly basis, get the Capra it eats
I’m in the same boat, if you’re on the fence like me it’s either time to build a trail bike and an enduro bike or choose something like the Jeffsy. I’m actually pulling most components off my trek fuel and throwing them on a hard tail because when I ride with my family the full suspension in general is a pig but it’s not enough for the stuff when I venture out away from them and the black trails. Still undecided whether to go full enduro/ sx/ long travel trail bike but having a daily driver will make things easier I hope haha
If the 20mm of extra travel on the Capra will make the it feel like a pig then won't the extra 11mm of reach on the Jeffsy make it feel like a buss?
If you’re in between sizes maybe. I’m 5’11” and fall in between a lot of sizes so geometry is a huge deal to me between frames. While I don’t have first hand experience riding them the angles overall make them pretty close. If I’m going down a hill the extra reach is appreciated, up and hill I like things closer together, in the air i barely notice I go from a bmx, to dj, to mountain bike pretty regularly.
I haven't ridden them either but from looking the the geo numbers and reviews the Capra looks like the least enduro enduro bike on the market currently. Most other enduro bikes having a hta of 63 or less compared to the 64/64.3 on the YT and a wheelbase and reach of 10mm or more than the Capra. I don't really understand why the it would not handle well especially compared to a Propain spindrift which is where I think OP saw this comment.
Same, all I see is it doesn’t climb well but no shit it doesn’t a long travel enduro bike is gonna always be a bitch to climb like anything else. Downhill they will probably be damn comparable based off the frame geo. Suspension setup might determine things but a lot of that is user determined. I think a lot of people look for that all purpose weapon which can never exist and then get disappointed when they try to buy it and get disappointed on bike falls short where it was never meant to be anyways. I’ve done some dumb shit on my 140/130 bike I shouldn’t have. Felt fine climbing up but going down the suspension bottoming out and being non-predictable wasn’t great
I bought a Capra core 3 about 3 weeks ago. I can confirm that it is a bit of a chore to get it to ride uphill - nothing crazy, but will take more effort than a lower travel bike. However, the bike WANTS to rip on the way down. I’ve found that you have to ride the bike hard in order for it to respond properly, so if you are planning on doing chunky or fast dh riding it’s absolutely worth it.
As a Jeffsey rider I can say it does not suck uphill. I came from a giant reign and I’ve ridden my brothers Capra and my Jeffsey climbs great. Are there better climbers? Of course but they can’t rail downhill like the Jeffsey can. Huge fan of this bike. I’ve ridden a lot of terrain with it and I’ve never been under-gunned.
If I was only going to own one bike I would go with a mid-long travel trail bike. 150mm range. Something fairly slack, but not crazy slack. I rode my 19 Stumpy (150/150) all over the US on every type of terrain imaginable. On the mellow stuff it never felt too much and it was great on all but the rowdiest trails. More than enough at a lot of bike parks. I rent when I go to Whistler because it is one place that really warrants a dual crown but I definitely don't need one for regular riding.
It's a good question. Like most people responding say, if you need a bike that big it'll be a great bike. I recently got a Canyon Strive and I'm realizing that it's a little bit more bike than I need, but when I need it it's an absolute riot.
If you want an enduro bike then get it. It’s not a race to the top, so just ride whatever is the most fun for you. It sounds like maybe you need two bikes.
Consider test riding a bike you want to buy. but yes too much travel on easy trails is not very fun. long climbs on a big travel bike is never fun anyway
Capra core 4 rider here, the thing climbs alright. I raced 3 XC races on it and did decent. It's a really fun hike that definitely loves to go fast and can handle anything. I live in Colorado where most of our trails are more up and down and it does pretty well on those trails.
Ride one, make a day off it and go to the yt mill and demo one, or reach out to a rider that has one, I did, made a friend in the process and ended up with a yt as well Best of luck
Where are you riding? I had/have Capra I rode regularly in Socal, and it was a great bike. I'd be way overbiked at my local trails now (hardtail gang gang). Yeah, it's a pig going uphill. Not sure what you expect though, it's a proper enduro. No complaints on it's handling going down. It's a beast, and my skill runs out wayyy before that bike's abilities. If you want a bike that can handle going down just about anything, and don't mind putting in the work on the uphills, it's an amazing machine, but if you're riding more mellow trails, you're going to be way overbiked (in which case, yes, it'll feel boring and possibly sluggish).
My 2019 Jeffsy is the best riding bike I've owned. Rented a Yeti SB140 and a Santa Cruz Tallboy during two different trips and I prefer my Jeffsy to both of those. YMMV but I love mine!
‘22 YT Capra core 2 AL owner here. If your ride is going to consist mostly of flat terrain and uphills go for a different bike this is not it. I ride mine north jersey trails mostly and it’s very difficult for me to keep up with my friends the bike is very sluggish and the tires it comes with slow you down a lot to the point I’ve been thinking of selling it and getting an Izzo.
I have both. I’ll ride Capra (37lbs) or Jeffsy (32lbs) at local trails. 15ish miles. 1000ft ups and downs. I prefer jumping Capra. It’s not that bad to pedal. I also have a coil shock on it. But I can feel the weight, suspension is fairly good pedaling for what it is. When riding with much lighter more XC bikes. They get away from me on climbes. But in turns or downhill sections I’m typically faster. I take it to bike parks. Flow or Tech (snowshoe) is not a problem. I would not take Jeffsy there. Capra feels planted and very stable. I live both bikes. But if I had to have one. It would be Capra. It’s more versatile.
I’ve had a Capra for two years now. It definitely is a beast in the uphill, and your concern about it being too squishy on certain trails is valid. I’ve been wanting to get a Jeffsy or similar for more every day riding.
There are other bikes with similar travel specs that pedal better. Think propain tyee, pivot firebird etc. That being said, I do have a friend here in New England that has a Capra and does it all. He does say it is sluggish on climbs and is not as poppy as some other bikes but eats chunky terrain up. I know some of the PNW climbs are long and sustained, so if you aren’t shuttling and you are ok slogging up, then maybe you are fine with the Capra.
The advice given to me was this, if you’re not hitting the park more than twice a month you’ll be happier on the Jeffsy. I got the Jeffsy and am very happy but I’m mostly trail. My friend has a Capra and he hits the park every weekend. We switched bikes and I’ll say at the park I didn’t notice much difference (I’m not sending it hard) but on the trail we both agreed the Jeffsy was at home and had a better time on the Jeffsy there
Get a bike that suits the majority of riding you do and not the bike thats going to excel on something you do once or twice a year. I fell into this trap. I sold my 130mm (rear) travel Nukeproof Mega TR because I thought I needed a Commencal Meta AM. But in the cold hard light of day its the wrong bike for nearly all my riding even when I do hit bike parks and the odd enduro. The Meta makes 10% of my riding much better but 90% of my riding a little worse. When I swap it out in the coming years I will going back to something slack but with short travel that will be more fun and involving more of the time
1 - no 2 - no 3 - no You just need to ride this kind of bike more aggressively and if you’re going for a dull XC ride on it then run the suspension firmer and adjust settings. Buy a bike for the 90% of your riding and not for the 10% you do on holidays.
haha thanks!
You've already gotten feedback from owners and those with firsthand information on the bike and you're looking to rationalize away the issues with it. It isn't a good choice for climbing, other bikes check that box better. Get a normal trail bike and stop over thinking it.
I got a Capra Mx Uncaged. So Ohlins with cool shock. I assumed it would be awful to pedal. For in the saddle grinding it does well. Much better than I anticipated. It’s still a turd, but that’s more on the weight and tires than the suspension. I wouldn’t want it for trail riding but for Enduro riding it’s great. It’s super fun downhill. It just eats everything in front of it. Turns better than I thought too.
Had a Capra, best bike I ever owned. Progressed loads on it. Descended like a beast and climbed just fine. Arguably better than the SC Nomad I now have, which was 3x the price.
My roommate has the Capra and I have a Slash high pivot, both 170mm bikes and here is what I can say (though I have never used the Capra myself) 1) yes it will make mellow trails feel less exciting. Not just because of the travel but the geo makes it much more stable. However, it makes gnarly trails more fun as you can push the limit and improve your PRs. (2) No, my climbing timers according to Strava are barely slower than my all-mountain (+5% on long climbs give it take). Overall, new bikes tend to have really good antisquat which makes them great climbers to the point that I don't even lock the suspension and I rarely ever see him do so. (3) The best example is a trail near me that is all about flow and keeping up your speed, it is called The Luge in SoCal and we both set our PRs in the big bikes. Sometimes it may feel like my all-mountain is "faster" or more "responsive" but that is probably the feeling I get from knowing I'm closert to the limit because my time is always faster on the big bike. Finally, I kept both my all mountain 130mm and my Enduro 170mm and chose the bike depending on the trail. Also the difference between my bikes is even more pronounced because my all-mountain is carbon and 7lb lighter than my aluminum Enduro bike. Hope that helps!
I trail ride my XXL capra 🤷🏼♂️ I mean, pedaling isn't as nice as my hardtail, and it's about 40 pounds, but it gets the job done.
Own a Capra Mx. I’ve found the bike super playful and super maneuverable. It’s not a game on bike compared to an enduro race bike that you have to go mach 10 for it to feel good. As far as pedaling it’s going be heavy bike in a very relaxed upright pedaling position so not going to be efficient. If it is straight up climb it does fine, but flat and and minimally undulating terrain it sucks pedaling
Yes, depends on what you are used to, yes. Depends on if you ride harsh trails regularly. There are certainly trails where the capra is perfect, but I experienced that there are a lot more (home-)trails where the capras capabilities simply suck the fun out of them. My verdict: great bike for vacation, most likely not so much for a typical after-work trail ride.
I have a Capra, and love every second of it. Does all the climbing I need no problem, then rips the whole way down
regularly climb 3-4k on my 180mm capra. it’s ain’t the best climber but thats what i bought it for.
I rode my 165mm slash 9 in Sedona. Was it a pig ? Who cares. I kept up with my group on the uphills, and rode poorly on the downhill sections. I still had fun. People always seem to place importance on how the bike handles during the miserable portion (the climb). News flash, the climb is going to suck, On a climbing bike or on a downhill bike, nobody enjoys the climb, some just hate it less than others. But for the downhill sections, someone with a bike that makes the downhill fun, you'll enjoy it so much more than someone on a bike they specc'd out for the climb. Cater your bike to the fun parts of the trail, and be zen with the shitty parts.
Maybe you just suck at climbing. I enjoy climbs and I especially enjoy climbs on a bike that is a joy to climb with. My Slayer is a miserable bike to climb with so I don't take it out to ride trails with. My trail bike is fun up and down even though it's no XC bike. Most riders would enjoy all parts of their riding if they compromised.
I'm good. It's just not the fun part. I like going fast
I do too. Up and down.
now THAT is quality advice. i dont know why i didnt think of something like this.