YT Decoy first ride review: A brilliant ebike with outstanding performance

[Jedipip]

Hello, was yours scheduled to ship the week of 6-5-19?
Thanks

Yes, ‘available from 5th June’ when I ordered.

 

[Gutch]

I’m told minor delay. June 17-21st. Arrr.

 

[jsalas2]

My buddy got his pro yesterday, put it together and battery wouldn’t stay on. Fully charged. Shimano steps on display would turn on and then shut off. He’s pretty bummed, told him not to worry just a minor bug, first batch of a new model. We are waiting for YT customer service to open. I’m pretty sure they will be able to sort it out, will keep you posted.

UPDATE: Over the phone techs could not figure out the problem. They tried, going to take it to local authorized Shimano Tech to put it on the computer to try to figure it out. Hopefully they can sort it out, as next step is to send it back.

UPDATE: Local Shimano tech was able to sort out the problem. Brake rotors were a little out of true. $100 charge rotor truing included. Should get reimbursed with no problem from YT.

 

[Q-Ball]

Mine just showed up today - confirmed with Fox 36 GRIP2 damper. Battery is on the charger while the rest gets put together. Might need a shorter dropper and I'll see if I need the lower rise bars I had already purchase. Now hurry up and charge already.....

Q

 

[Lee Dove]

Mine arrived Friday (Pro).

Q-Ball . They included a lower headset spacer/cover in the box so you could lower the bars approx 5mm with that.

First Impressions.
1. Pedal with motor off or above 25k with no noticeable drag. There was some drag on a 12 month old Vitus I rode so it might be an updated motor.

2. Motor noise the same a a Kenevo I rode 9 months ago, this was the older Brose I think. Perfectly acceptable.

3. Transition from drive to off at 25k very smooth both speeding up and slowing down. I suspect a sw update from Shimano has improved this since last year. Again as good if not better than the Older Brose.

4. Packing great as per my Jefsy. Slight delay in shipping (2 weeks) so they gave me a small refund without any comment from me.

5. I may have a battery connection issue , will keep you guys updated on it.

I have not had chance to rise it on my main trails (Innerleithen) as I am just recovering from a broken collarbone and taking it a bit easy.

 

[Lee Dove]

UPDATE: Over the phone techs could not figure out the problem. They tried, going to take it to local authorized Shimano Tech to put it on the computer to try to figure it out. Hopefully they can sort it out, as next step is to send it back.

UPDATE: Local Shimano tech was able to sort out the problem. Brake rotors were a little out of true. $100 charge rotor truing included. Should get reimbursed with no problem from YT.

I think I may have a similar Battery connection issue. Posted report so will see tommorow what they say.

 

[Sorinok]

It does not sound too good that they have problems and they were just removed from the box! That gives me the thought of the fast with which they packed everything! I understand that there may be problems along the way, but the fact that you get it out of the box and it does not work ..... is not good!
Next week I will make a decision if she keeps your order or not!

 

[Lee Dove]

It does not sound too good that they have problems and they were just removed from the box! That gives me the thought of the fast with which they packed everything! I understand that there may be problems along the way, but the fact that you get it out of the box and it does not work ..... is not good!
Next week I will make a decision if she keeps your order or not!

The packing was great on my bike and it worked first ride out of box. The biggest hassle with YT bikes is having to swap the brakes over

 

[Nasty Nick]

Ya mine was fine really well sorted out of the box. The rotors needed a bit of trying but that only took me 2 min and is standard with new rotors of any kind.

 

[Lee Dove]

Do you even physics bro? The forks act as a lever, the longer the lever the higher the force exerted. The kind of impact that will break a frame is likely to happen at full extension so a 170 fork will exert more force than a 160 fork.

I am a professional engineer and built race bikes and cars. My point is that the change in leverage ratio is so small that given design safety tolerances it will not be an issue. Axle to crown is approx 560mm so adding 10mm (less accounting for sag) the leverage increases only approx 1.5% !

Now tell me you engineering / physics background ;-)

 

[Doomanic]

I am a professional engineer

Citation needed.

My point is that the change in leverage ratio is so small that given design safety tolerances it will not be an issue.

But that wasn't what you said. You actually said to just fit the longer fork and lie about it.

 

[Lee Dove]

Citation needed.

But that wasn't what you said. You actually said to just fit the longer fork and lie about it.

No need to Lie , just economical with the truth. ;-)

 

[Doomanic]

I thought you were claiming to be an engineer, not a politician...

 

[Lee Dove]

I thought you were claiming to be an engineer, not a politician...

Multi talented , that's me !

My claims to being an engineer does not change the laws of Physics by the way .

 

[R120]

Jordie Lunn show as hell isn't running 160mm on his decoy.

 

[Lee Dove]

I think I may have a similar Battery connection issue. Posted report so will see tomorrow what they say.

I have cleaned the battery terminals with degreaser and just done a 2 hour ride with no problems. Going to keep an eye on it but my issue may have been a bit of protective grease on a terminal.

 

[Q-Ball]

New CF Pro got a quick 1-hr blast around the local area Sat and then a 5-hr (was with acoustic bike riders), 24 mile ride yesterday without any issues. Everything has been pretty good out of the box with only minor rotor tuning and headset adjustments needed. I can't believe how much braking traction the rear end has now with the 2.8 tire on it. So different than my normal bikes.
Did those of you that got eThirteen equipped wheels also get tubless valves too? They came with my Jeffsy from last year but I didn't find them in my Decoy packaging - just wondering ...

Q

 

[Jedipip]

Did anyone get the ‘Me First’ Tool Box delivered at the same time as the bike?

I excitedly tracked my order all the way through todays 93 drops before your package arrives....and got handed the Tool Chest ?

DHL driver said ‘that’s all you get!’ ???

Quick comms with YT and the Pro is being expedited for delivery tomorrow. This might be the first machine I have ever read the manual on....as I have nothing else to do tonight now.

But I am loving the carbon ‘effect’ torque wrench ?

 

[Nasty Nick]

Jordie Lunn show as hell isn't running 160mm on his decoy.

View attachment 14464

Using the 230 mm shock eye to eye for scale I got 160 mm of exposed station. I think it might be a good idea to run at least 170 tho cuz I’m getting a ton of pedal/frame impacts even in high (might be a little under-sprung).

 

[Nasty Nick]

Did anyone get the ‘Me First’ Tool Box delivered at the same time as the bike?

I excitedly tracked my order all the way through todays 93 drops before your package arrives....and got handed the Tool Chest

DHL driver said ‘that’s all you get!’

Quick comms with YT and the Pro is being expedited for delivery tomorrow. This might be the first machine I have ever read the manual on....as I have nothing else to do tonight now.

But I am loving the carbon ‘effect’ torque wrench

The tool kit showed up with the bike for me. That torque wrench is hilarious! I love the pedal wrench tho.

 

[Jedipip]

The tool kit showed up with the bike for me. That torque wrench is hilarious! I love the pedal wrench tho.

Yeah Nick, the pedal wrench is a worthy inclusion. Nice bit of kit.

It ought to be though, mine has cost £1500 based on what I’ve received so far ?

 

[Lee Dove]

Did anyone get the ‘Me First’ Tool Box delivered at the same time as the bike?

I excitedly tracked my order all the way through todays 93 drops before your package arrives....and got handed the Tool Chest ?

DHL driver said ‘that’s all you get!’ ???

Quick comms with YT and the Pro is being expedited for delivery tomorrow. This might be the first machine I have ever read the manual on....as I have nothing else to do tonight now.

But I am loving the carbon ‘effect’ torque wrench ?

I got the manuals the day before the bike

 

[Lee Dove]

New CF Pro got a quick 1-hr blast around the local area Sat and then a 5-hr (was with acoustic bike riders), 24 mile ride yesterday without any issues. Everything has been pretty good out of the box with only minor rotor tuning and headset adjustments needed. I can't believe how much braking traction the rear end has now with the 2.8 tire on it. So different than my normal bikes.
Did those of you that got eThirteen equipped wheels also get tubless valves too? They came with my Jeffsy from last year but I didn't find them in my Decoy packaging - just wondering ...

Q

No valves with mine . I looked as I also got them with my Jeffsy.

 

[Lee Dove]

I have cleaned the battery terminals with degreaser and just done a 2 hour ride with no problems. Going to keep an eye on it but my issue may have been a bit of protective grease on a terminal.

Nope. Back to e20 battery connection faults :-(

 

[Jedipip]

Lee - keep us all posted on the fault. We can at least keep ahead of common issues and remedies.

My Stealth XL Pro landed. Built, charged, connected and currently getting some tuning to me.

I’m 5’11” and the dropper looks like it will be about 2” out of the seat tube for my perfect leg stretch. Reach and overall feel is really close to the L Spectral AL6.0. Apart from the Decoy being a smidge heavier ?

First impression? Oh My God!

I can see me needing a few trips to casualty. Is there anything this bike doesn’t want to ride over or drop off?

Shimano Motor also very, very quiet. It’s been rainy and muddy, so I reserve my final opinion, but I have definitely ridden Brose motored Spesh bikes that were noisier. Interesting to know how YT and Shimano have managed this. I’ve read a lot about whiny Shimano motors.

 

[jamesc]

Jedipip, how far out (and what length) is the dropper on your Spectral? I'm a similar height to you and on my Spectral with a 150mm reverb my post is almost in as far as it'll go. I've changed my decoy from an XL to an L but I am wondering if an L will be on the small size compared to my L spectral

 

[Jamsxr]

Shimano Motor also very, very quiet. It’s been rainy and muddy, so I reserve my final opinion, but I have definitely ridden Brose motored Spesh bikes that were noisier. Interesting to know how YT and Shimano have managed this. I’ve read a lot about whiny Shimano motors.

It’s the same on my Meta Power, after all the comments I was prepared for the worst but the noise of my tyres drowns out the relatively quiet motor. Hopefully it stays this way.

 

[Jedipip]

Jedipip, how far out (and what length) is the dropper on your Spectral? I'm a similar height to you and on my Spectral with a 150mm reverb my post is almost in as far as it'll go. I've changed my decoy from an XL to an L but I am wondering if an L will be on the small size compared to my L spectral

James! The Large Decoy will probably be fine, but check the difference in Reach and the Top Tube against the Spectral. It’ll feel a little cramped in comparison. I took Rob’s comment about the XXL he rode into consideration. Went for the XL based on the dimensions being 10-15mm within the Spectral L range. It’s perfect. 5’11” is right in the tricky zone between Sizes. So you’ll be fine with L.

Pic of Spectral that destroyed my CutGate PB’s at the weekend. Seat post is out about 1 inch.

For what it’s worth, you won’t thank me straight away! I’d be tempted to try the XL Decoy. You can ALWAYS send it back and then get a Large....!

Or......see how you feel on the Large. You will get used to either bike.

There, that’s me sitting firmly on the fence ?

 

[Jamsxr]

Love the raw finish on that Spectral ?

 

[Jedipip]

Love the raw finish on that Spectral ?

I sold a carbon cf pro and went retro aluminium! And haven’t regretted it at all. Amazing bike and half the price it should be!