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

[Doomanic]

I'd be surprised if they didn't have a good selection of Decoys at a Europe wide demo tour, after all, they had quite a few at the launch.

 

[Gary]

Nah... apparently they'll all be in for months of warranty work by then

 

[Nasty Nick]

Does anybody know what the deal is with the ebike fox 36 performance elite having the grip damper? I though the elite version was a black factory fork?

 

[Richt20000]

Yea I mentioned this earlier in the thread. It looks like that's just a performance fork with an Elite sticker. Its one of the main reasons I'm put off by the pro model. Elite should come with a Fit4 or Grip2 damper for 2019. Or a Fit4 or RC2 if its an 2018...
Unless the 'E' version is different again...

 

[MarkH]

Maybe just limited sizes/models seeing as availability dates for many models are not sceduled until after the tour.


Definitely a bonus to be able to ride uphill on Passports weekend too and section stuff.
I sacked off riding at mid day on the day of Passports last year 'cause I couldn't be arsed with the massive queues.

I'm entered for PDS anyway so would be rude not to try out a decoy ?

 

[Jedipip]

Yea I mentioned this earlier in the thread. It looks like that's just a performance fork with an Elite sticker. Its one of the main reasons I'm put off by the pro model. Elite should come with a Fit4 or Grip2 damper for 2019. Or a Fit4 or RC2 if its an 2018...
Unless the 'E' version is different again...

This from the Ridefox pages....

Explore 36e E-Bike Bike Forks | FOX

 

[Richt20000]

This from the Ridefox pages....

Explore 36e E-Bike Bike Forks | FOX

Yea that makes me think they are peformance forks which have had new decals to match colour, and mistakenly say elite...

 

[Stringbean]

I feel the di2 is a serious drawback on the YT.
From experience with my normal Mtb the shimano electric on Mtb has been a disaster ( road no problems)
The battery just doesn’t like water very much.If you are in a wet climate don’t expect it to last more than a month or 2 and warranty from shimano on that has been terrible.
YT should ditch the electronics

 

[Richt20000]

I feel the di2 is a serious drawback on the YT.
From experience with my normal Mtb the shimano electric on Mtb has been a disaster ( road no problems)
The battery just doesn’t like water very much.If you are in a wet climate don’t expect it to last more than a month or 2 and warranty from shimano on that has been terrible.
YT should ditch the electronics

The Di2 power comes from the main bike battery. In testing YT blasted the battery with a pressure washer on full power with no water ingress.

 

[Stringbean]

Thanks Richt I missed that somewhere.Makes sense.

 

[Gary]

I'm entered for PDS anyway so would be rude not to try out a decoy ?

You should be in good company. Morzine was absolutely teaming with big groups on Ebikes the Weekend of Passports last year. I can only see that rising (considerably) this year.

 

[Richt20000]

Thanks Richt I missed that somewhere.Makes sense.

Also there are connections to plug lights into too apparently - well thought out.

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

Firstly, let me clear this up. The YT Decoy goes straight into the top few ebikes that you can buy right now. Looks? Stunning. Performance? Outstanding. But what makes this bike stand out from the huge amount of ebikes that have recently been released? Read on to find out exactly why I love this bike.



The all new YT Decoy. One of the most ambitious projects that the YT Industries team have released to date. I was invited to the launch of the bike in the south of France and spent a few days learning about the bike and riding it in the beautiful French mountains. So lets take a deeper look into the bike, the technology and design then take a look at how the bike performs.



YT Decoy Development



YT could have released an electric mountain bike a year ago. Easy. Just buy a motor and battery package from Shimano. Make some modifications to an existing frame (Capra / Jeffsy), bolt on the motor, pop the battery on the front triangle and ship it to the consumer. Job done, YT have...

Continue reading...

 

[lurch46]

nice bike looking to get my first e bike was leading towards a levo but the yt looks great when is the available to buy??

 

[Andy A]

Wow what a fantastic video that was Rob and that bike is simply stunning I just adore it!

 

[Maintainer]

Is it not possible to rotate the shifter down around the handle bar?

 

[Gary]

Is it not possible to rotate the shifter down around the handle bar?

Yes.
but it's optimum ergonomic position is on top rotated back
it's also possible to swap out the shifter for the Di2 paddle shifters

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

Sorry for the thread duplication, I'm working on getting it all synced together.

 

[mark.ai]

Sorry for the thread duplication, I'm working on getting it all synced together.

Nice article banner

 

[Nasty Nick]

Yea I mentioned this earlier in the thread. It looks like that's just a performance fork with an Elite sticker. Its one of the main reasons I'm put off by the pro model. Elite should come with a Fit4 or Grip2 damper for 2019. Or a Fit4 or RC2 if its an 2018...
Unless the 'E' version is different again...

You mentioned it but No one replied. Several of the decoy articles mention that it’s the same as a factory level fork, but judging by YTs photos they’re wrong. That’s very disappointing.

This from the Ridefox pages....
Explore 36e E-Bike Bike Forks | FOX

Fox’s website makes no mention of a “36 Performance Elite E” fork.

 

[Dax]

Sorry for the thread duplication, I'm working on getting it all synced together.

I'm so confused right now. Unsure which thread I should use to troll @Gary about the YT warranty. Afternoon ruined

 

[Gary]

I'm so confused right now. Unsure which thread I should use to troll @Gary about the YT warranty. Afternoon ruined

Pffft...

Amature

 

[Richt20000]

Ok so i’ve been in touch with YT.
When asking the level of suspension on the pro level, they came back and said it was elite with a grip2 damper. On questioning this (as photo shows grip not grip2) they reconfirmed:

Michael Lifka (YT Industries)
Apr 2, 17:39 CEST
Hello Richard,

I'm definitely sure the fork has Grip2.
The photos may differ because sometimes we may not have all original components in stock at the time the photos are taken.
Beste Grüße / Best regards / Cordialement
Michael Lifka

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

+25

YT Decoy Pro

• Rob Rides EMTB
• Apr 2, 2019
• 34

I just added a bunch of pics of the PRO to my gallery.

 

[Jamsxr]

Having not owned an eBike, how would you go about cleaning the crap that will inevitably get between the frame and the motor?

 

[Jedipip]

Nice article banner

Sorry for the thread duplication, I'm working on getting it all synced together.

Have you ever started a new forum without the bike being in general circulation ?

 

[R120]

It depends on the model of bike, and how the motor is mounted. On some bikes its not an issue, on others you would usually drop or partially drop the motor, on others you can use a brush/airhose to get in there.

 

[comtn]

Can anyone speak to the differences between a brose levo motor and the shimano e8000. It looks like the shimano motor has less torque. Is it a big enough difference to be a deal breaker?

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

shimano motor has less torque. Is it a big enough difference to be a deal breaker?

Not at all. It's barely noticeable (to me).

What is noticable is the noise and the more aggressive torque curve, especially in Boost at the initial pedal stroke and at the cut out speed. I wouldn't worry so much about this though as Shimano could sort this via firmware updates. The noise, well, you're stuck with that.

 

[stiv674]

Not at all. It's barely noticeable (to me).

What is noticable is the noise and the more aggressive torque curve, especially in Boost at the initial pedal stroke and at the cut out speed. I wouldn't worry so much about this though as Shimano could sort this via firmware updates. The noise, well, you're stuck with that.

Having ridden both I'd agree with that, I still think the Levo has the slight edge in peak power or torque, and the Shimano is a bit on and off in boost mode.

In trail mode the shimano is excellent though, but it is quite a bit noisier, my mates Levo is virtually silent.