With lesser travel than its MX sibling, and some geometry tweaks, YT Industries has boiled down its Super Natural formula to create the Decoy SN 29. The result is an incredibly accessible and easy-to-ride machine that seriously delivers on the fun factor over a broad variety of terrain. Although it doesn’t hold back when it comes to capability, its bottom bracket is pedal-strikingly low, and I would really appreciate a YT-approved ability to run a mullet wheel size.
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YT Industries Decoy SN 29 Core 4 – Technical details
As the latest e-mountain bike to slip into YT Industries’ quickly growing SN range, the Decoy SN 29 gets a lot of what’s found on the heavier hitting, enduro-focused Decoy SN MX. That’s owing to the fact that the ‘aggressive trail’ bike uses the very same front end. With that, the SN 29 brings internal cable routing (not the through-headset kind), a geometry-adjusting flip chip at the shock yoke, and Fazua’s Ride 60 drive system.
But that’s where the similarities stop. To better suit the bike’s trail intentions, YT has dropped the suspension travel, awarding the bike with 160mm of suspension at the front and 140mm at the rear. It also runs on 29in wheels only, with the wheel size chosen for its greater ability to roll over chunk, and for its known stability.
There are small differences in the motor, too. Of course, it’s the same unit, but this bike features a larger 480Wh battery and everything that came with Fazua’s recent update, including the Nitro mode. For those not in the know, Fazua’s system knocks out 55nm of torque and up to 450w of peak power. However, it must be noted that on this test bike, I ran the 430Wh battery.
YT has also tweaked the SN 29’s suspension kinematic. It goes without saying, there are fewer millimetres to play with, but the brand claims to have made the kinematic plusher at the start of the stroke, and the leverage ratio has been reduced in a bid to create a more linear platform.
As for the geometry, it’s certainly more trail and still rather characteristic of YT Industries. It still shines a light towards that of the older full-fat Decoy, but it’s certainly a more modern affair. Up front, there’s a 64.4-degree head tube angle, and there’s a 447mm chainstay, which is 5mm longer than the Decoy SN MX, and that’s been achieved through a new seatstay. This bike boasts YT’s steepest seat tube angle yet, which sits at a rather upright 78.6 degrees, and the reach on the large frame tested measures 477mm.
YT Industries Decoy SN 29 Core 4 – Componentry
The Decoy SN 29 range is made up of bikes with prices starting at £6,500 and topping out at £9,000 for the Core 4 build on test. Although we’re talking some serious money right here, YT has left absolutely no stone unturned. All of the components are top-end kit and nothing is own-brand, save for the dropper post, which is actually a re-branded SDG Tellis V2.
Each bike in the range gets YT’s Ultra Modulus carbon fibre frame, but on this Core 4, we’ve got Fox’s Factory 36 fork that’s equipped with the brand’s latest GRIP X2 damper, and that’s combined with a Fox Float X Factory shock.
Transferring leg and motor energy to the rear wheel is SRAM’s X0 AXS T-Type drivetrain, which is joined by Race Face’s 160mm Era crankset. Slowing the bike is then a pair of Hayes Dominion A4 brakes, which I’m very happy to see. They provide plenty of power and modulation, but they’re perhaps the simplest brakes to maintain and set up on the market.
As for the wheels, they’re the HXC 1501 carbon hoops supplied by DT Swiss, and they’re wrapped with Maxxis’ Minion DHF and DHR II combo. The former gets a MaxxGrip rubber compound, with the latter benefitting from a firmer MaxxTerra rubber, and both get EXO+ casings.
The finishing kit is then sorted by Race Face with the Era handlebar, and there’s a pair of ODI Elite Motion grips. There’s then an SDG Bel Air V3 Overland saddle. Those two final points, the grips and the saddle, I ended up swapping out as I really didn’t get on with them – the saddle was too narrow and the grips were too thin for my liking.
YT Industries Decoy SN 29 Core 4 – Performance
During my time with the Decoy SN 29, I rode a fairly wide variety of natural and trail centre tracks, and YT has pretty much hit the nail on the head in describing the bike as an aggressive trail bike. It’s versatile and super capable, but it’s certainly not too much and overbearing over less challenging terrain.
But to start off with its climbing performance, there’s incredibly little to moan about. YT’s move to kit the bike with a lengthier chainstay, 29in wheels, and a very steep seat tube has paid off, as when pointed up a hill, it pretty much does the job for you. As rider weight is so central, it’s only when navigating the steepest of steep where some weight management is required, merely to keep the front wheel in check, but elsewhere, it’s sit and spin, especially when the tracks aren’t terribly technical – we’ll touch on this more later.
With that steep seat tube angle and a taller 40mm rise bar, the Decoy SN 29 achieves a very upright riding position. I found it comfortable and very relaxed too, and it’s a position that’ll likely be appreciated by those who suffer lower back problems. Back problems aside, the combination of the longer chainstay, the seat tube angle, and the suppler rear suspension rustles up serious rear wheel traction when the trail points up.
The motor clearly plays a role here, too. Fazua’s Ride 60 motor has had a fairly tumultuous time on the market, and I’ve even fallen foul of reliability issues, but I’m pleased to report that it’s run just fine on my test bike, though I’ve ridden somewhat nervously having had such issues. There has been a bit of noise that was caused by dust buildup up but after a wash, it’s all good. As mentioned before, I’ve been running the smaller battery, but even then, the range it can provide isn’t too shabby, as I’ve racked up over 30km with around 1,000m of ascent. For a mid-power e-MTB equipped with the smaller battery, that’s not bad going, and of course, customer bikes will be able to provide more range without much in the way of weight gain, I’m told – thanks to the new 480Wh battery that’ll come as standard.
On the descents, the bike shows superb balance, as you would expect of a trail bike. But, although it uses a lot of the frame components found on the Decoy SN MX, a bike I found to be very stiff and unforgiving, YT has somehow managed to make the Decoy SN 29 much more forgiving and approachable. Its ride doesn’t rattle the cartilage from your joints, rather, there’s just enough of a hint of compliance to make the bike more tolerable and welcoming of bigger distances without all that much of a compromise.
And I say ‘without compromise’ in more ways than one. It’s a more comfortable bike, but it’s engaging when the trail doesn’t encourage Mach 10 speeds, although it’s more than capable of doing so. That’s credit to the suspension kinematic that YT has conjured. Yes, it’s suppler and certainly more linear, but there’s just enough progression to achieve good communication with the rear wheel, and to stop the rear end from wallowing, or feeling dead.
Additionally, the more linear suspension awards the bike with a ride that feels like it’s got more than just 140mm of travel. Smashing chunkier trails is well within the bike’s remit as it’s liberal with its suspension travel, but still provides good support and bottom-out resistance as the suppleness smooths imperfections.
In fact, I loved pushing the Decoy SN 29 into corners where both its wheelbase and riding position provided a balance and predictable feel, which then encouraged a harder and more aggressive cornering style. With the low bottom bracket thrown into the mix, it inspired loads of confidence when it comes to managing and feeling for traction. That bottom bracket also helps drive the bike through technical terrain, as it lowers the rider’s centre of gravity.
But the low bottom bracket isn’t without its compromises – it’s bordering on too low. With the flip chip in the regular position, the bottom bracket throws a spanner into navigating technical terrain, up for downhill. Notably, I have struck the pedals against trail obstacles much more than I usually would, and that increases with the flip chip in the low position. To be brutally honest, the flip chip felt a little unnecessary as YT has got the Decoy SN 29’s geometry pretty much dialled from the outset.
Another compromise, and one that’s more than expected, is that the lengthier rear end can feel a little too large through tighter corners. This is something you get used to over time, but it could be rectified by installing a 650b rear wheel. However, YT has provided no method of doing so via a geometry-retaining flip chip, and throwing a smaller rear wheel in anyway would only lower the bottom bracket even further.
The comparatively reserved front end does work to combat this as it provides a solidly responsive character that rewards a front-heavy riding style, allowing the rider to slide or lift the rear wheel around turns. Despite the reach not being noticeably long on paper, it still works well with the head angle to provide plenty of support and confidence when the going gets steep.
YT Industries Decoy SN 29 Core 4 – Verdict
At £9,000, the Decoy SN 29 Core 4 is rubbing shoulders with some fairly high-end brands, in which is comes as solid competition, but some others do provide a solid e-MTB experience for a fraction of the cost, with the bike’s main competitors being the Canyon Spectral:ONfly in its top-end CF LTD build.
That bike will set you back £8,349 and it gets somewhat similar componentry, despite it being a little more dated in some respects. The Canyon gets a Fox 36 Factory but with the previous generation GRIP2 damper – it’s still a cracking bit of kit, but not quite as refined as Fox’s latest kit. Then, the finishing kit is standard SRAM (albeit, XX T-Type-level) and some own brand bits and bobs. That’s where the value of the Decoy SN 29 Core 4 starts to come through. Yes, it’s more expensive, but you’ve got posh Race Face Era cranks and a handlebar from the same range. Importantly, you can get more range out of the Decoy SN.
To compare to a high-end bike, Yeti’s new MTE in its base build will set you back £10,000. Its motor is more refined, slightly more powerful, and you can get more range out of i,t but that’s where your money is really going. The build kit isn’t quite as fancy, although the geometry is nearly identical, and if my time with the MTE 3 was anything to go by, it’s a darn good time.
YT Industries certainly hasn’t done things by halves when bringing the Super Natural ethos to a trail-friendly machine. The Decoy SN 29 Core 4 is every bit as ‘YT’ as you would expect, so it’s no slouch on the downs, but it’s superbly balanced with a relaxed demeanor on the climbs. As it’s not so brutally stiff as its enduro-going range mate, it’s a super approachable and welcoming ride that’ll please anyone who wants one e-mountain bike to tackle nearly all terrains. While the brand has pretty much nailed its aggressive trail formula, the seriously low bottom bracket poses a compromise, and given the bike’s somewhat gravity aftertaste, a proper way of installing a 650b rear wheel for a mullet setup would only bring more to an already excellent platform.
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Ultra modulous carbon fibre frame, Fox 36 Factory fork, Float X factory shock, hayes dominion a4 brakes, Race Face Era finishing kit, Dt Swiss wheels.
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