My mate Alex likes to warn me. About bad doctors, sloppy car mechanics, missing out on tax returns and, of course, bargains: "Tank of Super Plus, no cheap H&M T-shirts, save up for a Ducati 966!" - that's Alex. When I wanted to buy the YT "Wicked", Alex just shook his head. "A mail-order bike, they're no good!" But as often as Alex is right, he has no idea about bikes.
I only had to take a quick look at the "Wicked Pro" and knew that only top parts were fitted to the bike. The classy BOS suspension elements really flirted with me. And at such a competitive price! Nevertheless, equipment isn't everything. Geometry and handling have to be right for a bike to become a superbike - no "From and To" on the nameplate helps. Two things irritated me about the YT. Firstly: 650 B. At that time, I hadn't yet tried the larger rollers. Secondly, the then still very new "XX1" groupset with a single chainring. Would I be able to get up the steep Alpine peaks in my neighbourhood without pressing a blood clot into my temples? My motto: "Test ride, then decide!" So I signed up for the Specialized Enduro race on Lake Garda.
Anyone who knows the Lago knows that it's a steep climb. And? Actually: I got up there - surprisingly smoothly. That's saying something, because a) it was well over 1000 metres in altitude, and b) I'm more comparable to fat people in terms of fitness (why is that?). Nevertheless, the YT purred willingly uphill with its 75 mm seat angle and the bob-free suspension elements. And then it finally went downhill: Yeehaa! I was curious about the big wheels. Would I notice anything? At first I thought: Wow, they're rolling all over the place, fantastic! The second moment: Didn't I already ride over them with my 26ers without any problems? At some point I didn't care. One thing is certain: The YT is a force downhill - and that's what matters most to me. Thanks to the downhill-orientated geo, the slack 65 mm head angle and the plush qualities of the suspension elements, it whizzes through even the nastiest scree like a mini downhiller. At 14.2 kilos (including pedals), it is also fun to whip around your home trails.
The wide range of use suits me: epic rides in the Alps, after-work laps along the Isar or occasional bike park missions - anything goes! After a year, the wheels were a bit muck. Too many blunt drops and all of a sudden the E-Thirteen "TRS+" were wobbling and could no longer be centred. They were replaced with the 2015 models. Then the fork clonked, but every time I wanted to send it in, the noise disappeared. No matter, the performance didn't suffer - just my nerves. The "XX1" bottom bracket with its cracking was also a problem. Quickly out with it. And the frame? It was unimpressed.
CONCLUSIONThe YT "Wicked Pro" impresses with its wide range of use. I liked the downhill-orientated geo straight away. The super enduro is exactly to my taste - I would ride it for a few more years!
PLUS Chassis, equipment, price
MINUS Impellers
Test time2 years (2013 model)
Weight13.9 kilos (without pedals)
Pricefrom 2999 Euro
Info: www.yt-industries.com
Laurin Lehner
Editor
