At YT Industries, the "Wow, how do they do that" factor is already built in. 2999 euros for a bike with complete BOS suspension, X0 drivetrain and brakes, as well as Crossmax SX wheels will make your mouth water. The frame, which weighs 3064 grams without the shock, is a completely independent development and even comes with carbon seat stays. The look is also appealing. The design of the potent French fork has been taken up and runs through the entire bike as if from a single mould. The geometry of the Wicked LTD also deserves praise. A slack head angle with a comfortable bottom bracket height, 428 millimetre chainstays and a steep, climb-friendly seat angle make the Young Talent a versatile enduro bike. You sit integrated in the bike and feel comfortable straight away thanks to the wide cockpit. The BOS Deville fork is one of the best in the comparison, as it already proved in the last suspension fork test. We were curious to see if the Vip'r shock from the same company could keep up. Disappointment at first: the shock gradually ran out of air, it clattered loudly and we couldn't assign a function to the rebound wheel either. Verdict: defective. A replacement shock provided a remedy and breathed good performance into the previously somewhat lifeless rear end. Considering the price, the total weight of 14 kilos including pedals and an integrated Reverb Stealth seatpost is perfectly acceptable. Thanks to the low front end, the YT climbs quite convincingly, even if there is no fork drop. Details such as a lightweight C-guide chain guide make sense, but on our test bike the cable ties for fixing the chainstay tore early on.
ConclusionThe Wicked LTD makes a flawless impression for 2999 euros. Equipment and function are at a very good level. If you're flirting with this bike, you'd better hold out. LTD means: limited availability.
PLUS Balanced handling, good chassis
MINUS Low steering head stiffness, no fork lowering
