YT Izzo Uncaged drops 10mm and 600g

At 11.4kg* the YT Izzo Uncaged is its lightest full suspension mountain bike yet. The previous lightest YT full susser was the regular Izzo at around 12kg. From its beginnings as a 130mm bike, YT added a 140mm burlier version last year and now here’s a 120mm travel wannabe downcountry model.

There’s only going to be 300 released and in only one build, the £5999 YT Izzo Uncaged 7 which sports RockShox SID Ultimate suspension and SRAM XX1 AXS stuff.

*YT’s claim for a size Small, with inner tubes but without pedals and bottle.

We really liked the original 130mm travel YT Izzo and are looking forward to sampling the Uncaged Izzo to see if gains anything in its loss of travel and weight.

The geometry charts confirm that the Izzo mainframe remains the same Ultra Modulus Carbon construction.

The drop in travel results in a lower slung stance, slightly steeper seat angle (77.5°/77.9°) and a slightly steeper head angle (66.5°/66.9° depending which way you set the rocker linkage’s flip-chip).

YT states that the Izzo Uncaged is a “short travel trail bike [that] is a rocket on XC-like terrain and up climbs”. Which makes it fairly clear where its bias may lay. That, and the fact that it’s Laser Yellow. Yellow bikes are always the fastest uphill.

Contrary to what some may think, the ‘Uncaged’ tag doesn’t signify a burlier or radder geometry or build, Uncaged simply denotes a limited production of unique builds. In this case, 300 models which will almost entirely be sold in Europe and North America.

Despite the limited numbers, YT is still offering the Izzo Uncaged in a range of five sizes (S, M, L, XL, XXL). Reach numbers ranges from a compact 434mm to a sprawling 517mm.

The YT Izzo Uncaged’s XC-centric geometry and Laser Yellow paintjob are backed up by a snazzy specification that’s also clearly aimed towards XC raceheads who still have to enjoy their Sunday shreds…

The trail-worthy RockShox SID Ultimate fork (35mm stanchions by the looks of it) and SIDLuxe Ultimate rear shock can both be locked out by a SRAM TwistLock Full Sprint bar-mounted remote.

Similarly ‘downcountry’ are the brakes: 4-piston SRAM G2 Ultimates with 180/160mm rotors and carbon blades and titanium hardware.

Hauling things back in between the race tapes are the wheels and the cockpit bits. The DT Swiss XCR 1200 Spline wheels are shod in Maxxis Recon race tyres. The Race Face Next SL handlebar is carbon, 167g in weight and 740mm in width.

Ben Haworth

Orange Switch 6er. Stif Squatcher. Schwalbe Magic Mary Purple Addix front. Maxxis DHR II 3C MaxxTerra rear. Coil fan. Ebikes are not evil. I have been a writer for nigh on 20 years, a photographer for 25 years and a mountain biker for 30 years. I have written countless magazine and website features and route guides for the UK mountain bike press, most notably for the esteemed and highly regarded Singletrackworld. Although I am a Lancastrian, I freely admit that West Yorkshire is my favourite place to ride. Rarely a week goes by without me riding and exploring the South Pennines.

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