[Closed] YT Carpa Good/Bad experiences

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Size up from what you think, ignore the distance seller naysayers (I've had far worse experiences from good old lbs/distributor), enjoy.

As above, great bikes, great spec. Reach does unfortunately come up a bit short so I echo the above about sizing up if you're anywhere near the crossover point. I'm 5'10 and the M I was recommended was just too short. I ended up selling the frame on and getting a Patrol, and moving a load of bits over as it was just too short for me. Still worked out as very good value though.

I personally found it more of a 'plough through everything' bike, whereas the Patrol is more fun and poppy. There's a lot said about the BB being too high, but when sagged is really not

My pro with the X2 was so plush though. And very quiet.

Oh, and my experience with customer service was excellent. My friend has a Jeffsy and had shock issues. There was a bit of the delay answering his initial response, but once at the front of the queue they were really fast.

Nothing but a good experience for me. Had a carbon capra for 2 years, has not missed a beat, apart from sagging reverb, which was sorted with a new one in 1 week.

Just got a capra, no complaints.

Got the base AL model, kept the group/brakes, moved everything else over from my current bike, got a float X2 to go with the 36s I already had.

Isn't horrible for XC pedalling, not what it's for.

There's a lot said about the BB being too high, but when sagged is really not

Most people aren't considering the mega progression to the linkage, this means near 3:1 leverage ratio at the beginning and under 2 and the end, means that around the sag region, 30% shock sag is more like 35% wheel displacement, so you end up in the bike. Plus if you're going for the fox version, it'll have a 70mm stroke on the shock rather than the 66mm, so you end up sagged in a little further too.

Patrol is more fun and poppy

I find a patrol a "rubbish" capra. Just found that the sort of stuff this sort of bike is really good for, I'd bottom out the patrol just looking at it, which meant I had to run it too hard with too little sag which made the bb high and the front end steep. The capra is way more neutral on the pedals 2, you can take this 2 ways, I run a 28t chainring on the capra for pedalling to get the anti-squat up, bump the chainring up to 32t if I want it more neutral, the patrol was no neutral enough through the pedals for me on proper rough stuff.

Seat tubes are a bit long, some of the reason for getting an AL, not scared of taking 20mm off the seat tube. Also the carbon has an integrated headset so you cant fir a reach adjust headset, you can on the AL. Plus I've witnessed carbons break and only get a crash replacement.

I'm 5ft10" on a large, isn't too short, but will try a +5mm reach adjust headset just to see if there's any actual difference.

Loving my CF Pro 2016. 5'10" on a medium, which I find perfect. It did replace a 15" Orange Blood though. I prefer a smaller frame. All down to preference, so best to try before you buy if you can. Climbs ok and is great for descending and blasting through rock gardens. No regrets. There's a huge thread on pinkbike that has lots of info.

The other thing I'd put out there, why not a jeffsy?

Awesome bike, shocking aftersales - I have recently had my forks replaced under warranty but it took them almost 3 months. Emails and messages were ignored until I threatened legal action.

They are short in the top tube compared to many 'modern geo' bikes and unless you are riding some serious tech on a regular basis the Jeffsy is probably better suited to the majority of UK riding.

I absolutely love mine but I can't see me buying another.

I find a patrol a "rubbish" capra. Just found that the sort of stuff this sort of bike is really good for, I'd bottom out the patrol just looking at it, which meant I had to run it too hard with too little sag which made the bb high and the front end steep. The capra is way more neutral on the pedals 2, you can take this 2 ways, I run a 28t chainring on the capra for pedalling to get the anti-squat up, bump the chainring up to 32t if I want it more neutral, the patrol was no neutral enough through the pedals for me on proper rough stuff.

Just shows there's no one fits all solution 🙂 The Capra is a bigger bike - too big for most of the stuff I used it for TBH. Patrol is perfect.
I'm not saying the Patrol is better, I'm saying it suited me better 🙂 I totally get that if you want to hit gnarly stuff and smash through rock gardens the Capra has the edge )
On the other hand The patrol left me wanting for nothing at Ard Rock - it's just personal preference.

Capra AL1 2015 model here. I'm 6'2" or 1.89m and a large fits fine.

Do it all bike for me; DH'ing in the alps last month and just rode 60 miles/100km L2B offroad on it on Saturday.

Stock bike as per new, only thing I've replaced are brake pads and it's done five alpine trips during that time (three weeks for me, 2015, 2016 & 2017 and my son borrowed it in 2016 & 2017 - different weeks).

I belong to the YT FB page and a lot of people with the carbon models seem to complain about hairline cracks in the paint but that isn't an issue with alu.

The other thing I'd put out there, why not a jeffsy?

Considering the Jeffsy as well, but have the chance to ride a Carpa later this week so wanted to know what folk think. I have just trashed my Lapierre 916 Spicy that has a 160mm travel, so the Carpa has a little more and the Jeffsy a little less. Whilst I enjoy hitting bigger trails, french alps road trips once a year, I like a bike I can play on rather than smash through everything. Sounds like the Jeffsy might also be a contender.

My mate's Base spec Jeffsy 29 is bloody brilliant. So much fun. Definitely a more spritely bike than the Capra. Top tube is a little longer as well IIRC.

I've had the CF Comp 1 for 2 years. It's been my only bike and I've found it great to ride and very versatile. Good for downhill tracks, climbs really well and is good for longer easy going bimbles.