[Closed] YT Izzo as good as the hype?

Sounds like that chap has swallowed every bike review over the past 5 years and regurgitated it in that one video. If I was playing bike review bingo I would have a full house 🙂

Haha, he does love chucking out the words.

Interested to hear any thoughts and experiences with the izzo as well.

Cheers.

Sounds like that chap has swallowed every bike review over the past 5 years and regurgitated it in that one video.

I was expecting worse! He didn't go full Guy Kesteven.

Looks like a nice bike, probably the type of bike a lot of us should have really.

Push fit BB... and I'm out. I can't get on with them. Maybe this one has greater engineering tolerances than any previous ones I've had, but I don't fancy taking the risk especially with it being a direct to consumer brand.
It does look a great bike for around the south Downs where I live and is a hell of a lot cheaper than the Transition Spur.

For what it is, it looks, sounds and appears to be pretty much up there, it's decent value as well, but the youtube video was a bit weird, fox 34 being beefier than SIDs (now 35mm), or the other stuff about tech and geometry, it's nothing ground breaking, but it is up there at the top of the field, and at 1500 quid less than the Spur it'll have enough people buying it.

Just specced up a Bird Aether 9c to as close as the YT Izzo Pro at £3500 and it also came out at £3500, with GX eagle, pike RC2 ultimate, deluxe shock, same wheels,

That's another option - 130 rear, 140/150 front.

Oh and for the YT, they've just opened a shop in Dorking, Surrey so that should make things easier for warranty.

Push fit BB… and I’m out. I can’t get on with them. Maybe this one has greater engineering tolerances than any previous ones I’ve had, but I don’t fancy taking the risk especially with it being a direct to consumer brand.
It does look a great bike for around the south Downs where I live and is a hell of a lot cheaper than the Transition Spur.

Hope PF41, no creaks at all, ever. Every bearing is a press fit and will work if the tolerancing is correct, but as this is the bike industry with their often questionable quality and QC, threaded seems to less susceptible to creaks and groans.

I'm on the lookout for something alongside my big bike, needs to have a short top tube though, as I've found I prefer that way more.

The bird has been beaten with an ugly stick, repeatedly, so thats a nope. Izzo and Spur are very similar, I have a build kit sat at home, save for forks and a frame, so I'm not too bothered about the value, its either a full izzo for 3.5k or a spur frame/fork for 3.5ish.

Rumour has it that there is a privateer 121 and 141 on the way.

Seems a fair enough review. He's not saying "it climbs like an XC bike and descends like a DH bike".

It's a lightweight trail bike with reasonably good geometry - so it should be excellent for UK woodland singletrack.

The bike seems a safe bet, if you're after a lightweight trail bike and like the geometry OP. I'd prefer a bit more on the chainstay myself, but wouldn't say no if you offered me one.

spur frame/fork for 3.5ish

They're slightly more travel (130 and 140mm), but if you're spending that much, I'd be looking at a Deviate Highlander or Forbidden Druid.

That cosmic eggplant on the druid....

Wibble.

Oh and for the YT, they’ve just opened a shop in Dorking, Surrey so that should make things easier for warranty.

It's in Guildford*, but yeah, the Izzo is on the list. Think the Comp version is more in my budget though...

*unless there's another one I haven't seen yet?
https://www.yt-industries.com/uk/campaign/index/emotionId/457

if you’re spending that much, I’d be looking at a Deviate Highlander or Forbidden Druid.

Yes £3k for a Transition frame is silly, but those alternatives are not very downcountry.

I think it's a segment that we'll see a lot more options in. Short-travel 29ers are just the most-fun bikes most of the time.

Ah yes, sorry - Guildford, not Dorking. T'other side of the Surrey Hills.

Unit 6A Pew Corner, GU31LP Guildford

Yes £3k for a Transition frame is silly, but those alternatives are not very downcountry.

I think it’s a segment that we’ll see a lot more options in. Short-travel 29ers are just the most-fun bikes most of the time.

Ahh, yeah if you're wanting a burlier xc bike then yeah they're probably a bit too much.

Short travel trail bike that can still handle 90% of stuff, then yeah they're great.

My 150mm 29er Jeffsy is perfect, nothing wrong with it, but it doesn't stop me from REALLY wanting a forbidden druid... 😀

Druid is on the list to try, but I get the feeling its more of the enduro end, which I've already got covered (which may possibly be replaced with a geometron or Raaw).

After a bike for trail/xc riding, will be kept as that as well. Unless I can find a 140/130 bike that fits the bill and could be ridden places where the 161 is overkill.

After a bike for trail/xc riding

I got a secondhand Orange Stage 4 frame, with a -2 deg slackset it's arguably got better geometry than the Izzo and only gives up a couple of pounds in weight.

Very lively and engaging ride, 110mm rear 130mm front.

The new Stage Evo looks better still, but obviously it's £££.

Oh and for the YT, they’ve just opened a shop in Dorking, Surrey so that should make things easier for warranty.

Have you got more info on this? Search results turned up nothing. I'm surprised a DTC brand has a shop.

Have you got more info on this? Search results turned up nothing. I’m surprised a DTC brand has a shop.

one of my mates had a nightmare with his. First ride out he said the crank didnt feel right, then thought it maybe the pedals. Changed the pedals then half our into his next ride on it the crank arm actually snappped.
Decided he didnt like it and sent it back and is waiting on a refund.

I got a secondhand Orange Stage 4 frame, with a -2 deg slackset it’s arguably got better geometry than the Izzo and only gives up a couple of pounds in weight.

Very lively and engaging ride, 110mm rear 130mm front.

The new Stage Evo looks better still, but obviously it’s £££.

Orange is an option, but my previous demo's of them, they dont pedal all that well.

Orange is an option, but my previous demo’s of them, they dont pedal all that well.

At the risk of derailing this thread, the newer Oranges pedal incredibly well.

Too well for some, who don't like huge amounts of anti-squat, but I also have a four-bar 170mm 29er - so it's the perfect contrast for me.

Definitely demo before buying though, as not everyone will like the taut ride feel.

At risk of upsetting the apple cart by answering the OP's question 🙂 ...

I've had the Pro Race for about five weeks now (replacing a transition patrol). Like most people with a new bike, I'm really pleased with it - it goes up really well, to the point where i put my weight too far forward because that's what I'm used to having to do and have to tell myself to sit back a bit more. Goes down very well too, you start to notice a bit of flex in the front end (34s) on the really steep technical stuff but generally very capable - lets not forget 130mm of travel was pretty Gnarr until a few years ago! Where it really excels is on fast flowy trails where it really is unbelievably fast. All in all it's an ideal bike for the UK

Spec is as usual with direct brands pretty nuts for the money especially now you can get it on Bike to work (GCI)

I've had my pro race for a few months now, done a decent mix of rides, got to say it is so well suited to UK trails. limbs exceptional well, even in open is a joy. Its no sofa going down but it handles the rough pretty well. Defiantly need to ride it and pick a line, but to be fair it makes for an engaging ride. Loving it so far. And the price, well there is no competition for the weight, spec and capability. I lusted after a Ripley v4 for a while but couldn't justify the extra coin over the Izzo.

I got a demo bike from YT which I took for a lap of swinley.

Nice bike, looks great in the green. It was definitely a lot better on the downhills, jumps and drop offs than my old Anthem 29er, however I was still a bit faster overall on the anthem on a lot (But not all) of the sections given the anthem climbs so well. I wasn’t too impressed with the forecaster tyres so I’d change them and the brakes were a bit underwhelming, the BB felt quiet low and I had a few more pedal strikes than usual. I think for most of the trails in the U.K. it is a really good option.

What about a Whyte sc120? Seems to get decent reviews and a reasonable amount of bike for the money.