YT goes gravel with the SZEPTER

by 19

How do you pronounce that then? YT Industries has always been a mountain bike brand but now it’s getting into where mountain biking first started: gravel.

And because it is YT, there’s a launch vid…

https://youtu.be/OQAXguGNFtM

The YT SZEPTER is a gravel bike designed for “maximum fun downhill and amplifying rider confidence”.

YT is offering two different models: Core 3 (£3,199) and Core 4 (£4,399). Both feature Rockshox Rudy suspension forks and SRAM AXS groupsets.

Press Release:

ZEPTER: Conquer your own path

November 3rd, 2022 – Becoming sovereign is no easy task. Being empowered to take control of your journey with grandmaster confidence while having fun every step of the way is an enviable achievement to many. Well, envy no more. The specialists of Good Times have developed a new way of uncaging your potential – it’s time to take the SZEPTER and conquer your own path. Featuring the latest SRAM XPLR components, an Ultra-Modulus carbon fiber frame and a RockShox Rudy XLPR fork, the SZEPTER supports the call to expand your all-day adventures and challenge the conventional commute.

YT Industries are mountain bikers at heart, and the SZEPTER reflects that – the same designers who crushed it with the CAPRA, JEFFSY, and IZZO are on the job here, backed by a proven track record of designing all-out fun, test-winning bikes. The SZEPTER is a gravel bike but on your terms, ready to open your eyes to a new level of two-wheel entertainment.

Geometry & Frame

Gravel by category, gravity by nature. Every YT platform conceived is governed by the purest thrill of freewheeling downhill – the SZEPTER is no exception. The Ultra-Modulus Carbon dropped seatstay frame, 69.3° head angle and RockShox Rudy XPLR suspension fork inspire rebellion within every rider without sacrificing the efficiency needed to tear up climbs. The drop-stay rear triangle is clean and reactive, while a 74.3° seat angle across the size range enhances body positioning during ascents. The 30.9mm seat tube uses a shimmed 27.2mm seatpost, permitting MTB-specific options for some serious drop. A maximum insertion depth of 275mm on the larger frame sizes ensures compatibility with up to a 150mm dropper post, allowing for superior mobility on challenging terrain.

The curved seat tube transitions into the integrated fender, conforming with the dynamic silhouette of the frame while keeping grime at bay. Not one to do half a job, the RockShox Rudy XPLR receives a YT-designed fender too. Thirsty reading this? The SZEPTER has plenty of mounts within reach of the cockpit – two under the top tube plus water bottle placements on the seat tube and downtube for massive days in the saddle.

Specification

Control, confidence and comfort are vital ingredients for a gravel platform. Luckily for you, both specifications of SZEPTER bolster these aspects while staying true to the YT-DNA and delivering the best possible price-performance ratio available. Firstly, the CORE 4 offers peak performance from its premium spec. Leading the charge is a RockShox Rudy Ultimate suspension fork providing 40mm of tunable travel, allowing you to blast technical descents with total control. Sprinting up road climbs is no problem – just flick the lockout lever to increase efficiency. The SRAM Force XPLR AXS collection defines steadfast function, offering the most reliable and intuitive shifting experience. The 10-44T XPLR cassette provides optimal gearing steps and range, and when the fun needs to stop, the 180/160mm HS2 rotors have your braking covered. The arrival of the dropper post revolutionized rider confidence throughout the cycling community, which is why the CORE 4 features a RockShox Reverb AXS XPLR with adjustable ActiveRideTM technology. A Zipp Service Course SL cockpit, Fizik Terra Bondcush bartape and SDG Bel-Air V3 Overland saddle have the contact points covered, while the WTB Proterra Light i23 wheels and 42c Resolute tires round off rolling duties. The CORE 3 follows in the footsteps of the CORE 4, featuring a RockShox Rudy XPLR fork, SRAM Rival XPLR AXS groupset, WTB Speedterra i23 wheels, and a Zipp Service Course cockpit and seatpost.

yt-industries.com

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Home Forums YT goes gravel with the SZEPTER

  • This topic has 19 replies, 15 voices, and was last updated 2 years ago by the00.
Viewing 19 posts - 1 through 19 (of 19 total)
  • YT goes gravel with the SZEPTER
  • chipps
    Full Member

    That’s a very ‘Forrest Gump’ video. Does the bike only work when you’re flat out, out the saddle? 🙂

    Room for a longer dropper is welcome, though it’s not as much of a dropped top tube as the Evil* Chamois Hagar, another ‘aggro’ gravel machine.

    * With acknowledgement to @frogstomp 🙂

    ayjaydoubleyou
    Full Member

    gravel bikes look fun. Not an owner but enjoyed a holiday rental a few years back.
    This looks like decent specs…
    but not with a suspension fork. What is the point?

    chipps
    Full Member

    The suspension does work surprisingly well – while it’s not a boulder swallower, it adds a lot of confidence and reduces finger and eyeball jarring on descents. The Rudy fork is super easy to lock and unlock, too, which means that it’s not a pain on the climbs/flats either.

    IdleJon
    Free Member

    Why, in the promo video, is the rider pedalling everywhere so manically? It’s very odd!

    frogstomp
    Full Member

     as the Transition Chamois Hagar, another ‘aggro’ gravel machine

    Evil will be livid when they find out Transition have nicked their bike’s name! 😜

    saxabar
    Free Member

    Blimey, not exactly an n+1 bargain. Mudguard also like to be “should form follow function” divisive.

    chakaping
    Full Member

    The mudguard is the least of its problems, aesthetically.

    Anyone remember when YT bikes were good value and quite attractive?

    jamesfts
    Free Member

    Wow that’s ugly. That’s a shame, was interested to see YT’s taken on a gravel bike but wow that’s ugly. Its like they’re trying to make it look like an ebike or something?

    bigblackshed
    Full Member

    Why, in the promo video, is the rider pedalling everywhere so manically? It’s very odd!

    It’s got a new gravel specific saddle on it. One you’re not allowed to sit on.

    Wow that’s ugly

    That’s why it was filmed in the dark. So you can’t see how spectacularly ugly it is.

    ads678
    Full Member

    Boy needs to chill out and sit down for a bit. It’s a gravel bike not a cross bike. No wonder he was knackered at the end.

    I do now want to ride down an old bob sled run though!!

    rootes1
    Free Member

    when gravel gets to this stage, you might as well just get a nice XC MTB.

    fivetones
    Full Member

    Jumps and skids. Yep, that’s what gravel is all about. 😀

    weeksy
    Full Member

    Most bizarre launch video i’ve seen for the type of bike it is…. Will they be doing an XC cruise launch round a lake for their DH bike ?

    cookeaa
    Full Member

    Does the bike only work when you’re flat out, out the saddle? 🙂

    It’s bloody exhausting just watching it…
    That Video doesn’t really present a very relatable vision of “Gravel” cycling does it.

    I do wonder what the marketing Dept’s notes to the video Director were:

    Sprint everywhere!!!! round town, in traffic, in abandoned buildings! shoulder the bike, run up some stairs!!! Stare into the distance from the rooftops of derelict buildings like a sort of pedal powered version of the Dark knight… More Sprinting! until you’ve escaped the Filthy city, ride some MTB trails, Ride an abandoned Tobogan track(?!!???) All flat out!!!!
    Slow-Mo of tyres shredding the… moss, bit of Drone footage… Stare as menacingly into the camera as a man in a bicycle helmet can… Brooding Endtro music…

    YT are very much an MTB company aren’t they…

    Buy this bike if you’re not entirely sure what sort of bike riding you want to do but you know “Gravel” is currently on-trend.

    That chap does need to take up CX racing 🙂

    chakaping
    Full Member

    The video is awesome and a real cut above the normal bike launch promos, in terms of production quality, filming etc.

    The bike is minging though.

    IdleJon
    Free Member

    That chap does need to take up CX racing 🙂

    If he tried to ride like that in a CX race he’d be lapped by most of the field about 3 laps in, while he tried to ‘get his puff back’. 😀

    ayjaydoubleyou
    Full Member

    If he tried to ride like that in a CX race he’d be lapped by most of the field about 3 laps in, while he tried to ‘get his puff back’. 😀

    Kind of like horses in movies that gallop everywhere (but no shot is longer than about 10 seconds) giving the implication that you’ll be getting to Mordor or Dodge City or wherever in short order.

    That chap will be good at racing on instagram, but not strava.
    Although they canned their DH team and never AFAIK got an XC team together on the IZZO. So maybe thats what they want.

    IdleJon
    Free Member

    Kind of like horses in movies that gallop everywhere

    And Tom Cruise in every running scene.

    the00
    Free Member

    Is there an ‘aggro gravel bike’ like that can still take a front mech? Not including the very nice but very expensive Evil Chamois Hagar.

Viewing 19 posts - 1 through 19 (of 19 total)

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