{"id":43278,"date":"2022-11-03T16:00:28","date_gmt":"2022-11-03T15:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=702563"},"modified":"2022-11-03T16:18:13","modified_gmt":"2022-11-03T15:18:13","slug":"yt-industries-rolls-into-gravel-with-the-front-suspension-szepter","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/yt-industries-rolls-into-gravel-with-the-front-suspension-szepter\/","title":{"rendered":"YT Industries rolls into gravel with the front-suspension Szepter"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Ben Delaney\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 03 November 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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YT Industries, the direct-to-consumer German mountain bike<\/a> brand, has entered the gravel bike<\/a> market with the Szepter, a 40mm-travel front-suspension gravel bike.<\/p>\n

It features upright geometry \u2013 leaning towards the brand\u2019s gravity DNA \u2013 and includes a dropper post<\/a> on the more expensive of the two models.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Szepter is our interpretation of a gravity-oriented gravel bike,\u201d says YT product development manager Frank D\u00f6rr.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn our point of view, that\u2019s where gravel should get; it\u2019s about having fun on the trail, having fun on the downhill. At YT, we are very much a gravity-oriented brand, so the Szepter is in keeping with that.\u201d<\/p>\n

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A RockShox Rudy Ultimate XPLR 40mm Solo Air fork smoothes out the ride.<\/span><\/figcaption> YT Industries<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The Szepter is priced competitively. The Szepter Core 4, with a SRAM Force groupset, RockShox Rudy Ultimate XPLR<\/a> fork and a SRAM dropper post, costs \u00a34,499 \/ $4,499 \/ \u20ac4,499.<\/p>\n

The dropper-less Szepter Core 3 with SRAM Rival and a RockShox Rudy XPLR<\/a> fork is priced at \u00a33,199 \/ $3,299 \/ \u20ac3,299.<\/p>\n

The Szepter Core 4 and 3 are available now.<\/p>\n

YT Szepter \u2013 Positioned for fun on the hills<\/h2>\n
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The tall head tube contributes to the MTB-like position.<\/span><\/figcaption> YT Industries<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Although the gravel category has only existed for a few years, it has already splintered into \u2018fast gravel\u2019 race bikes and \u2018adventure gravel\u2019 machines, with the former being steeper and lighter, and the latter being slacker and built for carrying loads.<\/p>\n

The Szepter skews more towards adventure gravel riding<\/a> with its geometry, but the company is insistent the bike isn\u2019t built for bikepacking<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the Szepter, we would like to inspire mountain bikers and existing YT Industries customers with a bike that\u2019s designed for good times, for casual riding, for trail fun, and even for commuting,\u201d D\u00f6rr says.<\/p>\n

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A SRAM Wide crank is plugged into a SRAM Dub PressFit bottom bracket.<\/span><\/figcaption> YT Industries<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

\u201cSome people may have expected a full-suspension gravel bike from us, but we weren\u2019t trying to make a crazy ride. We are aiming for mountain bikers who are interested in trying gravel.\u201d<\/p>\n

So what does a \u201cgravity-oriented gravel bike\u201d look like? For starters, the head tube is quite slack at 69.4 degrees (most gravel bikes are well north of 70 degrees) for handling stability, while the stack is quite high, and the reach is quite short.<\/p>\n

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YT pairs a 38t ring to the 10-44 12-speed cassette.<\/span><\/figcaption> YT Industries<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The bike comes only with a single 70mm stem length \u2013 regardless of frame size \u2013 and the seat tube is a steep 74.4 degrees.<\/p>\n

This all adds up to an upright body position and, for most riders, a handlebar that sits about level with the saddle.<\/p>\n

When combined with a shallow handlebar, YT says the rider is well positioned for descending steep trails in the flared drops.<\/p>\n

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YT chose shallow drops to keep the rider upright.<\/span><\/figcaption> YT Industries<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The steep seat tube angle is notable because the tendency in gravel bikes is to have a slacker seat tube.<\/p>\n

However, YT points out that if you\u2019re going to be riding down steep stuff, you\u2019re likely going to be riding up steep stuff, too \u2013 so the ability to get your body forward should help in applying power to the pedals when climbing.<\/p>\n

Also of note is the brake configuration, with a big 180mm front rotor for stronger braking power, paired to a more standard 160mm rear.<\/p>\n

Stiff where needed, soft where wanted<\/h2>\n
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Dropper post? Check. More specifically, a SRAM Reverb AXS XPLR 50mm model.<\/span><\/figcaption> YT Industries<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

YT director of product Reynaldo Ilagan says a key design target for the Szepter was to \u201camplify riders\u2019 confidence\u201d, pointing to the MTB-derived thinking around the new bike.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe suspension fork gives you more control. That\u2019s been clear from the beginning,\u201d Ilagan says.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe head tube height was chosen [to provide] a good position in the drops. The head tube angle and reach were also selected [to boost rider] confidence. These are things that we have known in mountain bikes for years.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bikes come with 700 x 42c WTB Resolute<\/a> tubeless tyres, mounted to the specced WTB alloy rims. The frame and fork can accommodate up to 45mm-wide tyres.<\/p>\n

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Front and rear mudguards are integrated into the frame and fork.<\/span><\/figcaption> YT Industries<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The down tube and head tube are built for maximum stiffness, but the skinny seatstays are claimed to allow for a bit of flex.<\/p>\n

All the built-in compliance adds up to a maximum of 8mm of movement at the saddle under load.<\/p>\n

The top model gets a SRAM AXS dropper post, while the more affordable model has a 27.2mm Zipp Service course post.<\/p>\n

External routing and 1x only<\/h2>\n
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One positive with the AXS system is if your rear-derailleur battery dies, you can swap it with the one on the dropper post.<\/span><\/figcaption> YT Industries<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

While routing brake hoses into the bars and stem has become commonplace in high-end gravel bikes, YT opted to keep the brakes routed externally.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s super-important for the YT customer to be able to service the bike by themselves, and this makes it easier,\u201d Ilagan says.<\/p>\n

YT also decided against a front derailleur option, which opened up frame design and tyre clearance.<\/p>\n

The bike isn\u2019t light. The Szepter Core 4 weighs a claimed 9.9kg \/ 21.8lb in a size small, and the Core 3 weighs a claimed 9.8kg \/ 21.6lb, also in a size small.<\/p>\n

YT Szepter Core 4 and Core 3 geometry<\/h2>\n
<\/colgroup>
\ufeff<\/th>S<\/b><\/th>M<\/b><\/th>L<\/b><\/th>XL<\/b><\/th>XXL<\/b><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Seat angle \u2013 effective<\/b> (degrees)<\/td>74.3<\/td>74.4<\/td>74.4<\/td>74.4<\/td>74.4<\/td> <\/tr>
Head angle<\/b> (degrees)<\/td>69.3<\/td>69.4<\/td>69.4<\/td>69.4<\/td>69.4<\/td> <\/tr>
Chainstay<\/b> (mm)<\/td>425<\/td>425<\/td>425<\/td>425<\/td>425<\/td> <\/tr>
Seat tube<\/b> (mm)<\/td>450<\/td>480<\/td>500<\/td>530<\/td>550<\/td> <\/tr>
Top tube<\/b> (mm)<\/td>558<\/td>578<\/td>593<\/td>613<\/td>628<\/td> <\/tr>
Head tube<\/b> (mm)<\/td>125<\/td>145<\/td>170<\/td>190<\/td>205<\/td> <\/tr>
Bottom bracket drop<\/b> (mm)<\/td>61<\/td>61<\/td>62<\/td>62<\/td>62<\/td> <\/tr>
Wheelbase<\/b> (mm)<\/td>1,054<\/td>1,076<\/td>1,095<\/td>1,115<\/td>1,132<\/td> <\/tr>
Stack<\/b> (mm)<\/td>650<\/td>669<\/td>697<\/td>711<\/td>754<\/td> <\/tr>
Reach<\/b> (mm)<\/td>384<\/td>398<\/td>407<\/td>422<\/td>433<\/td> <\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>