now with Bosch Motor

YT Decoy Gen2 Review

More travel, new motor, surprisingly low weight: YT has completely revamped its full-power Decoy and is using a Bosch CX for the first time. Does the new Decoy ride as awesome as its specs suggest? We’ve tested it.

Youtube Video

YT stays true to itself: The new Decoy continues to be a gravity bike. 180 mm of travel at the front, 170 mm at the rear – combined with a stable rear triangle and well-matched components. From the top model to the entry-level Core 1, there’s a consistent carbon frame, powerful brakes, and bike park-ready tires from Continental.

You might think stepping on the scale isn’t the YT Decoy’s specialty with this setup. But in that aspect, the new Decoy definitely surprised us. Despite a massive 800 Wh battery, the bike remains astonishingly light.

Disclaimer regarding the current situation: YT Industries is currently undergoing a restructuring process. The turmoil that has swept through the bike industry in recent years has somewhat affected the company from Franconia with its roughly 200 employees. However, YT’s operations continue. Bikes can still be ordered. We have prepared a detailed article on the restructuring process for you. Here, we focus solely on the technical review of the new YT Decoy.

YT Decoy Gen 2 Test
A YT bike needs to deliver fun in the bike park. Even though the Decoy is an EMTB, it shouldn't shy away from the jumpline. We put the new Decoy models to the test in various terrains.
YT Decoy Gen 2 Core 4 Review
The new YT Decoy Core 4 top model. At €8,999, it's not cheap, but it comes fully kitted out. YT clearly distances itself from the five-figure prices of the competition.

Weight under 24 kg – with 800-Wh battery!

All versions of the new YT Decoy weigh under 24 kilograms. It may sound unimpressive, but it’s actually a statement: Achieving a weight under 24 kg with an 800-Wh battery is currently something only very few manufacturers can manage. The Santa Cruz Vala or the Bulls EDR might weigh less, but they only feature 600-Wh batteries. YT takes a different approach – and scores with both range and weight. The price for this: a fixed battery that can only be removed by dismantling the motor.

What does this mean in detail?

  • No charging option outside the frame
  • No range extender possible
  • Pros: massive weight savings (800 - 1000 g)
YT Decoy Gen 2 Experiences
Under 24 kilograms is impressive for a bike with a Bosch motor, 800 Wh battery, 180 mm of travel, and genuine gravity tires from Conti. The low weight positively affects handling on the trail.
Santa Cruz Vala
The Santa Cruz Vala is lighter on paper. But it is significantly more expensive, has less travel, and most importantly, only a small 600 Wh battery.
Mondraker Crafty
The Mondraker Crafty features an 800Wh battery but has less travel. At a comparable price of €8,499, we weighed it at just over 24 kilograms.

Fine details & robust craftsmanship

YT once was the cool direct seller with top-notch looks and aggressive pricing. Now the company from Franconia is a serious developer with genuine detailed solutions.

The new battery mount is decoupled from the frame to keep stress peaks away from the power pack. Cables run neatly through full-length housings—rattle-free and easy to maintain. The charging flap was also independently developed. In short: There’s solid ingenuity here. This significantly elevates the bike’s quality. The factory-applied protective films for the frame also show: YT knows what bikers want.

YT Decoy cable routing
The cables are not routed through the headset but instead run traditionally through the head tube. Inside, they are fully guided.
YT Decoy motor cover
The motor cover is equipped with generous air intakes. You likely won't encounter any temperature issues here.
YT Postman Dropper
All models feature the YT dropper post with 200 mm travel.
YT Decoy Tool-Mount
Threads for a tool mount are integrated under the top tube. Unfortunately, only the YT-specific water bottle fits below the shock.
YT Decoy Rear Triangle
The rear triangle is consistently voluminous, which makes it stiff and, above all, reliable for hardcore use.
YT Decoy Battery Cover
The charging flap reliably keeps not only dust but also water away from the electronics. This is not the case with Bosch's standard charging flaps.
YT Decoy Flip Chip
The flip chip also allows for geometry adjustment. However, the "High/Regular" setting is already so low that only a few are likely to choose the low setting.
YT Decoy protective film
The complete bike comes factory-covered with protective film. No extra work needed.

Ride Impression: Gravity Genes with Playful Instinct

Despite its 180 mm of travel, the Decoy doesn’t ride like a sluggish beast. The MX setup with a smaller rear wheel makes it nimble, and the low bottom bracket provides confident cornering. In tight berms, technical sections, or on flow trails, it becomes clear: the new Decoy isn’t just about speed—it can also be precise.

Unlike usual, we kept this bike in the “High” setting with the flip chip. The geometry is already low enough in this setting, so the bike remains agile in handling despite the ample travel.

YT Decoy Test
The high progression at the beginning of the travel makes the bike's handling brilliant even in situations where minimal suspension travel is needed.
Never change a winning team. The classic four-bar linkage rear suspension is used on every full-suspension bike from YT. The expertise that YT has with this setup is evident on the trail.

YT relies on the proven 4-bar linkage for the rear suspension, which is also used on the downhill bikes of Vali Höll and Andi Kolb. And YT shows finesse in tuning. The high progression at the beginning of the travel makes the massive suspension travel manageable on flowy trails. Toward the end, the progression decreases, which ensures that the ride remains stable, especially when things get serious and you’re deep in the travel.

We tested the Decoy with both an air suspension and an Öhlins coil shock. Personally, we preferred the air suspension because it allows for more precise tuning. However, the rear suspension worked excellently with both setups. Additionally, it is very stable with wide supports, a short linkage, and voluminous tubing. This inspires confidence for gravity-oriented riding.

YT Decoy Gen 2 Bikepark
When it gets gnarly, the rear suspension's progression decreases. This keeps the ride feeling smooth in rough terrain.
YT Decoy Gen 2 Experiences
The small 27.5-inch rear wheel allows you to get far enough behind the saddle even on the steepest terrain without ending up with a tire mark on your pants.

Components & Variants

In the top model for €8,999, you get Fox suspension, AXS drivetrain, SRAM Maven brakes, and carbon wheels – leaving nothing to be desired. But: The Core 3 model for €6,999 is also impressive. It weighs only 300 grams more, and with RockShox Select+ suspension and TRP brakes, it rides almost as smoothly – just without the AXS wireless shifting. However, Sram’s mechanical transmission drivetrain works perfectly. For us, it would be the go-to model. It’s still €1,000 cheaper than the Core 2 model with Öhlins suspension, but its performance on the trail remains absolutely on par.

For those looking to save another €1,000, the Core 1 offers a solid overall package but requires compromises in the drivetrain and shock absorber. Nonetheless, the competitive price is likely to appeal to many.

Overview of All New YT Decoy Variants:

Model Price Weight Equipment Feature
Core 4 8.999 € 23.6 kilograms Fox Factory / AXS / SRAM-Maven Top weight + carbon wheels
Core 3 7.999 € 23.8 kilograms Öhlins suspension / AXS transmission / TRP brakes Coil shock
Core 2 6.999 € 23.8 kg RockShox Select+ / TRP brakes / mechanical drivetrain Price-Performance Killer
Core 1 5.999 € 24 Kilo Shimano 1x12 drivetrain/ Marzocchi suspension / base setup good price, compromises in the specs
YT Decoy Gen 2 Core 2
In our opinion, the best deal. With the Decoy Core 2, YT delivers a bike that makes hardly any compromises compared to the top model, but is significantly more affordable at 6999 €.

Bosch motor & range

YT is using Bosch for the first time on the Decoy – and it was the right decision. The new Performance CX is quiet, powerful, precisely controllable – and seamlessly integrated with the Bosch app. The 800 Wh battery capacity is enough for 2,000+ meters of elevation gain in EMTB mode – making long days in the saddle possible.

Bosch CX Gen 5 motor
The small rear wheel, the low bottom bracket, and the generous suspension travel do not make the new Decoy a climbing specialist. Nevertheless, we also mastered challenging uphill sections with it.

You may have slightly less power than with a DJI Bike, but you’re top-notch when it comes to service. No other motor manufacturer has such service structures and such a strong reputation for durability as Bosch. Our test of the Bosch CX motor also makes it clear that with 700 watts, you’re still more than well-equipped. Especially since the motor management is excellent.

Youtube Video

Bosch Kiox 400 C display integrated in the frame

With the Bosch Kiox 400 C display, Bosch finally has a sensible solution for hardcore MTB use. This way, the necessary info is transmitted without the risk of damage from an exposed display. A clear drawback: The display lacks a touch function. Gamechanger: Those who pair the bike with the Bosch app can play GPS tracks on the display. This allows you to navigate solely with the display and eliminates the need for a GPS speedometer. That’s how it’s supposed to be in 2025!

Bosch Kiox 400 C Display
Finally: That's where a display belongs on an eMTB! Even though the Kiox 400 C display doesn't have a touchscreen feature, its navigation option adds real value.

Pro:

  • Very good weight despite large battery
  • Consistent spec across all models
  • Top handling despite 180 mm of travel
  • Clever detail solutions (battery mounting, cable routing)
  • realistic prices

Contra:

  • Battery not removable
  • Bottle cage only compatible with YT bottle
Conclusion on the YT Decoy Gen 2
YT knows how to keep bikers happy and focuses on the crucial aspects of development with the new Decoy, rather than gimmicks nobody needs.

Conclusion: Gravity, but smart

With the new Decoy, YT is launching an EMTB that can do much more than its travel would suggest. Despite 180 mm, the bike remains nimble and precise, and despite the large battery, surprisingly light. The new Bosch motor makes the Decoy future-proof, and the Core-2 variant hits a real sweet spot. If you’re looking for enduro vibes with range and a high-end factor, this bike is hard to pass up.

About the author

Ludwig Döhl

... has spent more than 100,000 kilometers in the saddle of over 1000 different mountain bikes. The bottom line from many hours on the trail: mountain bikes are awesome if they match your personal preferences! With this insight, he founded bike-test.com to help bikers find their very own dream bike.

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