For riders who want to push the trail bike limits, without suffering on the climbs or carrying too much weight on those all-day adventure rides, the latest version of Izzo Core is ideal.

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The most significant change is YT adding more front suspension travel. Fork stroke has grown to 140mm, complemented by 130mm of frame travel, which makes the Izzo Core range suited for hardcore trail riding. 

With the longer travel fork, geometry changes slightly, with the Izzo Core’s head angle slacking to 65.7-degree in the ‘lo’ flip-chip setting. Reach measures 467mm on a size large, and to ensure excellent rear-end agility through switchbacks, the Izzo Core range features size-specific chainstays (432mm S, M, and L, 437mm in XL-XXL). 

The three build kits

YT offers a selection of builds for the new 140mm forked Core range. Entry level is the Core 1, featuring a Marzocchi Z2 Bomber fork and brand-matching inline shock. 
Core 1 features a Shimano Deore M6100 1x12 drivetrain and 10-51t cassette for all the climbing bail-out ratios – when needed. Brakes are also Deore M6100, clamping 203mm rotors on the front hub and a 180mm rotor at the rear. 

241010_TWD_Nuernberg_YTI_bikecheck_izzo_0014_edited_max_w.jpeg, by Liam Mercer

Rolling the Core 1 along are 30mm internal diameter SunRingle SR329 wheels with 2.4in width Maxxis Minion DHR II EXO tyres. YT’s Core 1 build weighs 14.9kg (32.8lb) and priced at £2,700.

Upgrade to the Core 2, and you gain a Rockshox Pike Select + fork with Charger 3.1 damper internals, allowing external high- and low-speed compression adjustment for riders who are keen tinkerers. The Pike fork is balanced by a Deluxe Select+ rear shock. 
Core 2 builds roll Crankbrothers Synthesis XCT wheels, with 2.4in wide Maxxis DHR II tyres, featuring EXO and EXO+ casings, front and rear. The drivetrain and brake specification on YT’s Izzo Core 2 builds are Shimano SLX, with similar ratios and brake rotor sizes to the Core 1. Priced at £3,300, the Core 2 is claimed to weigh 14.3kg (31.5lb).

241010_TWD_Nuernberg_YTI_bikecheck_izzo_0112_edited_max_w.jpeg, by Liam Mercer

YT’s premium new Izzo build is the Core 3. If you like umlauts on your suspension casings, you’ll love the Core 3’s Öhlins RXF36 M.3 fork and TTX1 rear shock. These Swedish suspension components feature excellent external adjustability for riders who want to balance small bump sensitivity and big-hit comfort on their local trails.

The drivetrain and brake specifications on the Core 3 are similar to those of the Core 2, with Shimano SLX, but the wheelset is a notable upgrade, with Core 3 rolling DT Swiss’s proven XM1700 hoops. The Core 3 weighs 14.2kg (31.3lb) and is priced at £4,500.

All Izzo Core builds feature a 50mm stem and 780mm handlebar combination for optimal control and stability on steep, technical descents. There’s an integrated Fidlock magnetic mount under the top tube for riders who want to use the high-volume Thirstmaster 5000 bottle, but prefer the slick look of a bike without a traditional bottle cage. 

• www.yt-industries.com

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