Huge travel. Forward driven shocks. Crazy branding. That’s what YT Industries is known for, but the new Izzo light trail mountain bike gets none of those things. Well, maybe the branding, more on that in a sec, but it’s a faster, sharper design that’s something new for the German brand as they turn onto the kinds of trails more of us are riding every day.
Izzo is so… What’s the story, exactly?
YT is better known for more gravity-oriented bikes like the Jeffsy and Capra, but they knew they needed something catering more toward the type of riding most of us do. You know, trail bikes. Bikes that can climb and traverse just as quickly and surefootedly as they can descend. Because most of us don’t live near a bike park or hit the big mountains every day. The new Izzo is that bike.
The name Izzo is actually derived from German lingo “Is’ so”, an abbreviation of “dast ist so”, meaning, that’s the way it is. It’s shape, however, reminded them of a Katana sword’s blade, a weapon that shares the three attributes of the bike – Fast, Agile & Sharp. Hence the Japanese theme to the bike’s branding, which is purely for fun, considering YT is a German brand.
YT Izzo specs and features
The Izzo is a lightweight, fast, 130mm travel 29er mountain bike, with progressive (but not overly aggressive) geometry. The suspension favors pedaling kinematics, but retains “that YT suspension feel” they say their customers love. Meaning, it’s more progressive, ramps up a bit more, and has high anti-squat. The Izzo keeps all that, but makes it lighter and snappier. It also comes spec’d with the Rockshox TwistLoc Sprint rear shock lockout on all models, giving you a little more snap when it’s time to hammer.
The Izzo is the first YT with a four-bar rocker style linkage. It gets short 432mm chainstays on sizes Small through Large, and 437mm on XL and XXL.
Other geo highlights include a steep seat angle and low stack height to put you in a more aggressive pedaling position. The upper shock mount has a flip chip to let your adjust the head tube and seat tube angles by half a degree, which also changes the bottom bracket height by 5mm.
They use double sealed bearings, and all pivot/linkage hardware is accessible from one side of the bike for easier maintenance. Internal cable management and port clamps should keep things both tidy and quiet, as will the rubber stay guards and a special chain suck guard on the derailleur hanger.
Claimed frame weight is ~2.3kg (5.07lb) with hardware but without shock or paint, size Large. It’ll be available in May in four different price points, but all models use the same carbon frame.
So, if your budget only allows for the base model, you can upgrade over time with the peace of mind that your frame is the same one as the most expensive model. Speaking of, that would be the…
Izzo Launch Edition
Limited to just 150 units globally, the Launch Edition gets this special paint scheme and a top level build with SRAM Eagle AXS X01, Reverb AXS and G2 Ultimate brakes; e13 XCX Race Carbon Wheels, tires and carbon bar; Acros AZX Block Lock headset; and Fox Factory suspension.
All models get Fox 34 Float forks with 130mm travel, and Float DPS rear shocks. Rotor sizes are 200/180. Pricing and claimed weights shown at bottom of post for all models.
Izzo Pro Race
Next down the line is the Pro Race, with mechanical SRAM Eagle X01, DT Swiss XMC 1200 Spline wheels, and Fox Factory suspension with the new Transfer dropper post, Maxxis tires; and Race Face Next carbon bar and Turbine R stem.
Izzo Pro
The Pro model steps down to SRAM GX Eagle and Fox Performance Elite suspension, YT Postman dropper seatpost, Race Face Turbine R bar and stem and SRAM G2 RS brakes.
Izzo Comp
The base package gets you SRAM NX Eagle, G2 R brakes, a Fox 34 Rhythm fork and Performance Elite rear shock, Race Face Aeffect bar and stem, and DT Swiss M1900 Spline wheels.
2021 YT Izzo prices and weights
YT Izzo prices range from $2,999 to $6,499. They’re sold consumer direct, which is why you’re able to get a full AXS bike with carbon wheels for $6,500. We’ve got one headed our way for long term testing, stay tuned for a review. Need/want something bigger? Check out the rest of YT’s 2020 mountain bike lineup, which includes their Decoy eMTBs. They also make kid’s mountain bikes.
