Issue #047, Review - June 11, 2021

YT IZZO BLAZE 29 in review – Experts only

YT have given the IZZO BLAZE a healthy injection of travel, bumping up the front end from 130 to 140 mm. The rest of the spec is also meant to improve its descending capabilities and make it more fun downhill. But do all these changes necessarily make the YT IZZO BLAZE a worse climber and more capable downhill?

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best mountainbike of 2021 – 22 models in review

YT IZZO BLAZE 29 | 140/130 mm (f/r)
13.9 kg (size L) | € 3,999 | Manufacturer-website

With the IZZO BLAZE 29, YT have added a downhill-oriented bike to their trail range. The latest offspring of the IZZO family is discreetly elegant and styled down to the smallest detail. The sharp lines of the elegant frame cut a distinctive silhouette and the matt black finish highlighted with silver accents perfectly matches the silver tone of the Pike fork, which YT have jacked up from 130 to 140 mm. However, the finish is delicate, especially on the seat and chainstays, where the inside of our shoes rubbed off the paint in no time. In this regard, manufacturers like Nukeproof are miles ahead, delivering their bikes with a standard frame protector. The internal cable routing, on the other hand, is exemplary: all cables remain completely quiet and are neatly arranged at the transition from the frame to the rear triangle. Still, the IZZO isn’t 100% silent downhill. The chainstay protector is too thin and made of too hard a plastic and can’t prevent the chain from rattling on rough descents. Nevertheless, the IZZO convinces with other smart frame details such as the bottle cage mount. A recess on the down tube accommodates the baseplate of the optional magnetic Thirstmaster 5000 bottle, which was designed by FIDLOCK specifically for the IZZO. If you decide to spend the extra € 49,90, this clever system allows you to preserve the clean silhouette even when the bottle is removed. With your water supply sorted, attach a multitool to the mount on the top tube and forget about a backpack altogether! Awesome.

The affordable BLAZE-build promises more riding fun

At € 3,999, the YT IZZO BLAZE 29 is a whopping € 1,300 cheaper than its top-of-the-range counterpart and yet, its spec is better suited for trail riding. For the new BLAZE, YT have focused on robust parts and downhill fun instead of lightweight components and lockout levers. The absolute highlight of the spec is the RockShox Ultimate suspension, with a Deluxe shock controlling the 130 mm travel of the IZZO’s Horst-link suspension. Compared to the Race Pro model, the 140 mm Pike of the BLAZE build offers an extra centimetre of travel and a better damper. Just like the S-Works Stumpjumper, the IZZO BLAZE renounces a suspension lockout function, relying on a damper with external high and low-speed compression adjustments instead – top!

If you think that the burly tires and long fork hold the IZZO back uphill, you’re wrong. Hardly any other bike gets you to the trailhead as directly, willingly and efficiently.

The 29” DT Swiss M1900 wheelset rolls on 2.4” MAXXIS Minion DHRII tires with the puncture-prone EXO casing. At the front, the super-softt 3C MaxxGrip rubber compound is supposed to provide great traction, while at the rear, the harder 3C MaxxTerra tire is meant to reduce rolling resistance in check. Canadian component guru Race Face supply the alloy cockpit with 780 mm Aeffect handlebars. Our only criticism goes to YT’s own-brand Postman dropper, which offers a meagre 150 mm travel and is operated with a wonky remote on the handlebar. A 12-speed SRAM GX drivetrain with a big 10–52 cassette ensures reliable gear shifts. SRAM G2 RSC brakes are paired with a 200 mm rotor at the front and 180 mm disc at the rear, which is too small for the field of application of the IZZO. On long descents and with heavy riders, the rear brake overheats quickly and starts to lose power.

**Cool integration!**
YT’s optional Thirstmaster 5000 bottle (€ 49.90) is based on FIDLOCK’s magnetic system. The baseplate fits perfectly into the recess in the down tube and makes for a very clean look even without a bottle.

**Too little**
YT’s own-brand Postman dropper offers 150 mm of travel in size L, which unfortunately limits the freedom of movement. The feel and ergonomics of the remote don’t do justice to the IZZO either.

**Awesome in principle!**
YT furnished the front wheel of the IZZO with a Minion DHRII in the soft 3C MaxxGrip compound. Fantastic! Nevertheless, you still have to think fast in corners if you don’t want to lose the front wheel.

YT IZZO BLAZE 29

€ 3,999

Specifications

Fork RockShox Pike Ultimate 140 mm
Rear Shock RockShox Deluxe Ultimate 130 mm
Seatpost YT POSTMAN 150 mm
Brakes SRAM G2 RSC 200/180 mm
Drivetrain SRAM GX Eagle 1x12
Stem Race Face Turbine 60 mm
Handlebar Race Face Aeffect 780 mm
Wheelset DT Swiss M 1900 Spline 29"
Tires MAXXIS Minion DHRII EXO 3C MaxxGrip/DHRII EXO 3C MaxxTerra 2.4

Technical Data

Size S M L XL XXL
Weight 13.9 kg

**Don’t need it anyway**
The lockout lever of the RockShox Deluxe shock is hard to get to. Who cares! Even with the shock fully open, the IZZO is an extremely efficient climber and leaves almost all the other bikes behind in a cloud of dust.

**More performance, no lockout levers!**
The RockShox Pike Ultimate offers 140 mm travel and external high- and low-speed compression adjustments. On top of that, the entire colour scheme of the IZZO matches the silver lowers of the Pike.

**Like a ping-pong ball in a rock garden**
The RaceFace alloy cockpit plays a crucial role in the riding behaviour of the IZZO. The super-stiff front of the IZZO causes the front wheel to bounce around the trail, making it hard to hold your line.

The geometry of the YT IZZO in detail

Available in a total of five sizes, from S to XXL, the YT IZZO should suit riders between 1.56 m and 2.04 m tall. The geometry of the BLAZE is slightly different from the IZZO Pro Race top-end model due to the longer fork. This makes the seat and head angles of the BLAZE 0.5° slacker, the reach 5 mm shorter (467 mm in L) and the front just under 4 mm taller (625 mm stack in L) than the version with a 130mm fork. A flip-chip in the rocker link allows you to adjust the geometry of the IZZO even further. In the high setting, the BLAZE has the same head and seat angle as the other IZZO models with 130 mm front travel in the low setting. Even though it might sound a little strange coming from us, we recommend running the high position, which improves more than just its climbing performance.

Size	S	M	L	XL	XXL
Seat tube	400 mm	425 mm	450 mm	475 mm	500 mm
Top tube	568 mm	593 mm	618 mm	643 mm	668 mm
Head tube	95 mm	105 mm	115 mm	130 mm	140 mm
Head angle	65.5°	65.5°	65.5°	65.5°	65.5°
Seat angle	76.5°	76.5°	76.5°	76.5°	76.5°
Chainstays	432 mm	432 mm	432 mm	437 mm	437 mm
BB Drop	36 mm	36 mm	36 mm	36 mm	36 mm
Radstand	1,170 mm	1,195 mm	1,221 mm	1,251 mm	1,277 mm
Reach	424 mm	445 mm	467 mm	487 mm	508 mm
Stack	607 mm	616 mm	625 mm	639 mm	648 mm

**Helmet** Fox Speedframe | **Glasses** 100% Speedcraft | **Hippack** Leatt Hydration Core 2.0
**Shirt** 100% R-Core Jersey | **Shorts** 100% Celium
**Shoes** Leatt DBX 5.0 Clip | **Socks** Stance

Uphill, the pedalling position of the IZZO BLAZE is stretched and sporty. In combination with the neutral-pedalling suspension, this encourages you to sprint out of the saddle and smash your own climbing PRs. Together with the Propain Hugene and Yeti SB115, the IZZO is one of the fastest bikes uphill. Even on steep ramps and technical climbs, the IZZO plays in a different league: the front wheel sticks to the ground like the nose of a truffle dog and implements steering inputs directly and with clinical precision. Although the rear end is stiff and extremely efficient, it still generates sufficient traction to negotiate large roots and steps with ease. Excellent! Only on very long rides does the riding position and stiff suspension become slightly uncomfortable.

Experts only! The YT IZZO Blaze on the trail

Needless to say, the stiff suspension also defines the riding character of the YT IZZO BLAZE downhill. Compared to the Nukeproof Reactor, the IZZO makes you work hard for traction. Especially in open flat corners, it requires a very active style and good riding technique. Despite the soft rubber compound on the front wheel, the IZZO tends to understeer. Beginners will find more docile bikes out there, including all the other 130 mm IZZO models we’ve tested, which are far more intuitive to ride.

Flowing trails with berms and lots of airtime is exactly where the YT IZZO Blaze feels at home. On rough trails, the front skips from rock to rock and requires a quick-thinking and skilled rider.

Tuning-tips:flip-chip in the HIGH setting for more composed handling|frame protector on seat and chainstays|dropper post with more travel and more defined remote

With the extra travel and robust spec, the IZZO BLAZE loves to be thrown around berms, providing lots of support and bags of pop to pull off ledges while always feeling extremely precise. On manicured trails, it’s brutally fast, incredibly fun and always eager to take off. This is the kind of terrain where the IZZO BLAZE really feels at home. On the other hand, natural singletracks and rough descents expose the dark side of the ultra-direct handling. As with the Propain Hugene, even small lateral impacts upset the front wheel of the IZZO, which requires a sharp rider to keep on track. Onboard the IZZO, the best way to get over small root carpets and obstacles is to avoid (and gap) them.

Riding Characteristics

Uphill

sluggish
efficient

Agility

cumbersome
playful

Stability

nervous
confident

Handling

demanding
balanced

Suspension

harsh
plush

Fun Factor

planted
poppy

Value for money

terrible
very good

Intended Use

XC

Trail

Enduro

Downhill

Conclusion

Stiff, fast, demanding: that’s the IZZO BLAZE in three words. Despite the extra travel, it’s still quite demanding downhill but also rewards experienced riders with lots of speed, fun and airtime, provided you stick to flowing trails. However, for beginners and rough trails, there are significantly more docile bikes out there. The most downhill-focussed IZZO model impresses not only with its distinctive look but also with several cool frame details and outstanding climbing performance. With its consequently chosen spec and low price, the IZZO BLAZE offers an excellent price/performance ratio.

Tops

damn fast uphill
super poppy and direct
great value for money

Flops

demanding downhill
paint worn on the seat and chainstays

Find more information here: yt-industries.com

The testfield

Get an overview of the grouptest here: The best mountainbike of 2021 – 22 models in review

This scale indicates how efficiently the bike climbs. It refers to both simple and technical climbs. Along with the suspension, the riding position and the weight of the bike all play a crucial role.↩
How does the bike ride and descend? How spritely is the bike, how agile is it through corners, how much fun is it in tight sections and how quickly can it change direction?↩
Is the bike stable at high speeds? Is it easy to stay in control in demanding terrain? How composed is it on rough trails? Stability is a combination of balanced geometry, good suspension and the right spec.↩
This is all about how balanced the bike is and particularly about how well it corners. Balanced bikes require little physical effort from the rider and are very predictable. If a bike is unbalanced, the rider has to work hard to weight the front wheel to generate enough grip. However, experienced riders can have a lot of fun even with unbalanced bikes.↩
How sensitive is the suspension over small bumps? Can it absorb hard impacts and does it soak up repeated hits? Plush suspension not only provides comfort and makes a bike more capable, but it also generates traction. The rating includes the fork and the rear suspension.↩
This aspect mainly comes down to the suspension. How much pop does it have, does it suck up the rider’s input or is it supportive, and how agile and direct is the bike?↩
We don’t calculate value for money in an excel spreadsheet or based on how high-end a bike is specced. We are more concerned with how a bike performs on the trail and how the bike benefits the rider. What good are the best components if the bike doesn’t perform well on the trail? Expensive bikes with a lower-end spec can offer very good value for money – provided they excel where it matters. Just as supposedly cheap bikes with good components can get a bad rating if they don’t deliver on the trail.↩
No, it’s not about racing, it’s about efficiency. Fast, fleet-footed and efficient – those who want to speed along flowy singletrack and gravel roads need a defined and spritely bike that accelerates with ease and efficiency. Nevertheless, reliable components are important too. We interpret XC more like the Americans do: big back-country rides instead of a marathon or XC World Cup with the ultimate in lightweight construction! Uphill-downhill ratio: 80:30 (not everything has to be 100%!)↩
...also known as mountain biking. Classic singletrack with roots, rocks and ledges – sometimes flowy, sometimes rough. For this, you need a bike with good all-round qualities, whether climbing or descending. Uphill-downhill ratio: 50:50↩
Even more extreme and challenging compared to Trail riding, riddled with every kind of obstacle: jumps, gaps, nasty rock gardens, ruts and roots. For this, you need (race)proven equipment that forgives mistakes and wouldn’t look out of place on a stage of the Enduro World Series. Climbing is just a means to an end. Uphill-downhill ratio: 30:70↩
Strictly speaking, a 200 mm travel downhill bike is the best choice for merciless tracks with big jumps, drops and the roughest terrain. Those would be the black or double-black-diamond tracks in a bike park. But as some of the EWS pros (including Sam Hill) have proven, it’s the riding skills and not the bike that define what you can ride with it. Climbing? On foot or with a shuttle, please! Uphill-downhill ratio: 10:90↩
You can find more info about our rating system in this article: Click here! ↩

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