YT JEFFSY 29 CF Pro review
Considering the amount of creativity spewing out of YT in recent times, we’re wondering whether their team have some sort of secret access to longer days. They’re now shipping to a much wider market with their direct sales model, and their collection spans all manner of bikes. Right now they’re riding high on the success of the JEFFSY 29, but is it enough to turn the competition green with envy?
YT’s philosophy boils down to “Good Times,” and the German brand have made it a basic human need to enjoy their riding – it’s a gene that’s carried by all of their bikes. The JEFFSY is built around a spick-and-span carbon frame and kitted out with all the latest, box-ticking components. It retails at € 3,999 with a build spec that gives little room for desire: the JEFFSY is bang on point, sporting a SRAM X01 Eagle drivetrain, a lovely Race Face cockpit, and FOX Performance Elite suspension, which is identical to the high quality Factory model in all but the absence of the Kashima coating. The E13 wheels and Race Face dropper post (with 150 mm of drop) nicely round off the package.
Unusual for YT, the JEFFSY 29 has kept the reins on its geometry, and it’s far from extreme. However, that’s exactly what makes it so damn good to ride! Even set in the slacker geometry setting, the seat tube angle generates a sufficiently steep position for ultra-efficient pedaling, and the layout is primed to make the most of your exertion. The JEFFSY 29 climbs with a cheeky eagerness, especially once the platform damping is activated. Its 32 mm bottom bracket drop is an asset on the downs, seeing it cornering as if it’s on rails. The high 623 mm stack and bars with 25 mm rise boost this confidence-inspiring ride. The bike came with a volume spacer in the FOX Float DPS shock, which we removed during testing, but the rear kept its satisfyingly progressive feel. This lends it a nice pop while riding, and it’s happy to flick and drift with a bashful grin. However, high-frequency hits were a bit unsettling, as the shock ramped up and did not hand out full travel willingly. Despite this, those big wheels make sure the YT JEFFSY 29 CF Pro tracks its line at all times.
YT JEFFSY 29 CF Pro in Detail
Fork: FOX 34 Float Performance Elite
Shock: FOX Float DPS Performance Elite
Brakes: SRAM X01 Eagle
Drivetrain: SRAM Guide RSC
Seatpost: RaceFace Turbine
Stem: RaceFace Turbine
Handlebar: RaceFace SIXC
Tires: ONZA IBEX
Wheels: E.thirteen TRS+ 29″
YT developed their own bottle and cage to slot nicely into the small space below the rear shock. It isn’t huge at just 500 ml, but it’s enough to keep you hydrated on post-work loops.
The new FOX Performance Elite suspension units have the same internals as their more expensive Factory peers, but come minus the Kashima coating. So is there a gulf in the performance? Not that we’ve discovered.
Both the brake cable and the cable for the dropper post have been kept external on the JEFFSY 29, which makes your life easier when it comes to servicing or having a tinker yourself.
The YT JEFFSY 29 CF Pro takes value for money to the next level! Where else would you find a superbly specced trail bike with the SRAM X01 Eagle transmission for just € 3,999?
Conclusion
You’ll be putty in the hands of the incredibly sorted YT JEFFSY 29 CF Pro! The bike handles with directness and gives precise feedback from the ground. Its spec and art gallery aesthetic won’t give you any reason to grumble. So if you’re looking for a snappy, efficient trail bike for a good price, then this is our Best Value tip!
Strenghts
- Agile, playful handling
- Sorted spec
- Appealing price!
Weaknesses
- High-frequency hits unsettle the rear suspension
For more information head to yt-industries.com!
For an overview of the test fleet head to the main article: A Bike for All Situations – 9 of the most exciting trail bikes of 2017
All bikes in test: FOCUS JAM C Factory | Giant Trance Advanced 0 | Lapierre Zesty AM 927 Ultimate | ROSE ROOT MILLER 3 | SCOTT Spark Plus 700 Tuned | Specialized Stumpjumper Expert Carbon 29 | Trek Fuel EX 9.9 29 | Yeti SB5 TURQ X01 Eagle