I think this video highlights an important, but all too often forgotten, part of picking out a bike...finding a bike that actually suits your riding style (and trails you ride). I think people too often feel they need to get more and more travel or enduro bikes when they actually ride a trail meant for a down country bike. So good job realizing that and finding one that suits you
Gonna pin this comment! Yeah it’s really a huge factor. I once fell for the “I need more travel” thought process and was left very unfulfilled. My bike was heavy and hard to manage in the terrain I rode. It’s crucial to be realistic about your riding and find the bike that tackles it best. Thanks for this!!
This is what I have been trying to tell people for months. I bought a Siskiu D7 and everyone said I should have got the T Series. I love the geo on my D7. It’s nimble and playful albeit a little heavy at 34 lbs. None of the trails that I ride in Southern California have been too much for it.
A few thoughts on the Izzo. I have put a few hundred miles on mine. The rear shock is very difficult to lock out / adjust on the fly. The upper rear links are chunky and one can hit the inside of your knees on them as you pedal The rear shock sits in a pocket in the lower frame. This fills up with grime and moisture. I am very happy with the performance overall. It climbs amazing and can handle most of the riding I do.
I have a 2020 Izzo pro (what would now be the core 3). I ride in MN on a lot of trails built by Rock Solid who build a ton in your area as well. I could not agree more with this category of bike being a perfect match for the trails. It sprints great, handles the chunk we do have well and zips around the tight stuff. The only spot I have found in MN that gets the best of the bike (and me) is duluth. I changed our bar, stem, tires, and will do brakes soon. But as a full package, hard to beat.
Totally agree with you! I’ve done some slight tweaking of my own. I kept the forekaster rear but I went more aggressive up front with a DHR2 as I would wash out from time to time in loose over hard. Other than that, the bike is FAST and can handle anything I throw at it. I’m just a trail rider who doesn’t get super gnarly. For that, the izzo really shines.
Yeah my new bike is down to the Izzo, RM Element and Trek Top Fuel - I'm thinking the Izzo or Element have the edge but either one will be a nice upgrade from my T8! Keep up the good work Jared, I'll make it up to Bentonville sometime in 2022 - maybe I'll see ya out there.
The element is insane as is the izzo. I rode them almost back to back. Top fuel is a nice bike too. I chose izzo for the stellar value for the dollar, but you cant go wrong with either! That would be awesome if you came up to bentonville! You’ll have to shoot me an email when. Thanks for the support, also!
Thank you for posting this and I am glad I stumbled upon it. Living in both OKC and twenty minutes north of Bentonville I struggle to identify which bike will suit both spaces best. I have been looking at the Top Fuel due to support via Phat Tire but the Izzo is getting more of my attention due to the value. Comforting to see it functions well in the NWA area and I would think would not be too much for the more tame areas in the OKC area. Again, thank you for your insights on it.
Change that handlebar to a OneUp and you'll be even more comfortable upfront. I could not keep that stock bar on mine and did back to back testing with the OneUp. So much better!
@@JaredRMorgan sorry! I wasn’t specific. Both ride height and ride quality. I went with a 35mm rise bar. If you think the 20mm rise on that stock bar is comfy, OneUp offers one in that rise as well. I thought it might be a gimmick, but I could never go back. Weight savings is a little bonus but it’s the feel of this bar that can make some of the choppier stuff on a short travel fork a little less consuming on the hands!
Downcountry is what most of America is as far as terrain. I live in OH where you are climbing for short descents. I have an older model Stumpjumper 29er w a 67.5 HTA and 74.5 s STA and it is a great all day peddler... a little short on the reach though. I considered the IZZO but it is too much like the Stumpy. I just bought a 2023 Rocky Mountain Instinct C30 for my trail bike now. Both bike were going for under $3K! Chose the RM bc of the Ride9 geo adjustments and a full carbon frame.
More bike does not always mean more appropriate bike! I live YT bikes. I went for a siskiu t8 because all the yt's were out of stock. They're so nice looking though!
I saw in your videos and collab. videos that you rode the element, izzo, top fuel (i think) or any other short travel 29'er. In your opinion say percentage wise how much does the climbing prowess of the izzo suffer (if any) compared to those bikes. I know its more capable on the downs for sure. The YT is the best deal by far of most of the other bikes.
It does not suffer. The izzo climbs immensely well, and if the other bikes are more efficient the gains (in my experience) are marginal. The izzo is by far the best value, and that was the driving force behind my decision when picking it. I DO NOT regret it. I love the heck out of this bike so far.
I like the Izzo but the pressed BB scares me. Especially factoring in my size and weight (6'2" 260 lbs). I love the looks of the YT lineup. I might go with a jeffsy core 1 or 2.
Hello! Which size do you ride? I'm 178cm high with 176cm reach and 88cm inseam, I usually ride size M but I know YT is a bit smaller and I'm also between sizes. I have a bit shorter arms/legs so I'm thinking size M. Thanks if you can help. Have a nice one
I am 6ft with a 32in inseam riding a size L, and I am 100% positive I got the right size for me. You have a pretty long inseam for your height so it’s hard to say with 100% certainty what would be best. I’m almost thinking a Large, but it may be best to ask YT.
I sold the Izzo. It was a great bike, but my involvement with BikesOnline (Polygon) became much deeper. With that, I moved on from it as well as my Propain. I have nothing but good things to say about the Izzo though. It gave me no issues and was a real treat to ride.
Sick bike! And great components! 👍 Got a question/offer for ya. If I come up there to B-ville with my kid's bikes, would you want to borrow them to make a video? (Vitus Nucleus 24" and 26") I'm not looking for anything on my end, just offering some content for you. Give it a thought and let me know.
Thank you! Definitely appreciate the offer! It's probably not a project I can take on at this time, as I have just accepted a 10 video project in collaboration with another content creator. My plate is super full! Hope that your kiddos love the Vitus bikes! I had a nucleus and it was a great bike. Thanks again!
@@JaredRMorgan yep! No problem. I figured you were busy with Rich and maybe Cobra Kyle. I've been following you for quite a while, and I'm really glad this RU-vid thing is working for you!
I actually did! Again the video disclosed “slightly” customized. I kept it very modest. stepped up some of the NX pieces to GX. Added tire inserts. Longer dropper post. Nothing crazy.
I’m thinking of getting one of these, but I anticipate having to eventually replace the sram brakes. Every sram brake I’ve ever had has broken for like, no reason
What is your body size for the large for you got. I'm 6'1" and really just want to get the right size the first time. I'm thinking the large is the perfect fit for me and I could always go to a 50mm stem to make it a bit more responsive and tighter.
I'm 6' with a 32 inseam riding the large. I for one LOVE the 60mm stem it came with, and I encourage you to try it before swapping it out. It really allows you to weight the front wheel properly and really influence the bike. It's funny, I'm so hesitant to change any of the geo that YT engineered because it feels that dialed. I recently swapped the fork, and even though it has the same travel it had a higher axle to crown than the 34 that came on it...I ended up moving stem spacers around to get it right back where it was before. Moral of the story: the bikes stock geo is MINT. Hope you love it!
I like the core 2 bc the back half is aluminum. Just preference there. So it really just depends on what you like! It also boils down a lot to what's available for purchase. For me, I think the value of the Core 2 is better than the 3, but they're both killer bikes.
I am choosing between core 2 and 3. Anyone got any input on if it is worth it? My main aspect is to keep the weight down since I often ride flat but technical stuff and to have good acceleration makes it much more fun. I am not sure I will “benefit ” from the more advanced shock and fork since I am quite average skilled
I felt the same way! I did not feel the core 3 added enough benefit to merit the additional cost. I figured I could just change out whatever specific parts I chose to in the future, and thats what I did. Personally, I'd say save your money and go Core 2 and you may find its just right! Also, it's definitely not heavy even at the entry spec. Cheers!
@@JaredRMorgan thank you sir! I agree the entry spec is too good for the price, and it is difficult to justify €900 to gain 0.5kg when I know that I will not fully utilize the increased adjustability of the dampers. Any rumors if there will be a new model soon? Could also be something to consider! Thanks 🙏🏻
Not that I'm aware of! It's such a bad to the bone bike. Everything I liked about the Siskiu T, it is. Everything I wasn't a fan of (which wasn't a whole lot), it's not those things. I had found the T7 to be a bit heavy, a bit slow (the tires I had on it), and to have some small design flaws like cable routing. The cables always rattled and made a ton of noise...and with a regular non wireless shifter, the cables failed at the derailleur a lot. So basically, it's like a slightly leaner, faster, and more refined T7. Plus it just looks so mean. Loving the understated bikes lately.
@@JaredRMorgan Jared, I had the Versus tires on for a ride, and they feel like Double Double tires. So heavy and so much rolling resistance! I thought I had a flat multiple times
