Bike Check: Angel Suarez's YT Tues

Apr 4, 2019
by Aidan Oliver  

photo
BIKE CHECK
Angel Suarez's
YT Tues
Photography by Daniel Sapp, Words by Aidan Oliver


Now that Aaron Gwin has departed from the YT Mob, Angel Suarez will be flying the flag solo. He will be on board the production version of the 29er Tues, which we saw in its prototype form at the end of last season. We recently caught up with him and his mechanic, Ben Arnott, in Rotorua to check out his ride for 2019.


Suarez will also be following the Mob World Tour this season, seeking out the best young talent from Argentina to Japan. Suarez showed some of his true potential last year with fast split times and a top ten finish at Mont Saint Anne. With the guidance of Martin Whitley, who has nurtured the likes of Matti Lehikoinen, Aaron Gwin, the Athertons, and Brook Macdonald, we can expect to see a strong season from the Spaniard.

Suarez runs his YT Tues in full race mode with a high front end. He has a drop crown with 40mm rise bars and a 10mm rise stem on the extra long 505mm reach frame and he runs his suspension super firm. He runs 250 psi in the shock and 83 psi the fork along with the maximum number of tokens and volume reducers in both for the maximum amount of progressivity.


photo
Rider Name Angel Suarez // YT Mob
Age: 23
Hometown: Vigo, Spain
Instagram: @angelsuarezdh

Photo - Isac Paddock

photo
YT Tues 29 Details

Frame: YT Tues Extra Long
Shock: Fox X2 Float 250 psi 6 Spacers
Fork: Fox 40 83 psi 8 Spacers
Wheels: e13 LG1Carbon Wheel
Tires: Maxxis Assegai ZK Prototype 30psi back and 25psi front
Drivetrain: TRP 7 Speed
Brakes: TRP G-Spec, 220mm rotors
Cockpit: Renthal Carbon Fatbar 40mm rise and Renthal Direct Mount Stem 10mm rise
More info: YT

photo
photo
New TRP G Spec DH brakes developed from TRP's E-Bike brake which provided extra stopping power.

photo
photo
Custom mudguard made by new sponsor All Mountain Style. It's all in the details.

photo
E13 LG1 Crankset

photo
photo
Still to be released TRP 7 Speed DH specific drive train

photo
photo
This was the first batch of these prototype Maxxis ZK tires we've seen. Suarez is a test pilot for the new tires which have extra thick sidewalls for puncture resistance. He is running 30psi in the back and 25psi in the front.


MENTIONS: @YTIndustries / @angelsuarezdh / @danielsapp


Posted In:
Reviews and Tech Bike Checks DH Bikes YT Industries Yt Tues Angel Suarez


Author Info:
aidanoliver avatar

Member since Jun 10, 2006
63 articles
Report
Must Read This Week
Downhill Bikes of Sea Otter - Part 1
51978 views
Pinkbike's DH Fantasy League: Get Your Team On The Line - Fort William is in 10 DAYS!
42296 views
Downhill Bikes of Sea Otter - Part 2
41396 views
Bike Check: Evan Wall's Haro Greer Prototype Enduro Bike
40871 views
First Ride: Canyon Neuron:ONfly - a Lighter 140mm eMTB
39284 views
Pinkbike Poll: Riser Bar or Extra Spacers Under the Stem?
38029 views
Vivo Cycling Previews All-Aluminum 12-Speed Derailleur
37566 views
The Ultimate Recap of Sea Otter 2024
36722 views
Sign Up for the Pinkbike Newsletter - All the Biggest, Most Interesting Stories in your Inbox
PB Newsletter Signup

65 Comments
  • 84 9
 I know it's not popular to talk about big business/money making organisations but you've got to take your hat off to YT. They must have done so well over the past few years coming from virtually nowhere, their bikes are now everywhere (helped in no small part by a certain American racer). They even hired Christopher Walken for their ad!
Good for mtb in general and good for new potential young talent.
  • 19 2
 And latterly, Vinnie Jones in the fabulous film edit launching the new Decoy.
  • 18 17
 Thanks to Aaron Gwin.
  • 46 8
 @DimitarDimitrov: Gwin was one part of a much bigger team, success is never singular.
  • 17 3
 Well YT were huge in Germany in 2009, almost everyone I knew had a YT bike. The WC Tues was 2K fully loaded and their DJ bikes were 800 moneys with DJ1 forks and candy red paint. Plus, their bikes are actually built well, unlike most other German ones. They just have a great product and sell it fair. It is very simple Smile
  • 3 2
 @Gavalar66: too funny, they got vinnie jones? that guys an all-time badass
  • 17 3
 @DimitarDimitrov: Gwin joined when they were big already and ready for DH races hence can afford him! Do you forgetting all the free riders as famous as Gwicn, few names to begin with Zink, Lacondeguy, McGarry and so many legends and young riders representing the YT
Reason for success as mentioned above is simple - quality product at great prices, not because Gwin rode these bikes and everyone bough them thinking uuhh I'm going to be as fast as him haha
  • 4 1
 @rocky-mtn-gman: Oh yeah, it's worth a few minutes of your time to watch the edit on YT's website.
  • 18 6
 my only issue with yt. is the decision to tell a certain racer you have no job were not gonna have a team. BOOM 2 weeks later we are gonna have a team with a younger lesser known racer. kinda an A**hole move imo
  • 7 2
 @onelivinlarge: I understand your point, but as yet we have still to hear from the supposed dropped party, Gwinn, there are two sides and how can a team consist of only one rider, be it younger shouldn't make a difference, sometimes people need to move on in order for both parties to be kept motivated, seeing the same people head up a team season after season becomes stale, if a rider is that good then the bike / team shouldn't matter, besides, Gwinn has a different focus now being a shareholder in a company / team, YT will continue well into the future.
  • 2 1
 @onelivinlarge: according to interviews out there, YT had felt that they had gotten what they wanted and were ready to move on.. Martin Whitley was able to get a smaller budget for this year.(Which keeps a check coming in for himself..) And, Angel has been a part of the Mob for a couple of seasons.. It's big money to run a team like this and companies may find better value elsewhere...
  • 2 1
 @Gavalar66: i will check that out, thanks. i haven't watch it yet, but if i were YT i would say "with our e-bike, vinnie jones can get to the top of the climb in a PINCH".
  • 3 2
 Still not as firm having Aaron Gwin in your team.
  • 1 1
 @rocky-mtn-gman: He looks as menacing as ever, shot in Scotland, a great edit.
  • 5 2
 Aaron can’t help sell too many bikes when you have none available to sell and you’re far back in the production line of the factory you use.
  • 21 8
 I don't take my hat off for poorly run businesses. The quality of their growth has been horrendous, their supply chain/logistics guys can't forecast more than two weeks out, their quality control is rubbish, and their customer service is total shit.

Yes, they make great bikes and I wouldn't mind having one, but I would never consider trying to buy one until they get their shit together.

And as far as I'm concerned, hiring Christopher Walken for that advertisement was a demonstration of the level of business acumen the people working there have. There is no reason a company with so many known issues should triple or quadruple it's video production costs just so they can have a cameo from a celebrity that some people might give a shit about.
  • 7 3
 @skycripp: You hit on the main points well. I usually have positive dealings with German companies, as they are typically well sorted...but I'm assuming YT is run by a bunch of young MTBers with little manufacturing operational experience, especially in foreign markets. Regardless, I'm at the point where I simply don't have the time or patience to deal with their headaches. Riding time/season is limited, so the extra bit of fee to support a LBS is worth always being ready to ride. Besides, I recognized a long time ago that I'm not any faster or have more fun with the slightly better parts from that online bike...
  • 5 5
 @skycripp: have you actually ever owned a YT and purchased form US? They are phenomenal to work with! I have 2017 Capra CF... broke rear spoke recently emailed YT two-day delivery with new spoke and nipples at my door and I live on east coast. Just took my rear hub apart trouble shooting a noise and noticed I broke the inner rear axle. One email, two hours later UPS tracking. I had the option of them sending me parts or sending them wheel for rebuild... all free to me... this is on a 2 year old bike.

Last week they had a 10% off sale in the US that kinda flew under the radar... I ordered a Capra Pro Race 29er total price shipped was $5,048 for a top spec’d bike. This bike from a LBS would cost easily $8K all day long. It ships on Monday, five days after ordering.

You should give them a chance! I don’t see another direct to consumer brand that is on their level in terms of quality, looks and definitely price. Just compare specs to price with Canyon and Commencal...
  • 4 7
 @skycripp: you sound like a miserable consumer, I’m happy I don’t own a business where I have to sell to people like you.

I own a Tues and the purchasing process was smooth and my bike was delivered on time. It’s not my every day bike, but I’ve put it through some significant bike park beatings and it’s taken them all with aplomb.

Maybe my expectations are fairly low, and all I really wanted was to get a bike. And that’s what YT did, they sold me a f*cking bike.

I was just happy to get a bike that was race proven and wasn’t what everyone else had......oops.
  • 2 1
 @Gavalar66: Gwin has stated in interviews (might have been VitalMTB during the Intense launch) that he was told right around World Champs that YT would not be renewing the contract with him, aka pretty late in the game, so he put together the Intense program. I think Martin Whitely commented somewhere that there was a chance they could have resigned him later (October/November?) but he had already put together a new team.
  • 5 1
 @nvranka: Not a miserable consumer at all. I just have standards that I expect businesses to hit, and when they don't do so consistently I have no interest in supporting them.

I'm glad your YT is working out for you though! They make a great bike.
  • 4 1
 @wtmorgan1: That's great man, I'm glad you've had a good experience with them! You're the second person I've heard say that they are improving their customer service. If the trend continues I definitely wouldn't be opposed to getting one.
  • 2 1
 @lccomz: I still don’t understand people thinking it’s bad for the company to run out of bikes (meaning they’re selling all their inventory). That’s the goal of a business, for supply to exceed demand. Otherwise at the end of the season you end up selling your leftovers for dirt cheap, and you lose money. YT isn’t trek or specialized. They’re a smaller company, and the fact they sell ALL the bikes they produce (ahead of time even) is a good sign for them.
  • 3 1
 @lccomz: correction: the goal is for supply to NOT exceed demand***
  • 4 1
 @TypicalCanadian: From an investor's standpoint, you are correct to a degree. It's better to see high sales rather than stagnant sales. The issue is when you are constantly plagued with stock issues and you start turning away business and giving people a bad taste in their mouths. I waited for four months to get a Capra before giving up.

If supply was YT's only grievance it would be forgivable, but the fact that their quality control and customer service is lacking because they are 100% focused on pumping out as many bikes as they can to keep up with demand is not a good thing.

Don't get me wrong -- this isn't a YT hate fest. I'm ultimately rooting for them because I love it when a small start up is successful, but I think they would benefit from some changes in their leadership positions.
  • 2 1
 So what did the pinkbike mob decide? Was Gwin screwed by Whitely & YT or not?
  • 1 0
 @gramboh: So everyones happy, YT have decided to focus on a different approach and Gwinn has got together with a brand that a lot of people wanted, none of us will know the true reasons but the new WC season isn't far away, let the games begin.
  • 1 0
 @hamncheez: who cares,that chapter is closed and everyone has moved on, you can't keep building your team around one man, as good as he is, when the emerging talent deserves a chance to shine.
  • 2 0
 @chyu: Not everyone was a Gwin worshipper.
  • 2 0
 @Gavalar66: Gwin has actually spoken about this in an interview somewhere. He was pretty honest about what happened without being a whiney little bitch about it...despite all those who decided not to give him the benefit of the doubt when they heard the rumours he was off YT and started trolling that he was moving to Intense for the money.
  • 3 0
 @skycripp: Just bought a YT Tues and I’ve had it for less than a week. After my first ride I went to change the tokens in the Fox 40. Air top cap was WAY overtight from the factory. Threads galled all to hell getting it out. I called this afternoon about it and they’re sending me a new fork tomorrow.

I’d say it speaks volumes that they are resolving this issue this way when they could have easily deferred me to Fox to sort it out or at least have had me go through the trouble of sending them my current fork for them to take through the warranty process, leaving me forkless for lord knows how long.
  • 5 2
 @FrEeZa: "was huge in Germany" - yea, but so was David Hasselholf - and i'm not paying 4 grand to ride him
  • 1 0
 @pdb18: Well, back then there was not a lot competing with YT. We all know where Ghost, Focus, Canyon, Cube were when YT came to the market. People were even buying complete YT Tues WCs back then and parting them out because it was easy money. Like it or not, YT made a big dent in the MTB industry and their components were very good, unlike Sp and SC, who would sell you a very expensive bike with Deore/Alivio just so you can get your foor in the door.
  • 1 0
 @rwjones4: That's great man. You're the third person in this thread who has shared a positive experience with customer service. It's not falling on deaf ears, and I'm thrilled to hear they've improved!
  • 17 1
 How tall is Suarez?
That is a massive bike - by any standards
  • 6 1
 186 cms
  • 3 2
 @gamonoso: I am 194cm. What size should I get? Ahaha
  • 14 2
 Wow wonder what the bar height is? 2019 Tues 29er XL has 643mm stack + running Fox 49 with drop crown and stanchions maxed + 40mm riser bar + 10mm stem rise + 5mm spacer. Yuge!
  • 16 3
 One man Mob.
  • 6 5
 Like a 1 man gang bang.
  • 8 1
 "He runs 250 psi in the shock and 83 psi the fork along with the maximum number of tokens and volume reducers in both for the maximum amount of progressivity." Wow
  • 5 1
 Just give him a hardtail already Big Grin
  • 1 0
 And 25psi in front tire?!? Whaaaa?

He is what - around 160lb? I got a hundred pounds on him and find 20psi perfect with a Maxxis DD tire.

Confused.
  • 5 2
 Beautiful bike Drool but running max tokens front and rear seems a little extreme. Angle doesn’t look to be a heavy guy. I feel like the bike would ride like a road bike and when you hit a pot hole it transfers straight into the rider Eek
  • 9 1
 Relative to his speed it's probably fine, does seem excessive though, doubt he's riding a badly setup bike though.
  • 1 0
 Prob side effect of riding with Gwin for so long, who is known for having the stiffest suspension on the circuit.
  • 6 1
 I just want to know about Zk
  • 1 0
 In one picture he is on Onza and then they say he is running Maxxis.
  • 7 4
 This looks like his old bike, not his 2019 29er
  • 7 1
 Read the side wall of the tyre, it’s a 29r
  • 4 1
 Its not all black and white you know. Let your true colors out.
  • 3 2
 That first picture is bugging me out. What's up with the head tube offset? It looks crazy
  • 2 1
 Thought the same thing at first. You are seeing the number plate.
  • 2 1
 @xfoxracing12x: Exactly. Thanks
  • 1 0
 They must really dislike gwin they arnt even using his numberboard anymore.
  • 1 0
 But they use g spec brakes, his signature model
  • 4 3
 Doesn't the 29er fox 40 come with the 49 graphics?
  • 3 1
 Should do bro
  • 2 1
 His bike was not delivered on time for Crankworks so they made him a new built - should read the article about it...
His FOX fork is a mashup of spare parts but deffo it is a 29"
  • 2 1
 The white and black looks nice and clean. Sweet bike for sure!!
  • 3 2
 All the sudden no one rides YT anymore...hmmmm
  • 1 0
 Nobody goes there anymore - it's too crowded. YB
  • 1 1
 Wonder how do they find the grip...
Below threshold threads are hidden







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv56 0.058960
Mobile Version of Website