After a brush with administration and a founder-led buy-back, YT is back — and its first DJI Avinox-powered eMTB, the alloy Decoy X CORE, undercuts the e-enduro establishment from €4,499 (~R84 400).
A flagship comeback for YT
YT Industries spent the first half of 2026 in survival mode. The Forchheim-based direct-to-consumer brand slipped into administration, then was bought back by founder and CEO Markus Flossmann — and the Decoy X CORE is the first big product statement of that second act.
It's also YT's first electric mountain bike built around DJI's Avinox motor platform, the drive system that has rapidly become the most talked-about unit in eMTB. Rather than chase a premium carbon halo bike, YT has leaned back into the value-led, sell-online formula that built the brand.
Decoy X CORE by the numbers
Source: YT Industries / Bikerumor
Avinox M2S: DJI power, decoded
The Avinox M2S is the headline act. YT quotes 150Nm of torque and up to 1,300W of peak power, with short bursts of up to 1,500W and 150Nm in Boost mode, all fed by an 800Wh battery fitted to every frame size.
Charging is a genuine selling point. The standard 4A charger does 0–100% in 5hr 10min, while the optional 12A fast charger reaches 75% in about 90 minutes and a full charge in roughly 2.5 hours. YT also cites Avinox's durability claim of at least 80% capacity after 500 charge cycles — a meaningful long-term ownership number versus older Bosch and Shimano packs. A companion app handles power modes, ride data and display settings.
The four CORE builds, compared
Decoy X CORE 1–4 spec sheet
| CORE 1 | CORE 2 | CORE 3 | CORE 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price (EUR/GBP) | €4,499 (~R84 400) | €5,499 (~R103 000) | €6,499 (~R122 000) | €7,499 (~R141 000) |
| Suspension | Marzocchi Bomber | Fox 38 Performance / DHX coil | RockShox ZEB Ultimate / Vivid Ultimate | Fox 38 Factory / X2 Factory |
| Drivetrain | SRAM Eagle 90 | SRAM Eagle 70 | SRAM Eagle 90 Transmission | SRAM S-1000 AXS |
| Brakes | SRAM DB8 | SRAM Maven Base | SRAM Maven Silver | SRAM Maven Silver |
| Wheels | WTB | DT Swiss H1900 | DT Swiss HX1700 | DT Swiss HX1500 |
| Claimed weight (size S) | 24.8kg | 25.4kg | 25.0kg | 25.1kg |
Specs: Bikerumor / BikeRadar
View data table
| Price (€) | |
|---|---|
| CORE 1 | 4499 € |
| CORE 2 | 5499 € |
| CORE 3 | 6499 € |
| CORE 4 | 7499 € |
| Launch Ed. | 8499 € |
In Rand (approx, @ today's rate): CORE 1: ~R84 400 · CORE 2: ~R103 000 · CORE 3: ~R122 000 · CORE 4: ~R141 000 · Launch Ed.: ~R159 000
What the reviewers say
First takes from the launch coverage
Independent verdicts from across the cycling press — follow each link for the full review.
Back to its value roots
“It looks as if YT is going back to its roots, competing with other direct-to-consumer brands to offer the best possible value proposition online.”
Read the full reviewAggressively priced
“With prices starting at €4,499 (~R84 400), YT currently offer one of the most aggressive overall packages built around the new Avinox M2S drive system.”
Read the full review“This tech is unlike anything else out there.”
Geometry, frame & the trade-offs
Geometry follows the modern long-slack-low script. In the low flip-chip setting YT lists a 63.9° head angle, a 78.1° effective seat angle and 442–443mm chainstays across every size, with reach growing from 435mm (S) to 515mm (XXL) in 20mm steps (472mm in size L). The mullet wheel pairing (29in front, 27.5in rear) and 170/160mm of travel point it squarely at enduro and bike-park duty.
The catch for weight-watchers: the Decoy X is aluminium only. Where the outgoing Decoy SN offered a carbon frame, this hydroformed alloy chassis keeps every build around 25kg — the trade YT made to hit the price.
Decoy X CORE: the balance sheet
- Top-tier Avinox M2S power and a big 800Wh battery on every model, including the €4,499 (~R84 400) CORE 1
- Aggressive direct-to-consumer pricing that undercuts most Avinox-equipped rivals
- Modern mullet e-enduro geometry with 170/160mm travel and adjustable flip-chip
- Fast charging (75% in ~90 min) and a strong 80%-after-500-cycles battery longevity claim
- Aluminium frame only — no carbon option, and a ~25kg claimed weight
- No South African dealer network: it's import-only, so add shipping, duty, VAT and service logistics
- DJI/Avinox spares and long-term service support are still less proven than Bosch or Shimano
- Headline 1,500W/150Nm figures are Boost-only bursts; sustained output is 1,300W/130Nm
From administration to relaunch
YT's 2026 in brief
- Early 2026Into administration
YT Industries enters administration amid the post-boom eMTB downturn.
- 2026Founder buy-back
Founder and CEO Markus Flossmann reacquires the brand.
- Apr–May 2026Decoy X revealed
YT unveils the Decoy X — its first eMTB on DJI's Avinox platform.
- NowCORE range & pre-orders
Four-model CORE line (€4,499 (~R84 400)–€7,499 (~R141 000)) plus an €8,499 (~R159 000) Launch Edition; pre-orders open in Europe and the UK.
- Summer 2026US to follow
US availability slated for later in summer 2026.
Tap to vote — see how readers lean
YT Decoy X CORE: your questions
Can I buy the YT Decoy X in South Africa? +
Not through a local dealer. YT is direct-to-consumer, and at launch pre-orders are open only in Europe and the UK, with the US to follow in summer 2026. South African riders would need to import, factoring in shipping, import duty, 15% VAT and the realities of servicing an Avinox motor locally.
What is the Avinox M2S motor? +
It's DJI's eMTB drive unit. In the Decoy X it makes up to 150Nm of torque and 1,300W of peak power (1,500W in short Boost bursts), paired with an 800Wh battery on every frame size.
How much does the Decoy X CORE cost? +
The CORE range runs from €4,499 (~R84 400) (CORE 1) to €7,499 (~R141 000) (CORE 4), with an €8,499 (~R159 000) Launch Edition above it. UK pricing matches the same figures in pounds. These exclude any SA import costs.
Is it carbon or aluminium? +
Aluminium only. The Decoy X uses a hydroformed alloy frame across the range — there's no carbon option like the previous Decoy SN — which is part of how YT hits the price. Claimed weights are around 24.8–25.5kg.
How long does the battery take to charge, and how long will it last? +
The standard 4A charger does 0–100% in about 5hr 10min; the optional 12A fast charger hits 75% in roughly 90 minutes and a full charge in about 2.5 hours. YT cites Avinox's claim of at least 80% capacity after 500 charge cycles.
Sources & further reading
- YT officially launches its Avinox-powered Decoy X CORE range — Bikerumor
- YT returns with flagship Decoy eMTB range and Avinox M2S motor — BikeRadar
- YT Decoy X Core — Avinox for everyone? — E-MOUNTAINBIKE Magazine
- It Feels Illegal — YT Launches Decoy X E-MTB — The Loam Wolf
- Uncover the Decoy X — official specs — YT Industries
- YT expands its Avinox M2S e-MTB line-up — off-road.cc
The Decoy X CORE is exactly the bike YT needed for its comeback: a no-nonsense alloy e-enduro that puts the buzzy Avinox M2S motor and a full 800Wh battery within reach from €4,499 (~R84 400), undercutting most rivals on the same platform. The compromises are a heavier aluminium-only frame and still-unproven long-term Avinox support — and for South Africans, the bigger hurdle is that there's no local dealer, so it's an import job. As a statement of intent, though, YT is firmly back in the conversation.
