Best Direct-Sales Downhill Bikes Tested | Canyon vs YT vs Propain
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- čas přidán 16. 03. 2024
- We took three downhill bikes, all raced by factory teams, all using carbon frames, and all fitted with Fox Factory suspension, and put them through a week of torture in Morzine and Les Gets (as well as Dyfi Bike Park), to find out which is the best direct-sales DH bike.
Let's start with the multi-adjustable Canyon Sender. It can be configured in multiple variations, with the ability to fine-tune the reach to get the perfect fit and weight balance.
In contrast, the YT Tues nails its geometry colours to the wall, confident in its ability to perform on a wide range of tracks straight out of the box. Something proved last year when Oisin O'Callaghan won the World Cup in Snowshoe last year.
Finally we have the Propain Rage 3 CF, ridden by the likes of Phil Atwill and @remymetailler It has tons of travel, adjustable geometry, and a customisable spec.
But which one would we buy for the ultimate uplifting ride experience?
Watch the video to find out. And you can also read the full in-depth reviews and geek out on all the actual weights and measurements at mbr.co.uk.
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you guys give some of the most concise technical detailed reviews......well done.
Thanks! 🙏
Yeah great details, sometime even world changing, like in the Levo SL alloy review we found out that 0.06 of a kilo is actually 600 grams!!! These guys aren’t just changing the bike world, they’re changing THE world as we know it!
correct
Wow that's finally a relevant test, same wheel size, same suspension, that's always how it should be when comparing frames...
There is that something special about DH bikes.
The F1 cars of MTB world.
More like trophy truck
Having owned some DH bikes, watched dozens of reviews and followed world cup racing for years - this was such a great description of the bikes ride feel. Wow. Really enjoyed hearing that and being able to relate!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Not paid much attention to MBR recently, but came across this video and have since subscribed to the channel. Great review
Cheers! 🍻
Love that you went into detail like that ,super nice!!
Nice review! For us, not racers, I would love to see shootout with fun in mind park bikes like Canyon Torque, Commencal FRS, Norco Shore, Transition TR11 etc.
Love the details you gave about every bike in particular. Love the review!
Great review. Any chance for a bike shop brand DH review? Specialized, Santa Cruz and company?
Ps. Trail bike reviews might be more useful for more people, but these DH bike reviews (as the bikes) are so much more exciting.
another good review. thx you guys
Awesome video, just watched it again. Very competent people who also are somewhat decent riders and explained everything really well. Also finally a video about the frames without a ton of variables like so many reviewers do. Would looooove it for you to keep this going with other DH brands as well! Would be an awesome video with the big brands as well and then compared to these CDS bikes, like Specialized, Santa, Scott and the Trek models!
Only the fact that it was a full 29er review instead of a mixed one was kinda disappointing, especially now that the YT is also available in MX. But your choice of going all 29er was definitely the better decision.
Thank you so much!
Thanks for the great feedback and support! Yes, obviously the YT wasn't available in MX at the time we did the test. But we've ridden the new bike and there will be first impressions on it soon.
Nice one. Love this💯❤
Good review dudes. Downhill bikes are needed. I am a season pass holder at Northstar and do a lot of shuttle riding. I think the canyon is the obvious choice. If I did not have a freeride e bike I would be on the sender.
Another great video! I really do appreciate how you don't just rattle off the specs from the website or the MFG's crib notes. Because of that, when I want a real review, I come to your videos first. PS, that YT looks so sexy!
Cheers!
More dh tests. Great vid
Thanks!
Thanks , i will buy the Propain Rage 3 CF 🙂
Great review. One observation is apparently the Propain is better in Mullet, and here in the US the Canyon is only sold in Mullet. Possibly in future tests you could
try both except for bikes like the YT which are only offered in 29
Would choose the Canyon for sure after seeing this. By that token though, glad to hear the YT had a legit "perfectly dialed" day. I've ridden a couple YTs and have been truly impressed.
Great video gents. My only question is if on the YT a slight change to the mech hanger would fix the bumping/knocking issue? Since the B-screw pushes into it it would seem that by adding .5mm or so then it would position the mech so it wouldn't hit? Just a thought.
I love my Tues. Mines a 27.5 running a coil. Set up single speed for bike parks. Bombproof. I rode a rented propaine at Rock Creek. I really liked it, but I let the shop hand me an already set up bike and just trusted it.
Finally someone doing a REAL review of a YT. I can't wait till I own a YT. Maybe not a downhill yet. but 100% I will someday buy a Capra! lol
As someone with a capra it is amazing I highly recommend it!
Plus one! As a Capra owner, it is an amazing bike (specially the price)
I started on a 120mm cannondale habit, bike was fun at parks and great around local trails but in over its head on technical bike park trails, eventually got a yt tues off my buddy for bargain and loved it but it was “too much” bike in jumps which is where I spent most of my time. Last year I got the Capra core 1 mx and it’s incredible. Enduro is what I’ve wanted from the get go only took 6 years to finally get one😅 and I snagged it when it only 1999 which is an absolute bargain for what you get.
@@MrDoctour Right on! Yeah its gonna take me a few more years before I can get one. But was sad I couldn't get one when they were on sale lol. Also yeah YT seems like the brand to get, Iv looked at propain and they look okay. But just not the same as a YT, YT just look soooooooo good!!
Good review, would love to see Commencal Supreme V5 mixed into that ^^
x2
Without doubt THE most useful helpful and informative video I’ve seen on MTB’s esp given the online ordering on these bikes, test riding is somewhat tricky at the best of times. One might now have an idea what you’re getting. Thank you 🙏 very much appreciated
Ps, what’s with the seal on the bottom shock mount on the propane? It looks displaced or damaged, possibly on both sides. Or is it eccentric..? You also touched on an approach that I prefer. Rather than buy a whole bike. Swap your wheel set, suspension set, drive set, etc on to the new frame. Which is what most hardened riders would do. It’s the frame that’s key. 🔐 obvs….but try buying just a frame , is that possible either way these?
Glad you enjoyed it!
Nice review. I decided last year for the Rage (but mullet :P 29/27.5). YT did not make mullet setup which I required and Sender was pricey. I am 180cm and full 29er is too much for me (even to my age xD ). I am happy with it, but as you mentioned, there is a need to silence the bike. Also, the bike is way more capable than me, so I am the limit :) On the other hand, having high travel bike gives me confidence to do the stuff I was scared.
Nice! Glad you’re enjoying it.
I have that same exact Canyon. The bike is f*king beast. Like the guy said, it's a proper racing machine. It has tons of adjustability (you get 3 springs to fit your weight), it's very quiet and planted. This bike needs to be rode fast. The only thing i can remember that needs to be added to it it's a down tube protection.
If you are thinking to buy a DH bike, go for the Sender. You will be amazed how good it is.
Great review guys, i'm in the market for a DH. Any chance you could add a few more bikes to this review? Forbidden Supernought and Commencal Supreme V5? I also see YT is testing some new stuff on what im assuming is a new Tues.
Thanks! Will look into the Forbidden and Commencal 👍
Very good review ! Looks like 2 of theses models will or are new in 2024.
Thanks! Yes the new YT Tues launched last week with several key updates, and the radically different new Canyon Sender was raced at Fort Bill at the weekend. We actually rode the new YT yesterday, so will have some ride impressions soon on MBR.co.uk.
hopefully that core 4 tues comes back in stock soon !
i own a canyon sender AL in 27.5 and love it but i would like to try this new beast (Canyon CF)
Pls test out the propain spindrift vs the tyee
By the way, the YT Tues is, and has been HEAVILY discounted for a while now. Its €3899. Thats pretty much the price of what the fork, shock and wheels cost. You get the frame, drivetrain, cockpit and brakes for "free"
i got my Sender Underdog (Mullet) in Dez. Tomorrow will be the first ride with the boys this Seson :). Cant wait to see what is it capable about;).
Sweet! Have a great ride!
Wonder how the Tues 27 compares? As the 29 is definitely not coming back in stock
As a proud owner of a 2nd hand YT Tues 2016 AL base model, which i bought in 2022 for $2k NZD ($1000 USD) off Marketplace. Custom painted with new frame bearings & headset etc, i can genuinely say the bike feels really planted & super stable, i absolutely love it it feels so nice to ride! But I agree on the ibeam seat i cant stand them, but i already had a beautiful italian made enduro seat with carbon rails which i got on a ridiculous sale on ebay. So i quickly replaced it with that.. funnily enough i dont notice the derailur hitting the rear triangle at all, & i have an SRAM X9 with a 10spd, mind you i use a close ratio road cassette..
And maybe it's personal preference but im not a fan of SRAM codes at all, i find hardly any stopping power, so i swapped off the Magura MT5s off my old bike onto the YT before i sold it.. Now running SHIGURA brakes after my left Magura lever broke, the only drawback with Maguras, the calipers are amazing & the levers give awesome modulation but the carbotecture (carbon infused plastic) levers are prone to breaking.. So the solution, is to replace both Magura levers with Shimano levers. And holy hell combining the 2 systems, Magura & shimano multiplies the action of both, for an almost Trickstuff level of power & modulation but for a third the price.. It's almost ridiculous how powerful it is haha! ..
But Yeah.. YT Tues are just such awesome bikes & so well designed.. all of them just work really well, I'd also love a Capra or a Jeffsy too..
Sounds like you’ve got your bike dialled 👍
love the reviews shame they will be dated soon with YT and Canyon already onto public test phase and will likly have new DH bikes next year
What height are Alan and Danny? Thanks for the review!
5ft 10 and 5ft 11 👍
Are the headset cups plastic on the Canyon still? Is there an aftermarket fix?
The cups are alloy, but maybe you're referring to the expander wedge used to tension the headset?
Yt bike would be a great hire bike at a bike park
I'm 6ft 2 and if I get a DH bike it would have to be the propain. 510 reach on the Canyon is just a touch too long even in -8 setting. And the CS just isn't long enough even in the long version. It's a shame though as it sounds unreal. Also even at my height I prefer a 27.5 rear wheel. When this is matched with a long CS it's just amazing and for some reason you can't get a mullet in the XL. YT is just outdated with their geo numbers and CS is far too short
Really torn between YT and Canyon 🤔
As long as you get highend builds you’re good with either one. Otherwise you spend double on upgrades like me. Canyon is better in the air and jumps. Both are amazing on the chunk.
So where these all the 24 model year?
Yes they were 2024 models. So not the new Tues. Although we rode that this week, so keep an eye out for first impressions on that soon.
@@MBRmagazine Really excited for that review, the new one looks pretty awesome, they went mixed, finally, and they went coil in the rear, very interesting!
Alloy framed downhill bikes? 27.5 or mullet. Can you even get them now or are bike manufacturers just pushing carbon? Alot of people don't want carbon.
die erste kennt sich aber aus :)
Brilliant review I’ve ever seen for a while. I understand it is very technical for some but the minority who’s in love with downhill this is the best recipe imo.
Thanks!
Which one was the fastest?
They are race bikes and in a race feel means nothing.
German dh bikes shootout
compare Canyon to V10 8
Canyon is a poor man demo that falls apart unlike a demo.
Radon sadly crying in the corner
Yeah, we can't get Radon or Rose in the UK any more. Another Brexit benefit!
Coil > Air
Thank you for comparing apples to apples!!!!
Most of the reviews are Set up by fools.
Nice video
i have the new commencal supreme and i had a canyon sender before. if at least one person replies to this comment ill make review this summer
Exactly the same with me haha, had the sender last season and now the Supreme. Would be interested in your opinion on the differences 👍🏼
what are the differences im torn between 2 , for racing ultimate speed machine, I heard v5 is good at chunk but little slow to start rolling and feels too planted on jumps.
@@foodclubbing3705 v5 is heavy and therefore slow to get rolling but it has unbelieveable straight line speed. Jumping is no problem if the suspension is dialed.
i cant tell you that the canyon i not the best bike, if it is ridden for over a month or two they all fall apart
“If you spend six grand it’s the frame you’re going to keep… you might change the wheels, or the fork…” honestly guys what drugs are you smoking????? Six grand is the very top of the budget for 99% of people. If they spend 6000 pounds on a bicycle they aren’t going to replace jack! Most probably they are even going to have to tighten their belt for a while after putting out so much money. You guys need to stop talking absolute rubbish and being disrespectful of consumers by belittling them!
i like the YT and Canyon...
So the Propain was out of the running because you did not have a mullet config like most use? Why did you even bother knowing you were not getting the best out of it? This test is null and void if you are not running the bikes at their best.