Despite its financial troubles, this German brand is “rising from the ashes” with a full range of high-quality eBikes.
The ups and downs of the German brand seem to be coming to an end: after a rather turbulent past year, marked by the price war it has faced since the pandemic, compounded by huge inventory levels and issues with a major supplier (Fazua), YT Industries turned to a common procedure in Germany known as legal “self-administration” to sort out its finances and find new investors, so as not to ruin its 20-year history, which it will celebrate in 2027.
The German company has announced new developments in its eBikes, with the recent launch of the Decoy and its Bosch Performance Line CX motor, which we will also cover in this report. But first, we focused on a model that is also newly introduced yet represents a turning point for the brand: the Decoy X, equipped with the Avinox M2S motor.
YT Decoy X: An Electric Bike with a 'Muscular' Look
It’s common for bikes on the market equipped with the Avinox M2S motor and its 800 Wh integrated battery to appear like bikes without motors. What makes this Decoy X special is that it’s a high-quality enduro eMtb with excellent features, yet it uses an aluminum frame, which helps keep its prices quite competitive.
The frame, which has a robust appearance (the aluminum welds have not been polished), features generous suspension travel: 170 mm at the front wheel and 160 mm at the rear. The wheel configuration is ‘mullet,’ which gives the bike’s rear end considerable responsiveness.
The engine, as we’ve mentioned, is the Avinox M2S; there is no option for the more basic M2. With Avinox’s non-removable 800 Wh battery, this engine delivers: 1,300 W of maximum power, 130 Nm of torque (150 Nm in boost mode for up to 60 seconds), and a maximum pedal assist of 800 %.
There are nothing short of five models of the Decoy X available, a relatively uncommon offering for a brand emerging from financial difficulties. As is typical of this German manufacturer, the quality-price ratio is certainly excellent (price ranges from 8,499 to 4,499 euros).
We highlight the most premium version available at 8,499 euros—the “Launch Edition”—which features outstanding specifications, including the exclusive inverted Fox Podium fork. For more information: YT Decoy X
Technical specs for YT Decoy X ‘Launch Edition’ (8,499 euros)
Fork: hydroformed aluminum
Engine: Avinox M2S
Battery: Avinox 800 Wh
Transmission: SRAM X0 AXS T-Type
Brakes: SRAM Maven Silver
Fork: Fox Podium Factory 170 mm
Shock absorber: Fox Float X2 Factory 160 mm
Wheels: DT Swiss DF HX1500
Tires: Continental Kryptotal
Handlebars: Title AH1 800 mm
Seatpost: Fox Transfer Factory
Weight: 25.5 kg
YT Decoy: the Bosch Performance Line CX engine continues to deliver top performance
It’s interesting to see that, after launching the Decoy X with Avinox, the German brand has recently introduced the Decoy model using Bosch as the engine supplier. The engine, as expected, is the Performance Line CX Gen 5 that received the Upgrade 2.0 update earlier this summer, increasing the torque to 120 Nm and the maximum power delivery to 600%. The top power output remained at a solid 750 W. The battery, naturally, is the powerful 800 Wh PowerTube.
Well, we started a bit from the end and haven’t discussed what type of frame the new Decoy is: logically, at YT Industries they wanted to differentiate it from the Decoy X and give it a more premium look. It’s an enduro frame but closer to freeride, with even longer suspension travel—180 mm on the front wheel and 170 mm on the rear. The wheels are, of course, “mullet” style.
The frame itself is made of carbon fiber to offer greater exclusivity for its future users. Naturally, its geometry is a bit more aggressive than that of the Decoy X, so stability when descending will be slightly better. These more open angles might disadvantage it on climbs, but thanks to the carbon fiber, its weight is slightly lower than that of the Decoy X. It weighs around 23 kg, nearly 2 kg less.
Regarding the models available at launch, there are only three, though to users’ delight, they come with a promotional discount that puts these Decoy models in a clearly competitive position. The most comprehensive model is the YT Decoy Core 4, priced at 7,999 euros (official price 8,999 euros), slightly below the top-of-the-line Decoy X (aluminum version).
We highlight the Decoy Core 3, which features what we consider a very exclusive setup—offered at 7,199 euros—it comes equipped with an Öhlins suspension set. The most affordable option is the Core 2, available at 6,299 euros. For more information: YT Decoy
Technical specs for YT Decoy Core 3 (7,999 euros, on sale for 7,199 euros)
Fork: carbon fiber
Engine: Bosch Performance Line CX
Battery: Bosch PowerTube 800 Wh
Transmission: SRAM S-1000 AXS T-Type
Brakes: TRP EVO Pro
Fork: Öhlins RXF38 m.3 180 mm
Shock absorber: Öhlins TTX22 m.2 170 mm
Wheels: CRANKBROTHERS SYNTHESIS V2 I9
Tires: Continental Kryptotal
Handlebars: Title AH1 800 mm
Seatpost: YT Postman V2
Weight: 23.2 kg
A breath of fresh air
We’ll see what the future holds for YT Industries. Honestly, looking at their catalog and the range of new products, it seems like this German brand has “risen from the ashes” and is coming strong. As we mentioned, 2027 marks 20 years since its founding, and they likely want to celebrate that with plenty of success (sales).
The two most recent models in the eBike sector are the Decoy X and Decoy, but there is currently another model in the catalog (Decoy SN) that we believe will eventually disappear. This is because, despite every imaginable effort to reassure their users, using a motor from Fazua (which is no longer in operation) doesn’t seem to be the best selling point.