YT Izzo Uncaged 7 2023 Review: Unleashing a Trail-Taming Beast & a Hefty XC Machine

Introduction:
The YT Izzo Uncaged 7 is a mountain bike that has been making waves in the industry since its release. With a reputation for being a versatile and capable trail bike, it promises to offer an exhilarating riding experience. In this comprehensive review, we will dive deep into its features, performance, and overall value for money. This bike is an unbelievable machine at a price point that is incredibly affordable compared to the competition. If you are on the fence about buying one you should buy it.

Price and Value:
I have to start with the price before digging into the many other reasons why this bike is an awesome buy. I’m coming from a 2020 Trek Top Fuel and the Top Fuel is a very similar bike. If I were to buy a Top Fuel with the same specs as the Izzo Uncaged 7 I would be paying $11,500 versus the price tag of $6,000 - $7,500 for the Izzo depending on when you bought yours. Having a Trek shop nearby is not worth an extra $4,000 especially if you can do maintenance yourself. I’ve recently found Trek to be more challenging to work with when dealing with warranty issues, so again, not worth the extra $4,000. Direct to consumer brands like YT are making the highest-end bikes much more accessible for riders which aligns with their mission: “to overcome age, challenge conventions, and uncage the potential of all riders.”

The 15th ride on the new 2023 YT Izzo Uncaged 7 at Harmony Hill in Downingtown, PA.

Frame Design & Ride Quality:
The frame is the only thing YT is actually designing and building so it should be the main focus of this review. The frame is a little heavier than you would want for an elite Pro XC rider, but I am a clydesdale and I love the extra heft in the right areas. On many XC bikes I’m afraid of the thinness of the seat stays and the minimal carbon around pivot points. I’ve seen what look like propagating cracks around the main pivot point on the original frame for my Trek Top Fuel. I have no fear of those issues on the YT Izzo.

Climbing is where the Izzo Uncaged 7 truly impresses. The efficient pedaling platform, combined with its lightweight construction, enables quick and nimble ascents. The suspension design minimizes pedal bob, ensuring maximum power transfer to the rear wheel. Even on steep climbs, the bike maintains traction and offers exceptional climbing prowess. I’m riding an XXL size frame which I think a lot of frame designers tend to get wrong. Adjustments need to be made to geometry to get the components to function the same way on an XXL versus a M, especially when working with a Horst-Link suspension design. A key element is the seat tube angle. A slack seat tube angle means that my very long seat tube and seat post are going to place me further behind the main pivot and give me less of a pedaling platform. This makes having a remote lockout and using it essential for riders like me on most bikes. Luckily, the YT Izzo seems to have a steeper seat tube angle and provides a surprisingly sturdy pedaling platform without the lockout engaged. The bike also comes with the Rockshox TwistLoc for both front and rear suspension give it a very rigid feel when you need that extra power on the climbs.

I hate bearing creaking and cracking and in the past I’ve found myself servicing my bearings often. YT, like many other manufacturers, uses sealing washers in their bearing assemblies giving added protection from dirt and dust. After half a season of riding through the mud and rain everything is still running smooth and I’ve yet to tear down a single bearing assembly to look for noise.

My 2020 Trek Top Fuel had left and right bolts on the main pivot which would often work their way out even after I applied Loctite. I love that YT has gone the more sensible direction of using a through-bolt. In Trek’s defense, they updated this design flaw in their newest Top Fuel frame.

Overall this frame is everything I could ask for in an downcountry XC bike / trail bike that will work for a clydesdale like me. The design serves well as a race bike and as an everyday rider for the XC trails of South Eastern Pennsylvania, Northern Delaware, and Northern Maryland where I do most of my riding.

Components and Specifications:
Equipped with top-tier components, the Izzo Uncaged 7 is ready to tackle any trail with confidence. The bike features a full SRAM XX1 AXS Eagle drivetrain, offering a wide range for efficient climbing and fast descents. It also comes with the Reverb AXS dropper post. The RockShox suspension is setup with a 120mm travel RockShox SID Ultimate fork in the front and a SID Luxe Ultimate shock at the rear ensures superior handling and bump absorption on rough terrains. The bike rolls on a set of high-quality DT Swiss XCR 1200s which is a wildly light high performing wheel. If weight is your main concern this wheel is nearly best-in-class, but it has its downsides for a large rider like me. Big riders break spokes and finding the right spokes in stock somewhere is a real challenge. Also, installing bladed spokes with the proprietary squorx spoke is a bit of a pain. The SDG Bel Air 3.0 was probably also not a great choice for the XXL version. I broke the carbon seat rails on my third ride, but SDG sent me a new seat with alloy rails right away free of charge. I’m also not a huge fan of SRAM brakes and had to upgrade to the HS2 rotors and MTX ceramic brake pads to get the braking power a larger rider needs from the SRAM G2 Ultimate brakes. I also broke the XX1 chain and chain ring very quickly and downgraded them to the much sturdier GX versions. Overall, I feel like I now have a very light and very durable XC set up for a larger rider after these few modifications.

Conclusion:
The YT Izzo Uncaged 7 is a trail-taming beast that delivers a thrilling riding experience and is more than capable as an XC bike for larger riders. With its robust carbon fiber frame, top-tier components, and versatile design, this bike offers exceptional performance on both climbs and descents. Whether you're a seasoned rider looking for your next adrenaline-filled adventure or a serious XC cyclist this bike is worth every penny.