Sick Staff Shred Sleds: Iceman's YT Capra 27 12

We review a lot of components here at Vital, and having a good long-term test platform is crucial in this endeavor. YT's Capra CF 27 fits the bill perfectly, with its modern geo, progressive suspension linkage, and stout frame construction. At 1m84 and 88 kgs, Johan Hjord (@iceman2058) rides a size L which provides a stable yet lively ride, perfect for the somewhat twisty and often tight trails where he lives (Johan will happily ride an XL in places where trails are faster and more open).

Suspension is the beating heart of any enduro bike, and the Swedish suspension wizards at Öhlins have been hard at work building up their MTB catalog over the past couple of years. The coil-sprung TTX22m shock has an excellent reputation, which is certainly well-deserved, and the very latest incarnation of the heavy-hitting RXF fork looks set to finally deliver the kind of performance we've always expected from the company with such a storied past in motorsports. We're currently in the middle of some prolonged testing of all things Öhlins, and we'll be bringing you some more features further down the line (including comparisons between air and coil versions of both the fork and the shock).

Going fast is pointless if you can't slow down when you need to - and SRAM's excellent Code RSC brakes have proven themselves more than worthy in this department, finishing second in Vital's big brake Face Off and of course enjoying much success on the World Cup downhill circuit as well. Johan knows some people who know some people, so he has rather undeservedly ended up with his name on the levers and some very rad, red calipers, but don't hold that against him. Everybody gets their 15 minutes...

Contact points are important, and this is an area where riders also love to add a bit of flash and flair to their rides. Deity's latest line-up certainly fits the bill here, with awesome looks and equally awesome performance to back it all up. We're particularly fond of the new bronze finish featured here, but there are a further 7 color options to choose from so chances are good they have something for every taste.

Wheels and tires should always be selected with care, as they can literally make or break your ride. ENVE's new M730 wheels have put in a very convincing performance in this department, with this particular wheelset going on 16 months on the trails now without showing any signs of being headed for early retirement. Maxxis DHF/DHR2 is a classic combo, and although the EXO casing isn't really up to the task, Johan enjoys the relatively rapid rolling characteristics of the lighter option and can't bring himself to mount the DD's he should be running. Attention to detail: Deity valve cap in bronze matches the rest of the build.

A good dropper post is essential to any enduro build, and thankfully there are nowadays a couple of very dependable options on the market to pick from. FOX's Transfer is one of the very best, with super smooth actuation and a durability track record second to none. Johan runs a 170mm version mated to a Race Face Turbine lever, with the Factory Kashima coating for a little extra bling.

Rounding out the build, Shimano's 11-speed XT group is a good match for e*thirteen's 9-46T cassette, keeping the weight low and the profile svelte while delivering a whopping 511% gear range. E*thirteen's all-new LG1r DH carbon crank and chainguide look beefy but tread lightly on the old scales, helping keep the overall weight of this hard-hitting enduro rig in check.

Photos by Johan Hjord / Action shot by Nils Hjord