The Young Talent generation is getting into gravel. The new YT SZEPTER is the brand’s first gravel bike, and while the styling may not scream YT, the geometry and component choices hint at the brand’s gravity intentions.
For starters, both of these gravel bike builds come with a Rock Shox Rudy XPLR fork (the pricier version gets the Ultimate version) offering 40mm of suspension travel. The fork lays back at a slack-for-a-gravel-bike 69.3° with a 51mm offset.
The YT SZEPTER ships with tubeless tires and wheels, and both the Core 3 and Core 4 builds come with wireless, electronic AXS shifting.
The frame has an MTB-dropper-sized 30.9mm seat tube (shimmed to 27.2mm) for broader compatibility with longer travel posts on the market. YT says the frame can fit droppers that offer up to 150mm of travel.
Rounding out the carbon frame specs: an integrated rear fender, dual water bottle mounts (including what appears to be a set of Fidlock mounts), and mounts underneath the top tube for frame bags.
YT says the SZEPTER builds weigh just shy of 22lb for size small frames without pedals.
The YT SZEPTER Core 4 build is priced at $4,499 and comes with a Rock Shox Reverb AXS dropper post while the Core 3 build ($3,299) ships with a fixed seat post.
