Description
Moots Routt YBB - titanium gravel bike with rear soft-tail
There are lots of bikes out there that claim to do-it-all. And lots of them can do a lot. But the Moots Routt YBB joins that versatility party with a few more tricks up its sleeve. Marrying the high quality titanium frame to the YBB rear soft-tail, the Routt YBB might just be the most comfortable gravel road bike you’ll ever find.
Moots has a great selection of bikes that manage to blur the lines of what a normal bike can be expected to do. The Routt YBB leans more toward the gravel grinder that will still be fun for those road sections. And the latest updates to all the Routt lineup will only enhance and increase the YBB’s capabilities. Most noticeably, the designers at Moots have increased the Routt YBB’s tire clearance from 45 to 50mm. And when they say clearance, they mean clearance, even at that extreme tire width. That’s because folks who live in the mountains know a thing or two about dealing with muddy rides.
They have been able to increase the tire width without lengthening the 43.7cm chainstays because companies like Shimano and SRAM are developing gravel wide-specific groupsets. Don’t think that a gravel-specific groupset is simply a way to ply more cash away from your bank account; they aren’t just expanding gear ratios. These are groupsets that actually move the chain ring or double chain ring out and simultaneously add 2.5mm to each side of the crank. That completely changes the measurements a frame builder can use when designing the frame. And what Moots designers have done is moveout the chainstays which allow for greater tire clearance without having to make the chainstays longer or resort to a dropped stay. That means that the Routt YBB is only compatible with a gravel wide groupset, but that is a trade-off that will hardly be noticeable once you are deep skirting the edge of a rocky overhang without losing your grip.
Micro-rear suspension system used in the Routt YBB
Combining this level of tire clearance with the YBB micro-rear suspension system to this frame encourages the most extreme exploration that any dropbar bike can cope with. Keep in mind, this suspension system is not a typical mountain bike system since there are no dampers or pivot points. Rather it is a soft-tail elastomer-spring system that telescopes the wishbone-style seatstay about 20mm so that all that trail chatter won’t hit your bum. The system works because this is super high-quality titanium, which offers enough vertical flex that the chainstays will work with that 20mm of movement. Absorbing those vibrations will also improve the control and traction since you’ll be bouncing around a lot less. And it will help you feel much less beaten up by the end of the ride, contributing to this bike’s endurance adventure status and dependability.
All the updated Routt bikes have been given a specially designed Moots carbon fork that also works with the super wide rubber, but if you are really thinking of exploring the interior of Iceland, for instance, you can swap out the Moots gravel fork for a Lauf suspension fork, and turn the roughest technical sections into comfortably manageable. Knowing that all-day and especially multi-day treks often involve inclement weather, Moots has included hidden fender eyelets, and there are three sets of water bottle bosses so you can keep a good store of hydration options while on long, lonely roads.
Moots Routt YBB is available in six sizes, with custom geometry available for anyone who feels uncomfortably between sizes. Moots also offers color customization for the logos and branding.
Also check Niner Gravel & CX bikes.
Geometry - Routt YBB
Need Help?
If you have any questions about this frame or bike, please contact our Moots TeamCole Amaya
USA: 866.497.3624 ext.204
International: 510-529-3044 Fernando Munguia
USA: 866.497.3624 ext.207
International: 510-529-3052