Eurobike 2015: New Yeti SB4.5C

Yeti has introduced a new Switch Infinity-Equipped, 4.5in travel, 29er trail bike and have revealed it at Eurobike 2015

The SB4.5C features that ever-expensive carbon construction, 29-inch wheels and trail specific geometry in an effort to create, in the words of Yeti, “a perfectly aggressive cross country/enduro bike.”

Yeti, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary in the bike game this year, have added the new SB4.5C to its current line of five and six inch travel Switch Infinity bikes.

Yeti’s President Chris Conroy said, “The goal with the SB4.5C was to build a trail-specific bike with the firm pedaling platform and supple bump absorption that our Switch Infinity design is known for. Based on feedback from racers on our team like Jared Graves and Richie Rude as well as a range of local riders and dealers who’ve ridden it, the SB4.5C is exactly the bike we were trying make.”

For those who don’t know, the Switch Infinity design is basically a patented translating pivot that moves direction as the rear wheel engages through the travel which, in Yeti’s words “provides excellent anti-squat respond for superior pedalling.” Here’s a more detailed and we must say, very relaxing description of it through the medium of video..

Can’t see the video? Click here to open in a browser

Yeti has certainly stuck to the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” ethos as the new SB4.5C features that typical Yeti geometry with a long top tube, loose head angle and a low bottom bracket.

Additional features include custom moulded guards on the down tube, right chainstay and right seatstay with rear dropouts designed to fit the current generation of thru-axles- which includes Shimano’s all new E-THRU axle in Boost 148 width.

Here’s the full geometry for you. Clicky to make biggy.

Prices: OK, you might want to be sitting down for this and please keep in mind that these prices are currently quoted in US dollars…

Frame only price on the SB45C is $3400.

Complete build prices:

Models / Availability

• Yeti SB4.5c + XO1: $6899 (September 15th)
• Yeti SB4.5c + XO1 + Enve: $9299 (October 1st)
• Yeti SB4.5c + GX: $5599 (December 1st)
• Yeti SB4.5c + XTR + Enve: $10,499 (October 1st)

That last number is indeed over the $10k mark and as of this morning $10,499 equates to £6687.88. That is for the absolute, top of the range model complete with XTR and Enve wheels of course and $6899 (X01 model) does currently equate to £4,400, which is still not even remotely ‘cheap’ but does sit alongside many other manufacturers price points for high end bikes.  As many of you will already know, you should not expect a direct exchange rate price like this when these bikes reach British shores. In fact history would indicate that you should expect a price much further ‘north’ than the direct exchange rate price. As soon as we have UK and Euro prices from UK distributor Silverfish we will update this story.

UK PRICE UPDATE: Frame only: £2999 and UK availability on complete build is restricted to the X01 Model only at £5999.

EURO PRICE UPDATE: Frame only: €4190  Availability in Germany and Austria similarly restricted to X01 Build at €8390

Full specs for all Yeti’s 2016 range below:’ Clicky to make biggy‘