Let’s have a look at the new Yeti SB160. It’s been over four years since the SB150 launched so it’s about time for new enduro-a-go-go bike from the Turquoise Team…
Yeti SB160 nutshelled
- 29er enduro race bike
- 160mm frame travel
- 170mm fork travel
- 17% leverage rate
- 64° head angle
- 77.5° seat angle
- 220mm front and 200mm rear rotors
- Downhill tested and used by the Yeti Fox Factory team
- New Switch Infinity assembly on T-Series
- New threaded bottom bracket
- New higher-clearance downtube
- New dual-density downtube protection
- £7,299 for Yeti SB160 C2
- £8,999 for Yeti SB160 T1
Press Release
This year’s product line is the culmination of two years of work from our product and engineering team. When we launched the SB130 and SB150 over four years ago, we pushed the envelope on geometry, kinematics and ride quality. Those bikes stood the test of time, but we knew we could make them better, and make them faster.
Our goal was to improve an already great platform by updating the kinematics, chasing down every detail to make the bikes faster, smoother, quieter, and easier to service. Each small detail is considered — taken in aggregate they make a massive difference in ride quality. This year’s new bikes are the best bikes we’ve made to date.
SIZE SPECIFIC SEAT TUBE ANGLES
Riders of all sizes stay in a powerful pedal position with seat tube angles that increase with frame size. This makes the transition from seated to standing easier, especially for taller riders.
A REACH FOR AGILITY
A more neutral position keeps riders weighting both wheels more evenly. This makes the bike more agile and sprightly. New reach numbers also scale with travel of each bike.
SIZE SPECIFIC CHAIN STAYS
Chainstay length increases with frame size, ensuring the rear center of the bike is proportionately correct for riders of all sizes (XS-XXL).
BALANCED VERTICAL TRAVEL
Modern head angles are slack, so we run more front travel than rear travel to balance the bike. This delivers a brilliantly balanced ride.
LEVERAGE RATES REFINED.
With the release of the last generation of Yeti Switch Infinity bikes, Yeti focused on fine tuning leverage rates. The results are apparent in our award and race winning bikes.
The new line of Yeti Switch Infinity bikes builds on this already successful set of suspension kinematics with subtle refined leverage rates that are adjusted for the added travel of each new bike. The new bikes maintain our balanced approach to leverage rate resulting in a incredibly predictable ride.
BETTER SHOCK TUNING.
Yeti Cycles has been tuning our shocks in-house to ensure our kinematics pair seamlessly with our shocks. Using data acquisition and our shock dyno we are able to correlate hours of ride testing, splitting hairs over tenths of millimeters, to deliver the most out of our suspension. Each new bike goes through countless hours of ride and lab testing with multiple, ground-up shock tunes before we settle on the final tune.
THE NEW SILHOUETTE OF SPEED.
The refined main frame and swingarm silhouettes are more than just striking good looks — it’s an engineering approach that packages Switch Infinity and shock linkage in a tighter, more efficient package with added impact clearance. Holistic frame chassis stiffness has increased, along with frame ground clearance on all new models.
INCREDIBLE RIDE FEEL FROM THE INSIDE OUT.
Over the course of hundreds of virtual simulation comparisons and back-to-back carbon prototype testing, we’ve refined our carbon layups to deliver consistent torsional stiffness and flex profiles across all frame sizes. The feel is precise yet compliant while structurally balancing light weight and durability.
SWITCH INFINITY RECALCULATED.
Discover the next-generation of translating pivot suspension designs. Setting new expectations for kinematics, longevity, sensitivity, and strength.
All new T-series builds will be equipped with our new Switch Infinity system with improved seals, bearings and hardware.
SPEED METAL.
Our new pivot designs use 100% standard sized cartridge bearings secured with precision — machined floating collet axles. All bearings are pressed into the linkage assembly vs the swingarm or front triangle.
Our new floating collet pivot design uses standard sized cartridge bearings in precision and machined floating collet axles boosting longevity. The end result is perfect alignment and smooth suspension motion every time.
COMPACT WISHBONE & NEW ULTRA-COMPACT LINK.
Our patented, two-piece wishbone shock extender is used on the SB140 and SB160 ensuring optimal clamping, shock compatibility and ease of shock removal for longer travel applications.
An all new ultra-compact, minimalist, 1-piece shock extender.
Both shock extender styles are achieving the same goals: optimizing leverage rates while pushing the shock forward in the frame. This forward positioning allows for a large range of shock compatibility, decreases standover height, reduces shock tab sizes, increases water bottle compatibility, and increases downtube clearance.
CABLE MANAGEMENT.
Internally routed cable tubes with secure closures at entry and exit points eliminate rattles and cable rub. Whether running a mechanical drivetrain and dropper or a wireless setup, cable management is intuitively easy and quiet.
FRAME PROTECTION.
The new downtube protection system features two layers that work together. The foundation of the system is a rubber under-guard that provides cushion against the frame. The external hard cap provides superior impact resistance. The new system brings edge to edge protection to the downtube and is easily replaceable. The hard cap is also removable to aid in dropper post cable routing.
FULL DROP.
As the capability of our bikes continues to increase, so does their ability to run modern day, full-stroke dropper posts. Our seat tube is shorter to allow for a longer dropper posts. Most riders will be able to use a 150mm dropper posts on Small frames, 175mm on Medium framesand 200mm+ dropper posts on L-XXL frames* respectively.
THREADED CO-MOLDED BOTTOM BRACKET.
A threaded aluminium bottom bracket shell with internal ISCG-05 tabs is co-molded into the carbon during layup. No glued in BB shells here — this critical drivetrain interface is more durable, cleaner, and easier to service.
Bonus PR material:
In the ‘Frame Highlights’ in the PR it says ‘NEW Switch Infinity assembly on T-Series’ What is this?
Structurally, the main design of the switch is very similar, however Yeti Cycles updated several areas that dramatically increase longevity while decreasing friction considerably. Here are those new features:
- Floating bearing design to ensure perfect alignment.
- Bearing races are linked together radially and axially for longer life and increased stiffness.
- More durable bushing backing increase longevity.
- New gliding material with less friction.
- Black oxide coated bearings to resist corrosion.
- Aluminum dust caps cover the bearing to provide additional protection from the elements. This is the most noticeable visual difference.
- Backwards compatible: can be fitted to any bike using Switch Infinity that didn’t use the SB100/115 Switch assembly.
- Will be available aftermarket soon after launch.
They have been testing this new Switch for some time, and with some key riders in very wet environments (including Bex). Yeti believe these new updates provide considerably more longevity and less maintenance, particularly in more demanding environments.
Can you confirm the way each bike size has a unique chainstay length?
The Yeti Engineering team was able to use the same rear triangles for each model by controlling the placement of the suspension hard points on the front triangle without negatively impacting our desired kinematics. So every model has its own unique rear triangle, but there is only one rear triangle per model.
Yeti SB160 Availability
Bikes will be available from January 20th, 2023.
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