Yeti 160E eMTB is the worst kept secret on the internet, but we can finally tell you about it!

Unless you have avoided blurry spy shots and the odd leak here and there, chances are you’ve already seen the new Yeti 160E eMTB.

A few months back, perhaps even longer, we published a list of brands that had yet to release an eMTB. On that list, we included Santa Cruz, Nukeproof, Yeti, Evil and Turner, and of that list, all but 2 of them now have a motorised mountain bike available to the public!

Yeti is the latest to launch an eMTB, but chances are you’ve seen this bike splashed over various forums and websites already! It has to be one of the worst kept secrets of the year, perhaps we need a new category for the upcoming Singletrack Readers Awards?

Yeti 160E

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Yeti has taken a slightly different approach to the development of their first eMTB, and tell us that their bike was designed with racing in mind, which is why we’ve seen it at the past few rounds of the E-EWS.

This race first approach meant that the Yeti 160E couldn’t simply be a current frameset with motor and battery attached to it but rather a new bike entirely with a frame and suspension system built from scratch. Sixfinity is what Yeti came up with, a new 6-bar linkage system designed to fit around the motor and battery systems in the Yeti 160E. Like Switch Infinity on analogue Yeti bikes, the linkage switches direction as the shock progresses through its travel. The system is designed to support the extra mass of the eMTB and handle the additional torque delivered from the Shimano EP8 motor system.

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An adjustable lower shock mount allows riders to adjust the leverage rate with 3 positions to choose from ranging from ‘plush and poppy’ through to ‘supported and balanced’. The rear end, unsurprisingly, offers 160mm of travel from the new linkage system and Yeti says the 160E can be run in mullet configuration, however it was really designed around 29in wheels for flat out speed.

Nestled inside the carbon frameset is Shimano’s EP8 motor and 630Wh battery. These units might not be as trick as the custom made Brose items found on a Kenevo SL, but they do offer additional torque, a large battery for increased range and should be easily serviceable at Shimano service centres around the world.

Yeti is offering the 160E in 4 sizes and 2 build options all using the same 630Wh battery and coming with a 170mm fork bolted to the front. Geometry highlights include a steep 78-degree seat tube angle, slack 64.5-degree head angle and 446mm chainstays across all sizes. Yeti has ensured that the seat tube length is quite short and the tube is uninterrupted to allow the maximum length dropper post possible for each rider.

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Other frame features include a custom OneUp chain guide, SRAM UDH hanger and internal hose and cable routing to suit having the rear brake either on the left or the right. UK riders will also like the addition of a rear mudguard to protect the motor and linkage and a drain hole to keep water and mud from building up at the shock. Riders on medium, large and XL frames can also enjoy a standard water bottle whereas small frame users will have to make do with Yeti’s ‘Hot Lap’ bottle.

Yeti 160E Geometry

Yeti 160E Specifications

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Yeti 160E pricing and availability

The Yeti 160E will be available from Silverfish once bikes arrive in the UK with prices starting from £9499 for a 160E C-Series build rising to £11,899 for the flagship T-Series. More information can be found over on the Yeti website.

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