Always fancied a yeti frame………….😳

Remember that you have to factor in the legendary Yeti support though . . .

Yep. As lovely as they are, even if I had the money (which I really, really don’t) the stories of abysmal aftersales support are enough to put me off.

Out of stock so price must include travel for salesperson to fly to factory to get it and bring it back...

Yep I know they get a bad rep, but that aside I feel they’ve pretty much priced me out of ever buying one

Even with a good shop discount it would still be insane

I can’t get my head around 4299 for a frame

RRP on Yeti frames has been over £3k since 2016 when the SB5 and SB6 launched, and over £3.5k for a while.
The slide of the pound against the dollar hasn’t helped either. But yes, £4299 is nuts.

Surely they are pricing themselves out of the uk market?

Unless this what all other brands carbon wise will do and follow suit

It’s just bonkers saying it out loud - there’s absolutely no justification for paying that regardless of Covid/brexit/import etc

I got one a few years ago, fell foul of the legendary support mashr refers to and now ride a Ti Salsa, not having another Yeti even at half that price. You aren't missing out OP.

Lovely bikes, not only the after sales reputation that pushed me away when I was shopping, the servicing of that extra shock thingymabob; couldn't be chuffed with that.

Santa Cruz, Pivot, among other ‘boutique’ brands have been in the £3500-£3700 range for a while too. I wouldn’t be surprised if their prices creep up over the £4k mark soon too. Crazy really.

Surely they are pricing themselves out of the uk market?

I don't think they're actually pricing themselves out of the market that buys them anymore so than say ferrari do with cars.

The people who will buy a one will buy it regardless of, and a good chunk of them because of, the price tag.

The ones who "now" won't buy one because its too expensive weren't actually buying them anyway or at least not until they were heavily discounted at which point they largely bought it because of the discounted price.

But they do have very nice paint. . .

Oh and just an observation - when did bikes get so sodding ugly? Why has everything morphed into an eBike with a steep downtube that goes horizontal somewhere around the front foot? Is this all in the name of fitting a bloody water bottle into a mountainbike?

Hideous.

It was only about £2999 a year or so back and absolutely nothing spec wise has changed nor any updates since it came out 3 years ago

It was never £3k... iirc it was £3799 when launched, a 15% price increase over the last 3yrs I would argue (given everything that has gone one affecting market prices) really isn't that much!

Besides, Richie Rude just won @ Inners on one yesterday, and Bex Baraona was 2nd on hers too... The bike has some pedigree!

I don’t think they’re actually pricing themselves out of the market that buys them anymore so than say ferrari do with cars.

The people who will buy a one will buy it regardless of, and a good chunk of them because of, the price tag.

The ones who “now” won’t buy one because its too expensive weren’t actually buying them anyway or at least not until they were heavily discounted at which point they largely bought it because of the discounted price.

Bingo... Those who are whinging about the price were never potential Yeti customers anyway in reality. The person who wants a Yeti, wants a Yeti. The cost of frame purchase is more than likely a very minor consideration, when you consider that it will likely have Factory Fox forks/shock/seatpost fitted, some bling wheels, SRAM AXS groupset etc...

I'd have one tomorrow gladly if I had a need for an Enduro race bike...

Wow mboy sounds like you are actually justifying a frame costing 4.3k 🤣

“Those whinging about the price of a yeti aren’t real customers anyway”

Wow some comment that, so as I’ve questioned the price I’m not a potential customer? I’d refuse to pay it on principle of it being insane and the fact it’s now 3 years old a new ones due early next year etc, all legit considerations…. I would try one and if the price was not insane It would be high on my list for next frame…. but at likely over 4299 when it’s released it’s a firm no even if it’s the fastest bike on the planet, it’s a carbon frame ffs there’s no justification getting ripped off like that and if you think there is then you are seriously deluded

They have totally priced me out of one and i was considering one when they release the new version next year but what’s that going to be? 5k? 😳

Seriously, it’s insane I’ve paid 3k for SC frames over the years and with a bit of discount not felt like I’m being ripped off too badly especially as always get a decent price back for them at the end

But 4299 is just madness even if it came with a bespoke tuned coil it wld still be a lot for a frame that’s not changed in almost 3 years old

Makes my 1900 quid alloy frame look positively bargainous

If they all start heading over 4K soon then that will be the end of ‘nice’ bikes for me 😌

mboy

Besides, Richie Rude just won @ Inners on one yesterday, and Bex Baraona was 2nd on hers too… The bike has some pedigree!

Richie could win on a penny farthing. The bike has little to do with it but it's a nice bit of marketing.

Unsure why it is an issue/concern/, consideration that the design is 3 years old? You'd be buying brand new - if buying new.

Makes the Hope HB916 a positive (relative) bargain at £3595, and that's with an Ohlins air or coil shock. Even £4099 for an Orbea Rallon with a Factory Elite X2 would be a better bet than the Yeti.

Although neither have the legendarily reliable Switch Infinity which was specifically designed for UK riding.

Because it’s old in terms of its cycle, your paying way more now than when it was released for a model that’s been around 3 years, that’s about as long as it gets per model in the modern cycling industry

Also has a huge effect on resale value if you were planning on swapping it after a year or something too

As I love to buy a frame and build up I feel like I have most certainly been priced out of the mainstream market. The only thing that would lead me to buy a 3k frame is the potential resale value.
As of 2 years ago I bought a Chinese carbon enduro frame+wheels for 1.5k, flawless and rides great, can't see myself going back to mainstream full suspension frames with current prices tbh.

This is what happens when inflation is high and supply side is messed up.

And as mboy says it's 15% increase on a frame that was already at the top end of prices.

I think we're all going to have to recalibrate our expectations of what we have to pay for frames and parts over the next couple of years (as well as food, fuel etc).

I suspect we'll see similar it greater % rises in the mid market too.

Exactly speeder the Richie rude thing is laughable

Most of the top 50 riders could all swap bikes and end up in pretty much the same position regardless 🤣

I cannot believe anyone (fanboy or not) would justify 4299 for a fekkin frame!!!

Didn't Rude (Youtube hughlights video) make a comment about the back end being all over the place? Not the greatest endorsement

I cannot believe anyone (fanboy or not) would justify 4299 for a fekkin frame!!!

That's the world now....

Decent motorbikes are £20,000+ decent cars are £40,000+, it makes sense that a decent level frame is £4000.

I ain't paying it... i struggled enough to self-justify my Fuel EX9.8 and never would have considered it at £6000.

So the serial bike buyers and resellers are going to have to dig deep if they want that, but those who don't serial swap bikes are probably not as bothered as if the bike was riding well when it was first released, then it will ride well when bought - getting a new frame with a tweak or 2 doesn't immediately make the current frame as bad.

I can see the thinking about it, but also know plenty people who buy and keep their bikes for a good few years - they ride them well and the bikes don't appear to be stopping them doing anything they are riding. For some people it is a lot of money but over more years it probably seems more palatable.

To be clear, I agree it is an eye-watering amount to spend, but I thought that when it was first launched as well, so it isn't something I'd be ever looking at buying. * EDIT * If people can afford it then no issues with them buying what they like...

I cannot believe anyone (fanboy or not) would justify 4299 for a fekkin frame!!!

People can, and do. If you can’t, there are plenty of other options. Just not ones that say Yeti on the side.

Whatever you do don’t look at top end road bikes if you care about being ripped off

Just picked up an sworks tarmac, frame and forks rrp is 4.5k, and that doesn’t even come with a fancy shock.

I didn't think twice about dropping 8k on my bike. Was a nice little present to myself for beating the clock. Second new bike in my lifetime and one that I plan to keep until it becomes obsolete or snaps. Whichever happens first!

People can, and do. If you can’t, there are plenty of other options. Just not ones that say Yeti on the side.

 

I get that, I’m not disputing people have plenty of spare income to splurge, i totally get it…. It’s just a insane amount of money for a run of the mill frame from china (or wherever it’s made)

I just can’t wrap my head around a mainstream branded frame company charging that amount for a frame - it has definitely put me out of the market for one, I used to swap my 3k sc frames pretty much every year and only ever had to put a certain amount towards a new one, now if was to do that on a yeti I’d be having to stump up double and then some to swap it every year or so

I guess it’s just the way it’s going/gone - I just can’t understand/grasp the price for it tbh there’s absolutely no value in it what so ever….

only way I could feasibly do it now would to keep it for 3/4 years (if it lasted that long 🤣) I get bored easily and like a change, but I genuinely think those days are done

Wow mboy sounds like you are actually justifying a frame costing 4.3k 🤣

“Those whinging about the price of a yeti aren’t real customers anyway”

Wow some comment that, so as I’ve questioned the price I’m not a potential customer?

The same logic applies to everything. Apple, Audi, Rolex, Gucci, it's all meaningless crap to me but they sell everything they make at sky high prices. If you want one you'll buy one and even though most of us are skint, there's just enough people who aren't. If you're whinging about the price you were never going to buy one anyway.

Look at Santa Cruz. They've been conservative bikes with ridiculous price tags for years and there's absolutely dozens of the things where I live because people with tie-dye shirts, cut off jorts and student loans want to buy into the gang.

Comment gold!

people with tie-dye shirts, cut off jorts and student loans want to buy into the gang.

 

PRice of Yetis now is mental. I bought a 575 back in the days, which was fantastic, I still remember chatting to the rep where I demo'ed one and being surprised that they were so well priced at £1200.
However!
If you've "always fancied a Yeti frame" - I can sell you my Big Top frame 😀 just £350. 😛

plenty of sb150's on ebay, a new frame with second hand shock is £2750, full bike £4-5k.
my friend got one late last summer second hand, its a cracking bike..
prices have gone silly, i'm just having a 21 model Arc built up, jumped at it as the new 2022 colours are +£300 on top.

its a cracking bike..

Ain’t nobody doubting that 😉

Anyone else spotted the absolute irony in this 'I just can’t wrap my head around a mainstream branded frame company charging that amount for a frame – it has definitely put me out of the market for one, I used to swap my 3k sc frames pretty much every year '

3k for a frame is a bonkers price to a large proportion of the population

A few things from me:

Yes that is mental expensive for an mtb frame.

Yes some people have enough disposable cash and are happy to spank that much just a because it’s a Yeti / Pivot etc

The above might change for a lot of people with a rising cost of borrowing (if it continues to rise - historically we’re still very low in the UK), rising energy costs, rising fuel costs, rising food costs etc. That said there is a low rate of unemployment right now so demand for workers is high and perhaps that’ll spiral into some higher wages

No way would I buy a Yeti - that switch infinity thing is stupid in the UK- silverfish often seem to make a meal of warranty - and considering Yeti are fairly low volume you find a lot of people with cracked ones.

I’ve never been their market though - I’m happy riding an alloy mtb frame with decent geometry and decent spec components.

Edit - if spending a lot of money on a carbon frame I’d be very tempted to look at the Atherton bikes - without paying the extra charge for full custom they offer hundreds of sizes with very small differences in geo so you can near enough pick exactly what you want. Will also be rarer than a Yeti.

I cannot believe anyone (fanboy or not) would justify 4299 for a fekkin frame!!!

Yeti bikes have always been expensive. You're complaining that expensive bikes are expensive. 🤣 the £10 grand bike has been around for decades now, and isn't going away any time soon. People buy them with zero interest over 3 or 5 years or whatever which costs a couple of hundred a month, and that's well within the scope of loads of folks. If you're desperate for a Yeti, you'll find a way to fund it.

I seem to say this a lot when the "why are things so expensive" question comes up, and the answer is: The market is massive. I worked for a short time in between jobs for a firm that installed very very nice garage equipment (drawers cabinets etc etc) and they advertised to wealthy folks. They'd bought a database with names of people with income declared at over six figures and the amount is millions and millions of folks. I went to one bloke who had a collection of 10 Santa Cruz, different colours and specs, all of them current years models and he buys more than one at a time...These folks aren't bothered if the frame is £4 or £5K.

I just can’t wrap my head around a mainstream branded frame company charging that amount for a frame

I think that's where you're wrong, they aren't a mainstream brand, that title goes to the likes of Giant, Trek, Specialized etc. they're a boutique brand with a good following.

It's like saying Lamborghini are a mainstream brand when comparing the price of an Aventador to an Audi R8, the former is twice the price for what is essentially the same thing - give or take a couple of cylinders 😉 And FWIW you can easily spend that on an S-Works Tarmac SL7 frame and that doesn't even have any fancy moving pivoty bits!

As said a fair few times, £4k for a frame is literally pocket change to some, to others it's a holiday Disney Land (probably) that they've spent a few years saving for, to others its a new pair of fun bags for the wife.

Anyone else spotted the absolute irony in this

That did make me chuckle tbf!! Instead of buying a new Santa Cruz every year, maybe slum it and only buy a new frame every other year? That way the yeti will cost you roughly the same

I mean obviously it’ll snap after 6 months and you’ll be left bikeless, but at least you’ll have a yeti!

Ps..I have a yeti…not broken yet

I remember when the previous generation ARC carbon hardtail came out and everyone was moaning about the frameset costing £1700. I bought one new 9 years ago and it is still my only mountain bike and I still love it. Great value for money if you actually use it and keep it.

to others its a new pair of fun bags for the wife.

Now there's something I hadn't considered. I can only see benefits.

It is nuts... but they will sell because of the pedigree. The local fast, enduro race-winning shop team also run yetis. I would have thought that would result in sales.

BITD my wife bought a 575 frame new for £800. It was reduced - a shop window one and white, not turquoise, but it built up into a lovely bike that did years of faultless service. They were simpler then.

Dipped my toe into dinghy sailing again recently and that is a world that has gone mad too. For example, if you were looking for a secondhand singlehander to club race on you could spend £1K on a very tidy laser or.......there are a couple of two year old foiling moths for sale currently that would set you back £28K each. Clearly massively different beasts with hugely different amounts of tech and material technology involved but very loosely used for the same thing. I suppose the difference to the bike scenario is that a beginner/intermediate rider could get on the silly money bike and whilst they might not appreciate or benefit from the difference, they could still use it and enjoy razzing about on a posh toy. The moth would be literally useless to most sailors and impossible to access.

My takeaway from the state of the bike industry (and the dinghy world too) is not to get sucked into thinking fun can only be had on the latest and greatest. Just because a £15K bike or £30K dinghy is available does not mean you need them to enjoy life or that their existence requires you spending or loan that volume of cash.

I remember an STW mag article years ago about a riding weekend on some super cheap BSOs and if fun could still be had on that little bike. We need more of that to balance the increasingly expensive baubles dangled in front of consumers.

it is a lot of money, but i guess we can justify things to ourselves if we really want to.

I used to quite fancy an SB130 LR, but over time have changed my desires.

And one mans treasure is another mans junk... for example i would much rather a Raaw Madonna over an SB150, which is approx £2500 plus shipping, plus import duties. So probably just over 3k to your front door.... which is also a truckload of cash for an alloy frame & shock, but is far more interesting/exciting to me than a yeti.

Yeti have always been in that completely out of reach bracket? 4k seems to be the current trend of high end frame only (predominantly US) brands.

Makes that carbon wasp frame featured in FGF a couple weeks ago seem like an absolute bargain.