Living with a Yeti SB5 - anyone got experience?

They ride nicely, and you definitely wouldn't feel overbiked. Like an Alfa Romeo to a petrolhead, every mountain biker should own a turquoise Yeti.

BUT.....I would look elsewhere for 3 reasons.

1) Press fit BB (virtually every brand including Yeti is now finally moving away).
2) Short and non-transferable warranty (Yeti just aren't as generous as other brands such as Santa Cruz or Specialized).
3) Expensive proprietary maintenance (the Infinity Link is a consumable and costs over £500 on its own to replace!).

Which version (1 or 2)?
GF has the original 2015 v1 (has the larger PF46 bb shell) with 150mm Pikes of the time and loves it.
Used here in Scotland (and fair bit of foreign travel) and still on original IS unit (she does clean it after each weekend and regrease regularly TBF).

@vmgscot - it's a 2018 model, T-Series Lunch Ride - I don't know if thats v1 or v2 tbh?

I have a 2019 T-Series Lunch Ride, equipped with 170mm forks that I had travel reduced to 160mm. I'm 5' 10.5", with long lengs and I ride a size Large, which is perfect from me.

Coming from a 26" 2012 Yeti ASR 5c and 26" 2013 Orange Five, I immediately found the SB5c to be like another world. It is superlatively confident and fast on the sorts of typical rapid flowy rolling descents we have here in Rotorus, NZ. Great on technical, rocky or droppy sections too.

I found the front end to be a bit high compared to what I was previously used to - I ride the stem slammed against the headset, whereas my older 26" bikes have multiple spacers. Maybe that's just the way newer bikes are supposed to be now? It's definitely a bike that you feel you are riding 'in' rather than 'on', which again I suspect is just how modern bikes are supposed to be now, with long, low, slack geometry that has become popular over the last 10 years. Again, I think this SB5 geometry just builds confidence, but does give a different feel to my older bikes (I still ride), which by contrast feel a bit more lively and flickable than the SB5c (but slightly less confidence-inspiring!).

In terms of reliability, I had the infinity link unit come slightly loose from the frame within about a month from new. Once tightened up by my LBS, no problems since. The Reverb dropper has shat its pants twice, but a quick service at the LBS has sorted that both times. The press-fit BB went through a few episodes of creaking every 6 months or so, which I got the LBS to sort - apparently it is a problem with dust getting into the BB frame interface, which had to be cleaned off. Strangely, though, this hasn't been a problem again for a long while. Servicing the infinity link with new grease is pretty straightforward and easy, every 20-40 hours riding time.

One thing I will say though, is that my SB5 has never seen mud! The trails are dusty dry here even in winter, so it's not hard here keeping the bike only riding in the probably Colorado-esque conditions that it was likely originally designed for. I'm not sure I would trust the inifinity link unit being ground into the dirt through a winter of UK gloop. (I'd use other bikes for that, and save the SB5c for nice weather, if it were me).

I got s/h 2015 SB5C frame a few years ago and It's great. I had all the parts for a 142 rear end from another cracked bike and it seemed like a good fit-Fox 34 with 140 travel and XT 11 speed. I thought it was a risk s/h, and feared it snapping, but I must have done over 4500 miles on it. It's nice and light for going up hills and fun down hill. It's a great all rounder really. The bearings are a bit exposed and do catch the mud and slop, but the Switch Infinity unit seems pretty durable. I've been through 3 sets of bearings. I've got a Hope screw in bottom bracket which overcomes the push fit issue.

Well I'm a step closer - going to take a look at it on Friday - it's only been ridden twice so looking very good - will report back with pics if I buy it!

In the meantime, @Paradiso - what's the Hope BB set up you've got? Interested to see that.....

Also @no_eyed_deer - my thoughts exactly re the gloop - I'll save it for dry days and not use it in winter!

It's a 73mm Hope Pf46 screw together bb-24mm for Shimano cranks. I think Praxxis do something similar.

@Paradiso - I think the later SB5s switched to the 41mm bb shell so he will probably need the Hope PF41 for a 2018 - same fixing idea (I have it on my sb6) but limited only for 24mm chainsets. It's a shame as the original Sb5 with the PF46 bb allowed the Hope unit to work with 30mm chainsets yet retain decent bearing size

In terms of thread-together pressfit bbs, the Wheels Manufacturing version is hard to beat. They use Enduro bearings which are a good starting point, but once your bearings wear out, you can also replace them in situ, so the aluminium shell stays in place in the frame which means less stress and chance of damaging interfaces and creating potential for creaks. The Shimano units are disposable and taking the BB in and out inevitably wears away at a tight tolerance interface which must wear over time, so best avoided.

The Hope one is good but needs some proprietary tools to fit it.

Whatever you do, use lots of Loctite between the BB and the frame shell. Whilst PF BBs have a bad reputation, I have never had a problem using the WFG thread-together BB fitted correctly, and at Yeti prices, the frame tolerances are generally good.

If you are set on the Yeti (and they are great bikes BTW!), make sure the Infinity gizmo is in good order (which after 2 rides it should be!) and check that the current owner will honour any future claims.

The lunchtime frames were designed for short aggressive blasts (hence the name), but they aren't that much different to the standard frames in reality. Slightly longer travel and slightly more aggressive geo vs an all day, more relaxed approach.

Mrs P7Pro has a 2016 model that’s been used in the Lakes and Dales in all weathers, as well as trips to the Dolomites and Liguria. She’s very happy with it, with no issues.

well, I picked it up on Friday....and here it is prior to getting it dirty on a nice long ride today....spent a bit of time fettling the suspension settings and cockpit setup but by the time I got home I was loving it....

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Very nice (Yeti bias here!)

Looks mint condition 😎

That looks great! I know people moan about Yeti prices etc but I’ve never heard a bad thing about how the Switch Infinity suspension works, the ride, etc.

I’m 99% certain the “Lunch Ride” versions are the same frame with more fork travel and a piggyback shock (and probably other burlier parts).

@NormalMan - indeed - the original owner had bought it for his son and reckoned he’s only ridden it twice - I was sceptical until I saw it - I’d be very surprised if either ride had been off road, it was like it had just come out of the showroom! It’s not like that now!! 😁

I’m def happy with it - I got it for a great price and even came with all the paperwork, receipt, shock pump, etc - it’s not going to be wall art - it’ll get some use and will flatter/stretch my skills!! 😂