[Closed] New Yeti SB5.5c

Long Low & slack = journalism speak for middle of the road

Looks lovely but a 1300g front tyre?

All the inertia of a fatty without the comedy levels of grip?

Nearly 7 grand.....get a grip

Long Low & slack = journalism speak for middle of the road

Well, it's *quite* long (admittedly, not as long as a Mondy, but hey) - not the longest reach, no, as you'll see if you read the article,but the frontcentre is up there thanks to the HA and the fork travel. It's got a very low standover though, and is 66.5 degrees HA on a 29er not classified as slack these days?

barney - is 66.5 degrees HA on a 29er not classified as slack these days?

SC High Tower is shorter in CS and longer in reach too. Bit of a reversal! Yeti used to be relatively long, and SC were short.

I'm going for a High Tower.

Sure, it looks lovely...but as someone has already mentioned, it's £7k and no doubt some arseholes will be along next week with some new standards which will render it obsolete.

It's 1980s bedroom poster material, along with a Porsche 959 and the tennis player scratching her bum and is just as relevant to the real world.

Short stays by Yeti standards which probably accounts for some of the…

poppy spring in its step

66.5 is slack if you take nothing else into account, its running 160 forks so its about the same as a 68.5 on 120 forks or 67.5 with 140 forks... ish... sort of, which isn't very slack for a modern bike, in fact its steeper than the SC Hightower.

Well, no, that's not true. How do you set up sag on *your* bikes?
The SC Hightower is also pretty slack for a 29er, with a 67 degree HA (on the 140mm fork - put the chubbies on there with 150mm fork and it's a bit slacker again). Set them both at 20% sag though, and the Yeti is still slacker. Although it's hard to tell the difference on the trail unless you're going hard, at which point you notice the extra 20mm on the Yeti.

rhayter - A 601mm top tube on a medium – that's pretty damned long!

Not compared to other modern bikes, its about average

Looks lovely but a 1300g front tyre?

All the inertia of a fatty without the comedy levels of grip?

I'm not sure where they got 1300grms from. States as 1005grms on the maxxis web site and I have one on my enduro 29er, weight in at 1050grms on my scales, not light but you don't notice a massive difference in inertia over a magic mary.

The grip levels are insane BTW, and digs into mud really well.

How am I going to afford this?!

It's about 2cm shorter reach than my Smuggler, but then I certainly wouldn't want anything longer than the Smuggler, which I'm running a 35 stem on. Wheelbase is a touch longer though. Looks lovely!

I'm thinking Richie Rude will be on this round 5 Aspen ews.

I'm not sure where they got 1300grms from. States as 1005grms on the maxxis web site and I have one on my enduro 29er, weight in at 1050grms on my scales, not light but you don't notice a massive difference in inertia over a magic mary.

Mikeep - I took the tyre that's downstairs, and I weighed it.

[i]I took the tyre that's downstairs, and I weighed it[/i]

damn you and your empiricism.

barney - Well, no, that's not true. How do you set up sag on *your* bikes?

It may be longer, lower and slacker than something from the 90s but its not long low and slack is it?

My fiesta is faster than my old clio but I wouldn't call it fast

@Barney, sorry, I didn't realise there was a grammar moderator on this forum. My is bad.

It may be longer, lower and slacker than something from the 90s but its not long low and slack is it?

Wasn't it you calling the hightower short and steep? Someone on here always goes round every new bike thread saying that!

It looks lush, and I like the mismatched travel, ( I've got a smuggler which even with a lot less travel seems never to find its limits) but 160mm travel is a lot and I wonder if I'd need it?

At £7k I'll pop it on paper for consideration post lottery win! 🙂

bigjim - Wasn't it you calling the hightower short and steep?

It was me, then I looked properly at the numbers and apologised. I still don't think its particularly LLS but I'll admit its not short and steep, its just average for a new bike these days, much like the Yeti is about average for a new bike these days but it has a longer fork on it.

Wasn't it you calling the hightower short and steep? Someone on here always goes round every new bike thread saying that!

I do wonder how long, low and slack (regardless of sag) the bikes are that some people ride. I also wonder if they trade in their existing bike whenever a longer, lower, slacker bike come on the market. I'm also interested to know what would be too slack. Or too long. We'd all know when it is too low

I'm also intreagued that no one moans about short chain stays. I thought short chain stays were as bad as a short reach or a high BB. And haven't 29ers been proved to be slower than 650b? I thought a chap in Wales had done a lot of fine work on bicycle geometry and come to those conclusions.

For the record I have a 29er with 66.7* head angle but it is a little cramped and the stays are too short. I have another that has geo all over the place. Fine bikes, the pair of them.

Mikeep - I wasn't actually deliberately commenting on your grammar; I was telling you where I got the weight from. We've got two of those tyres in for Fresh Goods, and I went downstairs and I weighed one of them 🙂

thepodge - first-glance slackness awards? Set it up with the appropriate sag, and ride it. The Yeti will be a teensy bit slacker. Your novel concept of 'steeper per mm of travel' is nonsense, like measuring digestion by turd length.

Your novel concept of 'steeper per mm of travel' is nonsense, like measuring digestion by turd length.

I just snorted my coffee out of my nose! 😆

I'm also intreagued that no one moans about short chain stays. I thought short chain stays were as bad as a short reach or a high BB.

I guess it depends on the application but on a 29er short chainstays keep the turning nice and there's generally a push to get them short as poss. My smuggler is longer than an oil tanker but still turns nicely around my body. Still got to steer that long front round mind!

Or too long

I wouldn't want to go longer than the smuggler, riding where I ride. It's a big old thing to turn through tight turns, and hop etc.

I thought a chap in Wales had done a lot of fine work on bicycle geometry and come to those conclusions.

You say fine work, others might say hot air...

please include "like measuring digestion by turd length" on next edition's spine

10mm higher BB than a hightower and a lot more standover height. Longer reach on the HT and lower stack (as I would like) Also 5 year vs lifetime warranty (and bearing replacement) for comparable costs.
I know where the smart money is.

I'm sure a couple of manufacturers make bikes with shorter chain stays than the smuggler, so I'm going to have to say that your chain stays aren't short. Sorry. And they gave the second iteration a little more ground clearance, so it isn't low. Not to mention the head angle, it is a wonder you aren't over the bars the whole time! It is long, I'll give you that.

I am, of course, just kidding. I would use one of those little faces to indicate that, but I'm never sure I'm using the right one. I once unwittingly accused someone, with better knowledge of these things, of being a penis. Life can be so confusing when you report to a young(er) person.

Looks lovely, but its made in the US where its sunny and at worst a bit dusty. A few months in the UK winter and the bearings will wobbly then fall out.

At £7+k its just too expensive for what it is.

You can buy a XC bike and an Enduro style bike and still have change for that - especially if you take advantage of direct mail order suppliers like YT etc.

Recently I've bought a XC plastic fantastic for less than £2k and am about to order an Enduro rocket all bling spec for about €3.5k and still have change for an Alps holiday, or some skills lessons.

I know where the smart money is.

You love Jeffsy?

Can I test ride it as well, just to see if it is worth £7+k ?

LAT - I do wonder how long, low and slack (regardless of sag) the bikes are that some people ride. I also wonder if they trade in their existing bike whenever a longer, lower, slacker bike come on the market. I'm also interested to know what would be too slack. Or too long. We'd all know when it is too low

barney - first-glance slackness awards? Set it up with the appropriate sag, and ride it. The Yeti will be a teensy bit slacker. Your novel concept of 'steeper per mm of travel' is nonsense, like measuring digestion by turd length.

A number is a number not a definition. The same HA on a 100mm bike versus a 160mm bike would make one slack and one steep... good phrasing though

This is descending into one of those argumentative threads where someone, convinced they are correct, is actually spouting inaccuracies and other people get upset about it. BUT THAT'S WHY WE LOVE THE INTERWEBS, RIGHT?

67 Hardtail / 66 full suspension, both running 140 forks with about 430 reach & 60 stem. I have no plans to trade in my bike as there really isn't much slacker or longer on the market for a given seat tube size.

But what about the cs length and bb drop? Seat tube angle? Stand over? Distance between bb and end of your handlebars? Rake? Frame size?

other people get upset about it

I'm not upset, quite the opposite. I am convinced I can help the Internet become a better place.

Is it really that long or low. Compare it to the long in the tooth Spesh enduro (large) not often noted as a long bike and you get remarkably similar numbers as this so called long yeti

reach yeti 442 spesh 445
wheelbase yeti 1195 spesh 1186
chainstay yeti 437 spesh 430
front centre yeti 758 spesh 757

So the extra 9mm length is in the chainstay.

wrecker - Member
10mm higher BB than a hightower and a lot more standover height. Longer reach on the HT and lower stack (as I would like) Also 5 year vs lifetime warranty (and bearing replacement) for comparable costs.
I know where the smart money is.

HT has the plus wheels thing too, and SC are less likely to leave you high and dry on warranty than Yeti, and the HT's the better looking bike for me.

LAT - But what about the cs length and bb drop? Seat tube angle? Stand over? Distance between bb and end of your handlebars? Rake? Frame size?

Same, for my max seat tube size (450mm) you're only talking a few mm here and there, sometime its in a perceived negative direction as I have to downsize the frame.

chrismac - Is it really that long or low...

All the numbers are very very similar to the Jeffsy. Put a 140mm fork on the Yeti and they would probably be even closer.

The yeti also has the same problem regarding seat tube lengths. 483mm on a Large and 521mm on the XL.

Also.

Going 1x lets Yeti take the chainstays down to 437mm, which isn’t too shabby at all.

Err, the Jeffsy is 435mm on the medium and small and still has space for a double chainset should you wish. Not sure how clearance compares but yeti were always typically tight.

I love how everyone is arguing about it not being long and low when they haven't claimed it is long and low

I mean look at these numbers

539
1942
2190
28

bigjim - I love how everyone is arguing about it not being long and low when they haven't claimed it is long and low

From the STW first ride review thing

bears all the usual hallmarks of the Thoroughly Modern Filly (sorry) – it is, of course, Boost, it’s long, low and slack with short chainstays:

bigjim - Member

I love how everyone is arguing about it not being long and low when they haven't claimed it is long and low

You've a P and you didn't read the article!? They'll be doing something unspeakable to your next delivered mag 😀

It’s light – with this spec (and an ENORMOUS 1300g Minion DHF 2.5 up front which Barney and Rich both desperately want) it comes in around the 28.5lb mark, and it bears all the usual hallmarks of the Thoroughly Modern Filly (sorry) – it is, of course, Boost, it’s long, low and slack with short chainstays

I was meaning Yeti themselves haven't claimed it is long and low. [i]Rather than trying to get too extreme with the new bike's numbers, Chris Conroy, Yeti's president, said that one of the goals was to make the bike into a little more of an all-rounder compared to the race-bred SB6[/i]

made in the US where its sunny and at worst a bit dusty. A few months in the UK winter and the bearings will wobbly then fall out.

The bearings on my US designed Transition have been fantastically resistant to Scottish year round riding, I've just had mine changed after a solid year's riding though they weren't too bad.

The bearings on my US designed Transition have been fantastically resistant to Scottish year round riding, I've just had mine changed after a solid year's riding though they weren't too bad.

Transition have always made a point of building frames that don't collect mud, have sturdy bearings, are easy to work on and so on. Not sure I'd say the same about Yeti?

Enduro...

I'm pretty sure for a mainstream maker, specialized have always had low BBs and been on the longer side of things. Some may consider them innovative. The Enduro 29er caused a stir when it appeared.

Describing a bike as being long, low and slack is another way of saying it has contemporary geometry. I'm not sure it is intended to suggest that the bike as at the forefront of developments. There will always be bikes available that take things further, as well as those that are more conservative, perhaps even some that find a formula that works and is somewhere between those three.

I mean look at these numbers

539
1942
2190
28

Perfect. Where do I buy one?

Describing a bike as being long, low and slack is another way of saying it has contemporary geometry.

I totally get this but do we really need top be told that a contemporary bike has contemporary geometry?

Transition have always made a point of building frames that don't collect mud, have sturdy bearings, are easy to work on and so on. Not sure I'd say the same about Yeti?

Having owned both I'd say mud clearance is is pretty similar, neither amazing, Transition has slightly better chainstay clearance than the ASR5 perhaps but on the Transition the tyre is very close/rubs the seatstay bridge depending on the tyre, so is very poor/non existant there.

I'm not sure what a sturdy bearing is, rolling element bearings are rolling element bearings, they both use very similar sizes of bearing as I'm sure the newer Yetis do too. Fairly sure Yetis come with Enduro Max bearings.

Its a Yeti, it will sell because its a Yeti - great branding irrespective of the actual product.

Plus Rudi will own the EWS again and all us Enduro wannabies will assume its the bike.

Still, its way too expensive.

I'm not sure what a sturdy bearing is, rolling element bearings are rolling element bearings, they both use very similar sizes of bearing as I'm sure the newer Yetis do too. Fairly sure Yetis come with Enduro Max bearings.

Hope they are better than [url= http://enduro-mtb.com/en/enduro-long-term-test-2015-yeti-sb6c-1000km-check-up/ ]this experience[/url], bearing change after 400km (1 winters riding).

*rolls eyes*

OK. You can still get bikes which are short and steep, believe it or not. The long, low, steep thing is a modern development I'm hugely keen on, it still works for the majority of people, but not everyone cleaves to it - or if they do they have different interpretations.

I totally get this but do we really need top be told that a contemporary bike has contemporary geometry?

I guess you'll just have to figure it out.

The replacement set has covered 600km so far and still feel smooth.

In contrast I don't think it's pretty at all, looks like it's been out in the Californian sun too long to me

Nearly 7 grand.....get a grip

This.

I was reading the glowing review of the Anthem advances the other day whereby the text stating it was perfect for "aspiring racers". The bike they were reviewing was £5999 rrp.

Apologies if we aspiring racers don't all rush out an buy one.

[img] [/img]

OK. You can still get bikes which are short and steep, believe it or not

Yes, but can you still get full suspension [b]Yetis[/b] that are 'short and steep' - and not weird XC racing 29ers?

My Yeti ASR5c is pretty much the best bike in the world eva (for me). And I'm a total Yeti fann boi (love that turquiose - it matches my Fakelys, natch). When, if(?), it dies, what will I ride???

Nada, zilch. It will simply all be over for me.. 😉

I'm interested in fast, flowy riding, not Gnar-Enduro-War-Mongery. Sad that this is simply not where the coal face is now - for premium brands like Yeti, as this bike evidences. Beautiful as it is to look at.. 😎

Well, I've got to write something

This should be the Singletrack mission statement.. 😉

(Apologies! - I'll get my coat)

Nice bike but I don't know why you were riding the girls version?

Also.

Going 1x lets Yeti take the chainstays down to 437mm, which isn’t too shabby at all.
Err, the Jeffsy is 435mm on the medium and small and still has space for a double chainset should you wish. Not sure how clearance compares but yeti were always typically tight.

I suspect what they really mean is that they cant fit the front mech, normal length chainstays and the complicated tubes for the bottom pivot in so have understandably ditched the ability to use a front mech

I do wish they'd go back to building alu bikes though (unless they have, and I missed it!) for those of us that don't covet carbon.
It is a stunning looking bike, aesthetically similar to the Evil Wreckoning, which is also lush, but dear as well.

chrismac - Member

Going 1x lets Yeti take the chainstays down to 437mm, which isn’t too shabby at all.
Err, the Jeffsy is 435mm on the medium and small and still has space for a double chainset should you wish. Not sure how clearance compares but yeti were always typically tight.

I suspect what they really mean is that they cant fit the front mech, normal length chainstays and the complicated tubes for the bottom pivot in so have understandably ditched the ability to use a front mech

Which is probably the sort of insightful and knowledgeable thing barney should have said given he was struggling to fill the space 😆

I suspect what they really mean is that they cant fit the front mech, normal length chainstays and the complicated tubes for the bottom pivot in so have understandably ditched the ability to use a front mech

The 650 SB bikes have a front mech mount I think. Wanting a front mech mount these days is like wanting a floppy disk drive on your computer though!

but can you still get full suspension Yetis that are 'short and steep' - and not weird XC racing 29ers?

My Yeti ASR5c is pretty much the best bike in the world eva (for me).

Since when did an ASR5 become short and steep?

It's short(er) and steep(er) than all this new Enduro-rollocks-650b-plus-29er-and-a-quarter-malarkey. I don't know all the numbers, but I'm pretty sure it is.

69 deg head angle for starters.

Unless I'm desperately mistaken.

In which case my older current steed would be bang on trend - still - woo! 😆

Be interesting to see how it stacks up long term. Funny the Hightower is being used as a bench mark given it's only just been released recently as well. Trek Remedy 9.9 29er is still the dark horse and proven in this category at the moment
plus some winning pedigree.

I think the Hightower is only being used as a benchmark as it's the most recently released comparable bike.

It's short(er) and steep(er) than all this new Enduro-rollocks-650b-plus-29er-and-a-quarter-malarkey. I don't know all the numbers, but I'm pretty sure it is.

69 deg head angle for starters.

Unless I'm desperately mistaken.

In which case my older current steed would be bang on trend - still - woo!

67 head angle at 140 fork length. Nothing 'wrong' with it, still have mine in a box 8)

Cracking swing arm.

I stand corrected then! My bike is still da awesumz.. 😎

STATO - Member

All the numbers are very very similar to the Jeffsy. Put a 140mm fork on the Yeti and they would probably be even closer.

Yup, it's almost like they both copied the same bikes from a couple of years ago. 😆

Gnar-Enduro-War-Mongery

Haven't got a clue what that is but can I have some to try please

I must be turning into a right curmudgeon. I like 29ers, especially in longish travel trail guise (I've a Stumpy Evo which is ace). However, reading down the list of potential bikes has thrown up a number of objections:

Jeffsy - That awful marketing campaign, so it's a no from me.
Yeti - Not for £4k, let alone £7k.
Nukeproof Mega - Looks nice, but the logos are a bit MBUK. The name is very MBUK, so I'm out.
Smuggler - I actually really like it. But "Smuggler" sounds cack.
Wreckoning - Don't Evil have an issue with warranties? First sniff of warranty knobbishness and I'm out.

I do quite like Specialized bikes though...

Smuggler - I actually really like it. But "Smuggler" sounds cack.

seems a strange selection criteria for bike selection. It only says smuggler on a tiny sticker inside the seat stay so even though it isn't very visible you could easily remove it if that makes things better

Told you I was being curmudgeonly!

In truth, I really really like the frame, especially in Safety Orange.

hopefully a carbon smuggler will come out soon to stop me trying to save up for the yeti...

I've just been googling, I take back my slur. It's a really stunning looking frame.

@PJM- remedy, five, trailfox, nicolai ion.

(recommending what I have!) I have the cheapest, all-alu Trailfox; it's a bit of a lump, the original parts on it were weird and I don't like all the antisquat much but the handling's otherwise superb and the sizing's great. And it was cheap! 😆 Draped in my carbons and CCDB and that it is really excellent.

And I've just picked up a Remedy, it's a bit wee but if you go up a size it's similiar dimensions to the Trailfox- steeper but a little longer. Testrode one of these a while back, dead keen to see what I can do with it. Never ridden an Ion. The Five impressed me too but I've never found one at the right price...

If you're under about 5'11 then here's what you can get instead of half a yeti...
https://www.evanscycles.com/bmc-trailfox-tf01-xx1-2015-mountain-bike-EV205314

And remember kids- 29ers are no fun and can't go round corners. Lew Buchanan at work:

[url=

Pyga stage max £2250 frame only looks quite good value nowadays

I think it's a pretty bike, but that's a lot of money but that seems to be the way these days. The companies get away with it because you see a fair few plastic Santa Cruz's around with Enve rims etc.

I don't have a problem with the price, I'd never pay it but I'm happy for other people to pay it if they want.

I really like the look of the frames, especially in the grey colour.