[Closed] Yeti Bikes - What do you think of?

Light, fast, expensive.

I like them.

Overpriced, overrated, excellent marketing.

Cracking frames.

The SB66 was a little ahead of the curve with reach, I'd have thought - was longer than most bikes of it's time. And the suspension was innovaitive. They've evolved that platform since, not unlike most manufacturers.

I'd never buy one because of their reputation for snapping chanstays and the shockingly poor way I've seen them treat people in warranty situations.

Had three frames, asr 7, asr and now a sb95.

All had have limited tyre clearance, the SB eats bearings for fun, but I really like how it rides especially with a dB air. Climbs well , but I do have 150mm 29erforkson it and is capable on the downs.

Warrenty all brands have the horror stories even Turner, and imho Turner is brilliant.

I like Yeti but I mainly ride a Stooge

Expensive and unreliable.

Overpriced, overrated, excellent marketing

Generally I would agree Jambo but I do think overrated is a bit harsh.

I've had four Yeti's, but three were frame replacements that suffered from their, rather poor, quality control. The 5C I had was fine but not special at anything, so yes, overpriced on function if not style. The hardtail ARC was beautiful and I shouldn't have replaced it with a Niner Air C which is a rocket ship, just not a very comfortable rocket ship!

Quite bemused by the OP's view of Yeti's which I always thought of as a race brand, but then they could be remodelling the marketing to fit the adventure demographic .

Cracking frames

I see what you did there 🙂

Had a ARS5C and if I was till riding in the Chilterns, you'd have had to prise that bike out of my cold dead hands, but I moved to Calderdale  and it was a bit out if its depth  didn't break though .

My thoughts are soley based on marketing and chatting to other bikers - never owned one.

Great looking bikes.

Not really evolved much in recent years so a bit behind the times now in terms of geo.
Used to have a rep for snapping frames.
Expensive / boutique brand.

Defintiely not a brand I associate with an adventure bike - much more a race brand, prob due to a certain Mr Rude riding one so well in EWS in 2016 for me.

If I suddently had the money and need for a high end bike, I'd be doing some research on them along with a lot of other manufacturers but they wouldn't be topo of my list.
Maybe that's daft but that's how marketing / rumour mill works eh?

Interesting that I have such deifined opinions about a brand I have actually never ridden and only seen in passing - no mates I have ever ridden with have got one.
Well, interesting to me anyway.

Si

Cracking frames

This sadly, I only know one person with one - a 2017 carbon SB66, front triangle cracked, replaced, rear triangle cracked replaced, infinity switch thing has eaten itself. This is a middle aged guy who rides once a week at Cwmcarn and Afan (fairly agressive style in fairness) not some EWS pro smashing around Finale.

Theyre being very good about it, but I wouldn’t fancy one after the warranty period.

Never understood the hype, and definitely never considered buying one, but I don't believe they make bad bikes.

Where as there are some manufacturers I just won't buy, there are others that a mehl, yeti are in that group 😀

Quite bemused by the OP’s view of Yeti’s which I always thought of as a race brand, but then they could be remodelling the marketing to fit the adventure demographic .

See, good marketing. I like Joey Schusler’s films but every time I watch them I feel a bit conned. In all the riding shots they are riding so light on gear for what you then see them with in all the camp type shots. And I think for most ‘adventure riding’ types, a high end enduro bike is probably the last choice of bike.

Saying that, I think the winner of last years HT550 was on a carbon yeti so what do I know.

I think of them previously making downhill bikes (as Gwin started on) and now making enduro and trail bikes, which have won tons of races under Graves and Rude. And they’re expensive and were progressive long, low, slack geometry but nowadays aren’t that long or slack compared to others. And the original Switch system was a maintenance nightmare.

I always thought of Yeti as XC race bikes. When life took over and I couldn’t get further than Swinley for a ride I swapped my 140mm for an ASR5 and still love it.

Overpriced? Sure, but what high end carbon bike isn't? I like them, they used to have issues with cracking but I think the current models are OK. A mate had one that had a metal/carbon rear swing arm where the bonding between the metal and carbon was prone to failing but that was a few generations of model previous to the current lineup. I Like them and if money was no option my first choice would be a 5.5C. I'd have one over an SC any day of the week....however not sure how good they'd be through a UK winter with the switch infinity suspension.

I've got one of the old 575s with the knuckle in the top tube.  Love it...its a bit flexy (carbon stays) but climbs like a goat 🙂

Peak Yeti ^

It didn't get much cooler than the FRO. They've kept that brand image pretty well.

You have a very odd impression of them OP! Their history is racing and building stupidly fast bikes for racing, I doubt they're intended as much of an adventure bike having no bosses etc.

I've got two, an ASR5 which is no longer built up, was a fantastic bike and I still have the frame in case I ever have the time and space to rebuild it. Never ridden anything that corners like that bike. I have a DJ too which I ride all the time, it's a belter of a little thing for razzing around town, the pump track and glentress. I had a day on a SB6 and it was a belter of a bike, fastest funnest thing I've ever ridden. Both of mine have been bombproof, I'd hazard 99% of people who say they're unreliable online have never even touched a yeti.

I'd love another one but they're well out my price range these days. If I win the lotto I'll get an SB6 and one of the 29er ones, not sure which.

^Bez has it. Proper race bikes ridden by proper legends, bitd.

I'd say Graves is a bit of a legend and Rude on his way. Not Tomac level though!

I currently ride a 2016 SB5c. It's my only mountain bike, so has done 18 months in all conditions. No problems so far, bearing and Switch Infinity link still running smooth. If anything goes wrong I'll be this first to complain, but so far so good.

Why did I buy one? 1. Great heritage (I was abig Tomac fan back in the day) 2. Race proven under Graves and Rude 3. Switch Infinity bikes received positive reviews. 4. Something a bit deifferent from the norm.

Would I buy another? Probably not, the itch has been scratched, and there are so many other bikes to try, but I'd recommend riding one before judging.

Adventure bikes? Nah, race bikes, currently with Richie rude, but back in the day, Missy with her piranha.

My perception is that yeti bikes are overpriced, a bit fragile and behind the curve on geometry.

Also think they've lost the aesthetic appeal they had with the asr5 (?).

Owners may disagree, but that's my perception and there's almost zero chance of me buying one.

Nathan Rennie on their DH bikes back in the day. Richie Rude flying on them. SB6 being one of the hawtest looking bikes out there. Not being aware of warranty issues because I can't afford one... 😉

Pricey but nice-erm-ey

I love my SB95c.  I’d heard about all the stories of cracking, but went into it eyes open.  It’s a great bike - I have a fairly aggressive riding style and it’s shows no problems at all so far.

Not sure I understand the "behind the curve with geometry" comments on Yetis. What are we using as a benchmark these days?

Aren't most main stream brands still a bit more conservative than the lower volume brands? Probably to suit more riders.

My Aeris mk 1.5 always felt too long/slack for me to properly enjoy it. Was great bombing down stuff, but a bit lifeless everywhere else.

Was interested in a Yetis SB 4.5c before I test rode and bought the Hightower. Still wouldn't mind a go on one 🙂

I've got an ASR5 which is absolutely fantastic. It hasn't snapped yet.

I'm not sure I'd buy a 'modern' one because they're just so expensive, but the same goes for all the other 'boutique' brands.

Not sure I understand the “behind the curve with geometry” comments on Yetis. What are we using as a benchmark these days?

Using their enduro race bikes as a reference, the SB6 has a reach of 426 on the med, 447 on the large.

Sam Hill won the EWS on the Mega 275c with 435mm or 470mm on those sizes. The medium Mega is still too short IMO, but Sam's probably on the large and that seems about right to me (not even extreme).

Did those short frames hinder Richie Rude in the mud? That would be speculation, but I know I'm happier on a longer bike when it's sloppy.

The newer Nukeproof stuff looks quite long to me and I know a lot of people are liking the newer longer bike trend. To me they seem bang in the middle size-wise.

I'd still like to test one eventually just to see what they do feel like. I'm no good at looking at numbers and deciding if something isn't right for me. The two 2016 stumpys I had were too small in Large. Hightower in XL feels perfect to me, so I'd probably use that a a frame of reference.

look nice but way put of my price range.

No doubt they're great bikes but considering the pricing and the spectacular unreliability over the course of years- I mean, pretty much all the 575s broke their carbon swingarms which is bad enough but it's something that still happens to their new bikes today, that's just total bullshit.

Though, fond memories of riding up a fireroad at muckmedden with a mate who had a 575 (I think) and just hearing this massive crack as the swingarm broke in half. When you're getting outreliabled by my Hemlock, you are getting outreliabled by everything.

Still love my ArcC 29er carbon hardtail. Had an issue which appears to have been a design fault in the first 100 frames they made. Emailed shop who contacted Silverfish and within I think 2 weeks I had a brand new frame arrive (original frame was 4 years old by then). If there is a genuine warranty issue, I have no concerns based on my experience.

Lovely shape, fantastic design detail and quality when you look at the carbon layup through the headtube etc and it rides brilliantly. I've surprised a few people with it;s speed etc at Llandegla, on a Basque holiday and other general riding. A shame they no longer make it I think, but I doubt they sold many and can understand them dropping it

“Sam Hill won the EWS on the Mega 275c with 435mm or 470mm on those sizes. The medium Mega is still too short IMO, but Sam’s probably on the large and that seems about right to me (not even extreme).”

Sam Hill rides the medium.

My Big Top has a great paint job, fantastic head badge, some nice logos and hasn't broken (so far).

Geo is a bit old school so I use it as an 'exotic' monstercrosser.

I do love the bike though.

Silverfish have 50% off Yeti clothing at present for the fans on this thread. I just got some shorts and a hoody (probably too old for the hoody, son can always wear it).

Interesting thoughts - I think the 'classic' bikes and riders above were before my time TBH and I don't really associate Gwin with Yeti either. Rude I agree has been great for them in Enduro but for whatever reason that's not my predominant thought around their brand.

The sort of marketing/stories that make me think they want to be 'adventure' bikes are like this:  http://features.bikemag.com/kazbegi/

https://www.bikemag.com/videos/video-yeti-cycles-in-iceland/

Sort of a wilderness/adventure theme I guess.

"Yeti SB6 T-Series Team Replica 27.5" Mountain Bike 2018 - Enduro Full Suspension MTB £9499.00 from Tredz.

If anyone thinks a bicycle is worth ten grand, be my guest. Some of the pivot/sliding trunnion designs they've come up with look like they're going to cost a mint to replace when they inevitably wear out.

Pure marketing genius. Just to put things into perspective you could just about buy a new Honda Africa Twin for the same coin.

Davesport says "If anyone thinks a bicycle is worth ten grand, be my guest"

That is a moot point. You could say that about Rolex, Miele, Ferrari, Mont Blanc, etc. Any brand that is considered "Premium" could have the same argument thrown at it.  The answer is because they can. The concept of 'better' is subjective, so best just to leave it to individual choice.

I don’t really associate Gwin with Yeti either

There's a really cute old video of Gwin when he was with Yeti riding around fort bill area with a teenage Joe Barnes floating around, quite funny now they're both top level racers.

The sort of marketing/stories that make me think they want to be ‘adventure’ bikes are like this

Conversely I only seem to notice their race marketing, though I keep meaning to watch their other films as they're very well shot.

If anyone thinks a bicycle is worth ten grand, be my guest

the SB in yeti bikes stands for super bike, so it's not like they're ever going to even try to be cheap, they are aiming for the top of the market, though my alu ASR5 was pretty reasonable with its pre-brexit and alu pricing. It's like saying a car is never worth 100,000, but people still buy plenty of them, and more than that. If you are on mtbr it's amazing how many people in the US do have a garage full of top end yetis though.

Loved Yeti until they went SB. My 575 was a fantastic all round bike and was good value too. Now, the carbon frame with the weird spring things in the BB for (still can't believe it!) £3.5K for a frame! Frame only! Nah, not interested in that.

Hang on, just realised I've been riding a Yeti in the snow all week! My Big Top. Lovely bike 🙂

Lovely looking bikes, but the complexity of the Switch Infinity system and the fact that it's open to the elements and costs a lot to replace put me off.

That is a moot point. You could say that about Rolex, Miele, Ferrari, Mont Blanc, etc. Any brand that is considered “Premium” could have the same argument thrown at it.  The answer is because they can. The concept of ‘better’ is subjective, so best just to leave it to individual choice.

But you'd expect a Rolex or mont blanc pen to pretty much last forever and still be worth a large percentage of its original price 20 or 30 years down the line. Whereas a bike, not so much.

Great bikes, ride fantastically, expensive, cracking issues, bearings expensive and often, look awesome.

I had an early alu SB95 for a short while. It looked the business and was well finished, but the geometry was all wrong for me - I think it was the seat tube angle that was too steep. I've subsequently got a Smuggler and couldn't be happier.

I have nothing against Yeti, but probably won't buy another when its x+1 time again. You could undoubtedly buy a better specced bike for the money (and so could I) but there is always the unquantifiable factor about bike choice and if you are happy paying a few quid more for something that floats your boat then so be it.

I’ve had an SB75 for three years and a 575 before that which was stolen.  Never really got on with the 575 as it didn’t seem to do anything very well.  The SB75 offered a huge improvement in capability for me and was quite advanced for when it was launched in 2013 with super low BB, chunky, flex-free rear triangle and, for the time, a relaxed head angle.  I got it from Merlin for £3K with top end factory Fox Kashima kit, X01, etc which I think makes it a bargain.  In three years I haven’t had to service any of the suspension bushes/bearings including the Switch cam.  And it’s been ridden hard and regularly in the Lakes for that time resulting in a smashed rim and the destruction of several tyres.  As with all brands, there are horror stories on the web, but when I see how some people treat their bikes, it’s hardly surprising that some break.  The 575 definitely had a poorly designed rear flex triangle that did often break but the SB75 is massively over-engineered.  It’s too short to use less than a 65mm stem and the head angle is steep compared with the latest bikes but that latter point works for me.

On some more general points, this race to deliver ever slacker, longer, lower bikes makes massive compromises for those of us who still ride long on natural trails.  I need a bike that climbs well, is comfortable for long days in the saddle and which descends well over rock, but it also needs to cover ground and not smash the pedals every time I try and climb up a rocky slope (to be fair the SB75’s BB is still one of the lowest out there and it’s really too low for a lot of the riding I do).  99% of the reviews these days are about downhill performance, which is a limited (though fun) part of my riding.

Regarding price, I think all the current top-end and even mid-range bikes are crazily priced and I don’t buy anything at list price anymore.  Look for end of season bargains and you can pick up some great bikes from most brands at a more sensible price.  They may not be the very pinnacle of what’s out there but you have to ask yourself, the pinnacle for whom?  Will the bike suit my needs and without several weeks back-to-back testing, will I notice that I’m not on the very ‘best’ bike out there?  Almost definitely not.  And don’t follow the herd, as Keith Bontrager recently pointed out, longer, lower, slacker won’t help me on my rides.

I’d never buy one because of their reputation for snapping chanstays and the shockingly poor way I’ve seen them treat people in warranty situations.

That's my experience. Snapped a swingarm on its fourth ride. Silverfish couldn't give a monkey's. Previous importers, Evolution, were excellent but I'll not have another while Silverfish are in charge.

Fast when it does work though (ASR-C )

These days I think the saddest thing is that their switch to carbon only frames and the accompanying silly price tags has alienated what I would imagine must have been a decent chunk of their fan base.

I built up an SB95 in 2013 and while there are of course many good things about their new models (I can think of stiffer wheels, stealth routing and being lighter as three niggles to my SB) those features aren’t unique. It might well be my first and last Yeti despite my love for them as a brand.

When the likes of Santa Cruz think carefully about their range and do allow those of us with a smaller wallet to still buy their models, it’s hard to understand how dropping £3k on a frame then probably having to compromise on build kit given budget is ever going to sell well against other better value options out there.

They still look great to me but with the above and their apparent love of PF bottom brackets too (definitely a no no for me) although I understand they might take the approach of evolution not revolution with their designs, I suspect when the time comes to replace it’ll be another manufacturer getting my cash.

It's true what you say Cycle86, but I think you can and should consider an alloy and carbon version of the same bike as completely different bikes. The Geometry might be the same, but they will ride completely differently on the basis that they're made of different materials with completely different properties. Not saying which would be better, but they would be different.

I don't think the switch infinity system is particularly complicated...no more so than the linkage system on say a SC. And in some research I've done on it suggests that the switch infinity component that needs replacing from time to time due to scoring of the rails is not actually that expensive and sometimes Yeti will provide FOC. But it's just another thing to consider and maintain, and I'm all for zero maintenance. For me the optimal setup for the UK is a link driven single pivot.

Having said that if you have the cash to splash on a high end boutique bike brand then Yeti would be top of the list for me - they still a bit niche, have some nice technology that sets it apart from the others (by all accounts the switch Infiniti does work out on the trail) and the last thing I'd want if splashing big cash on a boutique bike frame would be to rock up at my usual biking spots and see lots of the same bike out there....rock up to any trail centre or popular natural spot and its a game of spot the Santa Cruz's, Transitions and even Evils these days. They're pretty common. My mate gets more attention on his Cotic Flare Maxx as its a bit more unusual than the plethora of plastic fanatic boutique bikes that no longer bat an eyelid.

The race to the new longer geometry is the current band wagon, just like super short chain stays were a few years ago - turns out we had it all wrong back then...it's longer chain stays we actually want not shorter ones, how could we have got it so wrong??!! I've yet to ride one, but for me the bike has to be capable and fun, and having a super long bike doesn't feel like it'd be much fun to me...sure a downhill sled, but if it can't put a smile on your face on a boring flat trail then it's not for me, and a super long, super low and super slack, heavy plank of a bike doesn't sound like it can be much fun anywhere else on the trail other than the super steep and technical stuff. The jury's still out for me till I ride one.

I've always had a soft spot for them but I'm a sucker for a bit of retro heritage. Always thought that if I was in the market for a super bike I'd probably go Yeti over SC or the like. I'd go Hope now though, not that I'm in the market.

I have mixed feelings and agree with cycle86's sentiments.

I have owned both an ASR5c and an alloy SB66 after that. The ASR5 was sensational, one of the few bikes I look back on and regret getting rid of. The SB66 was also excellent, and despite the complexity and expense of sorting out the switch gubbins I do think the suspension justified it to an extent - set it at 25% sag and then ride everything without ever thinking of climb switches etc. At that point in time they were also far from conservative in their geometry, I remember looking at the top tube measurement of the Large ASR5 and being a bit scared as it was so much longer than everything else I was looking at. But it was great.

At this point in time, as much as I had positive experiences I just can't go to £3.5k for a frame only. I've been priced out of the club so to speak. I would still consider a Yeti were an alloy option available.

http://www.silverfish-uk.com/Products/YC200020231_Yeti-Fox-infinity-link

Owned an ASR5, SB66c and an SB5 over the last 7 years and have to say that aesthetically, especially with the SB6 and SB4.5/5.5, they look fantastic.

Would I buy another, maybe, but these days bike's are generally very well designed so you would be buying in to the brand rather than purely from the performance point of view. I would say the SB66 was the pinnacle of 26" wheeled mountain bikes, after that they have just evolved that design forward.

I have also broken one, the SB66, though that was my fault.

In HK they tend to be very common on the trails, I've never seen so many 30th anniversary SB6's in so many numbers as I have here!

Apparently there's loads in NZ too as they're not so stupid money there.

The 575 definitely had a poorly designed rear flex triangle that did often break

No, not 'definitely': In your opinion. I loved how my 2 rode and neither broke. Would still be riding it now if I hadn't switched to 29ers.

bikes for those with more money than sense

Is there an echo in here?

Yeti was  a dream bike for me wen they were like this photo and I always liked the colour scheme,  However I was put off them by the yetifanboy  'Yeti Meet' stuff.  Now I'm put off by the price.

I wouldn’t call yeti a main manufacturer yet, they are still very boutique compared to the likes of giant and Specialized, I’d image compared to Santa Cruz who many still regard as boutique there sales numbers will be tiny. Boutique isn’t necessarily a good thing though.

Dont read too much into what’s “in” in the world of geo. When the SB6 came out in 2014 there was plenty people including loads on here that said the chainstays were too long as at the time the “in” trend was for shorter stays yet now longer stays seem to be the trend.  Go ride one there’s plenty of demo days in the uk, and then form an opinion if the geo is outdated.

If it’s fast enough for Graves (was) and rude, who have raced on the 5c, 6c and a 5.5c 29er then I’m sure it’s fast enough and modern enough for the rest of us mortals.

i think the frames are getting stupidly expensive at £3500 now but then so are all high end frames, just look at the new Stanton £2500 for a steel frame.

I'd love a FRO.

But otherwise I'm not a fan. It's the colour.

HTH 😉

I have an ascr, it's an awesome bike. Is the frame worth 3k?....absolutely not. And I see that most yeti frames are now around 3.5k which is frankly a bit ridiculous

That said, there aren't many carbon full suss frames out there that don't cost upwards of 2k, and most are closer to 3.

The name may add a bit but its not a huge premium as an overall percentage of cost

Regarding how 'on trend' they are, this whole longer lower, slacker thing that we are told we now need does not take into account that most folks ride terrain that doesn't really merit it. So conservative designs aren't nesecarilly a bad thing despite what the industry and mags tell us..

That’s not a great comparison though, is it?

when Ferrari sell you a car, they’ve spent time designing the chassis, the styling, the interior, the ergonomics, the engine, suspension, gearbox, electrics, brakes, etc...Yeti (Santa Cruz, Intense insert brand here) have designed a frame...So a fair comparison would be to the chassis...

What's that you say about Yeti and cracked frames?

Daffy said

"That’s not a great comparison though, is it?

when Ferrari sell you a car, they’ve spent time designing the chassis, the styling, the interior, the ergonomics, the engine, suspension, gearbox, electrics, brakes, etc…Yeti (Santa Cruz, Intense insert brand here) have designed a frame…So a fair comparison would be to the chassis…"

The Suspension, Electrics Gearbox, Brakes, etc on a Ferrari, and almost all production cars, are bought in..... I could probably name most of the suppliers.

I loved my SB66c, looked unreal (which is the main thing!) also a great 'park' bike that would eat up braking bumps all day long (with top end suspension fitted), but could be used on epic all day pedalling efforts too. It did eat bearings but a full set was only £60 and easy to change. Ultimately the geometry led to its sale, seat angle was too slack and top tube too short. They didn't really change much for the SB6c (which must be due a big overhaul) aside from making the seat angle a touch steeper. And I prefer using a bottle to a pack.

I'd love to have another if they ticked all the boxes.

I haven't seen much of their marketing nor much forum opinions as I only dip into this forum so, I'm afraid I can only comment through actual ownership.

Just stepped off a 575 after 6 years of use at great destinations through UK, Europe, Africa, USA, Canada and it never broke. Enjoyed the bike whether riding Whistler bike park or longer trails. Just moved onto a used SB6 and it feels just as good a fit for my riding - but the Switch Infinity system works better - especially on climbs. The front is slacker which I like on rowdy stuff but not silly slack that I can't climb.

GF rode an older 575 for 4 years and that never broke - nor has her SB5.

The Switch Infinity is not a spring - it's just sliders and bushings - pretty much the same design as the tubes on the forks that slide up and down and open to the elements or the tube on your shock that slides in and out and open to the elements. They all need looking after I guess else they wear.