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.
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.
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.
