[Closed] Yeti SB66 as a do it all bike?

Just building one now. Will let you know in due course,

Go for it, with the right fork it can do anything. Avoid fox 32, go 36 or pike.

It may be heavier than some rivals but it feels light when going and very capable.

It's one of my favourite bikes I've ever ridden. Only sizing issues stopped me buying one.

Hi what sizing issues mate?

I'm 5ft7 so hoping a small would be just right.

you ride the peaks not the alps..

Few issues with bearings - 2012 frames perhaps?

Yep I ride the peaks and 150mm means I ride them with more confidence.

Banks if I remember right you ride a covert? Does the same statement apply?

I test rode a couple not as good as the SC Butcher I had at the time, I was really dissapointed because of all the hype about them, both where XT builds like my Butcher , felt really heavy to me.

Yeah I have to admit the weight does worry me. Would get me fitter mind.

Think I'm letting looks take control over function.

I know full well I don't need 150mm but I also know it gives me a level of confidence.

I've got a new SB66, with the carbon back end, and a cotic soul too, so I think they are two bikes that complement each other quite well and cover a broad spectrum of riding. The soul is 27lb, yeti is 3lb heavier, but rides pretty spritely. Awesome bike.

To be honest though, if I only had one bike. It would be a 130mm FS. and prob 650b for futureproofness.

Yep I ride the peaks and 150mm means I ride them with more confidence.

Banks if I remember right you ride a covert? Does the same statement apply?

Yep, never really needed tbh and if i was given a fresh slate i'd be building something around 130/140 mm.

Made the mistake of demo'ing a few other/smaller travel bikes and i reckon (all in my imo of course) i got far more out of the bike/riding along as it was lighter and less point and squirt.

Banks I appreciate the feedback.

Yeah it's a choice between a 150mm bike like the sb66/covert or a total change to around the 130mm mark with a mega tr or a transition bandit.

I've had a shot of the bandit, but not the mega tr, and I don't think for the extra travel that the SB66 is any more sluggish, even on XC stuff.

Hmmmmmm Nobeer, I feel like if I go 130mm there is a chance I will regret it. If I stick with the sb66 with my pikes I'll be sorted.

If yer near ayrshire, yer more than welcome to have a blast on it.

Stockport mate but I appreciate the offer.

What size is yours? Do you find it sizes up big?

I'm in a similar dilemma but every time i take the covert out i'm laughing but it is a big bike if you know what i mean.

Know a few folk who have got SB66's and they've all said it's the best bike they've ever owned!

big question - have you actually ridden one?
Are you looking at 26" frames?
There were some cheap Blur LTc's in france in another thread 140mm but you won't notice the 10mm.

Stockport mate but I appreciate the offer.

What size is yours? Do you find it sizes up big?

Not really, compared to my large soul, the TT length measures up exactly the same. It's longer than my old heckler, but it was very short indeed. I do to get the common belief that they are very long, maybe I'm a bit odd!.

Go for it, have been very lucky to have a SB66c as my only bike for the last 15 months and loved it.
Used for everything from a little XC (hard work) to DH weekends though some people find the long toptube maybe a little stretched out for their riding style I like it.

I've not ridden one yet but the price is online.

Where where the blur ltc's?

in this thread, probably worth a read considering they are comparing the SB66
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/sb66-mojo-or-blur-ltc

Do it.
It is the best bike I've ever owned, especially with a Pike.

MoseyMTB, sizing wise a small would seem right at your height. I'm 5'8" and had a deal lined up on a medium but found it slightly too big. I was gutted as loved the way the sb66 rode, super confident on the descents, slack, low and manoeuvrable, climbed really well also.
I ended up getting medium Enduro s works frame which was shorter and fitted that bit better. Amazing do it all bike also.

I got one towards the end of last year to replace my Five, so the weight isn't too noticeable. It rides really well, and doesn't feel draggy or slow (at least no worse than any other bike with 2.35 High Rollers).

All in all, it's a fantastically capable bike - and it really does like to go fast.

Weight wise it's not a problem as the frame is already lighter than my current meta.

stewartc - Member

Go for it, have been very lucky to have a SB66c as my only bike for the last 15 months and loved it.
Used for everything from a little XC (hard work) to DH weekends though some people find the long toptube maybe a little stretched out for their riding style I like it.

I'm off to to ride a friends tomorrow so hopefully if all goes well I'll be spending the tax refund check that's been sat in my draw for two weeks.

575 is probably more a 'do it all' bike imho.

Mosey, YGM

What makes you say the 575 would make a better do it all bike? Plus the only 575 I can find is a 2011 and has the carbon rear end that I believe was prone to snapping.

Dan45a if the medium was too big did you try a small?

No, Could only get a deal on a medium sb66 as it was in stock at my lbs. It sold pretty quickly as was a good deal. The sb is a long bike. Perhaps with a 40mm stem would have been ok.

One other comment about how well it climbs, I had a 26lb yeti asr5c (medium) when I tried the sb66 Alu, and I found it climbed almost as well. Don't get me wrong it would be harder over a 40km long ride, but over a couple of hours the extra weight wasn't noticeable to me.

Yeah my medium meta at the moment has a 595mm top tube which is fine with my 50mm stem and the SB66 is shorter at 589mm so should be just about perfect.

Well after test riding the other day I ordered my frame and it turned up today.

I was worried about weight but it's definitely lighter than the meta am it replaces.

Pity I'm too ill to get any further, the delivery man looked shocked when I opened the door in my pants sweating.

Not the best picture I know.

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Very nice.

Where did you order it from in the end?

good work, I imagine they'll be hard to get hold of soon. Almost tempted myself but I love my ASR5 and what difference can an extra inch make...

You'll love it - well done 😀

I would make sure you whack a 50mm stem on it, shortens it up a bit (as it is a long frame) and gives nice balanced handling.

Reading whilst scrolling down on my phone I was expecting a picture of you sweating in your pants.

Expecting, not hoping!

Ha ha I'm back in bed now as the toilet floor got too uncomfortable.

It won't be getting built up for a few days as when I stand up in go dizzy.

I've got a 60mm stem which was fine on my longer meta so I'll see.

Bigjim why hard to get hold of?

Look forward to the build pics.

I really like Yeti.

Get well soon!

Bigjim why hard to get hold of?

they've stopped making them. lots of threads about it on the mtbr yeti forum, basically they couldn't sell enough to justify keeping it in the product line, even though people like Graves will still be racing the SB66 this year. ASR5 is also deceased.

Oh right, not impressed by that. Hopefully I'll still be able to get parts/bearings etc a couple of years down the line.

They're the same parts/bearing on the sb75/95 and they're not going anywhere

yeti sell spare parts for bikes that they stopped making donkeys ago, you'll be fine.

Good good, after the season Graves had on it I'm surprised they have to drop it.

My frame was a bargain anyway and paid by mr taxman so all is good.

bigjim - Member

they've stopped making them. lots of threads about it on the mtbr yeti forum, basically they couldn't sell enough to justify keeping it in the product line, even though people like Graves will still be racing the SB66 this year. ASR5 is also deceased.

The SB75 ends up with the same travel as the ASR5, but it'd heavier than the (already heavy) SB66.

They've left themselves a weird and undesirable lineup, IMO - ASR5 is one bike I was always very tempted by, just looked a fun bike, light & slack. Dunno who the SB75 appeals to - if you want an Enduro bike, you can get a Bronson which is similar, lighter bike with more travel, or if you want a trail bike, a 3010 is the same travel and wheel size, but miles lighter.

A proper, 150/160mm SB75 and a 650 version of the ASR-5 would have made so much more sense.

Yeti have said they will continue to make the SB66 is bike shops order them, no orders, no SB66. They even admitted its the bike they all like riding the most. Doesnt sound like they're getting rid of the moulds or owt, maybe just waiting for the 27.5 thing blow over before rolling out a "new and improved" 26" wheeled new bike 👿

a 650 version of the ASR-5

I think I read on mtbr the new 575 has the rear suspension tuned more like the ASR5 was than the old 575. Quite happy with 26" myself though!

Well for the price I paid I'm more than happy.

Can't wait to get better and get it built. Half term next week so hopefully then.

That's if, and it's a big if, this chocolate fountain stops running!

Apologies if you're eating your tea.

so where did you buy it?

My friend got it from his lbs. He said I wasn't to name names due to the staff discount he got.

Put it this way it's a uk shop so silverfish will be happy.

Gotta keep silverfish happy haven't we. You wouldn't want to make them angry now would you!

bigjim - Member

I think I read on mtbr the new 575 has the rear suspension tuned more like the ASR5 was than the old 575.

Even odder - the 575 has 145mm travel. The SB75 has 127. Go figure.

Campfreddie I daren't upset them after the outburst at you.

The way I see it you were helping a poor guy in France keep his job too.

In the words of the immortal MJ

"Heal the world, make it a better place, for you and for me and the entire human race (including France)"

😉

Yetii (sp?) are popular in my riding circles, a few ASR5s and SB66s, with very happy owners. I was quite tempted by an SB66... The SB75 and new 575 are confusing though - the 575 has more travel and slacker angles but is significantly lighter.

Yeti are rumoured to be working on a revised SB66 frame for 650b wheels, it will be a 160mm bike and have a revised eccentric link also. It will replace the current 26" model and I presume the current 650b model also.

you can get a Bronson which is similar, lighter bike with more travel

You could, but I've always found Santa Cruz to be a weird shape, too short for their height. I've never had one I've really got on with.

Plus the Bronson is way out of my price range. The SB66 was under a £900, frame only, after staff discount.

Don't see many Yeti's around either whereas every man and his dog has got a bronson now

moseymtb, is the frame carbon or alloy? its hard to tell from that pic!

Alloy mate. I'm not convinced by carbon just yet.

Weight wise it's lighter than the meta am it replaces.

was gonna say if you got that for £900 and its carbon, then what a bargain, still a bargain i reckon, like you say its a step up from your commencal for probably not much cash to swap it, so a bit of a win win, and if you dont like it i doubt you'd lose that much anyways for £900

Gotta keep silverfish happy haven't we. You wouldn't want to make them angry now would you!

get over yourself 🙄

Yeti are rumoured to be working on a revised SB66 frame for 650b wheels, it will be a 160mm bike and have a revised eccentric link also. It will replace the current 26" model and I presume the current 650b model also.

Yeah the yeti guy that posts on mtbr has said there is some new stuff in the pipeline, I'm sure they'll get back on track.

To be honest I love the meta it's just I got medium and finally had to admit it was too big.

If it had fitted I'd have kept it.

bungalistic - Member

Yeti are rumoured to be working on a revised SB66 frame for 650b wheels, it will be a 160mm bike and have a revised eccentric link also. It will replace the current 26" model and I presume the current 650b model also.

That makes a lot more sense. SB75 strikes me as a rush job to get a 650 bike to market ASAP.

MoseyMTB - Member
Plus the Bronson is way out of my price range. The SB66 was under a £900, frame only, after staff discount.

Was more talking about the 75. The 66 for that price is a no brainer.

Ah I see, that makes more sense.

This is a pretty ominous quote for 26" fans - this from a Yeti employee who posts on MTBR

we added a carbon rear end and 12x142 thru axle to the 66A from last year (probably a $400 upgrade?) and dropped the price by $250. Preseason sales were nearly non-existent.

Guys, I appreciate all the design and business advice, but I can assure you that we exhausted every conceivable possibility before deciding to wind down production on what is the all-time favorite bike for most of our staff. In the end, very few shops wanted the bike badly enough to commit to it during our preseason selling period, and when the market speaks, we listen.

Apparently, they had 12 orders for the bike.

Mine is last years frame and has an alloy rear and 142x12.

Did they offer 2 models of the aluminium?

MoseyMTB - Member
Mine is last years frame and has an alloy rear and 142x12.

Did they offer 2 models of the aluminium?

They did full bikes called SB66 Comp (All aluminium) and SB66A (carbon rear), I think. Not sure how the frames were done.

Ah ok, mine was called, on the paperwork, SB66a which I'm guessing differentiates it from the comp.

The Yeti SB66 'Comp' is essentially the 2013 Yeti SB66 all-alloy frame, but offered as a complete build to the US market for 2014 with a lower-spec shock.

The Yeti SB66A is a 2014 model frameset which combines the alloy fore-triangle with the SB66C carbon rear end.

You shouldn't really be able to buy a Yeti SB66 Comp frame on it's own (although I did from a French shop, although it came with a proper Kashima CTDa shock... naughty little me!).

If you have an alloy back end, then you have the same frame as me.

All UK SB66's have Kashima.
What you've got Mosey (and campfreddie) is an SB66 2013. It's identical to the 2014 model except that 2014 has a carbon backend.
Comp wasn't a different frame to anything we sold throughout the whole of 2013 it was merely a term that Yeti used to differentiate between the two and build into some 'budget' complete bikes in the US.

Apparently, they had 12 orders for the bike.

Excellent, I won't see many others out and about then!. Love mine.

About half way up the cobbler today -

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