Yeti goes SB crazy; 3 new bikes with 1 common goal
Just like London buses, so goes the saying… except here we’ve three new bikes; the Yeti SB120, SB140 and SB160.
For those who at one point or another had a Yeti ARC poster on your wall (the 90s MTB equivalent of a Ferrari Testarossa or Lamborghini Countach) this is a massive deal. Yeti fans aren’t typically your casually interested types. Think dictionary definition of brand loyal.
Now it’s fair to say the SB platform has caused a few furrowed brows along the way. The SB100 was, as far as the brand was concerned, ‘not just an XC bike’ (arriving before ‘down country’ was a thing) in spite of it’s travel. Geometry ahead of its time: Yes. Challenges with linkage, and impact on long term ride: Regrettably, also yes. And not just in UK mud-fest riding conditions.
So it’s with much anticipation that a trio of new SB bikes arrives, featuring a revised Switch Infinity assembly amongst a raft of other changes, including geometry updates. Yeti point to the following as a ‘what’s new’ guide:
- Size specific chainstay lengths and seat angles
- New, improved, Switch Infinity assembly on T-Series
- New threaded BB
- New high-clearance downtube
- New dual-density downtube protection
- Revised shock tunes
- Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH)
- Secure, fully enclosed internal cable management
- Compatibility with long dropper posts
- 100% standard sealed Enduro Max bearings
- Floating collet axle pivot design
- Compact-wishbone shock extender
As you’d expect, an extensive list of revisions and innovations, bringing the SB concept bang up to date with 2022 rider expectations.
Taking a Google search back to 2018 (because nostalgic memories aren’t exactly a reliable barometer) the original SB reviews universally gave the bikes a lot of love. ‘Nothing rides quite like a Yeti’ is definitely not marketing hyperbole. Unfortunately, what it took to keep a Yeti riding like a Yeti, was more like your Italian supercar maintenance schedule.
Important to acknowledge here the brand worked hard to address issues, with revisions and updates, but, for some, that came too little, too late. I mention this because, as with all frames from 2019 onwards, the trio of new SB rides are covered by Yeti’s no BS lifetime warranty.
All three bikes will be available from Yeti stockists from 20th January, distributed exclusively in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Benelux countries by Silverfish UK.
To find out more about becoming a Yeti stockist please contact your Territory Sales Manager, email sales@silverfish-uk.com, or phone 01752 843882.
