I feel like it’s just awkwardly caught in the middle between the downcountry bikes and true trail bikes with more travel.
It’s a conundrum, this type of short-travel trail bike is probably the right bike for 80% of all mountain bikers. It can handle pretty much any trail technical features and will fit right in any sport category XC race. There will be 10% of hard-riding park and enduro riders who will get proper use from a longer travel bike, and 10% who only care about XC speed.
This type of bike makes perfect sense as an Aluminum Top Fuel, under $4k. It does everything well, it isn’t too much bike for mellow local trails but can also handle the trip to the mountains. The Yeti just doesn’t offer much more for twice the price other than a fancy badge, color, and exclusivity (show up to a NICA event and half the bikes are Treks).
It’s also really sad that a few years ago you could get a Blur and Hightower with GX for that same $9.6k.
It might not be as light as the lightest options out there, but the OG SB100 could be built up plenty light for most riders. Here’s an example of a sub 23lbs build. I think the SB115 with just slightly revised geometry could be a killer XCM bike.
@adrian_r
That’s exactly what I was saying. Updated geo would have made a sweet rig.
I demo’d a SB130 standard and really liked how it felt, I don’t really see a place for the SB120, but that’s just me. It may fit the perfect spot for someone else.
I agree. Was hoping it would be an XCM bike.
But maybe there’s hope still! Yeti might not be done with releases. So far only SB160 & SB120! Still plenty of “old” models in their portfolio
I agree with the first part (I think short travel bikes suit many people’s purposes very well), but as far as the second part, as a Cat 2/Sport XC racer myself (primarily the longer stuff though) with a 1 bike quiver for both racing and trail riding, I would much rather one of the lighter downcountry bikes than racing on a 30 lb bike, especially when the heavy bike costs more. My Spur weighs sub-26 lbs and cost several thousand less. I don’t really see the SB120 as appealing to anyone who wants to race, as those people are going to either a) want a lighter bike when spending that much or b) want to spend much less and deal with racing a 30 lb bike in XC.
Obviously I haven’t ridden the bike myself, but from the Pinkbike review, I didn’t get the sense it was a blend of the best of both worlds. Living in the Front Range not far from Yeti HQ, I don’t see the appeal of a 30 lbs bike on our climbs unless it comes with more travel for rowdier descents (plenty of 150ish travel bikes around here). For instance, if I wanted a 130/120 bike, I could overfork my 120/120 Spur that currently weighs sub-26 lbs without a top of the line build kit on it. It would be cheaper (even buying new) and lighter, and I’d be surprised if the descending capabilities were so different as to make the SB120 a clear winner. Maybe it’s because I’m a smaller rider, but when bikes 4-6 lbs lighter with similar travel and similar or better pricing already descend really well and confidently, an expensive 30 lbs option has no appeal. If we were talking about a 30 lbs aluminum frame that cost about half the price of the Yeti, then I absolutely see the appeal.
I would much rather one of the lighter downcountry bikes than racing on a 30 lb bike, especially when the heavy bike costs more.
I was really talking about the budget conscious who are buying an aluminum Top Fuel or Stumpy ST. The Yeti just makes zero sense when the Spur exists, it is definitely the best short-travel trail bike in my opinion.
Oh yeah, totally agree there. At the price point of those options, 30 lbs is much more reasonable. On a $10k carbon bike in that class of bikes, no way.
Interestingly, on Instagram, Geoff Kabush claims he thinks he can build up his XL SB120 to be in the 25-26 lb range, which seems surprising to me, honestly. If he can, I’d hate to know what that build would cost the average person.
That’s true, and on paper your arguments make perfect sense. As far as I understand, one of the secret ingredients of Yeti bikes were its Infinity Link rear suspension. On the other hand, the SB120’s geometry doesn’t seem to be cutting edge any longer. In my mind, one of the benefits of going with a smaller manufacturer was that they would often produce very opinionated designed that foreshadowed broader trends. Yeti didn’t push the envelope it seems.
The other upsetting bit is the price. I know bikes have been getting more expensive, but I don’t want to see any corners cut on a $10k build.
Yeah, and the config Pinbike tested came with aluminum wheels. Not that alu wheels are bad, but for $10k, I’d expect something fancier.
Sure! No argument there!
My point was that the older SB100 frame was not that heavy. Had they tweaked the geometry of the SB115, used a SID 120 fork etc. They would have ended up with a very capable and interesting XCM bike. Yes, not as light as competitors using flex pivots, but light enough that it would not matter for the amateur racer.
But alas they chose making a weird inbetweener
Having coming both a SB100 and now a SB115 i think its a bit odd that now aside from the ARC they are firmly out of XC. Maybe this is them hinting at a line of demarcation of trail and an upcoming 100mil travel dedicated XC rig, IDK. Looking at the weights the SB120 is very much a trail/enduro rig. Yes Yeti has not had much of a presence in XC but this is nail in the coffin until they come up with something lighter. My 100 and 115 are pigs as it is, i cant imagine adding a pound to the 25 that i think is the lightest you can get a sb115. The ARC would be an ok hard tail but NOTHING special and at that price point…i’m a fan but not that big’a fan.
That makes sense, and if that was the intended meaning, I completely agree.
I checked out the ARC amongst others after getting my new-to-me hardtail. I really love the feeling of being back on a hardtail. Most of the components are from 2018 (drivetrain, fork, wheels, etc.), except for the brakes and handlebars (purchased this year). The frame is old, though, from 2014. So I was thinking that in 2, 3 years, I might need a new bike or frame, and I like doing my research well in advance … window shopping is free
I think even modern hardtails are heads and shoulders above the older generation bikes.
New Highball, XTC etc have modern angles and I think would be more confident bikes.
Geoff Kabush put a 120mm fork and an ugly spacer on his ARC to race it. He had it with skinny Aspen’s and expensive parts to make it light and racey. He was fast of course, but it definitely doesn’t look like the right tool for the job
One that e. g. Pinbike liked was BMC’s Twostroke, and I had gotten one if it weren’t for stupid import restrictions to Japan. (They only import the aluminum up to size M, and I am size L.)
