PINKBIKE FIELD TEST
Yeti SB130
We see a lot of bikes come and go but the SB130 has become the "go-to" for aggressive trail riding. Its all around prowess in both ascending and descending technical terrain keep it as a top choice for a variety of riding.
Words by Daniel Sapp, photography by Trevor LydenThe SB130 is Yeti's latest all-rounder, with 29" wheels, 130mm of rear travel, and a 150mm fork up front.
The angles of the bike are some of the more progressive out there, with 460mm of reach on a size medium, a 65.5-degrees head angle and a 77-degree seat angle. There's also room for a water bottle on the correct side of the down tube, something that was missing on Yeti's prior SB models. The SB130 is a highly capable ride, but if the bike park or enduro races are more your speed, the longer travel SB150 may be a better choice.
SB130 DetailsIntended use: trail / all-mountain
Travel: 130mm
Wheel size: 29''
Frame construction: carbon fiber
Head angle: 65.5
Chainstay length: 433mm
Sizes: S, M, L, XL
Weight: 28.6 lb / 12.9kg
Price: $8,199 USD
More info:
www.yeticycles.com The SB130 uses Yeti's Switch Infinity system, those two small and short Kashima-coated rails located just above the bottom bracket, to manipulate the bike's axle path. As the bike goes through its travel, the carrier moves up on the rails to give the bike a slightly rearward axle path and improved pedaling performance. As the rear wheel continues through its travel, the mechanism moves downwards and reduces the amount of chain tension for better absorption of big hits.
The unique two-piece shock extension design bridging the gap between the link and shock allowed Yeti's engineering team the ability to manipulate the leverage rate of the bike within a huge range, independently of other kinematic variables such as anti-squat. The SB130's suspension design is more progressive than the 5.5 that preceded it, which means it's coil shock compatible for riders interested in going that route.
The SB130 was designed along side the longer travel SB150 and shares a lot of traits with that bike but, besides the obvious differences in rear-wheel and fork travel, the head-tube angle and leverage rate progressivity (12% for the SB130 and 15% for the SB150) are different. The SB130 is tested to Yeti's trail standards, while the SB150 is tested to their DH standards as the bikes are suited for two different purposes. The greatest change to the layup between these two standards can be seen near the head tube, top tube, and down tube with the SB130 saving weight in areas that don't need as much reinforcement as its longer travel sibling does.
ClimbingMost modern bikes in the 130-150mm travel range pedal impressively well compared to the bikes we were on even a few years ago, especially given their increased capabilities on the descents. The SB130 holds its own while heading uphill against the best bikes currently out there in its category, and although it has a burly mix of parts, a long reach, and a slack head-tube angle, the steep seat tube puts you in a good position to manage chunky terrain. It's a very impressive climber, and the only place I even consider cranking on the pedaling platform switch was on a paved road climb.
The long reach number may look intimidating on paper, but the steep seat angle makes for a very comfortable climbing position. I never felt too stretched out, and I was able to comfortably move the bike around in tight and techy terrain.
There's consistently plenty of traction on the SB130. Sections of trail that require a punch of power to bump over roots or rocks on certain bikes are noticeably easier to sit down and power on over without spinning out. The suspension feels supple and conforming to the terrain, and doesn't fight or force you to choose the path of least resistance while climbing. It encourages you to give it a little more hell knowing there's traction and a lower likelihood of breaking free and smashing your kneecap into the clamp of your shifter.
DescendingThe SB130 hits out of its league on descents, so much so that I've consistently found myself questioning the safety of the speeds I feel comfortable riding this bike. The suspension stays active and keeps the bike glued to the ground, all while maintaining a lively feel that encourages getting airborne whenever the opportunity presents itself.
The SB130's long reach makes it easy to stay balanced and centered in the steeps, which came in handy on Whistler's countless rock rolls. While it is a blast to hang on and plow down the trail, straight-lining over off-camber roots and rocks, it seamlessly transitions to holding a line into and out of turns.
The SB130 is as close to an enduro bike as any 130mm travel bike I've ever ridden, but it's light and lively enough to make it an apt choice for big days of pedaling. Trying to decide between the SB130 and the SB150? It's all about deciding where your priorities lie. If you've got a calendar that's full of enduro races, trips to the bike park, and a bunch of rides with extra-burly descents, the SB150 is the way to to. But if you're looking for something that's a little less gravity oriented, with enough travel to take almost anywhere, the SB130 is the way to go.
All in all, the SB130 is a delight to ride and strikes a solid balance as a bike that can efficiently get uphill and rarely hold you back while heading down.
Was reading through all the comments on this review, mostly critical comments based on pure unfounded scepticism and thought to myself, 'man I'd just give up bothering with all that negativity every time I posted anything'... made me realise I need to post something positive as I have visited this site most days for a decade and love the constant feed of content you guys deliver year in year out to feed my addiction! Thankyou!
anyone complaing about PB should try reading UK mags, they are absolute sh@t. 100% payed for, ridden round a flat trail centre once rubbish. that or there crap riders. all you get off them is the same old voodoo hartail and bossnut drivel with a 2 page spread on how to lube a chain or some other child level maintenence
It's basically that
Except that the suspension platforms just changed and we can't wait till they update the other model.
This belief that 29ers have long rears needs to die along with flat earth theory, the science does not support it.
Surely a 27.5 bike is 100% likely to have shorter chainstays than a 29er by... I'd say approximately the difference in diameter of the respective wheel sizes. And the only way it wouldn't would be through messing with ST angles. No?
What does happen is that the bottom bracket drops, by the difference in wheel diameter. I actually had a look at yeti's geo charts to see if it'd be feasible to run this at 27.5. The bb height on this model and their 27.5 sb5 is actually the same - which means the drop on the SB130 must be 19mm less (the diameter difference between wheel sizes). That's a lot, when you're thinking about pedal clearance. So no, I don't think it'd run 27.5 well. Unless you have midget cranks.
The choice of chainstay length affects manualling capability and stability. Shortest isn't necessarily best.
I meant radius not diameter btw.
I kind of get the BB drop thing... Actually I don't.
@sspiff: ah yes that's it. An aha! moment for a frame designer. But comment fodder for the tall.
Since when? This is precisely the opposite feeling that a rider should be getting when riding a longer bike.
Longer reach = bars further forward = weight further forward.
The main innovation of long reach bikes is that they place the rider's weight more into a more neutral position on the bike, correcting the problem that plagued short bikes of riders' having to hang off the back to put their weight evenly between the axles to maximize cornering grip. I'm confused how a tester would be feeling the exact opposite?
Maybe PB could do a video with all the huck to flat?
both yeti's reviews 150 & 130 are lacking,how come you never mentioned the flexy rear? with every bike Levy reviewed he mentioned tire clearance why not here? can you fit a 2.5 maxxis WITHOUT rubbing the shit out of the rear???
you guys lost credibility with these reviews, I just don't buy it that you had no issues with these frames when every other online review mentioned there is an issue with these bikes! (nsmb,vital etc..)
sb100 sb130 sb150 all have problems,neg prop all day but you worth nothing then your buy and sell section.
last Yeti I owned was ASR7 which was ok for it's time , I find it a bit strange that Pinkbike does not address an issue that is widely reported by others. it may have been a "first batch" or " early production" frames that some consumers received but it is still something they need to mention, do you think pinkbike was not aware of those issues? do you think the flex and poor tire clearance is not an issue?
@mikekazimer has the SB150 and I have the SB130 currently and we're going to be doing a much longer-term review on both bikes where we'll swap tires around, among other parts. If there are issues with clearance, flex, or anything else, don't worry, we'll bring it up and call it out as we have in the past with other bikes.
Just a note on the impact of rider weights. My riding weight with all my gear and full CamelBak is close to 200lbs. My friend has the exact same bike and his riding weight is 30lbs less than me and has no issue with tire rub.
As for the Trance feeling "squishy," our review touches on that, saying "the suspension stays very active" during climbing," and "there was a little bit of motion when we were climbing on this bike." It's got some bob under pedaling, but being short travel and light weight keeps it an excellent climber—especially in Levy's favourite (lol) climb mode. It's also worth remembering that in our test it was compared to trail bikes, while other media may have been comparing it to other 110mm-115mm "marathon" style bikes.
It's possible that there was an issue with some frames, but so far I have zero tire rub marks with that 2.4" tire, and the amount of flex isn't anything out of the ordinary. Believe me, if we had an issue we would have reported it. That's what we're here to do, but if we don't experience something firsthand we're not going to spread rumors based on a few vocal internet commenters.
solution by carbon wheels :-)
Did a side by side comparison on the trail between the SB150 and my SB5.5 and the SB150 flexed significantly more in the rear triangle, had me scratching my head if that is a good thing or not.
Yeti claims its normal to mitigate impingment of the shock but I have a hard time with that one.. None of my other bikes have ever had that play.
Wondering if ur test rigs have that?
Yeti is claiming this is normal... I call Bs.. None of my other bikes have this play.
That and the 2.5 tire rub debacle.. My 2.4 touches easily with a two finger press to the drive side as well.. Haven't had a real ride on her yet tho.
Perhaps I'll go through the lbs dealer on this one.
Color me impressed on that one!
I filled her in on the issues over on the forums.. Her response was that they are a small company and don't have time to get involved or to monitor forum banter,and they will stay out of it.. That pretty much confirms that people waiting for a response from yeti on mtbr will be waiting a long time.
youtu.be/E-PMF-D-4lY
youtu.be/E-PMF-D-4lY
"If you've got a calendar that's full of enduro races, trips to the bike park, and a bunch of rides with extra-burly descents, the SB150 is the way to to. But if you're looking for something that's a little less gravity oriented, with enough travel to take almost anywhere, the SB130 is the way to go."
There is only so much words can do. The only way to make these reviews totally quantifiable is to have metrics for everything and then you're still reliant on how well the reviewer knows the trail, how they are feeling physically and mentally, and the weather, etc..
Keep up the good work, keeping the keyboard warriors honest.
Have a good one.
*The Feminist Socialist Goverment of Sweden created the equitable, non-species and non-gender biased Singletrack and Trail Authority with the mission to investigate which suspension travel is satisfactory for human powered vehicles in our commonly owned forrests. They came to the conclusion that 12-13 cm was sufficient to please women, men and non-binary persons alike.
Anyway, if looking at the average Swedish trail conditions, ski resorts not included, I would argue that bikes with around 12-13 cm of travel are sufficient. Personally I’m planning to return to a steel ht for next year to increase the challenge (which makes it more fun I hope). And there are zero water bottle mounts on the frame in question...
My sb95 was on of my favorite rides, but the constant lack of QC for such an Uber expensive bike just turns me away from this brand.
They look awesome though
I thought the same as you initially.. Now that I have the 130 it has been stellar.. Haven't tried a 2.5 but 2.4 dhr is an easy fit with no rub at all.. Flex is a non issue.. I'm 195lb
5k got me drive train (minus cranks), headset, bottom bracket, shelter tape frame protection, all new cables and housings and a boostinator kit.. That's cad pricing.
Knowing your preferred reach, and to a lesser extent, stack is critical. You're bang on when you weighed up the difference between the bikes an adjusted the stem to mirror your current bike. Say you liked another bike but in the reach you need the seat tube is too long for you to run the dropper length you like or it has too much stack so your bars would be too height etc. That's how you rule those out. No guide is ever going to get as accurate as you riding bikes are working out the reach/stack numbers you need. Long enough so you can move around and weigh the wheels independently but not too long so you're stretched.
Like most who buy bikes like the above, I don't really give a crap about seated pedalling performance.
If you're buying bikes based on ETT you're almost definitely compromising reach.
@skylerd beyond reach+stack, the only other thing that determines cockpit while standing is stem length+bar shape.
"Reach really tells you about how roomy the cockpit will feel when you stand up and get the saddle out of the equation. Don't be fooled by the industry's recent obsession with reach. It's only one piece of the puzzle and unless you are sure you know better, it's probably safer to trust the manufacturer's sizing chart."(@skylerd, Dec 15, 201
Go ahead and size down if know what you want. Yeti is surely just trying to communicate how they intended for their design to work/feel/perform.
Like you said, it definitely makes sense to think about stem length to get a complete picture. ETT is certainly relevant for thinking about pedaling position - yes it matters.
The numbers are facts, sizing charts are a manufacturers subjective opinion. I know what I'll base my purchases on!
Looked for your 495mm in profile, and was rewarded with excellent photos of AZ!
I never go off size charts
Huh??
If you're buying a modern bike like the above based on the ETT of a bike from 5 years ago you'll end up with a reach number that is far too long and you'll be a passenger on descents.
This is pretty basic stuff. Can't believe this is controversial.
Many gloves don't fit like gloves.
Not enough info; not credible.
This is pretty basic stuff. Can't believe this is controversial."
I raced XC a lot. I still pedal a lot. Seated climbing happens a lot. Slack seat tube angles are not good for seated climbing
You seem like a smart guy even if you troll every now and then (I do that quite often so that's not a burn btw). I'm just having a hard time conceptualizing how you can make that statement; unless it's for trolling
I love steep SA angles for the benefit they bring steep climbs.
I'm not concerned that bikes feel short when seated due the above and that ETT lengths are far shorter than older bikes I've owned.
Subsiquently I think buying bikes based on ETT is pointless as are the manufactuers opinion on what size you should ride.
That's it, thats all.
Yep I love trolling from time to time but I think there's sometimes common sense within the nonsense.
Assuming I "knew what reach I needed" ten years ago, I'd currently be riding a 2018 size S or M. But I'm 188cm tall and I ride size XLs. Bikes have changed a lot, and we ride them differently now. If you were set on what reach you needed a few years ago, I think you'd be holding yourself back a lot from the improvements that have been made to geometry since then. No disrespect, but the geo on your Warden is pretty long in the tooth, so it's worth sizing a new bike with a bit more of an open mind about how numbers have changed.
Also edit for the benefit of @ceecee, my old bike actually had a reach of 445mm. My bad.
So there you go, a 440-450mm reach and 620mm stack (plus 40mm stem and 760mm bar) is ideal for me to control the bike optimally for my height and ape index. You and Pole can tell me I need 470mm or tell Sam Hill he's wrong for riding 430mm but I'll take my direct back to back timed testing over a manufacturers or other riders opinion.
With all due respect this is page one for me and I'm bored trying explain such obvious basics. Reach and stack are simply fixed sizing metrics. Work them out and you have a baseline to compare geometry between bikes. If not you throw another variable into the mix that won't help you at all to determine geometry or suspension differences.
If u can't tell that a bike does or does not fit you via a quick parking lot spin.. You got bigger issues..
What more info would you like?
At just under 6'3 a Large is simply, too small!
Are you legs or torso?
By the way, I still really want a new Yeti, can't have fun riding anymore without it......
I also think a big difference is the handling aspect. Mountain bikes are going faster, more safely thanks to the new geo (and suspension) whereas the big advancements in road bikes seem to be new shock absorbing devices built into frames or the adoption of disc brakes.
But I do hope it calms down soon. I don’t think this makes last season’s bikes unrideable (I’m on a 3 year old bike) but it does make me reluctant to invest in anything new until design levels off for a bit.
light, lively, 29er, mid travel, coil friendly and sexy AF.
anyone want a process or a vanquish?
Pffft! This is why --> knee armor!
Great review.
This has to be the best Google translate f-up of all time:
"He has not made landings with beasts or big bumps. Very fine rider."
I can only hope this is my epitaph (although I must say, I'm partial to bumps of many sizes; large or small)
Your ride looks sweet. I'd jump on it if it was in USD and located here
Send the bike to you it's only a 100 bucks and for USD price is about 10 percent cheaper so it's still a great deal! Seriously I am still amazed there is no second bike at all like mine around... Simply impossible to find the quality and geek I offer...
And @animatedcorpse, riders were free to switch bars and stems as they saw fit. Luckily, most bikes these days come with short stems and appropriately sized bars, so minimal swapping was necessary.
Demo is key if possible.. Two people the same height could still fit different sizes depending on body type.. Ie Long legs with shorter torso or vice versa.. Yeti told me themselves via email I'd be a large... Glad I pedaled one before purchasing.
Ibis Ripley?
Love that little trail!
JP
www.yeticycles.com/warranty