Field Test: Yeti SB150
PINKBIKE FIELD TEST
Yeti SB150
Nothing but stability.
Words by Mike Kazimer, photography by Trevor Lyden
Yeti SB150
Nothing but stability.
Words by Mike Kazimer, photography by Trevor Lyden
Whistler is the location where Yeti's SB150 made its first public appearance, so it made sense to get one in for the Pinkbike Field Test to see how it held up to the countless EWS-worthy trails scattered throughout the valley.
The SB150 was designed with speed and stability in mind, and the result is the longest and slackest bike in Yeti's lineup. It's a full carbon affair, with 150mm of rear travel delivered by Yeti's Switch Infinity system, and a 170mm fork up front.
This race-bred 29er has geometry numbers that would have been considered extreme not too long ago, but are quickly gaining traction. The 64.5-degree head angle, 460mm reach on a size medium, and 77-degree seat angle all put the SB150 up in the lead pack when it comes to modern geometry.
The SB150 was designed with speed and stability in mind, and the result is the longest and slackest bike in Yeti's lineup. It's a full carbon affair, with 150mm of rear travel delivered by Yeti's Switch Infinity system, and a 170mm fork up front.
This race-bred 29er has geometry numbers that would have been considered extreme not too long ago, but are quickly gaining traction. The 64.5-degree head angle, 460mm reach on a size medium, and 77-degree seat angle all put the SB150 up in the lead pack when it comes to modern geometry.
Yeti SB150 Details
• Intended use: all-mountain / enduro
• Wheel size: 29"
• Rear wheel travel: 150mm
• 64.5° head angle
• 433mm chainstays
• Weight: 29.9 lb / 13.6 kg
• Lifetime frame warranty
• Price: $8,599 USD / Frame only: $3,800 USD
• www.yeticycles.com
• Intended use: all-mountain / enduro
• Wheel size: 29"
• Rear wheel travel: 150mm
• 64.5° head angle
• 433mm chainstays
• Weight: 29.9 lb / 13.6 kg
• Lifetime frame warranty
• Price: $8,599 USD / Frame only: $3,800 USD
• www.yeticycles.com
Our test bike received the X01 Race build kit, which includes a SRAM X01 12-speed drivetrain, Code RSC brakes, a Fox 36 GRIP 2 fork, and DT Swiss' XM1501 alloy wheelset. All of those niceties brings the price up to $8,599 USD, while a frame only goes for $3,800 USD.
You'll notice that we put the SB150 in the Trail / Enduro category of the Field Test, rather than in the 'Super Enduro' segment. There's no hard and fast rule on how to categorize bikes, but in this instance the SB150 ended up grouped with the Santa Cruz Bronson, Trek Remedy, Specialized Stumpjumper, and Kona Process 153 due to the fact that it has 150mm of rear wheel travel, while the bikes in the Super Enduro segment all have 160mm or more. Yes, it has the slackest head angle in this category by half a degree, but it also has a 170mm fork, while the other contenders have 160 or 150mm of travel up front.
Climbing
The SB150 isn't the absolute quickest handling climber, but the back end stays remarkably calm, even if you're putting the power down while pedaling out of the saddle. The lack of excessive suspension movement while heading uphill was impressive, especially considering the fact that there was still plenty of compliance to take the edge of small bumps, and to keep the rear wheel stuck to the ground on trickier ascents.
Some testers noted that the Kona Process 153 felt more lively on the climbs, likely due to that bike's steeper head angle, and the fact that it has 160 rather than a 170mm fork. The SB150 has a more gravity-oriented nature, but the reasonable weight and steep seat angle helped keep it very manageable on long climbs.
Descending
The SB150 truly is a superbike on the descents, and testers had nothing but praise for its handling in rough terrain. There's plenty of high speed stability on tap, but it's also a bike that's easy to play around on, whether that's by manualing out of a corner, or airing into a minefield of roots and rocks just to see what will happen. This is a bike that's much friendlier than its numbers suggest – you don't need to have the skills of an EWS pro in order to have a good time on the trail.
Mother Nature delivered several wet, slippery days during the Field Test, and the SB150 continued to shine in those more challenging conditions. On sections of trail where other bikes felt like they were getting bounced around and knocked off line it just keep trucking along, with a smooth, forgiving ride. Part of the reason for that forgiving feel lies with the frame design itself. The SB150 doesn't have the absolute stiffest swingarm out there, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. An overly rigid frame can lead to a harsh, jarring ride, and that was never the case here.
I've been putting additional miles in on the SB150 in preparation for a longer term review, and have had a number of riders ask about tire clearance. More and more 2.6" tires are hitting the market, but the SB150's max tire size is 2.5", and even that might be pushing things a bit depending on which tire and rim combo you use. I've been running a 2.4" Maxxis Minion DHR II WT for the last two months, a time period that's included multiple extra-muddy rides, and haven't run into any frame clearance issues at all - the paint on the chainstays is untouched.
Pros
+ Very stable at speed and in the steeps
+ Excellent grip in wet and loose conditions
+ Good pedaling performance
Cons
- Expensive
- EXO casing tires aren't the best choice for a race bike
- Slightly limited rear tire clearance
Author Info:
Must Read This Week
Its carbon now:
us.yt-industries.com/shopware.php?sViewport=detail&sArticle=1917&sCategory=511
You just drink the teal kool-aid.
www.bikemag.com/gear/ibis-takes-small-step-toward-u-s-carbon-production
www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a15098019/2017-volvo-v60-polestar-test-review
What do you think now?
1. This "X01 Race" build costs $11400 (Cdn) yet you still a GX chain?? C'mon.... not really a big deal, but frankly at those prices, why the skipping?? Also at those prices, I'd expect to see a full XX1 build. But no, with Yeti, you have to spend $12600 (cdn) to get an XX1 build... and then they still skimp and give you the X01 crankset, but hey, at least you get the chain.. haha! I get that a lot of companies mix and match... but again, at 10 or 12k I don't want any peasant value-added mixing and matching. I didn't go through the hell of dental school to spend 12k and get a X01 crankset. Give me the whole group or GTFO.
2. That flexy of rear end on a fairly long travel carbon 29'r is a bit worrisome... have heard similar from other reviews, will be interested to hear how that plays out long term... and yes, depending on the bike's design could be a good thing.
3. Rear tire spec... the Aggressor is suspect, but could be understood depending on where the majority of the these bikes are going. But no 3C? So, I'm spending 10K+ and I still have to buy or do a shop swap and add money to get a proper rear tire? Again at 10K+, I shouldn't have to worry about that shit. What would be really nice is if bikes at this price point offered a choice of rubber, even if it's from the same company, offering various treads, widths, compounds and carcass choice would be a nice touch. But I'm guessing any legitimate shop you're spending that much dough with would probably sort you out.
I shouldn't really even complain, Yeti's prices are out of my reach... but I just don't like seeing this kind of thing from such a premium bike at such a premium price. If you're spending this much... you should expect the bike to be fully sorted, no f*cking around.
- X01 cranks are more appropriate for an Enduro weapon like this. More durable/stiffer iirc. XX1 other stuff...eh, I think even some of the X01 stuff is lighter. If the gold bling is your thing, then sure tho. At this price I'd want fancy new XTR just to be new and cool since I paid all that.
- 3C rear tire is going against the grain. I think most are interested in 3C up front and 2C out back. Rude is doing fine with the tires when I watch him...personally I'd want a DHR2 2.4 over aggressor for this big of a bike.
- Flexy rear end sounds like a flaw they are pitching as a feature. Not sure I would notice but without SuperBoost+ on a 29er, I'd certainly still want a stiff backend. With SuperBoost+...maybe flexy would be nice.
If a frame is too stiff, it's harsh and it can't hold a line because it deflects on every terrain irregularity. A more flexy frame give compliance and comfort. It's highly desirable and Corbon fiver allow to control where on how much compliance to add to the frame
Just kidding. Their pricing is other-worldly. I've heard a conspiracy theory that Yeti has built their branding around wealthy riders who buy in because they want to show their buddies they've got cash (bike loans and special financing aside), and I actually think this might be all too true...
That being said, at least Yeti specs a Kashima fork and shock at their 2nd highest spec. Not a lot of other premium brands do that... they make you go full XX1 or XTR. Santa Cruz for example... you can spend $11,000 CAD and still have 3rd world, non-kashima components.
It's really not that expensive or some unattainable object if you got priorities in line..
All I know is my co workers and buddies got far more expensive hobbies than owning a 10k bike.
You can save a ton doing frame only!
forums.mtbr.com/yeti/sb130-sb150-issues-1089983.html#post_13840522
later: shows up flossing your molars in the chair.
5199 is inline with almost all the other bike companies for a similar build.
The direct sales companies are a different beast, i get it!!!
On the other hand, when $5k is the 'lower'priced model.. makes it hard for me to view anyone riding a late model Yeti as an intelligent person. But you're still right, let people ride what they want. It's all good.
So the way I see it, if someone sees a grown man riding an inferior inexpensive bike, well we must view them as a bit unintelligent, poor things.
JK of course, but really there is no need to make comments like yours above. Some people have different priorities and yes, some people just have a LOT more money. No need to judge them for that.
Spending 5k on the lowest spec Yeti is anyone's prerogative, do what you want with your money, I said as much already. Doesn't mean I have to hold them in high regard for doing so. And I'm sure the opinion of a single person isn't going to make them lose any sleep at night... but thank you for signaling your virtuous take on the matter. You truly are better than me for taking such a pious stance.
I think people need to take in consideration inflation also. The price of everything has gone up over the last 10 years. This bike would have been 3.5-4k 10 years ago but inflation kicks in. The problem is people and myself included are stuck in pricing from 10 years ago.
Now if you are buying the bike full in then 5k is alot of money. Like @SunsPSD stated though in SOCAL where the price of living is very high and salaries are very high this bike is more accessible. If one saves 420 a month he can have this bike within a year. It all comes down to what your priorities are. I don't drink alcohol or smoke so i save alot there. I drive a prius and not some huge truck with a high payment.
It all comes down to where you want to put your money. If you live at home and have a job this bike is easily accessible if you just cut back on luxuries. You don't have to buy the 9k version.
I also understand YT has great pricing but can anyone even get a bike as they are always sold out. YT is also not a yeti, pivot, or ibis.
However, your response shows that people may be missing my original point. I'm not debating whether someone has the means or not to buy the bike. I don't care if you save for a year, or can buy it out of one paycheck--that is irrelevant. I'm arguing that Yeti has become a symbol of excess within the bike industry. You are paying a premium for the name, with debatable -if any- performance advantage over most of its peers. That's probably as much a nod to how good current bikes are as much as it is a dig on Yeti, but so be it.
My entire family and most of my non-riding friends think I'm nuts to have spent as much as I have on the bikes I own. Do they think it's a bit excessive? Sure, just like I think their 4500sf homes are a bit much... but we're still friends all the same. So sorry man, yeah I think Yetis are a bit over-the-top with their pricing based on what you get. People also buy base model Porches--some will think 'why would you do that' and others will think 'hey, sweet car', so it is what it is. What ever puts a smile on your face dude! I'm sure you're not gonna lose any sleep over what this stranger on the internet thinks about the bike you own. Cheers.
If i was a millionaire or lottery winner i still would not buy a 4500 sqft house for my family of four. That's just how i am. I put my money into things that make me happy. 2000sqft is a perfectly good size imo and a let less work to keep up. For others a huge house might be important.
My bike makes me happy. I also really like what Yeti as a company stands for (Nate Hills) and i will admit the Yeti Turq color is pretty awesome. Yeti as a company is charging a premium and tthe performance gains if any are marginal at best. I do like the way the SI climbs and feels, but i also like the way DW bikes feel.
I demo'd a YT Capra 29 six months ago. It was really fun and a great bike. It did everything well. If the YT was my bike i would be stoked on that also.
I know that i am fortunate to have a wife that understands the happiness i get from riding my bike, and is willing to let me pay the price.
Your lottery analogy was brilliant! That is a perfect illustration in terms of a house size, and it fits just as well in terms of how I feel about buying a Yeti--even if the lottery hits tomorrow, still don't know if I could talk myself into it, haha. I think I'd be more likely to buy a second decent loaner bike for when friends come to visit. Who knows.
I hope you leave this comments section and go give your wife a hug and a thank you, because it's not just that she is cool with you spending the money on a Yeti, but that she also understands the "happiness" part of riding. Good stuff man!
@Karve It has nothing to do with "I can't have it so I'll slag it". I'm a tradesman, have no kids, and have enough disposable income to sustain a number of hobbies, though I have no interest in getting into that pissing match right now. If a person doesn't stop and think twice before they drop 4, 5, or 8 thousand quid on a new bike *that they pedal around for a hobby*, then they are either rich beyond 95% of other people, or not rational. The R Aluminum Bronson is $3500US -- is this to be deemed the new "value option"? I'd argue that so, so many of the bike brands price structures are getting to a point that they are literally pricing newcomers out of the sport. A decent hardtail costs almost $2k these days.. And, as I said before, Yeti is at the extreme end of this issue, and that is why I said something.
All that said, if @Snowsed341 was ever in town I'd gladly take him out to the local trails. I'd probably still think he was on an over-priced bike, and he'd probably still not care, and then we'd go grab a beer and talk about how a simple difference in opinions doesn't make two people enemies, even in a comments section
Just make concessions... Ie.. No cable, don't eat out as much, try not to have a car payment, and most of all... Stay away from Dem God damn gold diggers! or women that want to be stay at home moms for the rest of their lives...
That alone will create the illusion of a far bigger bank roll!
I know I sure as fark don't!
Cutting back on luxeries is a huge help as well.. I don't even have cable, nor do I miss it. It's all the little things u can do for sure.
Your experiences might differ, but when I bought my Yeti 5.5 I had never heard of 'Yeti Tribe' and whatever mystique you guys are talking about. That would never be a determining factor for me. I'd buy a Huffy if I thought it was truly superior.
I bought my new 5.5 frame because outdoorgearlab had a very thorough review of several bikes in this category and the 5.5 was fastest, both up and down, timed with many different riders. I now know it's because it was the only 29er in that test nearly 3 years ago, but at the time I deduced that it was just the fastest bike. And it did indeed instantly have me riding considerably faster. My Yeti was a great investment for me personally because my enjoyment of riding increased a lot because I was able to truly participate with the experienced riders for the first time.
Also I paid $2500 shipped for that frame, rode it for 2.5 years, and sold it in 1 day for $1700 local cash pickup last month. I find $27/ month of ownership highly affordable personally, but your experience may differ.
~ take care
If you want to have an opinion that differs from me, I ain't mad at you. But for f*cks sake mate, please don't put words in my mouth. I have been what should be *more than sufficiently clear* that my issue is with Yeti, for my own reasons, not "someone who spends more money than I do on bikes". I'm not paid to teach reading comprehension, or to pacify your ego. Didn't bother to read whatever the rest of your comment was about, can't be arsed to continue a conversation with you. Peace out.
I drive a Toyota btw and ride a Pivot. My previous bike was a Trek.
They charge a little extra for the brand-name.
@thelenjake: just a comment based on the bikes pb choose (given?) to review. A custom for Trek shock might cost more than a we promise this version doesn't explode X2 for all I know. If not, carbon wheelset isn't cheap.
Cavity Cream
Red Root Canal
Gingivitis Green
Purple Plaque
Bleeding Gums Blue (replacement for the turquoise)
Oh the Pain Orange
Bridge Work Brown
FYI, I own a SB5 and I am not a doctor. :0)
Best review to date imo. More should follow.
Here, I'll save you some time. If your slickwilly is squirming to race with the endurobros next year then just get the sb150 and silence the masses by slapping a custom "Slick Willy's Orthodontics" sticker across the top tube. You're welcome.
See! jaydawg gets it!
Why do you think the industry guys drive really really nice vans...because they generate a ton of revenue with their designs.
It may well plow through all the things like nothing else, and of course if you show up in one you'll get all the girls. But, man it's ugly!
@sjflow: "Toothpaste blue" should be Yeti's halo build colorway. That's actually funny.
Also, I thought you all were a little more generous with the climbing reviews for this bike back when it appeared in September, but I could be mistaken.
Anyway, coming out of the box, just looking at the geometry numbers, I've always thought this bike would be a little too much for me. Interested in seeing a comparison to the Sb 130.
On one hand it seems crazy to have it in the same category as the Stumpjumper, but when you go Stumpjumper>Remedy>Process>Bronson>SB150 the spectrum kind of makes sense.
forums.mtbr.com/yeti/sb130-sb150-issues-1089983.html#post_13840522
After 1 ride with a 2.4 DHRII... literally 2 miles of downhill.
forums.mtbr.com/attachments/yeti/1221098d1539824061t-sb130-sb150-issues-wqwsw4u7qzmfpowt66yypg.jpg
That photo was after all of their "fixes" and them replacing the rubber chain guard. The first one was half torn off from rub.
I'm on a Scott Ransom now and it's better in every aspect and it actually fits a 2.5 on the back.
The 150 has 0.147" clearance with a 2.5 DHF on the back. More photos of that in that thread on MTBR. I'm not a hack, I'm just a local Enduro guy trying to buy a good bike for local conditions and Yeti is selling pure BS with the 150.
I'm going to risk getting called a Dentist, and go against the grain of the comment section, by asking a serious question.
I own an SB6, it's boost, has 170mm front and 153mm rear. I love the bike, it climbs fine and it's descending ability far exceeds my own. I'm also wheelsize agnostic. Given the cost involved, as none of my existing parts would fit the new frame, is it really a worthwhile upgrade? Is is that much better than an SB6?
IMO the only reason to upgrade would be to access the new "modern" geo.
I'm not a huge fan of the new modern geo, but you might be.
Also, I’m not a dentist.
I also work at a high end dealership that sells sports cars that are not driven the way they are supposed to by rich over the hill men/women that can afford dream cars the kids with the modded cars that are better drivers can't.
I probably can come up with more comparisons but it comes down to expensive stuff is expensive. And people who can afford this bike most likely will not use it as designed and actually hurting themselves because they probably need a better climbing bike. This is a enduro bike period, not a trail bike. And in the future we most likely can watch tons of videos of people riding their sb150's in Florida on youtube.
But very importantly, you can't go ride a dirt bike at the MX track without dropping a cool $100 which is really on the low end. Between fuel for the truck and the bike, wearables, depreciation, and so on, it's expensive. It's also very time consuming and you really don't get much ride time compared to the hours spent getting the MX bike ready and driving.
Also if you have MXed for long enough, you will know at least 1 person that ends up in a wheelchair over it. I still have a nice dirt bike, but am completely over that sport.
You can let the dirt bike comparisons go. If you want a dirt bike, go buy one. But this is a different sport, not an inexpensive version of dirt biking.
Shouldn't be a hard decision for anyone with common sense
Bike brands cheat. Period. They always claim en the chart the effective seat antle, wifh is of course irrelevant. They should claim the actual (real) seat angle.
Evil bikes are the king of cheating in this aspect, they have the most slacks seat anglesmin the industry (65) but the geo chart says 76?? Thats a f*cking joke.
Something I never hear people complain about but is readily perceptible to me is that every bike I ride with a slack actual seat tube angle feels like it needs a comparatively longer travel dropper post. This makes a lot of sense since the actual vertical drop of the post is shorter on those bikes with a slack seat tube angle.
We measured the medium effective seat tube angles on the 2018 Devinci Troy and Spartan models for a size medium with about 220mm-250mm of post extended (troy vs. spartan respectively) and they were both around the claimed 74-75 degrees. The actual STA was considerably less however
Where is it measured from? Is it the angle of seat post insertion portion of the seat tube or is it the angle from the crank to the top of the seat post at normal insertion length. Say 160mm based on a 150mm dropper post from the collar allowing 10mm for the dropper post insertion tube collar.
For consistency, one needs reference points that can be applied to all bikes for comparison purposes.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFIunD9uYjg
www.bravenewsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/maxresdefault-3.jpg
MKAZ YETI REVIEW IN PROGRESS:
For real though a mid-travel (~130mm) trail bike with a steep STA and fairly active suspension is a good starting point for tech climbing.
That amount of money means very different things to me now than it did when I was 22. I have well-off friends who own a used $3,000 mountain bike despite him putting in 150+ days per year, and I have poor friends who own $8,000 bikes.
Here in HOT????????????????
Lock and Like !!
Lol
Good one
youtu.be/jGfOEadF4iY
Our long term reviews dive deeper into the details and pick apart how the bike handles, and how the parts held up, in a more comprehensive manner.