Yeti Cycles launched the SB160 right now, and our rides proved it’s a refined big-travel bike that descends like a demon and pedals with ease.
Except for e-bikes, most 2022-2023 bike manufacturers aren’t showcasing important, splashy improvements. Yeti Cycles conforms to this development with the brand new SB160, fine-tuning its race-winning tech. The model took an awesome bike and improved it in beforehand unimaginable methods. The cumulative modifications make the SB160 not just a bit higher than the superior SB150 however a motorcycle that’s price investing in.
“When we launched the SB130 and SB150 over 4 years ago, we pushed the envelope on geometry, kinematics, and ride quality,” mentioned Chris Conroy, president and co-owner of Yeti Cycles.
“Those bikes stood the test of time, but we knew we could make them better and make them faster. Our goal was to improve an already great platform by updating the kinematics, chasing down every detail to make the bikes faster, smoother, quieter, and easier to service. Each small detail was considered. Taken in aggregate, they make a massive difference in ride quality and make the SB160 the best bike we’ve ever made.”
The pandemic and the following scarcity of motorbike elements, bikes, and something associated to biking had been a large inconvenience for riders who wanted to maintain trusty steeds operating. It was additionally powerful for cyclists hoping to improve. Being in a position to purchase the brand new mountain bike you wished was as uncommon as sighting a yeti — the bushy one product of flesh and blood — wandering within the woods.
There had been advantages of the pandemic for bike corporations, nevertheless. New bike releases had been largely placed on maintain, with stock at an all-time low. Manufacturers couldn’t supply elements to finish bike builds.
So manufacturers had the chance to take a breath, pause the frantic tempo of releases, and take the time to excellent new bikes. And the SB160 is a results of this slower improvement tempo.
The Ride
I had the chance to journey the SB160 Turq T3 construct in Breckenridge, Colo., with the Yeti crew. I additionally hammered it in France and Italy as a participant within the 6-day Stone King Rally journey.
Some days on the Stone King Rally, I climbed an intimidating 6,500 ft. I didn’t need to do that on another 160mm/170mm-travel bike. And day by day, I descended 10,000 to 14,000 ft.
Yeti’s SB160 was an excellent instrument for the job. The bike was beautifully balanced, dealt with completely, and did the whole lot effectively. I by no means wished for a smaller or lighter bike. On my house trails in Vermont, I had simply as a lot enjoyable, hucking soar strains and ripping old-school trails.
There are quite a lot of bikes that descend effectively, however the SB160 climbed and descended higher than another bike. Pedaling uphill on the SB150 was by no means unhealthy, however the SB160 climbed higher in some way. The Fox Factory Float X2 shock and 38 GRIP 2/170mm fork had been a dynamic and supportive duo. They transitioned from stiff on the uphills and plush on the downhills with out twiddling with lockouts. The SB160 felt gentle going uphill. Massive climbs I thought of effectively above my pay grade appeared to soften away.
And there’s little weight penalty for the elevated suspension. My dimension medium SB150 body weighs half a pound lower than the SB160 body. The medium Turq 3 SB160 with AXS check bike weighs a verified 33.3 kilos.
Also of observe, Yeti Cycles now ovalizes the SB160‘s tubes, which stiffened up the ride. It wasn’t jarring; the bike simply felt extra responsive and simpler to regulate.
Yeti put the journey first when it got here to tire choice. The model may have saved ounces with lighter tires, but it surely outfitted this bike with tires meant for the terrain acceptable for a long-travel rig. Maxxis Assegai 2.5 Exo+ up entrance and Maxxis Minion II 2.4 Exo+ within the again gripped slimy roots, algae-covered rocks, and dry, sandy, rocky terrain.
Despite onerous driving by the Maritime Alps’ dagger-like rock gardens that punctured different riders’ rubber, I by no means flatted.
On descents, whether or not they had been 1,000 ft on my house trails or 14,000 ft into tiny Italian mountain villages, I felt like I had extra management and extra “Yeti magic” than ever earlier than.
During the Stone King Rally, which was distant and extremely technical, I rolled by heart-stopping downhills with such safe dealing with that I pushed my psychological limits and rode strains I hadn’t thought able to previously. On plunging, rocky-tech sidehills, I felt calm and assured.
The brakes had been an element too. Yeti specs an enormous 220mm entrance rotor, 200mm rear rotor, and four-piston SRAM Code RSC brakes on the SB160. These gave me whole management on essentially the most harrowing descents and functioned with out problem on 10,000-14,000 foot descents for six consecutive days.
Parts and Pieces
Looking on the SB160 body, essentially the most notable change is its higher-clearance downtube, which comes with an prolonged dual-density downtube protector. Where the SB150 downtube has a squared-off form, the SB160 downtube has a rounder profile.
A tough-capped rubber under-guard cushions and deflects impacts. The dual-layer guard is replaceable when you smash it. And the onerous cap comes off to make dropper put up cable routing simpler.
The seat tube can also be shorter, so I ran an extended dropper put up, which gave me extra management in slippery, technical terrain. I journey a dimension M, and I often run a 150mm max size dropper. On the SB160 in M, I ran a 175mm dropper. That gave me notable further house to maneuver my bike beneath me.
Yeti says that the majority riders on small frames will be capable of use 150mm dropper posts, medium-frame riders ought to be capable of run a 175mm dropper, and L- to XXL-frame riders ought to be capable of run 200mm-plus dropper posts relying on their seat peak.
The bike was remarkably silent on the path, partly as a result of totally enclosed inside cable administration. Additionally, my check bike had an digital AXS rear derailleur. There was no rattle once I was hammering down stair-stepped rocks within the French Alps. And there have been no creaks because of a threaded backside bracket, which Yeti says can also be cleaner, extra sturdy, and simpler to service.
Yeti’s first-gen Switch Infinity had points that the model subsequently fastened. The SB160 makes use of a brand new, beefed-up Switch Infinity meeting on the T-Series SB160s. It’s additionally simpler to service with improved seals, bearings, and {hardware}. With greater than 30 days on this bike to this point, I’ve had no points.
Another improve from the SB150 is redesigned pivots. The SB160 has standard-sized cartridge bearings secured with precision-machined floating collet axles. The bearings are pressed into the linkage meeting, not the swingarm or entrance triangle. Yeti says it will enhance longevity and supply excellent alignment for a easy journey.
Yeti Cycles makes use of a patented, two-piece wishbone shock extender for optimum clamping, shock compatibility, and straightforward shock elimination. The shock extender optimizes the SB160’s leverage charge (17%) and pushes the shock ahead within the body.
That has quite a lot of advantages. You can run a coil shock if you need. It additionally reduces the standover peak. So the SB160, which Yeti Cycles gives in S-XXL, will match extra folks. It additionally leaves more room for a water bottle and offers the bike extra downtube clearance.
Yeti Cycles SB160: Downhill Capable
Yeti’s DNA is racing, and it constructed the SB160 to deal with no matter Ritchie Rude and Yeti’s different athletes can put it by. It’s downhill examined, which implies that, along with a coil shock, you may run a double crown fork to smash the raise serve.
And it comes with a Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH). If your derailleur hanger will get whacked, it offers you one of the best likelihood of getting your arms on a brand new one ASAP.
The worth is the one factor that’s actually powerful to swallow. Post-pandemic, costs are hovering in all classes, together with bikes. The C-Series carbon, Yeti’s extra primary carbon-frame construct, begins at $6,100. C-Series bikes would not have the brand new Switch Infinity.
Turq builds utilizing Yeti’s premium carbon start at $9,100. I rode the Turq T3 construct with AXS, which prices $10,500.
If you like the Yeti Cycles SB150, this bike will blow your thoughts. If you dream of a motorcycle that may descend something you level your wheel at, that climbs simply as effectively, you simply discovered it. Bicycles can be found at some sellers, although most stock will arrive in retailers within the spring. The SB150 shall be discontinued.
The SB160 is obtainable in S-XXL in Turquoise, Cobalt, and Radium.
