If you aren’t sure whether Yeti Cycles is the right brand for your next MTB or which Yeti MTB should you get, you are in the right place.
From reviews of their top mountain bikes to after-sales services and warranties, here’s everything you need to know about Yeti Cycles before buying.
Best Yeti Bikes Reviewed
Yeti ARC
Specs
- Fork: 130 mm
- Wheel Size: 29”
- Frame Size: S, M, L, XL
- Frame Material: Carbon
- MTB Type: Hardtail XC Bike
I have to start with some disappointments. Yeti doesn’t offer budget bikes currently, and neither does it sell hardtails with alloy frames.
Most of the budget bikes were discontinued, so unless you start an asset hunting mission, you’ll have to start with Yeti ARC, the most affordable Yeti bike.
But boy, is the bike affordable for everyone? I don’t think so, but if it’s within your financial means, it’s going to be a good buy.
The ARC is such an old model dating from 1991 when Yeti was much popular. The production of the model was stopped in 2016, only to be renewed four years later.
Now the bike looks and feels longer like most modern bikes, is slacker, lower, and pumped up to hit the trails.
When the ARC was released, it sold out before many fans could swipe their cards. It’s one of the few bikes that have ever sold out in hours.
The Yeti ARC comes with a 130 mm Fox Fit 4 fork and 29×2.6 wheels to offer you the most terrific traction and the cushion that the rider needs.
If you are looking for a lightweight hardtail MTB that will fulfill your needs and not limit you, the ARC is the right choice.
However, the bike hates running on rocks and technical terrain. If you want the bike to last, avoid such harsh conditions.
Yeti SB115
Specs
- Fork: 130 mm travel
- Shock: 115 mm travel
- Wheel Size: 29”
- Frame Size: S, M, L, XL
- Frame Material: Carbon
- MTB Type: Full Suspension XC and Trail Bike
Yeti SB115 took over from the SB100. In case you didn’t know, Yeti names their bikes according to the rear travel.
The SB115, for example, comes with a 115 mm rear travel. The SB100 has a 100 mm travel, which became obsolete as people started looking for more travel to hit the cross country terrains hard.
The frames are nearly identical, but there’s a slight linkage update and the rear shock to handle more than the predecessor.
The versatility in the SB115 is impressive. You don’t need two bikes, one for XC and the other for the trail, when you can hit two birds with one stone, the SB115.
This model is a true endurance mountain bike that can handle lengthy XC rides. As long as you are a pro rider, this bike will be easy to manage and maneuver with.
Some cyclists consider the Yeti SB1165 the most pedal-friendly bike Yeti has ever made. It could be because of the aggressive geometry that makes it a true king of the trails.
The bike features a light frame and a replacement to the ASR-c, which many riders complained of because of the poor steering.
This bike suits those looking for a more XC-capable bike that will swallow the whole trail and its technical challenges. It’s a bit forgiving on descents.
Yeti SB130
Specs
- Fork: 150 mm travel
- Shock: 130 mm travel
- Wheel Size: 29”
- Frame Size: S, M, L, XL
- Frame Material: Carbon
- MTB Type: Full Suspension Trail Bike
Every bike company has its own quiver killer, and this is Yeti’s version of it is. The Yeti SB130’s range of unique features includes shock extenders, something you’ve never seen in other bikes.
The feature allows the rider to tweak the leverage ratio of their bike to create more shock allowance and make it easy to replace a shock.
The Yeti SB130 is the do-it-all trail bike that will fill your heart with love and leave you with a lot of excitement. With the slack geometry and the large 29er wheels, this bike will crown you the king of the bike park.
Some sellers say this is the most loved Yeti, as it has a lot of customers. Most riders prefer the Yeti SB130 bike to any other Yeti because of its insane capabilities.
The SB130 is the bike you need to hit the trails. You can force it on an XC race, and when an enduro event is held in your state, don’t be shy to show up with the SB130.
It will make you proud. It also has uphill capabilities than any enduro bike, and that gives you the courage to show up.
The whole intention behind creating the SB130 by Yeti was to create one bike that would excel across various disciplines, and they must have called out the best bike engineers and testers in the US.
The results were a trail destroyer with courtesy to hold on its own regardless of where you are on the mountain.
It’s a bike of gravity and a bike against gravity, always ready to face an adventure-packed day. It’s impossible to find a bike that does it all, and the SB130 will never disappoint you.
Yeti SB140
Specs
- Fork: 160 mm travel
- Shock: 140 mm travel
- Wheel Size:27.5
- Frame Size: XS, S, M, L, XL
- Frame Material: Carbon
- MTB Type: Full Suspension Trail
If you are looking for more fun than riding, Yeti SB140 is the right bike for you. It’s equally a good climber as it is a great roller downhill.
This purebred 650b wheeler is ideal for trail performance, especially for those looking for an exceptional experience on the trail.
The bike is parked with 140 mm travel while the front gets 160 mm to swallow all those vibrations that your hands may suffer.
The SB140 is a playful bike that will go as fast as you’ll pedal it. It features premium SRAM or Shimano components to spice it up.
Riders who love having fun and can ride a 27.5” bike as fast as they would do justice to a 29er will have the wildest fun and push themselves to the limit.
What’s more, the bike can handle any trail, and if you dare, you can try it out and an enduro race or hitting the skate park.
Yeti’s SB140 is the bike that will put a smile on your face even after you have ridden the bike the whole day and are too tired to walk.
The bike is very jibby and agile and such a babe. This is the bike you should buy if you love speed, want a bike with so much capability on descents, and you like descending from the top of a hill every other weekend.
However, if you love riding on smooth and flat trails, then this bike will not give you the fun you need. It’s neither a good cross-country bike.
The bike’s slack geometry ensures you have complete control of the bike. If you love a Yeti and want a 27.5, the SB140 is the real deal.
Yeti SB150
Specs
- Fork: 170 mm travel
- Shock: 150 mm travel
- Wheel Size: 29”
- Frame Size: S, M, L, XL
- Frame Material: Carbon
- MTB Type: Full Suspension Enduro
For the enduro lovers, Yeti has your SB150 all for you. It’s a pure-bred enduro bike that’s not afraid to race down the hill for as fast as you’ll push it.
With 170mm of travel in the front and 150 mm in the rear, you definitely know what you are in for. If you don’t win that race, try harder next time because the SB150 will never let you down.
The suspension is enough to take you through the most unforgiving descent and deliver you to the finish line in one piece.
The bike also features some “shock extenders,” as Yeti calls it, to help create more shock clearance and tweak the leverage ratio.
The bike features a progressive geometry that is low, slack, & long. For some time now, the SB150 has proven itself to be a winning enduro shred sled. It’s also the second most popular Yeti bike, for reasons we all know.
Having a 29er that is incredibly capable and smooth as an endure bike is quite something, and Yeti is just that and curious of when you’ll ride it to victory. Scoop all those KOMs or QOMs, or have your day on the podium, thanks to the SB150.
This is your type of bike if you want a bike that is forgiving on descents and capable of racing. It’s definitely a choice to consider if you ride or race enduro and looking for a perfect companion to break the wind with.
The bike’s 29” wheels give you an advantage over obstacles so that you can roll faster and confidently. The wheels also provide the traction you need to maintain traction on the trails.
Yeti SB165
Specs
- Fork: 180 mm travel
- Shock: 165 mm travel
- Wheel Size: 27.5”
- Frame Size: XS, S, M, L, XL
- Frame Material: Carbon
- MTB Type: Full Suspension Enduro/Trail/Downhill
Yeti SB165 is the largest trail conquerer among all the Yeti bikes. You can tell by its massive travel.
This is the bike that will go just anywhere, run over rocks, crush on earth, run over stumps, pools of water, and anything nature puts in your way, and you’ll feel nothing.
Yeti currently don’t have a proper DH bike in the market right now, and I wonder, could this be the one?
I thought so because the bike has those Yeti’s downhill standards, but the bike lacks the features of a downhill bike, such as the 7-speed cassette and the dual crown forks.
The SB165 is currently the longest-travel bike by Yeti, and it can also run on coil or air shock. This bike is ideal for tearing up the trails, enduro, downhill tracks, jumping, and a resident of the bike parks.
The DH tracks will have nothing on while you sit behind the SB165 cockpit. Test your limits on enduro by taking a DH-capable bike.
The bike is a true statement that you can hit just any trail and shift from one to another without needing a different bike.
A bike with such a long travel would need to have slack and long geometry to hit the steeps, and SB165 comes with such an attractive and manageable geometry.
The geometry feature makes it perfect for the terrain, and it also features a chain guide to prevent the chain from dropping and affecting your performance.
The wheels provide a lot of traction as well, and you can take corners and rip off the bumps like a pro. However, you will do this bike no justice if you take it to smooth and flat trails.
Discontinued Yeti Bikes
Yeti is a bike company that is struggling to stay afloat. They are currently selling the models in high demand. Bikes that were not getting much customer attention were discontinued. Here are the models.
- Yeti SB5.5 Carbon XT/SLX
- Yeti SB5 Carbon XT/SLX
- Yeti 575
- Yeti SB75 Race
- Yeti SB6 Carbon X01
- Yeti 303 R DH Bike
- Yeti Big Top 29er
And many others. Currently, the only bikes Yeti has in stock are the bikes reviewed above.
Yeti Warranty
Yeti offers a frame lifetime warranty to bikes bought as of 2019. It also includes the Switch Infinity link in the warranty cover due to the manufacturer defects from the original owner of the company. Paint and finish and also issues with the decals are covered for a year. Any frame deemed defective will be replaced by Yeti.
To qualify for the warranty, you must register your bike online at https://yeticycles.com/register and also head down to your Yeti dealer for processing. You must carry receipts or any proof of purchase to register your bike.
The damage does not cover damage as a result of wear and tear or intentional cause. All frames from 2018 and older get a 5-year warranty from the day of purchase.
However, Yeti are considerate, though, especially if you bought a bike from them. If you happen to lack the warrant, they will provide a reasonable replacement price.
Every Yeti apparel, including jerseys and bike decorations, and bottles, comes with a 2-year warranty from defects or poor workmanship.
The warranty only applies to the original owner, and they will be required to show their proof of purchase to verify when the product was bought.
The apparel warranty excludes damage to the apparel due to accidents, improper care, misuse, modifications, or normal wear. Altering the apparel in any way with deem the warranty void.
After-Sale Service
Yeti’s customer care is not as responsive as it should be. They do take a while before responding to your queries about the issues you experienced with your bike.
However, when they do, they’ll try to be as helpful as possible. Whether you need your crashed helmet replaced or have a damaged frame, Yeti will do anything in their power to ensure you are sorted.
Contact them via social media and their email for a quicker response. Also, always visit your nearest Yeti dealer for services and report any serious concerns you may have about your bike.
History of Yeti Cycles
Yeti Cycles was founded by John Parker in the i995 after he sold his old motorcycle. The Colorado company had a massive following, and all the bikes were distinctively turquoise in color, and it was some of the attractive features of Yeti bikes.
Yeti Cycles focused mainly on mountain bikes, and so it birthed the modern designs of mountain bikes we know today.
After Schwinn took over yeti cycles in 1995, Parker’s influence was not relevant anymore. In 1999, the ski company, Volant, acquired Yeti.
The late ‘90s was the most turbulent period for the company as it neared collapse and was being wiped off from history. In 2001, a group of fans, led by Chris Conroy and Steve Hoogendoorn, purchased the company and revived it.
Yeti has evolved with the technologies and the new inventions in the cycling sector and has produced a full line of MTBS.
However, some of the not so well performing models have been discontinued. I have mentioned the discontinued models towards the end of the list above.
Final Remarks
Yeti makes great bikes even with the competition. However, Yeti has loyal fans who ride no other mountain bikes but Yeti.
They are known as Yeti Nation. To join them, get yourself a Yeti bike. For any queries, send us a message.
