Thank you! Superb to see a real review from a real owner. Would love to hear your long term follow up. I’m trying to decide between the 160 and the 140. I don’t mind losing a bit of efficiency between the two, or the weight… but how would you feel yours performs on days when you want to use it as a long distance trail bike??
I second this. Need the review. I’m 6 feet and had the SB 150 large and I’m getting a medium. curious to hear your review before I get mine. i’ve had a couple other large bikes that are older geometry shows 470 to 465. Should be a good reach for me. A few other reviews and one pro show that medium is a good size for them at around 6 feet tall I prefer a more agile feeling bike and don’t want a longer wheelbase
Thanks for the video. I went for the new Yeti sb140 29er and built it with full XTR enve wheels bars and stem. I did stayed with 150 on front (Fox shock and fork). I will agree the bike being light, quite, stable, and size right on. I am 5’-7” and went for a medium. I also own a Santa Cruz Hightower same built. I will say that Santa Cruz is way more soft which I like. I say the yeti’s back suspension is more harsh than the Santa Cruz. My opinion from been retire competitive (15+ years on road cycling) on the road, stiff bike was my moto. Stiff bikes are more suited for racing as you get more power out the bikes. With this, the yeti feels more racy with more feedback from the trail (stiffer than SC? Maybe the rear characteristics of YETI has less travel at the beginning which in turns feels more harsh = more sensitive to the road which in turns is the same as more planted). The Santa Cruz has a softer (less stiff or the rear suspension quality is prone to less harsh), it does not mean is less efficient than the Yeti. It just means it absorbs the bumps better. The bottom line, my Santa Cruz Hightower CC and the Yeti sb140 29er top carbon are awesome bikes. I also think, mpo, Fox and Rockshox fork and rear shock provide a different ride characteristics. Cheers.
Yeah I can’t speak for the Hightower vs 140 but overall what you’re saying makes sense. The Megatower v2 felt better on bigger hits but I prefer the sb160 in rock gardens, I think the Yeti carries speed better.
Man you’re dead right on the sizing. I’m 5’11” and went from a medium Spec enduro to a large forbidden dresdnught and it felt way too big, even though that’s the recommended size. I do love the longer chain stays and the 485 reach forcing more weight forward has its pros but medium feels so much more balanced all around for our height. I’m on the Ext as well… you’ll love it 😉
Yeah you know what I’m taking about! As soon as I hopped on the bike it felt good. Less reach is easier to maneuver and the shorter wheelbase feels nice in tight spots. I got one ride on the EXT so far, still trying to get it dialed, I think it’ll take some time. Need to play around with the compression and rebound a bit more. Yeti really did a good job with the stock tune, it’s hard to match but I think I’ll get there after more tweaking
General rule… bike frame are too big. Here is a quick relation between bike frame reach (mm) dimension and rider’s height Min Reach = height in cm X 2.45 Mid Reach= height in cm X 2.50 Max Reach = height in cm X 2.55 Look for R.A.D calculation (Rider Area Distance) for more stem adjustment. Im 175 cm (5’8”), and the small dreadnought fits me perfectly… but according to the sizing chart I should be medium (way too big).
@@bikedude019 hmm… I’m 179cm tall and with 100% confidence can tell you that I would not get along with a 447mm reach bike. 470-480mm seems to be the sweet spot for me.
@@jawzzy3 Glad you find your sweet spot! Its general rule… some riders with longer torso will be feeling better on a longer reach. Its best to try both sizes if you are in-between. Cockpit sizing also impact riding. Stem length, saddle positioning/angle, handle bar rise and sweep are to be considered as well.
@@bikedude019 I’ve resolved to using 50mm stems… steering and traction feels the best for me. I’ve always been in between M/L but now that bikes’ cockpits are getting more room, M almost always feels like the size. Last time I ever order a frame without testing 😉
Interesting build. You must have taken off all the SRAM drivetrain stuff and went with Shimano. Also I see you have the one up pump with the pump and one in the steerer as well. Is it cause the f38 only has the lite tool in the steerer tube?
Floyd hill is a great place to test the way this bike climbs. Floyd is a tough climb up and yeah the dh will test the bike. But that climb is a good place to guage its traction. Have to earn your turn at Floyd for sure. Great looking color, congratulations.
Man I been so torn between these two but I went ahead and ordered the yeti last week and went size large which is a size down for me and now I been wondering if I fucked up while waiting for it in the mail lol this video put me at ease tho
Nice review. I just tested this bike in a bike event. It^s a killer bike. What pump do you use and how is it attached to the bottle cage? Thanks. Have fun with this beauty!!
Sorry for not responding sooner. Hopefully you landed on a good bike. So far I’ve been happy with sizing down but did have one buddy who preferred to size up. I’ve talked to the yeti guys and they said most of their shop tends to size down if they are between sizes!
Traction while climbing... infinity link is the "how" as the difference between the other brands you are comparing this to I believe. I am coming off an SB 5.5 and agree that it is crazy good at keeping traction while climbing. I'm moving to a PIvot Firebird (couldn't afford to go 160 :/ ) and am hopeful that is similar with their DW and sus tune.
Thanks for the review! I have a T1 SB160 at my local bike shop right now getting a few modifications. It's a size large, I am 6'0" like you so hope I don't regret the size choice... if you have any thoughts on large vs medium I'm all ears. Unfortunately I won't be able to ride mine until around April due to living in Canada, we're in in fat bike season right now.
The 465 reach feels great so far with a 45mm stem. Ape index matters though - I'm pretty average (181cm arm span/182 height), longer arms will prefer more reach. Biggest thing is the wheelbase though. 1266WB on the Mega felt great at the bike park but was more effort on local trails. If you're spending a lot of time at the park or prefer stability at speed then go for the large. For fastest timed runs on natural trails I think the medium is better for my area, but this is also geography dependent.
@@andremtb480 I'm coming from a large Rocky Mountain Instinct. Physical reach wise the SB160 should be shorter given the effective top tube is 624 vs 638 on my Instinct (steeper seat tube and slacker head tube on the SB160 brings seat and handlebars closer together). As you said though the wheelbase is quite a bit longer, 1270 vs 1241. I guess we'll see, I'm committed to the large at this point.
@@andremtb480 thx. i will get my sb160 in a month. coming from ext, but i like to try the fox stuff, to get an idea what feeling on this bike yeti like to have.
Hi! Great review, Sb Vs Mega what bike will be more fun, poppy, like jumping here and there, and more you will think its more neutral or "easy" to jump with? Thanks a lot
Hey Gabriel, that's a hard question as they are both fun but if you're looking for a poppy bike for big jumps I'd lean towards the Megatower. If you want a race bike then the SB160.
There's a video up of mega v sb160, mega more plush, comfy etc but sb160 is a race bike. Timed run sb160 3 secs faster than mega on a ok ess than 2 minute trail!!
@@scottmtb122 yeah I saw that one. I think there's more to it than that though. Once you get the bikes dialed i've been able to shave more than 20 seconds off my previous PR on a 5 min DH section on the SB160
@@andremtb480 of course getting bike set up and how and what you ride etc! You could Ritchie rude on spec enduro and he'd still win or be top 3! I just thought with that video in particular you could see from the start that the yeti was just pulling away...by looking at trees for reference lol. If your getting 20secs faster on a 5 minute trail that's alot, you got to factor in fatigue too. I just like the sound of the sb160 being a bit harder to handle but rewards with speed and climbing ability too!
Random Q - What water bottle cage did you go with? Does it do a good job of holding the bottle in during rowdy descents? I need a good sideloader recommendation.
A little more efficient than the Mega but they are both pretty burley enduro bikes. Depends on what you ride most but the Ripmo is lighter and more well rounded as a “daily driver”, unless you spend a lot of time in the park or doing pretty gnarly stuff.
How do they climb in comparison to SB6? I own SB6 for seven years with 13600 mils on it, looking to move a head, BUT, it is a BIG but, where I live, I have to climb up in order to descent, climbing performance is very important, so... honest opinion, how do they climb in comparison to SB6? THANK YOU and Marry Christmas !!!
Merry Christmas! This is a tough one. Because the bikes are so different I would suggest demoing beforehand. If that’s not an option then try to find a modern 29 enduro with similar geo. Going from 27.5 to 29” wheels is a big change. These bikes have completely different geo too. The Sb160 frame is about a pound and a half heavier, so you may notice that on the climbs. Descending is where the 160 will significantly outperform the SB6.
do you have any experience with sb150? wondering if its worth the upgrade or if somebody wants to take advantage of the discounted sb150 are they going to miss out big time with the new sb160.
Unfortunately I have not ridden the SB150, only the SB130. Biggest difference IMO is the chainstay length and overall wheelbase. Depends on riding style and intended use when trying to decide which is best for you.
Hi, I am getting myself a yeti sb160 and i am 180cm tall. I have tested the sb150 size M, and it did not felt bad at all, with 35mm steml. But with new specs im not sure, if the L is the right size or shozld i go with M. I am attending the EWS (EDR 🤮) races next year.
If the 150 felt good in medium then I think the new bike will fit even better in a medium. Remember the wheelbase grows significantly from the 150 to the 160, so if you went with a large in the 160 it's going to feel like a completely different bike to a medium 150. Especially if you're racing EWS (EDR!).
@@andremtb480 thanks for help, I still have time do decide the size. I think Richie Rude has been riding size M for the past years if I am not mistaken?
@@garrettmicciche7813 👍 I’ve only used the matte wrap on flat black bikes and you barely see it (the wrap). I worry gloss is going to look like shiny stickers on the frame and take away from the overall aesthetics of the bike. And ordering RideWrap ain’t cheap… especially since I have bike payments now. 😂
@@HW-MTB since the frame is glossy and has a shiny finish to it, the gloss wrap blends right in with it. I think putting a matte wrap on the sb160 frame would actually stand out more especially in the gaps that aren’t covered by the ride wrap.
Thank you! Superb to see a real review from a real owner. Would love to hear your long term follow up. I’m trying to decide between the 160 and the 140. I don’t mind losing a bit of efficiency between the two, or the weight… but how would you feel yours performs on days when you want to use it as a long distance trail bike??
I second this. Need the review. I’m 6 feet and had the SB 150 large and I’m getting a medium. curious to hear your review before I get mine. i’ve had a couple other large bikes that are older geometry shows 470 to 465. Should be a good reach for me. A few other reviews and one pro show that medium is a good size for them at around 6 feet tall I prefer a more agile feeling bike and don’t want a longer wheelbase
The new color is super nice. That’s awesome they kept the snappiness and pedal efficiency of the SB150.
thanks man, really digging the cobalt. Yeah it pedals great, very versatile for the amount of travel
Thanks for the video. I went for the new Yeti sb140 29er and built it with full XTR enve wheels bars and stem. I did stayed with 150 on front (Fox shock and fork). I will agree the bike being light, quite, stable, and size right on. I am 5’-7” and went for a medium. I also own a Santa Cruz Hightower same built. I will say that Santa Cruz is way more soft which I like. I say the yeti’s back suspension is more harsh than the Santa Cruz. My opinion from been retire competitive (15+ years on road cycling) on the road, stiff bike was my moto. Stiff bikes are more suited for racing as you get more power out the bikes. With this, the yeti feels more racy with more feedback from the trail (stiffer than SC? Maybe the rear characteristics of YETI has less travel at the beginning which in turns feels more harsh = more sensitive to the road which in turns is the same as more planted). The Santa Cruz has a softer (less stiff or the rear suspension quality is prone to less harsh), it does not mean is less efficient than the Yeti. It just means it absorbs the bumps better. The bottom line, my Santa Cruz Hightower CC and the Yeti sb140 29er top carbon are awesome bikes. I also think, mpo, Fox and Rockshox fork and rear shock provide a different ride characteristics. Cheers.
Yeah I can’t speak for the Hightower vs 140 but overall what you’re saying makes sense. The Megatower v2 felt better on bigger hits but I prefer the sb160 in rock gardens, I think the Yeti carries speed better.
Man you’re dead right on the sizing. I’m 5’11” and went from a medium Spec enduro to a large forbidden dresdnught and it felt way too big, even though that’s the recommended size. I do love the longer chain stays and the 485 reach forcing more weight forward has its pros but medium feels so much more balanced all around for our height. I’m on the Ext as well… you’ll love it 😉
Yeah you know what I’m taking about! As soon as I hopped on the bike it felt good. Less reach is easier to maneuver and the shorter wheelbase feels nice in tight spots. I got one ride on the EXT so far, still trying to get it dialed, I think it’ll take some time. Need to play around with the compression and rebound a bit more. Yeti really did a good job with the stock tune, it’s hard to match but I think I’ll get there after more tweaking
General rule… bike frame are too big. Here is a quick relation between bike frame reach (mm) dimension and rider’s height
Min Reach = height in cm X 2.45
Mid Reach= height in cm X 2.50
Max Reach = height in cm X 2.55
Look for R.A.D calculation (Rider Area Distance) for more stem adjustment. Im 175 cm (5’8”), and the small dreadnought fits me perfectly… but according to the sizing chart I should be medium (way too big).
@@bikedude019 hmm… I’m 179cm tall and with 100% confidence can tell you that I would not get along with a 447mm reach bike. 470-480mm seems to be the sweet spot for me.
@@jawzzy3 Glad you find your sweet spot! Its general rule… some riders with longer torso will be feeling better on a longer reach. Its best to try both sizes if you are in-between. Cockpit sizing also impact riding. Stem length, saddle positioning/angle, handle bar rise and sweep are to be considered as well.
@@bikedude019 I’ve resolved to using 50mm stems… steering and traction feels the best for me. I’ve always been in between M/L but now that bikes’ cockpits are getting more room, M almost always feels like the size. Last time I ever order a frame without testing 😉
sweet bike man looks like a piece of art work
Interesting build. You must have taken off all the SRAM drivetrain stuff and went with Shimano. Also I see you have the one up pump with the pump and one in the steerer as well. Is it cause the f38 only has the lite tool in the steerer tube?
Floyd hill is a great place to test the way this bike climbs. Floyd is a tough climb up and yeah the dh will test the bike. But that climb is a good place to guage its traction. Have to earn your turn at Floyd for sure. Great looking color, congratulations.
You lengthened the stem. Or you could go with the lg and shorten the stem or get riser bars. To each their own. 6 in one half dozen in the other
Man I been so torn between these two but I went ahead and ordered the yeti last week and went size large which is a size down for me and now I been wondering if I fucked up while waiting for it in the mail lol this video put me at ease tho
Hey,
Curious to hear about your experience with EXT Storia V3 on SB160.
Im moving from SB150 to SB160.
cool bike bro !!! enjoy it out there
I'm concerned that your bike's bed is too small. Sb160 need at least a full size mattress.
Happy bike happy life!
Nice review. I just tested this bike in a bike event. It^s a killer bike. What pump do you use and how is it attached to the bottle cage? Thanks. Have fun with this beauty!!
Looks like oneup 70cc
Maybe I should go for the small 160 then, I’m between small and medium, I’ve just rode a medium and it felt HUGE
Sorry for not responding sooner. Hopefully you landed on a good bike. So far I’ve been happy with sizing down but did have one buddy who preferred to size up. I’ve talked to the yeti guys and they said most of their shop tends to size down if they are between sizes!
Traction while climbing... infinity link is the "how" as the difference between the other brands you are comparing this to I believe. I am coming off an SB 5.5 and agree that it is crazy good at keeping traction while climbing. I'm moving to a PIvot Firebird (couldn't afford to go 160 :/ ) and am hopeful that is similar with their DW and sus tune.
Curious to hear how the Firebird goes! If it’s the infinity link that helps the traction then it’s worth every amount of extra maintenance
Beautiful looking bike man
Thanks for the review! I have a T1 SB160 at my local bike shop right now getting a few modifications. It's a size large, I am 6'0" like you so hope I don't regret the size choice... if you have any thoughts on large vs medium I'm all ears. Unfortunately I won't be able to ride mine until around April due to living in Canada, we're in in fat bike season right now.
The 465 reach feels great so far with a 45mm stem. Ape index matters though - I'm pretty average (181cm arm span/182 height), longer arms will prefer more reach. Biggest thing is the wheelbase though. 1266WB on the Mega felt great at the bike park but was more effort on local trails. If you're spending a lot of time at the park or prefer stability at speed then go for the large. For fastest timed runs on natural trails I think the medium is better for my area, but this is also geography dependent.
@@andremtb480 I'm coming from a large Rocky Mountain Instinct. Physical reach wise the SB160 should be shorter given the effective top tube is 624 vs 638 on my Instinct (steeper seat tube and slacker head tube on the SB160 brings seat and handlebars closer together). As you said though the wheelbase is quite a bit longer, 1270 vs 1241. I guess we'll see, I'm committed to the large at this point.
Hello: I have a Megatower v2 and I was thinking of changing it for an sb160.
Could you tell me or compare one and the other?
Thank you and greetings.
Nice one mate - thanks for that bud - looks so damn nice!! and great to hear it compared to the MT
great news on the quietness too being so OCD about noise myself its good to hear you say those things about it being quiet especially over the MT
@@didzy9349 yeah the SB160 is very quiet, it’s nice. They really did a good job ironing out the details
I think I saw you on mount falcon the other day haha
i'am very interested in comparing the fox air vs. the ext coil 🙂
Unfortunately we just got more snow out here in Colorado. But as soon as I can get proper ride time I'll share some thoughts!
@@andremtb480 thx. i will get my sb160 in a month. coming from ext, but i like to try the fox stuff, to get an idea what feeling on this bike yeti like to have.
Did you replace the stem? I’m thinking of going with a shorter one on mine, 50mm seems long for this kind of bike
Hi! Great review, Sb Vs Mega what bike will be more fun, poppy, like jumping here and there, and more you will think its more neutral or "easy" to jump with?
Thanks a lot
Hey Gabriel, that's a hard question as they are both fun but if you're looking for a poppy bike for big jumps I'd lean towards the Megatower. If you want a race bike then the SB160.
There's a video up of mega v sb160, mega more plush, comfy etc but sb160 is a race bike. Timed run sb160 3 secs faster than mega on a ok ess than 2 minute trail!!
@@scottmtb122 yeah I saw that one. I think there's more to it than that though. Once you get the bikes dialed i've been able to shave more than 20 seconds off my previous PR on a 5 min DH section on the SB160
@@andremtb480 of course getting bike set up and how and what you ride etc! You could Ritchie rude on spec enduro and he'd still win or be top 3!
I just thought with that video in particular you could see from the start that the yeti was just pulling away...by looking at trees for reference lol.
If your getting 20secs faster on a 5 minute trail that's alot, you got to factor in fatigue too. I just like the sound of the sb160 being a bit harder to handle but rewards with speed and climbing ability too!
Random Q - What water bottle cage did you go with? Does it do a good job of holding the bottle in during rowdy descents? I need a good sideloader recommendation.
Yeah I use the specialized Zee cage. I’ve had really good luck with them on multiple bikes and relatively inexpensive & light
@@andremtb480 Thanks! I've looked at it since it is on sale right now but wasn't sure how it held bottles on rough trails.
Thank you.
How do you think this bike would be as a daily driver? Better than the megatower v2? Currently on a ripmo v2
A little more efficient than the Mega but they are both pretty burley enduro bikes. Depends on what you ride most but the Ripmo is lighter and more well rounded as a “daily driver”, unless you spend a lot of time in the park or doing pretty gnarly stuff.
How do they climb in comparison to SB6? I own SB6 for seven years with 13600 mils on it, looking to move a head, BUT, it is a BIG but, where I live, I have to climb up in order to descent, climbing performance is very important, so... honest opinion, how do they climb in comparison to SB6? THANK YOU and Marry Christmas !!!
Merry Christmas! This is a tough one. Because the bikes are so different I would suggest demoing beforehand. If that’s not an option then try to find a modern 29 enduro with similar geo. Going from 27.5 to 29” wheels is a big change. These bikes have completely different geo too. The Sb160 frame is about a pound and a half heavier, so you may notice that on the climbs. Descending is where the 160 will significantly outperform the SB6.
Nice review !
do you have any experience with sb150? wondering if its worth the upgrade or if somebody wants to take advantage of the discounted sb150 are they going to miss out big time with the new sb160.
Unfortunately I have not ridden the SB150, only the SB130. Biggest difference IMO is the chainstay length and overall wheelbase. Depends on riding style and intended use when trying to decide which is best for you.
Hi, I am getting myself a yeti sb160 and i am 180cm tall. I have tested the sb150 size M, and it did not felt bad at all, with 35mm steml. But with new specs im not sure, if the L is the right size or shozld i go with M. I am attending the EWS (EDR 🤮) races next year.
If the 150 felt good in medium then I think the new bike will fit even better in a medium. Remember the wheelbase grows significantly from the 150 to the 160, so if you went with a large in the 160 it's going to feel like a completely different bike to a medium 150. Especially if you're racing EWS (EDR!).
@@andremtb480 thanks for help, I still have time do decide the size. I think Richie Rude has been riding size M for the past years if I am not mistaken?
@@davidivartnik3984 He has been, consistently!
Would you just look at it?!
Hi what rims are you riding on ?
Those are Nobl TR37s!
what frame protection kit did you get for your sb160?
Ridewrap!
Hi Andre! Great review! New Yeti rider here and I chose the SB160. Ride Wrap is great stuff. Did you get the Gloss or Matte wrap?
@@HW-MTB hey i just got an sb160 as well and i chose the gloss ride wrap. Really helps amplify the paint color, especially in the sun.
@@garrettmicciche7813 👍 I’ve only used the matte wrap on flat black bikes and you barely see it (the wrap). I worry gloss is going to look like shiny stickers on the frame and take away from the overall aesthetics of the bike. And ordering RideWrap ain’t cheap… especially since I have bike payments now. 😂
@@HW-MTB since the frame is glossy and has a shiny finish to it, the gloss wrap blends right in with it. I think putting a matte wrap on the sb160 frame would actually stand out more especially in the gaps that aren’t covered by the ride wrap.
Great review!!
No frame storage
Camelbak/Backpack; Tools in stem; Bag under saddle; Tools in water bottle [see: Camelbak]