YETI SB4.5C A bike with a cult following There is only one type of Yeti rider the fanatic. Generally speaking, Yeti has attracted a very dedicated following of riders who won t ride anything other than those Colorado chariots and for good reason. Yeti has been at the forefront of creating some of the best-riding bikes and has not slowed down when it comes to innovation. Yeti s Super Bike (SB) was originally designed as an all-around trailbike for aggressive riders and quickly became one of the most talked-about full-suspension bikes on the market. The latest generation of SB bikes has seen some major changes, including the new Switch Infinity system, which was first introduced on the SB5c model. The new SB4.5c looks to take the ride benefits of that system and apply them to a shorter-travel, lighter and more trail-friendly package. WHO IS IT MADE FOR? Yeti offers a range of SB bikes for everyone from the moderate trail rider to the aggressive enduro and all-mountain shredder. On paper the SB4.5c ticks the boxes for the moderate trail rider, with 114 millimeters of rear travel and 29-inch wheels. But, this bike is capable of conquering more terrain than you might think. The 4.5c comes stock with a 140-millimeter-travel Fox 34 fork but can also be run with a 130-millimeter fork without affecting geometry too much. These bikes aren t known for their affordability, which means they are more likely to appeal to seasoned riders who are willing to commit to this proven platform. Our test bike is priced at $6900, but riders can get into the base model for $5600. WHAT IS IT MADE FROM? The SB4.5c is a carbon thoroughbred with a full-carbon frame and rear triangle. The tubing is sturdy and the lines sweeping, giving the SB an elegant look that almost made us want to mount it on the mantel above the fireplace instead of riding it. The first-generation SB used an eccentric pivot, but the current SB uses the patented Switch Infinity system, designed in collaboration with Fox to produce what Yeti calls a translating pivot that essentially changes direction as the bike moves through its travel. This gives the bike anti-squat characteristics, offering riders a more efficient and supported pedaling platform. The Switch Infinity does require lubrication using built-in grease ports every 40 hours of riding. The frame has fully internal cable routing, an integrated rear-axle system, a tapered inset headset and Boost spacing. 96 www.mbaction.com
Ride the tight lines: Twentynine-inch wheels are great for blasting through rocky sections, but sometimes it doesn t hurt to pick your way through a tight line. The geometry of the Yeti allows for riders to ride how they want. OCTOBER 2016 / MOUNTAIN BIKE ACTION 97
It s green, really green: The Yeti SB 4.5c is a tough bike to miss. Between the elegant frame design and loud green color, it is eye-catching in almost every sense. Once on the trail the bike doesn t hold back or hide behind its looks. WHICH COMPONENTS STAND OUT? Our test bike came with a SRAM X01 build kit and Guide RSC brakes that provided consistent performance during our testing. The Fox 34 fork and shock complemented the suspension design and gave us comfort and traction on a variety of trails and terrain. One of the biggest standouts was the Race Face Turbine dropper post. This was the first time we d ridden one of these posts, and we were impressed with the feel and performance during our testing. HOW DOES IT PERFORM? There s a certain level of excitement that comes with the first ride on any bike, and we were eager to get a feel for this suspension design. We ran the sag a little firmer at 20 percent for our local cross-country trails, but recommend going a little plusher on harsher trails. Moving out: For a size medium, the 4.5 felt a bit big, but not so big that we would reconsider our sizing choice. Instead, the larger cockpit gave us the ability to get into a little more aggressive position than with other bikes in this category. We would have liked some slightly wider 760-millimeter bars, but we didn t feel too held back. The stem length felt appropriate for the reach and stack height that our testers chose to run. Cornering: The Yeti is anything but a casual rider. With the big wheels and mid-travel, it was hard to sit back and not go fast. Our momentum translated effectively into corners, and the 2.4 Maxxis Ardent front tire hooked up confidently. The wide bars gave us good leverage, and the sloping top tube allowed us to move freely out of the saddle when leaning Hit the corners: With the versatile geometry and capable suspension, the SB4.5c will handle corners with the best of them. Riders will find themselves leaning over a little more and pushing a little harder than they normally would. 98 www.mbaction.com
A solid pedaling platform: The SB design has become a favorite among die-hard Yeti fans, and most riders who have tried it for that matter. The rear suspension design has a very well-supported feel for climbing and flatter sections of trail. the bike over. The frame and rear triangle were stiff when pushed hard into corners and didn t give us any unwanted flex. Climbing: Bikes in this category can go either way when it comes to climbing ability. To our surprise, the 4.5c was a more-than-capable climber. The rear suspension was responsive, even with the shock in the open setting, as long as we stayed planted in the saddle and spun up long grinds. On steeper sections with the shock locked out, we pedaled hard out of the saddle and got a little flex out of the rear triangle but were able to motor along with ease. With a more aggressive position on the bars, we were able to shift our weight forward on steep sections and felt like we had plenty of leverage to overcome technical climbs. The longer, 140-millimeter fork did make some tight switchbacks a little awkward to maneuver through, but with a little finesse, the SB was effective. Descending: This bike descends, and it descends well. On smooth-flowing trails and in technical chunder, the Yeti rode with confidence and proved to be more capable than we expected. The Switch system is a little stiff off the top of the travel and put some of the focus of minor imperfections on the wheel size, but once the trail got rowdy, the bike did the work. Some of this was caused by the slightly stiffer sag that we chose to run, but once the suspension was activated, we were treated to a plush-riding bike. Simpler than it looks: The Switch Infinity link may look complex but is actually quite simple. This system requires very little maintenance. TRICKS, TIPS AND UPGRADES? Tire preference is mostly subjective, but in the case of the SB4.5c, we believe it needs a burlier setup, or at the very least a matching rear tire. We didn t experience any flats during our rides, but given the capability of the SB, riders will benefit from something with more meat. Riders would also benefit from slightly wider bars, especially if they are more aggressive riders looking for every bit of leverage. The geometry is versatile enough that riders won t be stretched too far going with a set of 760- or 780-millimeter bars. OCTOBER 2016 / MOUNTAIN BIKE ACTION 99
BUYING ADVICE This wheel size and suspension platform has come out as a bit of a dark horse in the last couple years and is a solid all-around option for riders looking to do a bit of everything. The Yeti SB4.5c has enough travel to rip just about any trail out there, but it also sports a well-enough-designed suspension platform for longer days in the saddle. The price tag is what will separate the serious from the dreamers. Those who can afford the Yeti will gain a potentially lifelong membership in a group of riders who won t ride anything else. Oversized and stable: Most of the tubing on the Yeti is oversized and stiff, especially the head tube. The stout head tube and Fox 34 balanced out the build with a stiff front end that gave our testers additional stability. Go for the PR: Longer-travel trailbikes aren t known for their pedaling prowess, but the Yeti has a different agenda and provides riders with surprising acceleration out of the saddle. YETI SB4.5C Price Weight Frame tested Bottom bracket height Chainstay length Top tube length Head tube angle Seat tube angle Standover height Wheelbase Suspension travel (f) Suspension travel (r) Frame material Fork Shock Rims Hubs Tires Saddle Seatpost Handlebar Stem Brakes Rear derailleur Shifters Crankset Chainrings Cassette Pedals $6900 26.5 pounds Medium 13.5" 17" 23.8" 67.4º 73.3º 29.5" 45.4" 140mm (5.5") 110mm (4.5") Carbon Fox 34 Float Factory FIT4 Fox Float DPS Factory DT Swiss XM401 DT Swiss 350 Maxxis Ardent 29x2.4 (f) Maxxis Ikon 29x 2.2 (r) Yeti WTB Custom Race Face Turbine Dropper Easton Haven Carbon 740mm Easton Haven 55mm SRAM Guide RSC SRAM X01 SRAM X01 Race Face Turbine Race Face Narrow Wide (30t) SRAM 11-speed (10-42) None (weighed with HT T1 pedals) 100 www.mbaction.com