First Look: Yeti’s New SB140 – Cut up The Distinction

If you’d like that 150mm-travel fork and a barely lighter construct equipment, pricing begins at $6,400 for the C1 or $6,700 USD for the C2. Turq-framed bikes begin with the $8,600 T2 and $10,000 T3, or you will get the top-end T4 for $11,500 USD. There are eleven totally different SB140s to select from, in addition to the $4,500 body, so head over to Yeti’s web site for all of the specs and particulars.

Body particulars

The brand new look of the SB140 so much just like the earlier model, however the variations are extra apparent up shut… or should you’ve already examine their different new bikes. The low bulbous piece of carbon in entrance of the underside bracket has lastly been diminished to a slimmer form that additionally provides extra floor clearance. That is additionally the place you will discover a dual-density downtube protector that makes use of a softer internal layer mixed with a tougher cap bolted to the highest, all of which may be eliminated for simpler downtube routing. telescopic saddle.

The cables go out and in on the common locations, however Yeti’s little clamps have been added at every of those factors which gently maintain them in place and will forestall extra slack from vibrating contained in the body. Different notables embrace a change to a threaded backside bracket shell somewhat than Pressfit BB92, loads of rubberized guards on the swingarm, and a comparatively low cost and easy-to-find common derailleur hanger.

Yeti additionally modified a bunch of issues within the suspension division with a watch on reliability, together with urgent the entire bike’s bearings into steel suspension parts somewhat than carbon entrance or rear triangles. It is sensible for all the apparent manufacturing and long-term causes, however it’s additionally simpler and fewer dangerous to take away and set up bearings in a bit of aluminum than some costly hand-laid carbon fiber. There are additionally new floating-clamp pivot axles to carry all of it collectively, and Turq-series frames see higher seals, bearings, and {hardware} used within the Swap Infinity Slider Unit in comparison with C-spec frames that use the Parts. from final yr.

What’s all this about Turq and the C-series? Each variations of the body are made in the identical location and look an identical on the surface, however Yeti says the Turq variations “are made with the very best high quality carbon fiber out there and supply the proper steadiness of stiffness and compliance.” . The C-Sequence frames obtain “small modifications to the carbon fiber layup” that make them cheaper to fabricate, therefore the marginally lower cost for full builds. Experience high quality and body stiffness are stated to be an identical, however the refined body of the SB140 Turq weighs 3,375 grams, which is 174 lower than the peasant-y C model when they’re each outfitted with the identical Fox DPS shock.

Suspension particulars

A few of us thought the brand new SB160 may use an identical six-bar format because the motorized E160, however Yeti caught with a barely revised model of the Swap Infinity slider design they have been refining for years. It is the identical story with the SB140 too, and that is a superb factor; we have all the time preferred the balanced nature of the Swap Infinity for the way in which it is all the time managed to do the pedal and shock absorption jobs simply as nicely.

Yeti has an attention-grabbing historical past with unconventional suspension designs, and should you’re unfamiliar with Swap Infinity, this is the gist. The stable rear triangle floats on two hyperlinks; the higher drives the shock by a cut up clevis and is fairly plain, however not so low down. That is the place you will see the primary pivot sits on a black anodized aluminum bracket that slides up and down on two Kashima coated rails and a set of upgraded bushings. Grease ports allow you to inject love as wanted with out taking the entire thing aside, and Yeti additionally added higher seals, bearings and {hardware}.

What’s all this for? “As Swap Infinity reverses route, the anti-squat decreases dramatically for freedom of suspension motion,” says Yeti, with the black stand sliding on the 2 gold rails within the first a part of the bike’s journey for added assist. anti-squat and higher over-feeling energy, earlier than dropping again down later within the stroke so the chain has much less impact on the suspension motion.

Geometry

Refinement continues within the geometry division, with a number of small modifications right here and there, but additionally the notable transfer to size-specific fundamentals. Whereas the earlier model had a 433mm rear throughout the vary, the brand new bike is 2mm longer per dimension, beginning at 436mm for the small and as much as 444mm for the double extra-large. The identical goes for the precise seat angles which begin at 71.8 and go as much as 77.3 levels on the Lunch Experience model (barely steep on regular fashions).

Lunch Experience builds have a 160mm-travel fork that places the pinnacle angle at an excellent 65 levels, whereas much less aggressive builds with 150mm forks sit at 65.4 levels. Reaches vary from 435mm to 525mm, with a tall seat at 485mm and an efficient prime tube size of 623mm.