Still one of the most capable enduro bikes on the market. This is how we remembered the candidate from Colorado after we subjected the newly introduced SB 160 to a single test at the beginning of the year. But even in direct comparison with the competition, nothing has changed in our initial impression. In terms of suspension performance, the patented Switch Infinity rear triangle once again proves to be the measure of all things. Even though the Pivot nominally has the thickest crumple zone at the rear, the SB 160 is the most forgiving. No other test bike knows how to parry fine bumps or quick hits as well as the Yeti. "You feel like you'll never run out of travel," says tester Thomas, summarising the rear suspension characteristics.
This is both a blessing and a curse: on the one hand, the bike is extremely stable even on rough high-speed sections. On the other hand, a lot of energy is lost in the suspension as soon as you actively move the bike through the terrain. This is aggravated by the fact that the Yeti, with its 16.3 kilos, already wants to be kept going with a lot of dedication on gentle slopes. Since a large part of the excess weight is attached to the rotating mass of the extremely heavy wheels, we found it most difficult to generate speed off-road with the Yeti.
And what about the uphill qualities of the high-end enduro bike? Quite good. Thanks to Switch Infinity technology, the suspension firms up automatically in the first third of the suspension travel. Even when pedalling out of the saddle, the rear end remains pleasantly calm for a bike in this suspension travel class. The combination of the longest reach, low front and steep seat angle makes for the sportiest riding position in the test. But riding position or not, the combination of high overall weight, heavy wheels and the slow-rolling Maxxis tyres sucked the most energy out of our calves on the climbs.
Conclusion from Max Fuchs, BIKE test editor
As far as the suspension and geometry are concerned, the Yeti SB 160 is the best bike out there. Unfortunately, the excellent riding characteristics in this specification are overshadowed by the high weight.
Technical data and notes on the Yeti SB 160 T1 Race specification
Manufacturer information
- Price: 10,390 euros
- Available from specialised dealers
- Frame material: Carbon
- Frame size: S, M,L, XL, XXL(tested in size L, 44 cm)
Measured values
- Weight without pedals: 16.33 kg
- Frame weight: 3139 g
- Weight of wheels: 6123 g
- Acceleration of running wheels: 5150 kg x cm²
- Handlebar width: 800 mm
- Frame rigidity (absolute): 49 N/mm
Equipment
- Wheels: DT Swis EX 1700
- Tyres: Maxxis Assegai; 3C MaxxGrip TR DD 29 x 2.50; Minion DHR II; 3C Maxxterra TR DD 29 x 2.40
- Fork: Fox 38 Float Factory Fit Grip 2
- Shock: Fox Float Factory X2
- Front/rear suspension travel: 170/156 mm
- Brakes: Sram Code RSC / 220/200 mm
- Gear system: Sram XX1 Eagle AXS 1 x 12
- Ratio / bandwidth: 30; 10-52 / 520 %
- Telescopic post / stroke: Fox Transfer / 175 mm
Valuation
- Driving behaviour uphill: 18 from 20
- Chassis efficiency: 17 out of 20
- Rolling resistance: 6 out of 10
- Weight: 1.5 from 15
- Inertia impellers: 2 out of 10
- Bottle cage: 2.5 out of 5
- Driving behaviour downhill: 36 from 40
- Front suspension: 25 out of 25
- Rear suspension: 25 out of 25
- Saddle retractability: 10 out of 10
- Brakes: 13.5 out of 15
- Tyre grip: 14.25 out of 15
- Driving stability: 4 out of 10
TOTAL UPHILL: 47 OUT OF 80
TOTAL DOWNHILL: 127.8 FROM 140
- Other: 25.5 out of 30
- Ease of maintenance: good
BIKE test rating*: very good - 200.3 out of 250 points
*The BIKE judgement reflects the laboratory measurements and the subjective impression of the test riders. The BIKE judgement is independent of price. BIKE judgements: super (250-205 P.), very good (204.75-180 P.), good (179.75-155 P.), satisfactory (154.75-130 P.), with weaknesses (129.75-105 P.), unsatisfactory (104.75-0 P.). The weighting of the points in the individual assessment criteria varies depending on the bike category.
Max Fuchs
Editor
