Yeti Cycles first started in 1985 with the FRO (for racing only), they laid out their intentions from day one and even though the brand has changed and grown in that time they still hold true to their roots dominating the Enduro World Series under Richie Rude and building the fastest race bikes.

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In 2016 after many iterations, Yeti developed the Switch Infinity system which has characterised the feel of their platform ever since. 

Essentially a linkage-driven single pivot, the main pivot is located on two small rails giving it in effect, an infinitely long lower link. The link moves up at sag giving the bike a super-efficient pedalling platform. After reaching its inflection point and moving through the travel, the link drops back down allowing the suspension to move more freely with less drivetrain force applied to the suspension.

It’s a complicated system but in practice, imagine you’re smashing through a rock garden, you get to the bottom and you hit a catch berm and turn into a flat undulating section. Where most bikes will wallow in the suspension, once you start hammering the pedals, the Yeti will stand up and sprint. It’s a feeling you can’t quite get anywhere else and propels you along like Lewis Hamilton is chasing you down a country road.

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The number one thing anyone asks when they’re looking at a Yeti is that it looks difficult to maintain. Given my personal experience with my SB150 I’d say that yes it is a mud chute and it does take a bit more to keep it going but on the whole, it’s worth it for the performance advantages.

Yeti say you’ve got to grease it every 50 hours ride time which is the same as your fork and we know how hard that can be to keep up. they offer a grease gun and some grease to achieve this. You simply remove the bolt from the main pivot, pull up the rear end and locate the grease ports. Pump it in and put everything back together. You can find the link for that here.

Do you have to do that on any other bike? not really but Yeti are unapologetically a race bike brand, it goes along with the territory.

Yeti now have seven models in the range and you can choose from the standard C carbon and the T series carbon. The same strength and build but the T series frames are lighter.

Yeti ARC - The hardcore hardtail

Yeti ASR - The XC marathon race bike

Yeti SB120 - The short travel trail bike

Yeti SB140 - The mid-travel trail bike, the one we should all probably be on.

Yeti SB160 - The enduro race bike

Yeti SB165 - The freeride or downhill bike (As seen on Redbull Rampage)

Yeti 160E - The Ebike

The Yeti ARC is a versatile platform, coming built with big tyres, a 130mm fork and a light, stiff frame, the bike can be the ultimate all-rounder. We’ve also built them with 150mm travel enduro forks and burly builds for smashing jumps in the woods. Super lightweight XC builds are a favourite here. See our staff bike check for more ideas.

The Yeti ASR was designed as a cross-country race bike, built to cover the long stages of races like the BC bike race and the Cape Epic. It’s a little longer in travel than the purebred XC bikes but as modern XC courses are demanding more and more from their bikes, the ASR is right on the money.

The Yeti SB120 is a short travel trail bike with big bike geometry. Designed to maximise the experience and allow you to crunch miles like no one's business. 66.5° head tube angle and a tall front end mean this bike will excel on trail centres and with the 120mm rear 140mm front suspension travel you'll be able to rail every turn and push and pump every undulation.

The Yeti SB140 is the middle ground bike, able to handle lighter enduro riding but doesn't quite have the race-aimed geometry of the SB160. This is the bike we should all be riding, it'll climb well, handle long distances well and still have enough reserves in the tank to make sure you don't run out of the bike on the rough stuff. Perfect for UK bike parks and trail centres, it's light nimble and more than capable of anything you can throw at it.

The Yeti SB160 is an unapologetic race bike, developed for the toughest stages of the Enduro World Series. Under Ritchie Rude, the SB160 has won two back-to-back EDR overall titles and a string of race wins. Its geometry is firmly aimed at going as fast as possible and in that situation, it really comes alive. If you're riding punishing downhill stages, climbing back up and aren't scared of DH tyres then this is the one for you.

The Yeti Yeti SB165 is Yeti's Freeride bike of choice. It's been ridden to the first women's Red Bull Rampage win by Robin Goomes and seeing awesome runs from Reed Boggs and Adolf Silva. The bike is now MX and has 165mm of travel on the rear, 170mm front as standard and can run up to a 190mm dual crown fork if required. It's a bike park bike that can still pedal uphill.

The Yeti 160E is Yeti's Shimano Steps equipped E-MTB. Like it's unmotorized brother the 160E was piloted by Ryan Gilchrist to the 2024 E-EDR world championship title. This bike like the SB160 is designed to win races. Featuring the 'Sixfinity' system to replicate the Switch Infinity but around a motor, it has a similar feel but tuned for a heavier bike being ridden hard. There are other E-MTB's out there but this is the one you buy if you want to go really fast.

At Biketart we are and have been proud Yeti owners and are big fans of the brand. We've made every modification and fixed every problem you've ever heard of. If you buy a Yeti from us, we've always got your back. Yeti offer a lifetime warranty on their frames and Switch Infinity.