Long Term Test: Yeti Cycles SB95 Carbon Review
Just a little about me, so you know what this bike has gone through, under my guidance. I’m 5’11” (181cm) and weigh 145 lbs (66kg). I’ve been mt biking for 20 years. While I don’t consider myself a bruiser by any means, I don’t ride gently on my bikes. I use them. I put them away wet. I’m not great with maintenance. I like to race occasionally, and I like to ride with my friends on a lot of the well known big rides in the mountains, like Monarch Crest, Wasatch Crest, and Two Elks. In other words, I’m a pretty normal rider. I know what works, what doesn’t, and I’ve seen a lot of junk over the years. And I love to get out there and ride new places, and have a bike that’s ready for new challenges.
The Yeti SB95c looked perfect for me on paper and from what I’ve read about it. Just some quick highlights of it.
- Yeti Switch Technology – Carbon fiber frame
- Weight (with pedals) – 29.5 lbs (13.4 kg)
- Fork – Fox Float 34 140mm
- Component Kit – Shimano XT 2×10 (derailluers, shifters, brakes)
- Wheels – DT Swiss 350/XM LTD
But now, onto the bike.
The Yeti SB95c is great for where I live. Lots of XC style riding, but far from boring XC, with enough technical rockiness thrown in to keep things interesting. High speeds are what this bike really excels at. With chain stays at 444 mm, it’s not super nimble, and is a bit sluggish when the going is really twisty. Combined with a 67.5º head tube angle, and the bike is much more comfortable on the high speed descents than on those where it’s tight and/or where the desire to be playful is wanted.
I do feel much more comfortable on jump and flow trails on the SB66 than this bike. However, how much do you ride those type of trails is a question you have to ask yourself. The SB95 climbs very well, although it’s not a lightweight and it takes a bit of muscle to get moving. Coming well equipped with a 2×10 Shimano XT drivetrain (24 tooth small ring in front) is well appreciated for most of the riding that most people will do. Myself included. And on that note, I’ve now ridden approximately 60 hours, 550 miles, and completed three races and have not dropped a chain once. Kudos to Shimano clutch rear derailluer.
The bike comes specced with Fox Float 34 140 fork and Fox Float CTD Trail Adjust rear shock. Setting up with the proper sag meant about 65 psi in front, 120psi in the back. I’ll give these suspension bits the thumbs up, but with the disclaimer that I feel the small bump, or low speed, compliance could be better on both. Big hits were handled surprisingly well on the fork, and acceptable on the rear shock. For the weight of the Float rear, and lack of external chamber, it does a great job. That would be one component I would consider changing if you want more performance in the downhill capabilities.
Another small beef on the component spec of this bike is the Thomson dropper post, which really is an added upgrade. The cable routing is awkward at best. You really have to be careful of exactly where your cable is, because it could catch in the rear tire when seat is all the way down. There’s also a bit of stichtion when seat post is totally extended and you want it to go down.
Brakes. The XT brakes that come on the bike, in my opinion, set a standard for combination of stopping power, modulation, ease of maintenance, and price. Yes, there are better brakes out there. But for the overall package, XT’s are my current faves in the brake world. I may have hit the upper limit of the brakes, by doing multiple 3,000 foot descents in one day, at race pace, and slightly warped the rotors. Definitely pushed to the edge on that day of riding, and possibly beyond what this bike is really meant for. I’m in the process of upgrading to the new Ice Tech XT rotors and can’t wait to get on them. However, I still very much believe in these brakes and they’re an outstanding choice.
I’ve raced now three times on this bike. In Moab, on the Enduro Cup Mag 7 day. In Hood River, Oregon, and Snowmass, Colorado. It did a great job and came through with flying colors and nothing broken. Durable, I like it.
Changes
I did swap the 80mm stem that comes on the bike for a 50mm, and that has helped with the overall downhill focused capabilities of the bike. I’ve also been testing the new Roval Fattie Traverse SL carbon wheelset, losing 1 pound in the process. And the benefits of running low tire pressures, with wide rims, is a topic widely discussed, but to be short, I love them.
Closing Thoughts
And the benefits of 29″ became all too clear on a recent ride. I finally got to get on one of my favorite loops, with a good variety of styles of riding. At the bottom of Jack’s Cruel Joke is a rock garden. Because of the trees and turns leading into it, and a pretty serious left handed hairpin turn in the middle of it, it’s not a high speed rock garden. It has some fairly chunky rocks, all square edged, and all pointing different directions. Riding it for the first time this summer recently, and the first time riding it on a 29”, I cruised right through it. Almost like it wasn’t the same rock garden that I’ve had pretty hairy slow speed crashes on, often the worst kind. I’ve shed much blood in this rock garden, and if you were close, you would have heard really poor language come out of my mouth. But today, it felt like a different trail. It was really a piece of cake. This is a testament to 29ers and also the SB95. That bike made short work of an often challenging section of trail.
Bottom Line
This bike really kicks ass for almost all of the riding you’ll find in Colorado and mountains everywhere. Be as aggressive as you can on your fun after work rides, and your big weekend loops, because not only can the Yeti SB95 handle it, but it will probably make you a better, more confident rider. This is a trail bike, and one of the best in it’s class. Go for it, if you want to do some racing every now and then. If you’re a hardcore, every weekend sort of racer, maybe there are better choices for you. Absolutely upgrade with a dropper post, and you’ll be charging every trail you ride. But if you’re looking for one bike, your next bike, to have fun on, all the time, this would be an excellent bike for you.
Words: Daniel Dunn
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