The internet, now twenty-five years old, is the home of social media and stuff we lust over – real or fake! While the internet is crammed with porno sites, yeticycles.com has to rank among the most visited sites by riders. The American brand have their market sussed, creating visions of beauty in aluminium and carbon. Their latest hard-hitting 29er goes by the name SB5.5c, and this test is a striptease to uncover whether it has the style and the stamina to match the best of the rest.
The Yeti SB5.5c has a proper catwalk-worthy look, and is likely to get a sartorial seal of approval from everyone on the trails. But the SB5.5c isn’t just a superficial beauty – oh no, it runs far deeper than that, featuring a lustful spec that’ll set any rider’s heart racing. Suspension comes courtesy of a brand-new FOX 36 FLOAT Factory fork with the revised E16 damper tune. Then there are a set of robust DT Swiss wheels, SRAM X01 shifters, and a chic Easton cockpit. The FOX FLOAT X rear shock forms part of Yeti’s well-known Switch Infinity rear end design, and dishes up 140 mm of travel.
Even without additional platform damping, the Yeti SB5.5c climbs willingly and efficiently. Fully active, the big wheels are capable of generating a surplus of traction and picking up speed quickly. The Yeti is just biding its time though, waiting patiently for the descents where it’ll make the rest of the test fleet blush at their ineptitude. Impeccable handling, confidence at speed, and reassuring stability – the suspension and burly wheels iron kinks out of the trail without sapping your energy when you’re pushing hard.
Yeti SB 5.5C X01 in spec
Fork: FOX 36 FLOAT Factory 160 mm
Rear shock: FOX FLOAT X Factory DPS 140 mm
Brakes: SRAM Guide RSC
Drivetrain: SRAM X01 1×11
Seat post: Race Face Turbine Dropper
Stem: Easton Havoc 35 60 mm
Handlebar: Easton Havoc 35 Carbon 800 mm
Wheels: DT Swiss 350 W/XM 481
Tires: Maxxis Minion DHF / Aggressor
Weight: 13.13 kg
Price: € 8,490
The new MAXXIS Aggressor tire is still relatively unknown – but wrongly so! We rate it highly for its low rolling resistance, good tracking on corners, and masses of grip.
Leaving the rest of the test fleet flailing, the Yeti SB5.5c showed how a rear end should really work, relying on the Switch Infinity link suspension design with its rail and ‘translating’ pivot point. The result: insane efficiency and capability.
The triumphant trio that make us want the bike: the logo on the head tube, the frame’s beautiful finish, and first-rate parts.
No other bike could rival the Yeti SB5.5c when it came to quietness, as the bike breezed brilliantly under the radar. The chainstay guard reaches right up to the seatstays – and it’s small, seemingly minor details like this that do their bit to reduce potential clattering and creaking. Less noise = more fun!
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Despite the 20 mm separating the front and rear suspension, there’s pure harmony across the bike, and the extremely balanced and confidence-inspiring geometry is a tour de force when cornering. It’s a bike that screams for you to let go of the brakes, soon finding yourself reaching speeds on berms and carving turns that would break you out in a cold sweat should you see them on paper.
Conclusion
A rocket in a multitude of ways, the Yeti SB5.5c secures the test victory with its outstanding suspension, show-stopping finish, and the ultimate handling package that marries all the right ingredients. However, much like the haute couture on the catwalk, this bike is going to be exclusively reserved for those with deep pockets.
Strenghths
- Impressive stability
- Whatever the trail, it excels
- Exclusive finish
Weaknesses
- Price ?
For more information head to the Yeti website!
For an overview of the test fleet head to the main article: Does it get better than this? – 9 high-end enduro bikes in comparison
All bikes in review: BMC Trailfox 01 XX1 | Bold Linkin Trail LT 29 | Canyon Strive CF 9.0 Race | CUBE Stereo 160 C:68 Action Team 27.5 | Giant Reign Advanced 1 | SCOTT Genius LT 700 Tuned | ROTWILD R.E1 FS EVO | YT Capra CF Pro Race
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