Yeti SB140 First Ride Review – Time To Rip

Hot on the heels of the SB165 launch, Yeti have just dropped the new SB140, a 27.5” slacked-out trail rocket designed to maximise fun for those who don’t give a damn about stage times or Strava KOM’s. It’s time to rip into it.

At the launch of the big Yeti SB165 a few weeks ago, we covered Yeti’s new ‘rip and race’ strategy, positioning ‘rip’ bikes – generally with 27.5” wheels – against their similarly proportioned but often bigger wheeled ‘race’ stablemates. The new SB140, is the ‘rip’ equivalent to the SB130’s ‘race’ and is targeted towards riders who use words like “jib”, “send” and “stoked” like punctuation. Fun was the goal, not race times. So does the SB140 deliver?

Suspension on the new Yeti SB140

Just like the rest of the Yeti range, the heart of the Yeti SB140 is the unique Switch Infinity platform with its rail-mounted translating pivot. The moving main pivot has allowed Yeti’s designers to engineer in different properties at different points of suspension travel. To maximise pedal efficiency the anti-squat peaks at around the sag point and stays high around the mid-stroke. Beyond around 50% of its travel, the Switch Infinity changes direction and the anti-squat rapidly reduces, decoupling the chain forces from the later parts of the stroke. This gives the SB140 a very free feeling deep into the travel.

Even when the suspension is clearly working hard beneath you there are no pulls through the drivetrain, just buttery smoothness. This makes the Yeti SB140 very easy to ride fast.

Yeti SB140 Specification and models

Yeti invited us to test their SB140 TURQ T2 model, and at a wallet busting € 8,190.00 we would expect there to be little to dislike in the specification. Like the SB165, suspension is a top-of-the-line FOX affair, with the excellent FOX 36 Factory GRIP2 fork, complemented nicely with the FOX Factory DPX2 shock. The FOX business continues with a FOX Transfer 150 mm dropper post. The T2 model rolls on aluminium DT Swiss CUSTOM M1700 wheels with 2.6 MAXXIS Minion DHF/ Rekon tires front and back with EXO sidewalls. SRAM deck out the rest of the build with a full X1/X01 Eagle drivetrain and SRAM G2 RSC brakes on diminutive 180 / 180 mm rotors.

Fork FOX Factory Grip2 36 160 mm
Shock FOX Factory DPX2 140 mm
Brakes SRAM G2 RSC 180/180 mm
Drivetrain SRAM X1 / X01 Eagle 1×12
Seatpost FOX Transfer 150 mm
Stem Race Face Turbine 50 mm
Handlebar Yeti Carbon 35 780 mm
Wheels DT Swiss Custom M1700 27.5″
Tires MAXXIS Minion DHF EXO / MAXXIS Rekon EXO + 2.6”
Price € 8,690
Weight TBA

The geometry of the Yeti SB140

So what’s the recipe for a ripping trail bike? Yeti believe it is a relatively-long 160 mm travel fork, paired with 140 mm of rear travel, a 480 mm reach (size Large) and 433 mm chainstays. The 65 degree head angle, with short 37.5 mm offset looks to be siding more with stable – instead of lively – handling. With a 609 mm stack height it sits around 15 mm lower at the front than the SB130, but most importantly it has a 77 degree seat tube angle which should put the rider in a good climbing position.

Size	XS	SM	MD	LG	XL
Seat tube	355 mm	380 mm	410 mm	450 mm	495 mm
Top tube	538 mm	567 mm	598 mm	612 mm	649
Head tube	95 mm	110 mm	115 mm	126 mm	137
Head angle	65.0°	65.0°	65.0°	65.0°	65.0°
Seat angle	77.1°	77.0°	77.0°	77.0°	77.0°
Chainstays	433 mm	433 mm	433 mm	433 mm	433 mm
Wheelbase	1,145 mm	1,176 mm	1,208 mm	1,233 mm	1,263 mm
Reach	405 mm	430 mm	460 mm	480 mm	505 mm
Stack	582 mm	595 mm	600 mm	610 mm	620 mm

Yeti SB140 Models

As well as the €8190.00 SB140 T2 model as tested, Yeti will also be releasing two other models (in Germany), the affordable SB140 C1 and more expensive T1. The C series bikes use a heavier carbon fibre layup which is more affordable, while the top-of-the-line bikes use a higher modulus carbon, resulting in a bike with the same strength, but a lighter construction.

Yeti SB165 C1 €5990.00
The most affordable model in Yeti’s lineup is the €5990.00 C1, which uses a more affordable modulus carbon to reduce the costs – resulting in a small increase in weight. The C1 model features a FOX Performance 36 fork and Performance DPX2 shock. A full SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain is paired with SRAM Guide R brakes with 180 / 180 mm rotors. The C1 model rolls on DT Swiss M1900 wheels, running MAXXIS Minion DHF 2.6 / Rekon 2.6 EXO tires.

Yeti SB165 T1 €7790.00
One for Shimano fans, Yeti offer the SB140 T1 model with a new 12-speed Shimano XT drivetrain and Shimano XT 4 Piston brakes with 180 / 180 mm rotors. The rest of the specification remains unchanged when compared to the T2 model, with a FOX Factory GRIP2 36 fork and Factory DPX2 shock and DT Swiss M1700 wheels with MAXXIS Minion DHF/Rekon tires.

T1

Fork FOX Factory Grip2 36160 mm
Shock FOX Factory DPX2 140 mm
Brakes Shimano XT 4 Piston 180/180 mm
Drivetrain SRAM X01 Eagle
Seatpost FOX Transfer
Stem Race Face Turbine 50 mm
Handlebar Yeti Carbon 35 780 mm
Wheels DT Swiss Custom M1700 27.5″
Tires MAXXIS Minion DHF EXO / MAXXIS Rekon EXO + 2.6”

T2

Fork FOX Factory Grip2 36160 mm
Shock FOX Factory DPX2 140 mm
Brakes SRAM 2 RSC 180/180 mm
Drivetrain SRAM X01 Eagle
Seatpost FOX Transfer
Stem Race Face Turbine 50 mm
Handlebar Yeti Carbon 35 780 mm
Wheels DT Swiss Custom M1700 27.5″
Tires MAXXIS Minion DHF EXO / MAXXIS Rekon EXO + 2.6”

T3

Fork FOX Factory Grip2 36160 mm
Shock FOX Factory DPX2 140 mm
Brakes SRAM 2 RSC 180/180 mm
Drivetrain SRAM XX1 Eagle
Seatpost FOX Transfer Factory
Stem Race Face Turbine 50 mm
Handlebar Yeti Carbon 35 780 mm
Wheels DT Swiss Custom M1700 27.5″
Tires MAXXIS Minion DHF EXO / MAXXIS Rekon EXO + 2.6”

Yeti’s New Frame Warranty

Yeti are standing by their bikes and offering a new lifetime warranty on their frames for damage due to manufacturing defects for the original owner. Paint and finish are covered for one year. Also, if you find yourself in a non-warranty situation, Yeti offers a crash replacement policy with a reduced price.

Yeti SB140 TURQ T2 review, first impressions

Setting up the Yeti SB140 TURQ T2

Keen to test out Yeti’s recommended suspension settings, we ran the bike as suggested for an 80 kg rider. On the trail the base tune felt very good indeed, but we found the rear suspension would work through its travel a little to quickly. The addition of an extra 10 psi had a big impact on support and performance, so we would suggest optimising your personal settings as small adjustments have a big impact on the highly active Yeti platform.

When it comes to climbing the SB140 is best described as easy-going. The roomy cockpit and steep 77-degree seat angle put the rider in a very nice position.The Yeti SB140 also has a flat and broad peak of anti-squat around the SAG point improving efficiency to keep bobbing to a minimum. The bike sits high in its travel and spins up even very steep pitches without complaint. It’s a balanced bike, while it’s not explosive uphill, it climbs in a way that would suggest it’s not going to suck on the way down.

The Switch Infinity Suspension is excellent, incredibly sensitive when ironing out small bumps, but with enough support to skip into the air when needed.

We tested the descending ability of the SB140 on some prime Slovenian flow trails, with the occasional rock garden and sender. Within the first few seconds that familiar Yeti ride feeling takes over. The geometry is balanced, nothing extreme, which means it’s very easy to jump on and instantly wind open the throttle. The Switch infinity suspension is very smooth and active, and seems very free of chain forces over the deeper parts of travel, giving that signature magic-carpet feel. You can really feel the translating pivot altering the suspension feel in different parts of the stroke, supportive when hammering on the pedals, but incredibly free and linear when smashing through big hits. The tune is more linear than that of the bigger SB165, well suited to flowing down trails it gives up it’s travel predictably and smoothly.

The reputation of a bike like the SB140 is made or broken in the turns – this is where it needs to be good. Fortunately, Yeti have worked out a winning formula here, and the SB140 is effortless to throw around beneath you. The 27.5” wheels, low BB and light and stiff feeling construction makes snap changes of direction effortless, the bike goes from rail to rail in the blink of an eye. The low stack height weights up the front wheel providing great grip when the corners are blown out. While you do not feel the same level of integration as the bigger wheeled SB130, the SB140 is a master of sharp switchbacks and cutties, where you can drop your heels and let the back end slide beneath you.

There a few things we were not 100% on board with the SB140. The rear MAXXIS Recon tire is undoubtedly fun if you like kicking the rear end out, but is a poor choice of tire for a ripper, lacking bite and stability. Hobbit legged riders beware too, the tall seat mast on the SB140 frame does limit dropper choices and our 1.8 m tester on a size Large was fine with the 150 mm dropper but it was right at the base. The SRAM G2 brakes were a little disappointing too, while a decent enough trail brake, they needed bigger rotors than the 180/180 mm and we suffered from fade and lack of sharpness. We were also surprised to hear a lot of loud cable tapping from somewhere in the frame. Not everyone in our riding group encountered this so it could have been due to the moto routing on our bike, but it is something to investigate further.

But what about the SB130?

This is a question that will face many potential customers, the geometry and intent of both bikes are very similar. Most riders will find the increase composure and immersion of the bigger wheeled SB130 flatters their riding style more, carrying speed easier and making everything feel that little bit easier. The 27.5” wheeled SB140 will probably appeal to a smaller group of riders, those who like to throw the bike around in the air, and wait expectantly for the next 50:01 video instalment.

Conclusion

Like the new SB165, the new SB140 is an awesome bike, with a superb suspension system and beautiful build quality. Also, like the SB165, the SB140 has a more versatile and capable sibling, the SB130 which is hard to ignore. However, If you’re in the market for a highly shredable 27.5” bike that turns the fun upto 11, the SB140 is a radical performer.

For more info head to: yeticycles.com

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Words: Photos: Ross Bell, Trev Worsey