Description

2016 Yeti Cycles SB5 Carbon SLX/Reynolds Complete Mountain Bike

 

You’ve read the reviews, seen the promotional videos, and basked in the glowing hype surrounding Yeti Cycles’ SB5 frame. As impressive as all that spilled ink is, the only way to really understand is to experience it on the trail. With the SB5 Carbon SLX/Reynolds Complete Mountain Bike, we’ve custom spec’d Yeti’s oft-feted trail sled with some of our favorite gear from the past year, including an all-new Shimano SLX M7000 drivetrain and Reynolds’ 27.5 AM carbon wheels. The result is a bike whose only real limits are yours. So get to overcoming.

As pleased as we are with the build kit, the SB5 frame remains the real star. This is largely because of Yeti’s Switch Infinity slider, which is similar to its predecessor, Switch Link, in that it travels upward while the SB5 settles into its sag point. As the rear end compresses deeper, the direction changes, and the slider travels down toward the bottom bracket shell. Deep in the stroke, it works in conjunction with the upper pivot to produce a vertical wheel path that effortlessly flattens big, square-edged impacts. Think of it as everything that has earned the Switch Link such high praise, except that it rides smoother and is easier to maintain than the previous eccentric pivot.

Undoubtedly, there will be those who balk at the idea of having a seemingly complicated pivot, but in reality, it’s lighter and more user friendly than the Switch Link pivot that it replaces. The lightness can be attributed to the Kashima-coated mini-stanchions and feathery forged shuttle, which were co-developed with FOX Racing Shox. Ease of use comes courtesy of the easily-accessible grease ports, which do away with the need for time consuming rebuilds. Not that you’ll need to worry about rebuilds, as FOX has successfully tested production units to well over a million compression cycles while completely submerged in mud.

But the SB5 is a bike, not just a little doodad, and if Switch Infinity is its heart then Yeti’s proven carbon fiber chassis is its skeleton. Frame weights are right around five pounds with shock, depending on size, which puts it on the lighter end of the trail bike spectrum without sacrificing strength or stiffness. The frame climbs like it’s motorized, and with a long, low geometry, a tapered head tube, and a rear thru-axle, it sticks to its line over trail furniture like a cat on carpet.

A trail bike with gravity pedigree

5in of travel in Yeti’s smoothest suspension yet

Slack geometry pushes into all-mountain territory

Less weight and more efficiency with carbon construction

Reynolds carbon rims laced to DT Swiss hubs

Shimano’s all-new SLX M7000 drivetrain

 

2016 Yeti Cycles SB5 Carbon SLX/Reynolds Complete Mountain Bike

Frame Material:

carbon fiber

Suspension:

Switch Infinity

Rear Shock:

FOX Float Factory DPS

Rear Travel:

127 mm

Fork:

FOX 34 Float FIT4

Front Travel:

150 mm

Headset:

Cane Creek 40

Shifters:

Shimano SLX M7000 (right only)

Front Derailleur:

n/a

Rear Derailleur:

Shimano SLX M7000

ISCG Tabs:

yes, ISCG 05

Crankset:

30 t Shimano SLX M7000

Bottom Bracket:

Wheels Mfg PF30 Adapter For Shimano

Crank Arm Length:

[Beti Coral sizes x-small – medium] 170 mm, [Beti Coral sizes large – x-large] 175 mm, [Lime, Raw/Grey, Turquoise sizes x-small – small] 170 mm, [Lime, Raw/Grey, Turquoise sizes medium – x-large] 175 mm

Cassette:

11 – 42 t Shimano SLX M7000

Chain:

Shimano HG-X11

Brakeset:

Shimano SLX M7000

Brake Type:

hydraulic disc

Rotors:

180 / 160 mm

Handlebar:

Race Face Respond Riser

Handlebar Rise:

1/2 in

Handlebar Width:

785 mm

Grips:

Lizard Skins Moab lock-on

Stem:

Race Face Evolve

Stem Length:

70 mm

Saddle:

WTB Volt Comp, steel rails

Seatpost:

[XS, S, M] Race Face Turbine Dropper 100mm, [L, XL] Race Face Turbine Dropper 125mm

Seatpost Diameter:

30.9 mm

Wheelset:

[rims] Reynolds 27.5 AM LTD Carbon

Hubs:

DT Swiss 350

Front Axle:

15 x 100mm thru-axle

Rear Axle:

12 x 142mm thru-axle

Tires:

Continental Mountain King

Tire Size:

[front] 27.5 x 2.4 in, [rear] 27.5 x 2.2 in

Pedals:

not included

Recommended Use:

trail

Manufacturer Warranty:

5 years limited on frame

 

2016 Yeti Cycles SB5 Carbon SLX/Reynolds Complete Mountain Bike

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