Description

2016 Yeti Cycles SB5 Carbon SLX Complete Mountain Bike

 

For 2016, Yeti didn’t bother to make any changes to the SB5 frame. Given the bike’s all-mountain pedigree, we’re okay with that. We’ve built the SB5 Carbon SLX Complete Mountain Bike up with a mix of Shimano, Race Face, and FOX in order to tease as much enduro aggression out of the Switch Infinity suspension as possible.

As pleased as we are with the workhorse spec sheet, 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.

An all-mountain machine 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

Built-up with a workhorse drivetrain and wheels

 

2016 Yeti Cycles SB5 Carbon SLX Complete Mountain Bike

Frame Material:

carbon fiber

Suspension:

Switch Infinity

Rear Shock:

FOX Float Factory DPS

Rear Travel:

127mm

Fork:

FOX 34 Float 3Pos-Adj FIT4

Front Travel:

150mm

Headset:

Cane Creek 40

Shifters:

Shimano SLX M7000

Front Derailleur:

n/a

Rear Derailleur:

Shimano SLX M7000

ISCG Tabs:

ISCG 05

Crankset:

30t Shimano SLX M7000

Bottom Bracket:

Race Face PF30 to 24mm

Crank Arm Length:

175mm

Cassette:

11 – 42t Shimano SLX M7000

Brakeset:

Shimano SLX M7000

Brake Type:

hydraulic disc

Rotors:

180 / 160mm

Handlebar:

Race Face Respond

Handlebar Rise:

1/2in

Handlebar Width:

785mm

Grips:

Lizard Skins Moab lock-on

Stem:

Race Face Evolve

Stem Length:

60mm

Saddle:

WTB Volt Comp

Seatpost:

Race Face Turbine Dropper

Seatpost Diameter:

30.9mm

Wheelset:

Race Face Aeffect

Front Axle:

15 x 100mm thru-axle

Rear Axle:

12 x 142mm thru-axle

Tires:

Continental Mountain King

Tire Size:

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

Pedals:

not included

Recommended Use:

trail

Manufacturer Warranty:

5 years limited on frame

 

2016 Yeti Cycles SB5 Carbon SLX Complete Mountain Bike

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