Description

2017 Yeti Cycles SB5+ Turq XT Complete Mountain Bike

Drawing inspiration from light, nimble XC rigs and burly enduro sleds alike, the 2017 Yeti Cycles SB5+ Turq XT Complete Mountain Bike lands in the sweet spot as a snappy, responsive, trail bike that whips up to speed and handles burly terrain like the champ that it is. Its plus-sized tires add much appreciated grip through loose ground and dicey terrain, and its Shimano XT build kit and DT Swiss hoops mean it’s ready to shred whether you’re pinning on a number or heading out for a day of spontaneous adventuring.

The SB5+ Turq’s geometry closely mirrors its smaller-tire SB5 sibling, with slight tweaks to embrace up to three-inch tires for smooth, stable traction across loose terrain. Of particular note is the SB5+’s elevated chainstays, which curve upward from the shock and create a sharply pointed triangle that increased stiffness and opens up tire clearance. This curved design keeps the chainstays at a svelte 17.2 inches for snappy, confident handling when whipping through switchbacks and rocketing over dusty trails.

The frameset carries Yeti’s new Turq designation, which represents the brand’s most advanced frame construction method. For the SB5+ Turq, that means a more precise carbon layup that’s molded to reinforce key stress points along the frame without adding bulk. Yeti also claims it reduces weight by almost 300g compared to the regular version. This process results in strength where you need reinforcement, and lightness where you don’t.

With a 67.1-degree head tube angle, the SB5+ Turq is itching to bomb its way aggressively through steep rock gardens that leave little room for indecision while the short, snappy rear triangle tracks lines on a dime. Amplifying this bike’s handling prowess, Boost rear spacing allows for stubby, quick-thinking chainstays that take successive bumps in stride while finessing a tough line.

Yeti’s Switch Infinity suspension is the lynchpin of the SB5+’s versatile capability. Its linear travel hits the sweet spot of anti-squat to keep pedaling sharp across rocky climbs, and it also erases the momentary harshness that its predecessor, the Switch Link design, would display when pushed to the absolute limit. Riding with the shock open won’t condemn you to bottomless squish when you have to transition quickly into a short climb on the other side of a long descent; the bike will still claw up anything without leaving you wide-eyed and white-knuckled when you fly down a deep rollover on the other side.

Other than those changes, long term Yeti fans will be relieved to learn that the suspension systems are fairly similar. Like the Switch Link, the Switch Infinity slider travels upward under the first phase of compression, when the SB5+ is settling into its sag point. As the rear end compresses deeper, the direction changes, and the DH-inspired slider travels down toward the bottom bracket shell to maintain a steady pedaling platform. Deep in the stroke, the slider works in conjunction with the upper pivot to produce a vertical wheel path that flattens big hits. On the trail, you’ll be tempting faster lines across the chunky stuff as the SB5+ tidies up sloppy, questionable lines and sweeps rider errors under the rug.

2017 Yeti Cycles SB5+ Turq XT Complete Mountain Bike

A trail bike that display’s Yeti’s enduro prowess

Cleans technical terrain without faltering on climbs

5in of industry-leading Switch Infinity suspension

27.5+ wheels for better traction in loose conditions

Slacker front end pairs with a responsive Boost rear triangle

Top-end Turq carbon layup blends lightness and strength

Shimano XT componentry delivers precise gear shifts

2017 Yeti Cycles SB5+ Turq XT Complete Mountain Bike

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