Yeti SB95, Yeti takes their Switch suspension technology from the popular 26″-wheeled SB66 platform to the world of big-wheelers. Our test bike is assembled with Yeti’s ‘Pro’ build kit that, while leaving nearly no place left to upgrade (save for a dropper post ), makes for an undeniably pricey MSRP of $6,500 USD.
Yeti SB95 Details
• Intended use: trail/all-mountain
• Rear wheel travel: 5”/127mm
• ‘Switch’ eccentric rear suspension design
• Tapered head tube
• Splined BB shell w/ ISCG-03/05 adapter
• 135 QR or 12 x 142mm dropouts
• Dropper post cable routing
• FOX Float CTD shock
• FOX 34 120 CTD w/ 15mm thru-axle
• Full Shimano XTR drivetrain
• Colours: black or silver
• Weight: 28.14lb (w/o pedals )
• Sizes: sm, med (tested), lrg, xlrg
• Frame only MSRP: $2,250 USD
• MSRP: $6,500 USD
The SB95’s aluminum frame is a departure from Yeti’s previous mid-travel offerings in that it features relatively slack geometry and low-slung
Convertible dropouts (left ) allow SB95 owners to go with either standard 135mm QR or 12 x 142mm rear wheels. The clean lines of the SB95 do well to disguise the bike’s eccentric Switch unit and rocker link.
Switch Technology Explained
Just as found on the 26”-wheeled SB66 and SB66 Carbon, the SB95 uses Yeti’s ‘Switch’ suspension design. In order to address the pedalling part of the equation, the SB95’s eccentric rotates counter-clockwise in the early stages of the bike’s travel, which, because the swingarm pivot is mounted off-center on the eccentric, effectively lengthens the chain stays. Deeper into the travel, the eccentric switches direction and starts to rotate clockwise. The main swingarm pivot rotates on sealed cartridge bearings that are pressed into the eccentric unit, and large diameter aluminum pivot axles tie everything together. Both the eccentric unit and the rocker link are nearly completely hidden from view when facing the drive-side of the bike, giving the SB95 a very clean appearance.
Specifications
Release Date = 2013
Price = $6500
Travel = 5”/127mm
Rear Shock = FOX CTD
Fork = FOX 34 120 CTD w/ 15mm thru-axle
Headset = Cane Creek
Cassette = Shimano XTR 10spd
Crankarms = Shimano XTR w/ 26/38 rings
Bottom Bracket = Shimano XTR
Rear Derailleur = Shimano XTR 10spd
Chain = Shimano XTR 10spd
Front Derailleur = Shimano XTR
Shifter Pods = Shimano XTR 10spd
Handlebar = Easton Haven Carbon
Stem = Thomson X4
Grips = Yeti Lock-On
Brakes = Shimano XTR Trail
Wheelset = DT Swiss 350/XR400
Tires = Maxxis
Seat = WTB
Seatpost = Thomson Elite
Riding the SB-95
The black bike felt totally trail-worthy with the saddle up, ready for a long or technical climb to access the fruits of our labour, but dropping the seat transformed the SB95 to a bike that we knew we’d feel comfortable on from the get-go.
Climbing
Clearly, all credit here goes out to FOX’s compression-adjustable Float CTD shock, but there is much more to explaining a bike’s climbing mannerisms than how it covers ground on a smooth access road climb.
While we admit that we were surprised at how active the bike’s Switch suspension was in an pedalling situation, we have to concede that the bike motored up tricky sections like a treed raccoon. Staying seated and powering up loose pitches allowed the relatively short chain stays to keep weight over the rear wheel, with the result being immense amounts of traction. Front-end lift was non-existent, even with the shorter 60mm stem fitted, although we’d anticipate this to deteriorate if one was to spec the bike with a 140mm travel fork (effectively slackening the bike by a degree and changing the weight bias ) instead of the stock 120mm FOX unit – we don’t feel that a longer stroke fork would add to the SB95’s abilities on the downs, so why sacrifice on the ups? Mountain biking, that is.
Handling
The SB95 may be a 29er but it has the soul of a frisky 26”-wheeled bike. Suspension
We can see many prospective SB95 owners jumping up to a 140mm travel fork in order to slacken the bike out by a degree and add some capability, but we never felt under-gunned with the 120mm slider and the bike handled like it was an extension of our hands and feet.
Trails need not be rough to have fun on the 29”-wheeled SB95, as the bike was happy to motor along smooth singletrack as it was to plow through nasty bits.
Proper setup is key to getting the most from FOX’s CTD suspension.
• The bike’s Thomson Elite seatpost is one of those proven components that you move from bike to bike as your stable changes. When one spends $6,500 on an off the shelf super-bike, there should really be no need to spend another $300+ in order to unlock all of the bike’s potential. Yeti, the SB95 should come with a dropper post as stock equipment.
• We knocked the rear wheel out of true badly after only one day aboard the bike.
