Canfield Brothers Yelli Screamy 29er Hardtail

4.85/5

(13 Reviews)

Write a review

MSRP : $650.00

Product Description

Ever had one of the those bikes that you just have to yell and scream with joy when you rode it? Say hello to the Yelli Screamy. With the shortest chainstays and the slackest headangle of any production frame 29er on the market, the Yelli Screamy makes for one heck of a time on two wheels as it’s the first 29er that handles like a nimble little 26" frame.

Frame:

7005 Aluminum
135×10 QR dropouts
Direct mount front derailleur mount
16.7 chainstays
69 degree headangle with 100mm fork
Tapered headtube

Build Specs:

Recommend fork length(s) – 80mm, 100mm, 120mm
Front derailleur – Shimano direct mount
Bottom bracket – 73mm
Seat post – 30.9mm
Seat clamp – 35mm
Rear dropout spacing – 135mm rear spacing
Rear Disc Mount – IS disc mount
Headtube – Tapered – 44mm upper/49.6mm (1.5?) lower

Review Options: Sorted by Latest Review | Sort by Best Rating

Reviews 1 - 13 (13 Reviews Total)

User Reviews

Overall Rating:

Value Rating:

Submitted by fastfish666 a Weekend Warrior

Date Reviewed: February 18, 2013

Strengths:    vry versatile, great handling 29er hartail _- If I could only have one bike this would be it -- Occasionally my more XC racy Salsa comes out or my singlespeed if its very muddy, but this bike will pretty much do anything -- a scream to ride!

Weaknesses:    on the mk1 frames, the down-tube bottle mount is too far up (IMHO) so its a tight fit with just a small bottle (no way, without a specially adapted bottle cage to get a big bottle in there. Seat-tube bottle mounts prevent dropping the post all the way -- I dont find it a real issue as even in the bike park I find I can get my 410mm seatpost as low as I want it no probs. And if you have a hydration pack, the down-tube bottle mounts arnt really a problem. Think the Mk2 frames might have rectified these issues. A front mech might limit rear tyre to about 2.2inch but run 1x9 or 1x10 or 1x11

Bottom Line:

great bike, bit expensive,

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   over 1 year

Purchased At:   Canfield

Similar Products Used:   On-One Inbred, Salas Mamasita, Spec Camber and Epic carbon

Bike Setup:   1x9 32 12-36, 120mm Reba RLT Ti with 20mm thru-axle

Overall Rating:

Value Rating:

Submitted by daniel harvey a Cross Country Rider

Date Reviewed: October 18, 2012

Strengths:    nimble for a niner, solid, quick to accelerate and climb, confidence building on descents. Nice cable routing. I like anodized frames.

Weaknesses:    I run a Talas to help with keeping the nose tracking well on long grinds.

Bottom Line:

Loved my Rip9 but sold it within weeks of owning my Yelli. I miss the Rip 10% of the time, but if I were still riding it I'd miss the Yelli 90% of the time. I am amazed at how much I love an aluminum hardtail. That being said, I am going to build a Santa Cruz Blur Xcc 650 this winter. I'm trying to emulate the chain stay length and ht angle of the Yelli, yet still get a bit more diameter than a 26er and full suss. But I cannot imagine a world where I'm willing to ever part with my Yelli. Best bike ever for me.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   Falls Creek

Duration Product Used:   1 season

Similar Products Used:   Motobecane Ti 29er

Bike Setup:   2x9 slx.xt, Talas f29 120, Pana Rampages, G-dropper

Overall Rating:

Value Rating:

Submitted by Kristatos a All Mountain Rider

Date Reviewed: September 17, 2012

Strengths:    Geometry - playful and confidence inspiring - saved me more than once in a bad landing and rides like a 26er more than a bike with big wheels, best hardtail and most "fun" bike of any wheel size that I've ever ridden.

Details: Tire clearance is substantial. Lovely head tube badge, nice construction, attractive blue ano finish.

Unique Value: Starts more conversations on the trail than say a Giant Trance....very reasonable price for what you get.

Weaknesses:    Canfield is a smaller company which is both a strength (great to support small business) and a potential liability (stock-outs, harder to get a hold of).

Bottom Line:

Before buying a Yelli Screamy I hadn't had a hardtail in 6 years, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Previous hardtails and FS 29ers I've owned and ridden had a bit different geometry. I am not a "one bike" guy, and built up the Canfield more as an experiment, although given that I'd sold my only other mountain bike and was planning a busy fall of MTB trips to UT and Tahoe, as well as local riding in SoCal I knew I'd be leaning heavily on it, which had me nervous. What drew me to the Canfield were the somewhat relaxed head tube angle, short chain stays (for a 29er), and price - I figured I couldn't go wrong. Talked to my LBS and they got me a size L frame and built it up 1x10 with a solid spec.

The first shakedown ride I hit some local trails including some small dirt jumps - nothing big as I'm not a hucker by any means, but I found the bike incredible at taking to the air! Lofting the front wheel is almost reflexive and I am able to manual and wheelie the Yelli all day long - compared to previous 29ers and even some 26ers I've owned this was a massive advantage - Yelli Screamy was dialed for agressive riding and I couldn't wait to get it up into the mountains and on some real rocks. A few more local trail rides gave me a little pause as I struggled up some steep and loose climbs that I'd previously had no issues climbing on my RIP9 (FS 29er) - I have very wide (Race Face Atlas cut down 1/2") bars and a short stem, so I wasn't sure if this was just me getting used to the new setup and being on a hardtail again, or if I was already finding some of the bike's limits. However, I returned from each ride with perma-grin all over my face.

Next up was some alpine riding which would throw everything at me - long leg-busting climbs, fast single track with bermed out corners, log crossings, boulder rollers and lots of rock, ruts and opportunities to test myself and the bike. I'd also find out if the 1x10 setup was going to work long term, and if Yelli would hang with the 5 and 6" FS bikes the rest of the gang was running. Climbing ended up being much better - I think my earlier struggles with some steep loose stuff was probably just getting used to the bike - I found that standing up there was very little rear wheel spin compared to what I'd expect on some of the decomposed granite loose dirt. Had no problems getting to the top and pushing the 34/36 gear up the "walls" leaving the FS bikes behind. All of a sudden I was thinking this bike had potential as an enduro racer.

On rock rollers the combo of the 29er hoops and geometry of the Yelli really shined - on a 'new to me' trail I took every boulder roller and log crossing with confidence, not even stopping to see what the exit route down the other side looked like - it really was inspiring being able to cross more advanced trail features and fully enjoy them. Perma-grin ensued. Had no problem keeping up with the 26ers through the tight twisty ST and switchbacks, and in the choppy rutted stuff the Yelli held it's line and rode great. It is a hardtail, and I did take a few saddle hits to the crotch in the rock gardens, reminding me the importance of using the whole body where a full suspension bike lets you get away with quite a bit.

Overall super stoked on this bike. Would I race Super-D or Enduro on it? Probably not - a hardtail does beat you up a little and I will build up another 5" bike for those. For trail riding, hitting the local dirt jumps and long days in the alpine country - Yelli Screamy is my go-to. For my trip to UT this fall it's a tough call - if I don't get a 5" bike built up before then I am confident the Yelli can handle the terrain and that I'll be ok, if just a little sore, after 6 hour days in the saddle. Oh and did I mention the perma-grin?

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   A dozen rides

Purchased At:   LBS

Similar Products Used:   Other 29ers: Niner RIP9

Bike Setup:   2012 Yelli Screamy, Marzocchi 44 Ti 120mm fork, XT brakes, Arch rims/XT hubs, Ardent front Ikon rear tires, Canfield Crampon Ultimate or Time ATAC pedals depending on day/terrrain, Race Face crank w/34T ring, MRP (BB mount) chain guide, XT 11-36T cassette

Overall Rating:

Value Rating:

Submitted by cookerq a All Mountain Rider

Date Reviewed: June 28, 2012

Strengths:    Perfect geometry, low bottom bracket, Rails corners, eats tech sections, stays planted on climbs and sprints, nimble, stiff rear anodized finish, build quality, 3 water bottle mounts, TONS! of stand over, Looks, bar clearance, good cable routing....

Weaknesses:    Chaining clearance can be a pain. Rear dropouts require me unscrew the skewer. Could be lighter/stiffer with some more shaping or butting in the tubes.

Bottom Line:

This is going to be the standard geometry for 29ers, give or take some angles. Hands down I would take this frame over ANY 29er frame out there. The short chain stays let you hammer out of the saddle without breaking the rear end loose and give plenty of traction when climbing. They also make the front end pop up easily. I had a standard geo xc 29er and it handled like crap. I can honestly say I am much faster on this bike without working as hard. It's just flat out fun to ride. Build quality is top notch. The welds and finish are as good as any aluminum USA made frame except the old Cannondales. The only reason I am giving it 4 for an overall rating is this bike could be even better with some refining.

Expand full review >>

Similar Products Used: Ellsworth Truth, Carbon 456, Stumpjumper 29er, and Salsa Bandito

Bike Setup: 120mm Reba, C29SSmax, Racing Ralphs, 1x9

Overall Rating:

Value Rating:

Submitted by Sin-man a Cross Country Rider

Date Reviewed: May 18, 2012

Strengths:    Fun, flickable, easy to ride over trail obstacles. Excellent stand over height. All mountain geo makes it fun to ride. My previous bike was a Cannondale Rush, a nice bike, but this is much easier on the more technical trail, and I don't miss the rear suspension 98% of the time. I mostly ride XC trails and some techy stuff, around here Lynn Woods is THE place for AM/Free riding, but I rarely go there.
The color!! I picked the gloss orange, the anodized colors will last longer, but I love the orange!

Weaknesses:    The chain ring/chain stay clearance is really tight, it's the price you pay for the geometry, tire clearance, and the all important short chain stays. Buy a chain guide right away, I did not and wish I had.

Bottom Line:

If you are willing to build a bike from the frame up, and you don't want/need the typical XC racer geometry, this is the bike! I've been riding for 2 decades and I had never built a bike from the frame up, the dollars add up fast! This geometry is becoming more common, but the Canfield Brothers are leaders with this bike and the Nimble 9.
I am finding that I have more confidence on the more intimidating trail sections, and I'm more able to clear sections that were tricky on my previous bike.
I may buy a full suspension bike someday, but for the riding I do most of the time, a hardtail 29'r is what I need.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   Beverly Commons Willowdale

Price Paid:    $650.00

Purchased At:   Canfield Brothers

Similar Products Used:   None, previous bike was a Cannondale Rush 800, I test rode a Specialized carbon HT 29'r, and a few of Niner's HT models, but for typical demo rides.

Bike Setup:   Dingle speed: Shimano XT front der. and shifter, SRAM X9 39/26 crank/BB
Origin 8 Spacebar2
Stan's Crest ZTR wheels
Surly 20t cog
WTB SST saddle
Niner rigid steel fork planning on getting a Manitou Tower Pro
Ritchey seat post
Truvativ Holzfeller 35 mm stem shortest stem I've ever had

Overall Rating:

Value Rating:

Submitted by bikekayakhike a Cross Country Rider from Kalama, WA

Date Reviewed: March 23, 2012

Strengths:    Corners like a dream, great tire clearance...descends like a 5 inch travel bike. Great standover height. I have two rides on the Yelli and I can't wait to ride it again. This is my new winter bike and will probably become my first jump/indoor park bike. This bike just makes me smile.

Weaknesses:    Maybe clearance for larger chainrings, but, then the tire clearance would not be as good.

Bottom Line:

Buy one.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   Yes

Duration Product Used:   Less than 1 month

Price Paid:    $450.00

Purchased At:   Canfield

Similar Products Used:   Sir9, One Ghost Ronin, but they are not very similar. Really in a class by itself

Bike Setup:   Sram XO 2x10, Hope hubs with carbon 30mm rims. Reba 140 RLT Ti.

Overall Rating:

Value Rating:

Submitted by jdusto a Cross Country Rider from Sammamish, WA

Date Reviewed: January 30, 2012

Strengths:    Nimble, responsive, and a strong frame design giving you confidence to push it hard as a true all-mountain ride.

Weaknesses:    Tight clearance issues with FD and rear tire. The mountings for the bottle holder on the seat tube interferes with the seatpost when you attempt to really lower the seat. Slack geometry makes climbing a bit of a challenge.

Bottom Line:

This bike rips like no other 29er I have tried. With the slacker geometry and low BB height (even with a 140mm fork), this bike craves around corners and attacks rock and gnarl. This is definitely a bike for those seeking a true all-mountain experience in riding up the hill and then flying back down.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   Duthie Hill

Duration Product Used:   3 months

Price Paid:    $650.00

Purchased At:   Online from Canfield

Similar Products Used:   Jamis Durango 29, Santa Cruz Tallboy

Bike Setup:   Rockshox Reba 140mm fork + Shimano XT 3x10 drive train

Overall Rating:

Value Rating:

Submitted by jeffw-13 a Weekend Warrior from Beaver Falls, PA

Date Reviewed: January 17, 2012

Strengths:    Great handling, stiff, tough, easy to manual, climbs great, huge tire clearance. Awesome do-it-all bike. My go to bike for everything but racing.

Weaknesses:    ISCG tabs would be nice, Ive heard people complain about front derailleur rubbing the tire. I run 1x9, no issues. The area between the chainstay & bottom bracket collects mud & ice in winter

Bottom Line:

Great do-it-all bike. 9 times out of 10 it's the bike I reach for whether riding buff single track or rocky technical rides. The bike handles great on the tight twisty trails common to Western PA (Brady's Run, Bavington) and also rides well in the rocky stuff a little further north (Moraine, West Branch). Somehow the front end is easy to manual over obstacles but I never have any issues keeping the front end planted on steep climbs. Down hill it just rips. Feather the brakes & let 'er rip. I absolutely love this bike. It dares me to go the hard way

Throw some big volume tires on it to soften up the ride. Its a burly stiff frame. Rides very comfortable with the 2.4 Purgatory's I have on it

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   West Branch Ohio

Duration Product Used:   1 Year

Price Paid:    $450.00

Purchased At:   Canfield Bros demo f

Similar Products Used:   None. Only AM 29er hardtail Ive owned

Bike Setup:   XL frame, 140mm Marzocchi Bomber (No headset spacers & low rise bar to keep the front planted) Flows on Hope hubs, 2.4 Purgatory tires front & rear

Overall Rating:

Value Rating:

Submitted by bluestatevirgin a Weekend Warrior from oregon

Date Reviewed: November 12, 2011

Strengths:    Descends, corners, and handles tech like a champ. Short stays and angles make it agile. For an aluminum hardtail, I don't find it overly harsh.

Weaknesses:    Not a weakness per se, but I came off an 80mm fork and steeper angled geo, and it took me some time to adjust. Rewards standing and mashing climbing moreso that sit and spinning. Rewards a more active, agressive riding style.

Bottom Line:

Top notch ripper. Climbs and descends tech well, and great at both slow and fast speeds. Lots o' room for wider tires. Slow tech climbing is great, but the slacker angles and longer fork means longer, steeper climbs take adjustments. Riders who do long climbs might consider a travel adjusting fork. Perfect shorter rides with lots of steep ups and downs.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   any

Duration Product Used:   6 months

Price Paid:    $650.00

Purchased At:   canfield website

Similar Products Used:   None really.

Bike Setup:   Reba Team @ 120mm. Wide Salsa bars & 70mm stem. Hope/Flows with wide tires. 1x9.

Overall Rating:

Value Rating:

Submitted by gregcan a Weekend Warrior from Victoria BC CAN

Date Reviewed: November 8, 2011

Strengths:    Superior geometry; short stays, slack HT, low standover, low BB.

Weaknesses:    Hardtail?

Bottom Line:

The Yelli Screamy is the best cornering, descending, most composed 29er I have ridden. If like me, you never felt steep, long, XC hardtails suited your riding style or area, buy one of these! The hype seems true; somehow the rear end harshness fades the more you ride it. All I need now is a tire that is as good as the bike is:)

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   BTITW

Duration Product Used:   3 months

Price Paid:    $999.00

Similar Products Used:   Surly KM, Niner RIP9.

Bike Setup:   Cromag bar, WB Fluid 135; lighter AM.

Overall Rating:

Value Rating:

Submitted by hrdude a Cross Country Rider from Oregon

Date Reviewed: September 2, 2011

Strengths:    Technical riding and climbing. Slow speed chunk. Railing smoother descents & switchbacks. Great trailbike.

Weaknesses:    Water bottle bosses on seat tube limit post drop. Due to hardtail, maybe not the best choice for wide open super fast & rough trails.

Bottom Line:

This my first 29er and first time riding a hardtail in many years. The bike is great for my style of riding and local trails (lots of steep up/down and technical).
I am finding the bike to be better at everything than my 5" fs 26er. I am cleaning more sections, climbing easier and riding noticeably faster. If you have steep ups/downs and tight technical terrain or smooth fast terrain, this bike is for you. The geometry is dialed. Thank you Canfield Bro's!

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   Post Canyon

Duration Product Used:   Less than 1 month

Price Paid:    $650.00

Purchased At:   Canfield Bro's

Bike Setup:   Fox Talas 29, Shimano XT 10 spd 2x, Easton Haven carbon wheels.

Overall Rating:

Value Rating:

Submitted by whydomylegshurt? a Cross Country Rider from Redondo Beach

Date Reviewed: June 28, 2011

Strengths:    Fun bike to ride, that is it's best strength

Weaknesses:    None so far

Bottom Line:

This bike rocks, it is my go to ride. It is a stable climber, great in tight tech, and super fun on downhill runs. In the first month of owning this bike I cleaned a technical climbing trail section out in Kernville that I had been working on for years, I was really surprised by how well it did. The downhill performance was no surprise as the geometery is dialed for that.

If you are looking for a fun 29er hardtail this is the bike to get.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   Romero

Duration Product Used:   6 months

Price Paid:    $650.00

Purchased At:   Canfield Website

Similar Products Used:   SIR 9, AIR 9, GT Peace 9er, Black Cat custom 9er,

Bike Setup:   120mm FOX FIT, Stans Flow rims on ZTR hubs

Overall Rating:

Value Rating:

Submitted by GPRider08 a Weekend Warrior from Kansas City, MO

Date Reviewed: June 20, 2011

Strengths:    Very stable and lacks twitch of a XC rig, comfortable, you sit in and not on the bike, very responsive handling, tons of tire clearance, and can handle some pretty big forks. Oh, and the frame looks pretty nice, and the anodized finish ensures it will stay that way for awhile!

Weaknesses:    Climbing is a little less efficient than I'm used to. The chainstays limit your choice of front chainrings.

Bottom Line:

Demo is for the 2010 Canfield Yelli Screamy frame. A great alternative to the classic XC hardtail. Other than a few FS demos (also XC oriented), I only rode hardtails or rigids, all of which had the classic XC design; long TT, long stays, steep HT angle, and low BB. And none had travel of more than 100mm. So, trying out this bike was a real eye opener. I liked it so much, when the option to buy the one I tried was put up for sale by the owner, I was all over it! First, this bike is so smooth. I wasn't as stretched out as on my old bikes. It took a little getting used to, but once I did, I felt like I could ride all day. Obviously, the 29er wheels rolled over a lot. But, with the stability offered by this bike's design, I had the confidence to take on just about anything. The ability to slap on a 120mm fork just makes it even better. The handling was surprisingly quick, and I was able to flick it around some pretty tight corners. The climbing was OK but not as great as I'm used to. But overall, this bike rocks, especially if you're looking for a great, comfortable, all-around bike, this is the ticket.

Expand full review >>

Favorite Trail:   Landahl

Duration Product Used:   Tested or demo'ed only

Price Paid:    $400.00

Purchased At:   Private Sale

Similar Products Used:   '08 Rockhopper Comp Disc

Bike Setup:   Fox F29RL, 1x7 drivetrain.

Reviews 1 - 13 (13 Reviews Total)

Review Options: Sorted by Latest Review | Sort by Best Rating

Canfield Brothers Yelli Screamy 29er Hardtail

Product Description

User Reviews

Related Yelli Screamy Forum Posts

2012 Niner AIR 9:

GT: