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Submitted by
YETI05
a Weekend Warrior
from Chicago, IL
Date Reviewed: October 13, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | public buildings and streets | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | rails corners, strong, pops wheelies, geo, travel, pedals very well, manuverable, balance | | Weaknesses: | heavy (came from ASR and hardtails), flexy rearend, high standover height | | Bike Setup: | sherman breakout, 5th element, Truvativ cockpit, Shimano drivetrain (1x9), Weirwolf 2.3/Precision hub WTB LaserDisc DH front ,Velociraptor/DT Swiss rear | | Bottom Line: | i have stopped riding my Yeti ASR and plan to sell it to upgrade parts on ASX. 1st time sitting on the bike i felt at home, geo was perfect except for standover height. don't mind standover height now because the bike is very well balanced. i can ride at very slow speeds around techy turns without free of falling over or haveing to put my foot down cause i'm going to slow. the bike pedals very good. i prefer to pedal this over my ASR on city streets, trails, and even uphill might not be as fast but feels more fun on this one. corners amazing, bike really likes to be steered with the body not the handlebars. wheelies and manuals very easy. suspension is very plush. feels rough on the small stuff but plush on the big stuff (told this is due to the fork and how i have my rear shock set up). bike can be built to suit ur needs. trail/FR/DH. i have 2 other bikes and i alway choose this one to ride everywhere. i might look out of place on city streets but now a days i find myself thinking i want to ride down that or jump off of that while riding. the bike is truly amazing and will open ur eyes to new lines and obsticals that u never thought to ride. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
nickyeti
a Downhiller
from poway,CA,united states
Date Reviewed: August 12, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | mammoth,ted williams | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2600.00 | | Purchased At: | beyond bikes(highly | | Strengths: | the parts spec.it rides great and handles everything. ITS A YETI! | | Weaknesses: | the paint.and the back shock is hard to take off. | | Similar Products Used: | v10. iron horse sunday.foes fly.haro x7. | | Bike Setup: | 2007 yeti freeride biuld in a medium(i am only 5.3 and i fit on it fine). upgrades. e13 light guide with taco tompson seatpost and tires | | Bottom Line: | this is a great bike and i highy recomend it for freeride and downhill. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Daniel Thompson
a Downhiller
from tiburon, ca
Date Reviewed: March 1, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | my trails.... | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1750.00 | | Purchased At: | some guy | | Strengths: | great frame, never will break. i love the suspension set up and all that stuff. the bike is great! | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | SX, kona stinky, maybe big hit... | | Bike Setup: | 2006 frame, rock shox totem, fox dhx 5.0, xtr disc brakes, and so on... | | Bottom Line: | great bikes! the frame seems like it will never break. i absolutely recommend this bike with a totem. make sure the bike is made in colorado. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
justin carson
a Downhiller
from davis, ca
Date Reviewed: December 27, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | spots i built | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | some guy... | | Strengths: | love everything. looks to geometry its all great | | Weaknesses: | when you bottom out my ass hits the tire and that can be bad if your going fast | | Similar Products Used: | bullit, haro x7 but didnt like em as much | | Bike Setup: | black yetias-x, domain fork, juicy 7 discs, nevegal tires, dhx5 rear shock, race face ride dh crank, 5050 pedals etc... | | Bottom Line: | awsome bike and i got the frame for 650, whopping deal, just saying if your about my height, 6ft 1 then get a layback seatpost if you care about ur balls. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Weekend Warrior
from Calera, AL, USA
Date Reviewed: October 1, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$3100.00 | | Purchased At: | Beyondbikes.com | | Strengths: | Quality like no other at any price. Frame tubing and welds are gorgeous and second to none. Bike is plush and smooth no matter what you ride it on. It's The all mountain bike and the kicker is it climbs efficiently! Looks awesome and is tough as a bike comes. It really is a 'do it all' if you are in the all mountain aggressive category. | | Weaknesses: | None. Well maybe the month I waited to get this bike and it was pricy too. | | Similar Products Used: | None that are in this bike's catagory. Own Fisher's and Specialized. | | Bike Setup: | 2007 ASX, 2008 Fox Talas36 RC2 fork, Fox DHX5.0(500# spring), FSA pig DH pro sealed headset, the rest is the Yeti freeride kit. | | Bottom Line: | Best bike I've ever seen and rode and I'm a fortunate rider to own one. The only change I will be making on this bike in the future is on the tires, it came with Maxxis Minion downhill tires at 2.5 and I'm switching to a 2.35 size to shed a little weight as I'm not a full blown downhiller. Bike has all the possibilies, build it for your needs and be done. Have fun!
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from DC Metro Area
Date Reviewed: September 17, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2800.00 | | Strengths: | Ultra Strong, Confidence Inspiring, Great Craftsmanship, Spot-on Geometry, Rides like a much lighter bike. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Too many to list..... | | Bike Setup: | Fox 36 Float, Race face tri-ring setup (for riding from the house), Tompson seatpost and stem, Maxxis 2.5 tires | | Bottom Line: | This bike is awesome. I own a bunch of bikes that I love but it seems I always take the AS-X. This bike can REALLY do it all. It may be a bit slow on the ups, but really, its not spec'd for that anyway and Yeti tells you that straightaway. I might add that I do manage stair climbs as-well-as drops. This bike can truly handle whatever you dish out. The Fox 5.0 rear / 36 Float fork combo really are a perfect match for my riding.
On a side note - it looks way cool and gets thumbs-ups wherever I go (everywhere). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
topher
a Downhiller
from portland, or
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | extendo | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | full cycles | | Strengths: | This bike is so unbelievably sick I can't even describe it. Smooth as hell over anything and rock solid, the faster you go the more in control you are! | | Weaknesses: | wasn't free | | Similar Products Used: | kona dawg primo, yeti 575, versus blitz 2 | | Bike Setup: | rockshox domain 318, yeti asx w/ fox dhx 5.0 coil | | Bottom Line: | if you're looking for a bike that can do it all the asx is totally rad, it's solid, smooth, and extremely stable, I love it and am extremely impressed with how well it rides! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nate
a Downhiller
from Ivins, UT
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Bootleg | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | DC | | Strengths: | Solid frame. Some brake jack in the rear due to the single pivot design. The Fox DHX 5.0 offers great adjust ability. Nice tight maneuverable feel that is at home downhill or trail riding | | Weaknesses: | Paint on swing arm scratches easily. Kept losing the bolts from the rear der hanger | | Similar Products Used: | Stinky | | Bike Setup: | Med frame with Fox DHX 5.0, Sherman breakout plus, Mavic ex729 wheels, Maxxis Minion 2.5 front and rear, Race Face x-type crankset with FSA exterior bottom bracket, WTB saddle | | Bottom Line: | Great bike for about a hundreds less than similar rigs. Can be trail rode or taken downhill. I have loved this bike for over a year now and have no plans to retire it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben Dover
a Downhiller
from Bay area
Date Reviewed: June 19, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | whizzler | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2850.00 | | Strengths: | light, good parts spec, cheap, looks good | | Weaknesses: | I got an alternate build kit, costed more for cheaper parts. whatever.
tire hits the frame, maxxis minion 2.5 | | Similar Products Used: | vp free, older bighit, demo 9 | | Bike Setup: | 36 vanilla R, DHX 5 coil, X9, juicy 3's
450 lb coil, I weigh 140 w/o gear so 400 is better | | Bottom Line: | I use this as my DH bike, it is still plush in the rocks and things, but it is easier to throw around. I can just pick up the bike and change lines at speed, effortlessly. It rails turns. It loves to jump, much easier than my old bighit ( with 24" ) It came in stock with single ply's and light tubes at 38 pounds
I run it with a 36, and it feels great. I am considering a bigger fork later on for northstar and whistler, but for this year I feel confident on the 36 coil.
If you ride smooth dh, freeride, or anything with some pedaling / jumping, this is the bike. not ideal for rough races though. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Weekend Warrior
from Tucson
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Miligrosa | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Go-Ride | | Strengths: | Very strong, simple design, bulletproof. Pretty plush when set up right. Price. | | Weaknesses: | Not a very good climber, weight?, needs to have a bolted rear axle to make it stiff. | | Similar Products Used: | Stinky Primo, SX Trail, FXR, | | Bike Setup: | XO, 66sl, CK hubs/headset, Avid brakes, Thompson, RF Atlas/Diabolus, Maxxis . | | Bottom Line: | Great bike for the price. Excellant freerider/beginner DH, decent all mountain. Don't expect a great climber and you will be fine. Your friends will wait at the top...you will wait at the bottom! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tony ...Whats his face
a Downhiller
from Pennsylvania
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Diablo Freeride Park | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$3.00 | | Strengths: | It's great for pedaling. The frame quality is great. I was suprised by the welds and the craftsmanship. You would think of it as more of a trail bike, but its great through the real rough stuff (rock gardens), and its great for jumping and dropping. I was absolutely amazed how well it handled at speed. | | Weaknesses: | None found at all! | | Similar Products Used: | Kona stinky | | Bike Setup: | FOX 40, Race face cranks, all XTR shimono, hayes 8" brakes. | | Bottom Line: | It is a great bike like a said. You can use it for a lot of things (even trail riding with a triple crown fork). Freeriding, downhill, or trail riding (maybe even cross country if you put a single crown fork on it) it is a great bike. Just put a single crown fork on it if you do more moderate riding. Its a bike that can be specifically used for one thing, or used for many things, very versitile. It pedals great for a full suspension bike, and can take anything else another downhill bike can take. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
robert
a Downhiller
from santa maria, ca , usa
Date Reviewed: February 18, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | velocity | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2800.00 | | Purchased At: | pedal power bicycles | | Strengths: | pedals like a dream i ride up big hills with ease especually with the pro pedal setting on the dhx 5.0, looks awesome best feeling bike ive ever ridden | | Weaknesses: | nothing except the paint on the swingarm seems to scratch really easy but i dont care that much | | Similar Products Used: | kona stinky, demo 9 pro, big hit 3 | | Bike Setup: | 2007 as-x small frame, race face bars and stem, race face diablous cranks and bash gaurd, mavic ex729 rims, fox 36 VANr, dhx 5.0, x.9 derailer | | Bottom Line: | bottom line is this bike kicks major ass ive taken it of 10ft drops with ease, flew through sum rocky nasty sections and the yeti takes it like a champ if your lookin for a all around bike that will hold up through hell get one of these you wont be disapointed! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
osa losa
a
from nowhere
Date Reviewed: January 21, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | none at all, it is frekin horrible | | Weaknesses: | geometry sucks, paint sucks, costumer service sucks, it sucks | | Bottom Line: | this bike sucks, ill never buy yeti again | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tom B
a Downhiller
from Wellington, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: November 29, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Ridgeline | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | Second hand on trademe | | Strengths: | Very sturdy and not overly heavy. Rear wheel tracks the ground very well and can take the bigger hits with ease. Small size is quite flickable | | Weaknesses: | Difficult to change spring/remove shock | | Bike Setup: | Yeti ASX frame, 07 Marzocchi 66 SL1 ATA forks, Trailpimp wheels, Sram X7 gearing, Hayes HFX9 brakes. | | Bottom Line: | A very good frame for the rough and tight single track in my area. Handles everything I've thrown at it from drops to dirtjumps to high speed rocky trails with ease. Also corners very well. I am 6'4 and ride a small size as I have come off a DJ bike and wanted to retain the flickability. A very good performing bike that is perfect for someone wanting a predictable ride that can handle the bigger stuff but still absorb the small bumps. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy Dodsworth
a Downhiller
from LEEDS, WEST YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND
Date Reviewed: October 7, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Hamsterley | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | The house of Bikes | | Strengths: | Good looking bike, climbs well for 10lbs frame. Very little bob when hammering. Nice welds. | | Weaknesses: | I have had this bike for 3 months and only managed to ride it twice in that time due to serious problems with the frame. The rear swingarm was bent and twisted when it arrived. After talking with the shop where i bought it and Yeti I ended up paying full price for a new swingarm Yeti were not helpful at all totaly fobbed me off blaming shipping. I had Biketreks in the lakes fit the new swingarm which they got from Bromley bikes, I picked it up and it was still not right, the rear wheel sits 5mm out of line. This they said was normal!!! and within tollerence!!! YETI YOUR QUALITY SUCKS BIG TIME!!
I have had several high end bikes from big names such as Santa Cruz and I have never had any problems at all. So far this bike has cost me $3000 and it still is not right. I will be selling this bike as soon as I can get the frame fixed. | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Heckler, V10, VPFREE. | | Bike Setup: | FOX DHX 5, 40R, XM321, SRAM X9, HAYES MAG HD. | | Bottom Line: | Yeti service sucks not helpful and the UK side is even worse.
If the engineering talents of Yeti and their dealers can only fix a frame to with in 5mm then they have some serious problems.
I will be trying to get this bike sorted so I can sell it, when traveling at 30km/hr + on a downhill run you need confidence in the bike you use....I have none in the Yeti product. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Caine
a Downhiller
from Denmark
Date Reviewed: September 23, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Fishtrail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Realy strong and full of life when going down the hill and very eavy to control in mid air | | Weaknesses: | when fitting a new rear shock or just setting it up for longer or shorter travel you have to do a long of disacembly | | Similar Products Used: | Marin Wildcat Trail 02, Scott nitrous 20 05 | | Bike Setup: | Manitou Breakout plus (suspension fork), Manitou Metel (rear shock), Shimano XT Grip and rear shifter, Tuative Blaze ISIS crankset, Raceface Diablous Stem and handlebars, Hayes HFX-9 breaks | | Bottom Line: | Real fun and sweet ride that can handle almost any thing you do whit it | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Bongiorno
a Weekend Warrior
from Florida
Date Reviewed: August 10, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | Jenson | | Strengths: | Very nice frame,with two travel settings and great geometry.This frame takes anything I throw at it, with no squeaking or creaks of any kind.Very plush with no pedal bob during climbs or desents.I have a fifth element on mine and can just run over anything without losing control {nice].The a-sx is the perfect do all frame. | | Weaknesses: | Paint is thin on rear swing arm, need tool to take shock on and off | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale jekyll,Trek session | | Bike Setup: | Truvativ, z1 sport, avid, shimano, thomson. | | Bottom Line: | This is a great frame to beat on, the quality is superb. It is not an xc bike {I have a cannondale for that}but will get you up the hill better than most I have ridden. Yetti support is good, and they answer their phones! One inportant note,this bike has such a good rear suspension that selecting anything other then the best and most expensive fork futile. Marzocchi 66, 888, or fox 40, 36 rc2 are great options. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joey Asprea
a Downhiller
from Ewa Beach,Hawaii
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Makakilo, Camp Timberline | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1400.00 | | Purchased At: | Shaka Bikes and Boards | | Strengths: | *Listed price is for frame only* Agile and a true do anything bike. Minimal bob for single pivot design, relativley inexpensive and comes with the DHX 5.0. Open to many set up options i.e. trail bike,freeride bike,dh bike. The only DH/FR bike I can pedal up most trails, with a dual ring set up. Burly frame, stable and most of all, just a perfect and fun all around bike. | | Weaknesses: | Paint could be a little tougher. I have the work (brown) color, and can scratch easily. Special Yeti tool needed to change spring on the shock. I had to use an arbor press to removed pressed in parts to remove the spring. No riding performance based complaints though. | | Similar Products Used: | Orange 224
Big Hit
| | Bike Setup: | Custom build, 06 888rc2x, 06 sram xo med. cage and shifters and casette, 06 raceface dh cranks, 06 sun mtx w/ dt swiss spokes and atomlab hubs, protaper bars w/ oury lock ons and Danger Boy stem,Chris King headset (headtube reducers needed 1.5"-1 1/8") 06 Hayes HFX-9 w/ DB levers, Funn saddle. | | Bottom Line: | Highly capable bike. I even used it for a 24hr XC endurance race minus the 888. With a 1.5 headtube the options for a build are endless. A go anywhere, do anything kind of bike. Great value and customer service and with a Dangerous Dan inspired design you can't wrong. I'm extremeley picky when it comes to bikes and Yeti has done an awesome job with this frame. The potential is unsurpassed, it truly is the prime defintion of "Freeride" translated in aluminum nirvana. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
AKRida
a Downhiller
from PG
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Weight, strength, pedalling efficiency, progressiveness of suspension. | | Weaknesses: | large frame, i'm 6"3 love the top tube length, but would like the rear seat to drop a bit more, on the larger drops and forgetting what bike i'm on sometimes ya suck up the drop a bit to much with the knee's and get wacked in the funbags. | | Similar Products Used: | most everything, i work in a bikeshop :) | | Bike Setup: | 05 Yeti ASX, 06 Fox 36RC2, Hugi FR hubs, 321 rims, Magura Gustav Brakes etc, totally custom. | | Bottom Line: | Bike owns all, mine weighs in at 39.2 pounds total custom build, wasn't to fond of the headangle with the 200mm 888 on it so i went with the Fox 36RC2 and am much happier, the bike pedals amazingly, i actually enjoy pedalling up hills to get to my favorite trails now, even with using a single ring + chainguide and 38tooth, bike handles drops like a champ, feels plusher than my old 8 inch Banshee Scream on every drop which was quite surprising, very nimble bike, very good design, all out great quaility at a very reasonable price. in my opinion it is the best all out do it all bike around, XC it one day, and spend the week in whistler the next, it's not out of place in any situation. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Osama Bin laden
a Downhiller
from Iraq
Date Reviewed: May 10, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Bomb Craters are pretty sweet | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | 1367 | | Strengths: | everything, handles bomb craters like it was made for people that run from americans. the little frame makes it easier to get out of the way of gunshots | | Weaknesses: | i broke the brake in half but otherwise it was awsome(no brake made it easier and cooler when i was running from the U.S | | Similar Products Used: | jeeps highjacked humvees | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | this thing is perfect for alqauda(sp) and U.S. haters. sucks when it comes to road races but otherwise this thing is fo sho. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Osama Bin laden
a Downhiller
from Iraq
Date Reviewed: May 10, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Bomb Craters are pretty sweet | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | 1367 | | Strengths: | everything, handles bomb craters like it was made for people that run from americans. the little frame makes it easier to get out of the way of gunshots | | Weaknesses: | i broke the brake in half but otherwise it was awsome(no brake made it easier and cooler when i was running from the U.S | | Similar Products Used: | jeeps highjacked humvees | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | this thing is perfect for alqauda(sp) and U.S. haters. sucks ass when it comes to road races but otherwise this thing is fo sho. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Downhiller
from Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 4, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Strengths: | This bike is awsome. It pedals so much better then anything else in it's class. Unlike 99% of freeride bikes, you can actually get up and srint on it without the suspension bouncing all over the place. perfect bike for DH racing in Ontario. It feels much lighter then what it actually is. | | Weaknesses: | A little pedal feedback but typical from a single pivot design with this much travel. | | Similar Products Used: | '05 Orange Patriot 7+ (in parking lot)
'03 Specialized Big Hit comp
'05 Norco A-line
'04 Brodie Diablo
'04 Oryx spit fire 33 | | Bike Setup: | AS-X w/5th element, Manitou breakout plus, truvativ holzfeller cranks & stem, mavic ex729rims w/saint hubs + dt alpine III spokes, Hayes nine HD w/goodridge lines, etc... | | Bottom Line: | If you're looking for a bike that'll do it all then look no further. This bike goes up hills and pedals like an all mountain bike and decends like a full out downhill bike. This bike is seen in the bike video "unchained" doing some pretty big stuff. it's orange and seen mainly on the 2nd disc. Yeti's aren't cheap but well worth the money. you'll end up keeping for much longer then other bikes because it's strong, reliable, fast and just works so well! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Perry Morgan
a Weekend Warrior
from Brisbane, Australia
Date Reviewed: April 6, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Nirvana / Stupidly Happy | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Gift | | Strengths: | Well first off I was attracted to it's looks. I ordered the bike complete from the factory so the specs are what are shown on the yeti website. The interesting thing is that although the site shows it comes with x.7 gear it turned up with x.9. You gotta be happy with that :)
The powdercoated black finish has proved to be very durable. I chose to upgrade to this finish after reading reviews on this site pointing out the paint was a little too easily knocked about and so far I have been impressed with it and it's ease of cleaning. The dirt does not really stick to it.
This bike just feels "right" when you sit on it. The same sort of feeling you get when you sit on a new, big dirt bike, it just feels good under you and gives you that feeling that makes you just want to take it out and try all the stuff that used to freak you out.
The forks I got on mine (fox van 36's) are just beautiful. After riding my other bike with a set of triples on it I was a bit suspect about how the bike would cope with such soft forks. Even when I cranked up the preload it still felt too soft. But when I hit the trails it just soaked up EVERYTHING like it was no big deal. Now I've backed off the preload and it just turns the ugliest terrain into a cloud like ride.
Although no xc bike it is a capable climber putting my norco manik hardtail to shame (if the ground wasn't flat the thing would want to wheelstand all the way up). | | Weaknesses: | I have ridden a few of these and the only problem the older ones had was some slight ovaling of the dogbone travel adjust holes. That has supposedly been remedied and apart from that I can find any. I am having a small issue with a bit of pedal feedback but I am told that can be gotten rid of by setting the shock up better. The previous one I rode with the 5th element did not suffer from it but I really am not familiar with shock settings and am doing a bit of trial and error as I learn.
My only little regret is that I did not go for the higher spec forks offered that may give a little more control over movement while climbing. The pike U-turns on the previous one I rode were awesome. With a casual flick of a lever the fork was buttery soft or rock solid. | | Similar Products Used: | 04 Specialized hardrock sports (outgrew this thing FAST)
05 Norco Manik. Loved it but was a pig to climb with.
04 AS-X Med frame with Pike U-turns and 5th element. Felt much more nimble than it's bigger brother
04 AS-X Large frame with Sherman forks and 5th element (at 6'1") I found this much harder to just pop the front wheel up and over something | | Bike Setup: | As per the site: www.yeticycles.com with a wireless computer being the only added part so far. | | Bottom Line: | Waiting for this to arrive in the shop reminded me of being a kid and waiting for santa. Time seemed to draaaaag. But man was it worth it. I just can describe the joy this bike brings me.
One of the things I LOVE about this bike is how quiet it is. The lower swingarm bars come up from the rear hub and then join the bike half way up the seatpost tube. That means the chain sits under the swingarm and there is no chain smashing into the bike as you go over rough stuff, and with the suspension being so damn good the thing decends like a ninja lol. Friends have comented on the fact they can't hear me closing in on them till it's too late.
I got it as a gift but I am still giving it a top value rating as I feel it is definatly a great bike for the money it costs and not one you will have to sell for half price because you have outgrown it's capabilities. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ryan echols
a Cross Country Rider
from anchorage,alaska
Date Reviewed: March 12, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | powerline | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2300.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | everything, i love the bike. the fork works great, the rear shock can take any thing i throw at it, plus the design of the suspension does not rob your power when you need to charge.the frame is strong, and the seat can be lowered all the way down if i want. i can go on and on. | | Weaknesses: | the derailers seems to be needing adjusting all the time but that might be my falt since i bent the hell out of it on a rock. | | Similar Products Used: | cannondale gemini 900 | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | the bottom line is that this bike is solid. it goes where you want it, up hill down hill whatever. its not a heavy bike for what you pay for. the suspension rocks!! seven inches in front seven in the rear. it does not rob you of power when charging and it can take anything you throw at it. plus im the only person in the city that i know of that has a yeti as-x how cool is that. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Weekend Warrior
from Christchurch
Date Reviewed: February 15, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Blowhard | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Gorgeous + Burly. Really can be riden up anything providing you are prepared to fiddle with the shock and take your time.
Is a capable climber over technical terrain. | | Weaknesses: | With a small frame the travel adjust knob on the Shermans can smack the frame and crease the underside of the downtube!
Piddly little heads on dropout bolts very difficult to remove without rounding off.
When you finally have to get off and push/carry you realise just how heavy it really is | | Similar Products Used: | Previous bike Shango HT/DH.
Previously owned and disliked Marin Riftzone | | Bike Setup: | Breakout, DHX, Husselfelt/ Holzfeller, XT | | Bottom Line: | This is my 2nd fully but since owning a riftzone I was put
off fullys and staunchly rode a beefed up HT up and down everything.
Very pleased with the AS-X's climbing capabilities it seems to be able to climb everything I've been doing on the
HT and coming down is obviously completely different.
It will punish you if you don't change down and try to crank up steep bits. I have an 11-32 in retrospect 11-34 would be better and a 34 tooth chainring is ideal.
I was very unhappy with having to drill out one of the derailleur hanger bolts because the head had rounded. They were well tight and even with a good allen key there wasn't a snug fit. There would have been no way I could have replaced the hanger by the trailside. Hopefully some higher quality bolts will sort that.
As for the Fork travel adjustment knob hitting the frame - Is it just me? or is this on all the small frames - if so this is a monstrous design fault. This would be exactly the wrong place for a crease to occur. Yeti take note.
Overall very happy, would definately purchase again. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
maggro
a Downhiller
from alpine, Ca
Date Reviewed: February 11, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | anderson truck trail | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | some dude on ebay | | Strengths: | everything about this bike rocks i have a medium and ride this bike more than my other bikes. up hill no problem, down hill hit everything big and hard. | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | santa cruz vpfree,cannondale gemini, haro werks, and some intense "sucked" | | Bike Setup: | fsa everything fr270yish, v-drive extreams, hope bulb hubs and mono m4 brakes,sram xo shifters and rear der, xt front, mavic 819s tubeless ignitors. | | Bottom Line: | this is a bike you can pedal up hill for 2 to 3 hours take a rest put on some armour and hit all the stuff you would normally hit on the bike you shuttle on. i actually feel more comfortable on this bike hitting big stuff than on my downhill bike sometimes due to the fact that i spend more time on it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Justin Schenk
a
from Morro Bay CA
Date Reviewed: December 29, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Face | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$3200.00 | | Purchased At: | Cambria Bikes | | Strengths: | This bike has great balance. It would make a great North Shore bike. I love how the travel is adjustable. This thing is a great pedaler. I also think this bike has slopestryle potential because it absorbs hits well. I seriously think that this is the best freeride bike I have ever ridden. | | Weaknesses: | The cable wiring for the front derailer doesn't allow you to do X-ups | | Similar Products Used: | Bullit, Demo 8, Gemni 900, Specialized bighit, | | Bike Setup: | Stock with 66rc2x, and Avid Juicy Carbons. | | Bottom Line: | The best freeride bike I know of. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a
from Californ-I-A
Date Reviewed: December 3, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | magic carpet ride | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$3700.00 | | Purchased At: | Trail Head | | Strengths: | Strong frame, Fox DHX 5.0 soaks up everything, its a great bike everything on it is strong | | Weaknesses: | gear shifting isnt to great, but thats probably cuz the cables are still stretching | | Bike Setup: | Fox DHX 5.0, hadley hubs, saint derailer, Sherman fork, truvativ holtzfeller drivetrain | | Bottom Line: | AWESOME BIKE. THIS BIKE WILL TAKE WHAT YOU THROW AT IT, NO PROBLEM. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan Simmons
a
from Salt Lake City
Date Reviewed: September 13, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2800.00 | | Purchased At: | Go-Ride.com | | Strengths: | For a freeride bike it is relatively light which can be deceiving as the frame is built up and looks heavy. So far it seems indestructable for most any type of heavy riding and drops. I can't imagine breaking any part of this frame except maybe the derailleur hanger. You can climb on this, but you'll be worked. Not the best climber in tight switchbacks. Goes downhill and can hold a line. No noticable flex while cornering hard. Rumor has it Krispy is actually racing downhill on one of these with a 7" travel 888. | | Weaknesses: | I purchased this bike complete and was fortunate enough to work with a shop that was more than willing to swap out and upgrade components. Weak fork, derailleur and shifters. After a hard day doing laps at the resort, the pivots start to creak. It's a simple single pivot design (which in some cases is actually a strength) so there is noticable brake jack in hard cornering. This is to be expected with a single pivot, so it came as no surprise. | | Similar Products Used: | '04 Santa Cruz Heckler. | | Bike Setup: | Stock with upgrades: 7" Marzocchi 66RC, Sram X-9 shifters and derailleur, E-13 chainguide with 38 tooth Black Spire chainring. | | Bottom Line: | For the price, you can't go wrong with this bike in even it's stock form. Most other companies would charge you a whole more for a bike designed to do what this bike can do. If you've got a decent shop in town that is willing to work with you, I would recommend swapping out the fork. Go-Ride.com charged me an additional $100 to upgrade the fork to a 66RC and the Shimano junk to SRAM X-9. The chain guide I added on later. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dragon j
a Downhiller
from cebu phil.
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | 6 drgon trails of transcentral | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Purchased At: | jun orange mobile shop | | Strengths: | light strong nice looking frame. | | Weaknesses: | slight brake jack. very minimal. paint easily scratched. | | Similar Products Used: | d bomb which is a great frame but only has 5inch of travel | | Bike Setup: | dropoff avid 521 | | Bottom Line: | stop reading n test ride a yeti asx now! kumustamos mga drogoooon! ANUS MI NA! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff Edwards
a Downhiller
from Reno
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | local tahoe singletrack | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | Yeti, Answer Products, and BTI | | Strengths: | Super fast, light weight, very very fun ride on all terrain. Its great for flying through single track, and still pedals rather well. Fun ass back all the way around. 7 and 7 makes it very ballanced. With propedal and SPV valving it likes to go uphill. | | Weaknesses: | None so far, except scratchs somewhat easily | | Similar Products Used: | SC Bullit, SC VP Free, Demo 9, Intense M1, Foes Mono, and many others. | | Bike Setup: | 2005 AS-X Frame, DHX 5.0 rear shock, Sherman Breakout Plus with SPV valving, Shimano Saint Cranks, 203 mm Juicy 7 brakes, Ethirteen DH chainguide, Sram X9 rear shifter and rear deraillure, (only single cog in front), sun ringle single track rims, Deity Bars, FSA 1.5 Headset, FSA 1.5 DH 300 DH stem, Answer Stemlock, Michelin 2.5 in tires. SICK SET UP. | | Bottom Line: | I built mine up super nice cause I work at a shop so I get all the stuff for super cheap.....but its definatly worth the money. Its a great bike for somebody who wants somethign they can go all out on downhill, but still wants something they can pedal. Nobody wants to push a big marsh mellow bike up a hill....thats no fun | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeremy
a
from Fort Collins, Co
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | Good Component package, front and rear shock balance.. stiff frame, plush travel | | Weaknesses: | nothing i could tell | | Similar Products Used: | Trek Session 77, Specialized big hit expert, my rocky dhTO | | Bike Setup: | stock demo bike from YETI demo tent. | | Bottom Line: | The bike climbed like a tractor. tracked very well, very solid construction, gave me confidence to try new and more challenging lines through terrain. The bike felt amazingly smooth down the steep rocky decents, and seemed very confident in high speed cornering. Rear suspension is very plush, extremely adjustible... people from YETI are chill and i wouldn't mind riding with them again. prolly gonna buy this one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ben
a Weekend Warrior
from Denver
Date Reviewed: May 4, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Anything in a forest on a mountain | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | 2500 | | Strengths: | Shocking, versatile performance as an all around do everything freeride bike. Gorgeous frame and strong factory parts set up. | | Weaknesses: | Paint does chip easily all over the frame, weak derailer hanger (yeti has fixed this with a black hanger that is much tougher.) | | Similar Products Used: | Uzzi, Bullit | | Bike Setup: | Shermin Breakout Plus SPV, X9 shifters & Rear Derailer, Hollzfeller cranks, 5th Element, Hays Hfx 9's. | | Bottom Line: | I love this bike! Everything the other owners of this work of art said is spot on after spending the past year with my Large sand colored AS-X. I went to yeti and test rode the AS-X and ordered one that day. 5th Element was blown out when I got it through local shop. Yeti handled fixing it with NO PROBLEM, the only downside was that I did not get to ride it for Over a month while we waited for the shock to come back. The raw aluminum stock rear derailler hanger was very weak and snaped resulting in the complete destruction of a brand spanking new X-O carbon (pricey) rear derailler on my first ride following some small drops and jumps. Yeti has some nice hard Black hangers available ($30) that have kept the newer X-9 rear derailler working perfectly. I have no single pivot chain suck issues as long as I ride and pedal smooth. The bike accelerates smooth and snaps into wheelies so perfectly I have improved my skills in manuals and wheelies in technical terrain considerably. I had problems with the screw popping out of the Hayes front brake lever on my third ride. Dot4 hit dirt and I rode with no front brakes. Nothing compared to six miles in single speed mode afterdark with a formerly mint condition derailler/hanger in my camel back the week before. After all this bizarre and apparently uncommon drama the bike has been perfect. I ride it as my cross country trail bike and I use it at the ski areas and dirt jumps as a perfect 7" freerider. I sold my 4" trail bike with little remorse but I have not yet hit a 100+ mile ride on the Yeti...I plan to hit Kokopelli this spring and I think it will be fine for the 140 or so miles. The breakout plus is a sweet fork. Flip the dial and compress the fork and you have an agressive climbing machine (weight is not so bad, just slows you down 20% climbing for the trade off of stronger legs and INCREDIBLE downhilling ability). Everyone who owns this bike and reviewed on this site loves it. I couldn't be happier with it. My friend has had one set up as his downhill race bike for a year now and still loves it. I agree with everyone else, this is a wicked bike, buy it if it fits your riding style and budget. I am a little hurt about the early issues but still feel this bike was worth the TLC and has rewarded me 10X's - All five chilis whole heartedly goes to the AS-X and Yeti.
****R.I.P. - Denver Bicycle Werx who went out of business after I got the bike. Sorin was great, I wish Nate was wrenching still, And I even miss Will's crying. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Weekend Warrior
from San Jose, CA
Date Reviewed: April 13, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | do I have to pick just one? | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | Kalo Mountain Cycles | | Strengths: | Amazing bike, great price. | | Weaknesses: | lets see, ugh, I wish it came in a polished frame. | | Similar Products Used: | Demo 8/9, M1, Enduro, etc. | | Bike Setup: | 5th Element, Super-T, Hope M4s, Hope bulbs, Sun rims, etc. | | Bottom Line: | The only thing I would add to the reviews below is this is an awesome wheelie machine! Most DH bikes and many of the FR bikes are a pain to get the front end up. Not the ASX - this has got to be the ultimate play bike. It is true, your other bikes will just collect dust if you get the ASX.
And to top it off - it is probably one of the lowest priced quality FS frames on the market! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rick James
a Weekend Warrior
from USA
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Just about everything is a strength. Fork, shock, rims, oversize bar and stem, everything. Frame is super burly looking. The tubes are really impressive. And with the balck anodized paint this bike looks stealth. | | Weaknesses: | Didn't come with lock on grips. But the new Hayes Nine have a dual screw mount so that's cool. | | Similar Products Used: | Giant AC2 | | Bike Setup: | AS-X with stock 1.5 kit. | | Bottom Line: | If you pedal smooth the rear end will not bob at all. Watching somebody sprint up to speed from a complete stop is amazing. The suspension was confusing to me at first, but after playing around with it I realized it's really simple. Droping this bike to flat is plush and stable. You can dial in the AS-X to be capable of XC,DH,FR whatever. This is going to be the perfect "do it all" type bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mouse jockey
a Weekend Warrior
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Laterally Stiff, Strong and Soaks up big bumps. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz VP-Free, Bullit, Kona Stinky, Banshee Scream, all great bikes. | | Bike Setup: | SRAM, Avid Juicy with 8 inch rotors, Manitou Sherman Breakout Plus, Fifth element rear shock, eThirteen chain guide and bash guard, Race Face Diablo DH cranks, Mavic 521 DH rims with Maxxis tires, Answer ProTaper handlebars, FSA Big Pig Stem, Thompson seapost WTB Rocket V saddle, Time Z pedals and Azonic flats, whew! | | Bottom Line: | I ride up and downhill with this bike. Not epic rides but 5 - 20 miles. Incredible efficiency for a 7.3 inch travel bike. Contrary to previous reviews it does not pedal like a hardtail but is firm under a steady cadence and resists bobbing when out of the saddle. Rear wheel sticks to the ground up and downhill with no noticeable brake jack commonly associated with single pivot bikes. The Yeti and and the VP-Free excel in this area. I have used my bike for 6 foot to 15 foot transition drops without bottoming out. I have dropped 7-8 foot flat without bottoming out also, but that could be because I try to land a tad biased towards the front end when dropping to flat. Learn to do this and you will be a better hucker. I weigh 160lbs and stand 5'10". The fifth is set at 110 lbs in the chamber with the compression chamber dialed in about 1/2 way. Yeti recommends a bit less air in the chamber but I like the chamber higher for reduced risk of bottoming out. The sacrifice is a little harsh going up and loss of small bump compliance. So this bike is recommended if you ride up and down and want a bike biased for the downhill rather than the up. You can find bikes equally capable out there for that (VP-Free) but arguably not better. There you go. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
mark
a
from canada
Date Reviewed: February 17, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | the frame is quality! beefy yet light for 7 inches in the rear. the pivot design is well done with the small swinger linkage and pivot link. the bike just rides better than anythingi have ever tried. | | Weaknesses: | not that i know of. | | Similar Products Used: | rock mountain. cannondale | | Bike Setup: | 2004 frame, 2005 sherman breakout plus, 5th element, all xt, hope mono m4 breaks, custom one of a kind color and all! | | Bottom Line: | amazing bike! rides everything well, and kills the freeride scene. buy one! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jordan
a Downhiller
from Colorado Springs, CO
Date Reviewed: January 23, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1550.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | The bike is strong as $#@%! The welds are perfect and the geometry makes it an awesome pedaler. The DHX 5.0 soaks everthing up. Not only that but it can be pedaled uphill to! | | Weaknesses: | Chain suck | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Bullit | | Bike Setup: | LOCO wheelset kenda tire raceface prodigy dh cranks easton seatpost hayes mag brakes etc. | | Bottom Line: | This bike has got to be the best I have ever ridden. It corners like a pro,drops,gaps,and jumps just the same. There is not enough that can be said about this bike. If you want a light DH/freeride bike that you can beat the crap out of, this is it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew
a
from Warrenton, VA, USA
Date Reviewed: December 27, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1050.00 | | Purchased At: | Go-Ride | | Strengths: | Absolutely gorgeous frame, welds, everything. Efficient pedaler. Seems strong as ^&%$! | | Weaknesses: | None so far. | | Similar Products Used: | Iron Horse SGS, Giant AC 1, Norco Shore. | | Bike Setup: | '05 AS-X black ano frame w/ DHX 5.0, Boxxer Teams, Thomson, XM321 front rim w/ Abbah hub, D321 rear rim w/ Hugi hub, XT shifter & rear mech, Hussefelt DH crank w/ BoxGuide & poly bashguard, Race Face Diabolus OS stem & bars, etc. | | Bottom Line: | This review is for the '05 frameset, which comes with the Fox DHX 5.0 (instead of the 5th). I purchased the frame & headset from Go-Ride (awesome shop) last week, and built up the bike Saturday. So far, I've only had a chance to play around on my farm, but I'm impressed. Very nice craftsmanship! I recall someone saying that AS-X's don't pedal well, but I'd have to differ. I cranked it up some fairly steep hills (with a 38T front ring), and immediately fell in love. Granted, you should spend some time getting to know the workings of the DHX before coming to any conclusions... Just follow the directions on Yeti's website, and you're golden. Managed to find a few rocks & felled trees to jump off, and found the suspension to be very plush. I'll post more when I get a few rides on it, but my first impression is A+. I can't think of a better deal for $1050! Call Go Ride! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Keith
a Weekend Warrior
from Presque Isle, ME
Date Reviewed: November 1, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Nordic Heritage Center - PI | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | It's Strength! Damn strong bike and has great geometry for trail/freeride. Pedals efficiantly (no bob) and soaks up everything. Quality, Quality, Quality. | | Weaknesses: | None. | | Similar Products Used: | None too similar, but had Specialized Enduro before | | Bike Setup: | 5th Element, Sherman fork, XT | | Bottom Line: | You will love this bike for trail/freeride and downhill. The level of quality is very high and the frame is laterally stiff. If you want a bike that will do it all, this is the bike! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jason
a Downhiller
from colorado Springs
Date Reviewed: October 6, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | kinocha Pass, CO | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$3450.00 | | Purchased At: | performance | | Strengths: | the frameset is so freakin' strong and sturdy, and the travel soaks up everything the bike is pimp! | | Weaknesses: | the single pivot chain suck, like a space in pedaling when the rear end pivots, its hard to describe, but I know it's typical in single Pivots | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | super t, un loco wheels, easton seatpost, wtb saddle, fsa bars, holzfeller crank and guide(super quiet) hayes, XT, etc. | | Bottom Line: | the yeti is not a bike that people just buy for the name, or it shouldn't be, it is a quality bike that I or anyone should feel comfortable using in freeride, downhill, or dirt jumping. It is strong, light, and super sweet, go get one now! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ChuckyDoody
a Weekend Warrior
from Golden, Co
Date Reviewed: August 16, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Mack Ridge-Moore Fun | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2400.00 | | Purchased At: | Adrenaline Bikes | | Strengths: | Design, Quality, Components, Rideability, and Weight (38.5 lbs stock, 34.5 lbs my setup) | | Weaknesses: | Enables severe dust/rust collection on your other $3k cross country bike. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Stab Garbonzo, Santa Cruz Bullit, Titus SwitchBlade, | | Bike Setup: | 2004 stock then added SRAM 9.0 drivetrain, CrossMax XL, & Eggbeater Mallets | | Bottom Line: | I didn't beleive all the stuff I've heard/read about "you'll never ride your cross country rig again unless racing uphill" but it's true. I climb, turn, decend, and repeat and enjoy biking even more than I have the last 15 years. The rear suspension does not move when pedaling unless you want/need it to. A friend was riding behind be on a fire road climb and pointed out that it pedaled like a hardtail while his Superlight was bouncing everywhere. I've even become a better climber due to spinning and staying in the saddle and letting the bike roll with the contours on the trail. I do get a 25% penalty in climbing time due to weight but then the downhill is like riding a motocross bike (albeit 165 lbs lighter). The ~7" of travel is amazing, fun, dependable, and well worth it. Just ride it and maintain it and you shouldn't worry about anything except maybe scratching it! But that's what it's for...
Get the new shock setup from Yeti's website and follow it since the geometry and design require different settings than similar bikes. I noticed a vast improvement over my previous 'interpreted' settings.
Buy this bike if you want the best possible freeride bike available and want to increase your mountain biking fun factor by 5x. Don't buy this bike if you think hardtails, flat bars, v-brakes, bar ends, water bottles, 1.75" tires, perfectly groomed singltrack, or shopping at Denver/Boulder/Golden bike bike shops are you preference.
Thanks to Yeti and Jim at Adrenaline Bikes for great service, quality, and prices. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Zap
a
from Pecs, Hungary
Date Reviewed: August 10, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Southside Jacob Hill | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | online | | Strengths: | 1.5 head, superb geometry, well-designed suspension system with the nicely-working 5th element, and of course the look:) Yeti is Yeti, not by luck. | | Weaknesses: | None, only the weak paint maybe, if that matters. Oh, and your never ending urge to ride causing insomnia for the first 2 months... | | Similar Products Used: | Tested: RM7, Bullit, V10 | | Bike Setup: | Boxxer Race fork, Hayes Mag brakes, Mavic rims, Maxxis 2.5 Highroller Tires, Funn/Azonic stem/handleber | | Bottom Line: | It is THE freeride bike (Freeride for me is riding anywhere, mostly to the top of the mountain, in order to come down:)! Has way better geometry than the Bullit, IMO. If you are not the ski-lift type of downhill-rider, you will love it. The suspension system rocks, if you tune it fine, you'll be amazed, and forget all the other bikes. Really climbs as a hard tail, but as soon as it gets rocks, it turns into a downhill-weapon. Speed is limited though because of the small 32T ring that fits, and the fork angle makes it a bit instabile at high speeds (over 40 MPH). It is not | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tully
a Downhiller
from Woodinville, WA, USA
Date Reviewed: July 21, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Whistler! | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Weight, 5th Element, weld quality, price, stiffness, 1.5 head tube, single pivot. | | Weaknesses: | Some people don't like single pivots, but they work for me.
Chain slap chips the paint easily, but I really don't care. | | Similar Products Used: | GT DHi, Giant AC. | | Bike Setup: | Boxxer Team, XTR drivetrain, MRP chainguide, 521's. | | Bottom Line: | Although $1200 isn't cheap, it's definitely less than most frames of this quality. Overall, this bike is very well-built, and the ride quality in general is excellent. I like the single pivot design, because I would gladly trade a little bit of brake jack for a single-pivot's light feeling and snappy acceleration. Also, the 5th Element shock is awesome, as it is uber-adjustable, and pedals and feels great. The frame is very similar to a Santa Cruz Bullit, in price, weight, travel, and rear shock, but the Yeti's lower pivot means little, if any, feedback in my 38-tooth chainring. Overall, this bike can be built up to suit aggressive trail riders, freeriders, and sport or expert class downhillers, like myself. You just can't go wrong with it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Arek
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto, ON, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 26, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Bromont, QC | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2525.00 | | Purchased At: | Wrench Science | | Strengths: | - 1.5 head tube - beside obvious structural benefits to
the frame it lets you run a 7" SC fork!
- beefy, confidence inspiring construction, especially the
head tube area welds/tubes
- stiff rear end due to the linkage between
swingarm/shock, which also adds progressiveness to the
travel
- adjustable rear travel - you can really feel the
difference between 6.5" and 7.5" settings, not that the
extra inch is that noticable in itself, but rather in
overall suspension feel - it becomes much more plusher
in the longer setting, great for downhills.
- last but not least - absolutelly killer looks! | | Weaknesses: | Haven't found anything that could be described as a real "product weakness". A few gripes would include easily chipping paint, especially noticed that underneath the chainstay from the chain whipping up against it - not really a big deal for me, doesn't affect performance in any way, should've put a tube protector/lizard skin on it from the beggining. Also, because of the flat black finish, any scratches/brushes are noticable as whitish haze... oh well, just nitpicking here...
Had a problem with the fork - bushings play right from the get go, warrantied that, and upgraded to Breakout + since. So overall, no real weaknesses of the frame itself. | | Similar Products Used: | First single pivot FS bike, previous bike was (still have it) an older FSR with BETD linkage. Different animal all-together. | | Bike Setup: | 2004 Large black AS-X frame w/ 5th Element (475lbs coil)
2004 Breakout Plus SPV (originally 6" Breakout)
Complete XT drivetrain (less big ring - Truvativ bashguard)
FSA Big Fat Pig 1.5 headset/FR270 bars/FR200 stem
Race Face Prodigy seatpost/WTB Rocket V seat
Hayes HFX MAG brakes (8" fr/6" rr)
Wheels - XM321 rims/Marzocchi 20mm/XT hubs/14Ga. spokes
WTB Weirwolf Race 2.5 tires
----------------------------
= the whole set-up is ~38lbs. | | Bottom Line: | I spec'd the whole set-up with the parts I wanted, trying to maintain a reasonable weight for a freeride bike, that would also allow me to use it as my primary do it all/trail bike.
I have done some shuttle DH runs on it, and all I did was put on some beefier tires - Kenda Blue Groove/Nevegal 2.5"s, and lowered the seat way down. That's it. It's that versatile. Short of getting a full-on DH rig, I couldn't imagine a more comfortable/stable/capable rig, that's capable of whatever you can throw at it on DHills, yet can still climb up to the top. The only thing now that's holding me back from being more and more aggressive is my own skill level, the bike is definitely up to it - it's the rig the Flowriders currently use.
The 5th Element's adjustability is great, you can set it up for a very specific feel depending on the terrain you'll be riding, and it will make the rear wheel stick to the ground no matter what the conditions; the no-bob feature makes it a better climber than my 5" travel FSR - just extend the seat post up a bit, sit down and and once the bike settles into it's sag, pedal smoothly and the rear will hardly move at all, except when it rolls over stuff. Pretty amazing for a 7.5" rig! Also, no reliability issues with the shock so far.
I have to qualify here, that although to me it's a bike I will use for trails as well as for anything else, it's by no means a light bike to climb on. You will need to earn the trip up the hill, and be a smooth pedaller. It's not a big issue to me, as I consider myself a pretty strong climber and I've never had a light xc fs bike, so the switch from my previous bike was not a shocker for me. I like the challenge of climbing on it, and it gives me all the more satisfaction if I can muscle my way to the top faster than some riders on light weight bikes. And, the payoff of how it tackles anything else is all worth the harder grind up top :-)
The bottom line is, if you're in the market for a do it all/freeride bike, and checking out rigs like the Bullit, Gemini, Joker... take a good look at the AS-X, as it has a few features that those bikes don't - the linkage in the rear for added stiffness and progressivness, which also prolongs the life of the shock and main pivot bearings - no lateral loads on it, adjustable travel, just as nice or better frame build, definitely wouldn't be one of 10 same bikes where you ride, and - what's perhaps the most important to some - a very competitive price to go with it all. I'd recommend it 100%! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott McBride
a Downhiller
from Seattle
Date Reviewed: April 30, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Not Telling You | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2800.00 | | Purchased At: | Northwest Downhill | | Strengths: | Everything about this bike is a strength. Super stiff frame, and meaty downtube with 1.5 head tube gives you way too much confidence. The stock package comes with a kick'n part's mix. 8" Hayes, 5th Element, XT. The Sherman Plus fork is quickly became my favorite part. The SPV and quick travel change knob make this bike adapt to anything. 7" of buttery smooth travel never bottomed even on big to flat! | | Weaknesses: | Cable routing is a little funky, but not a show stopper. Always worrying about some *&#$%'er stealing your rig. | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Bullit, Intense M1 | | Bike Setup: | Bone stock as shown on the web site. Only upgrade was a pair of ODI Ruffian lock on grips. | | Bottom Line: | Best bike available for under $3000.00. I'm mostly freeriding now with an occasional DH race. Once or twice a month I'll do some serious XC riding with big hill climbs. I needed one bike to do it all and this is it! I've raced it, jumped it, trail rode it, and nailed a couple of trees that would break most bike in half. The Yeti just keeps on going. It's takes time to get the 5th setup but thanks to another poster this site helped a ton. http://www.tftunedshox.com/ When people say it pedals great, it really does, but don't fool yourself, it doesn't feel quick or climb like an XC bike and you need to be strong to make it to the top. When it comes to going down hold on because this bike is flickable and scary fast. I loved it and then some punk stole it. So be careful with yours.
Happy Trails....... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from Seebruck/Germany
Date Reviewed: April 20, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | www.frak-tour.de | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$4000.00 | | Purchased At: | Cambria-Frameset only | | Strengths: | Stiff,great cornering abilities,plush!!!
Workmanship,price to value ratio! | | Weaknesses: | None so far just to mention one thing :paint-quality at the rearend!
And just: I'd be happy Yeti to offer other colors! | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Stinky Dee Lux -Custom | | Bike Setup: | Sherman Plus,Acros AH-15 Headset - it works !,Race Face Diabolus Stem,Diabolus Seatpost,Race Face Riser Bar,Race Face North Shore DH Cranks,Yeti-Odi Lock On Grips,Fizik Plateau Saddle,Hope Seatclamp,Mavic Dee Max Wheelset,Maxxis Minion DH 2.5 Tires,Jagwire Cables,Sram 9.0 Chain+Cogs+Deraileur,Shimano XT front Deraileur,Hope Mono M4 Brakes,Odyssey Magnesium Padels | | Bottom Line: | This bike is hell,it's the ideal play and all-around bike climbing perfectly and also awesome descending in any condition!
I'd recommend the Yeti AS-X for anybody just looking for the awesome allaround nononsense bike!!!
Thanx Yeti! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Romie
a
from Los Angeles, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: April 10, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Palos Verdes | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Strengths: | 1.5 head tube, burley tubes, being a Yeti! It climbs better than my LTS1000, which weighed 7lbs (frame only)and I think this comes in at 9lbs (.5lbs lighter than the Bullit). 5th Element shock is AWESOME!!! Smooth, endless travel!! | | Weaknesses: | If I had to absolutely come up with a weakness: the sweet flat black paint is getting scratched by the velcro straps on my knee pads.. which is stupid to say, but hey, you asked! | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Bullit, Cannondale Gemini, Orange Patriot | | Bike Setup: | Flat black '04 Yeti ASX (obviously), Cane Creek 1.5 XX head set (awesome!!), Hayes Comps, Marzocchi Jr T (very plush!), Intense Mag 30 rims, WTB Moto Raptors (not sure what all the fuss is about, these have beem good to me), WTB Race seat (comfortable), MRP LRP (so far, so good!) | | Bottom Line: | The BOTTOM LINE!!! is this bike, no matter how you feel like building it, will perform and not let you down!! I just started hitting bigger jumps and higher drops (usually to tranny, but sometimes not) and it feels plush, bottomless and has very little flex. I weigh 220lbs and stand 6'4", which made it tuff for me to find "the perfect bike"... but I DID IT!! Also, I like the attention it gets on the trail, since you won't see every jerk riding one of these. This is for a rider who knows what they want and expects the most out a frame.
The 5th Element is the best shock out there! I say that because I have not experienced any air loss and even if I do, who cares.... I can remember the correct psi. The manual says to refer to the "quick-start guide", which I couldn't find for this frame, so I set it up based on the bullit. The quick start guide can be found at:
www.tftunedshox.com
Also, don't ride on the shock until you put in the minimum amount of pressure.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
PETE NOROIAN
a Weekend Warrior
from FRESNO CA USA
Date Reviewed: March 30, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | TOADS@.S LK TAHOE DUGH!!!!! | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Purchased At: | 123 bikes | | Strengths: | climbs better than most 4in travel 2k bikes. 1.5 headset, super plush, stiff frame,sweet looks,smokes bullits up and down the hill. makes your buddies think they bought a pile after they ride it, did i say it climbs!? | | Weaknesses: | hold on im still thinking................. | | Similar Products Used: | I had 3k to spend to build a bike.I rode everything,and I mean everything.the only bike that I would consider would be a blur. But unfortunatly santa cruz has the worst cust svc in the freakin world!!!! They dont return calls, my bike was 6 weeks late. they think their poo smells pretty!I almost bought a bullit but it didnt pedal as good and wasnt as plush (im used to a 6k mx bike so dont think im a nit wit) | | Bike Setup: | manitou breakout, 5th ele,race face bars-crank-stem, thompson post,wtb ti saddle, XT drivetrain, 823 mavic tubeless conti 2.3 | | Bottom Line: | keep lookin but as soon as you ride one of these things you'll see.just hope its not too late. build it from the ground up- not the kit, get tubeless the 823s' rule | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jason
a
from fort collins, colorado
Date Reviewed: February 24, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | porcupine rim, Moab | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2800.00 | | Purchased At: | ROAD 34 | | Strengths: | stock components are great. When the 5th element is set up correctly there is no bob (really), I can climb all the way up the fire roads around here and then haul down the trail. The suspension is responsive and great in the corners. The whole feel of the bike is very stable and comfortable. | | Weaknesses: | none, there is no chain guide, but I havent lost a chain yet ( 3 rides) | | Similar Products Used: | Big Hit, Chameleon. | | Bike Setup: | stock except for some avid discs. | | Bottom Line: | Very nice bike. It seems unfair for the rest of you to give me 7 inches of travel and a 7 inch fork that allows me to climb to the trial and not have to push up. I would reccommend this bike to everyone. The technology that went into the frameset and the fork are amazing.
Thanks Yeti. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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