Submitted by
thechez
a Cross Country Rider
from Portland, OR
Date Reviewed: May 15, 2011
Strengths: Looks, beefiness, weight, angles, design, aluminum AND carbon
Weaknesses: Rear triangle, weight(full suspension), no Yeti dealer in my area
Bottom Line:
Great bike, plain and simple. Tracks like an arrow. Descents at 100mm are hairy, so I adjust to 120mm and it goes everywhere. I really like the lockout for climbing. It makes it a lot easier to get up everything. The weight penalty of a full suspension isn't too bad with this bike. It just means you have to crank a little bit more out of your legs. All in all it's a great bike and lives up to all the hype. I'm super glad I got it and would get another. I just hope nothing breaks.
I give a 4 for value because bikes are way overpriced these days and a 5 for overall. I don't need more suspension than this.
Submitted by
danjmeyers
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Fe NM
Date Reviewed: July 15, 2009
Strengths: Straddles the pure XC/Trail bike catagory. Nimble, stable, fast.
Weaknesses: Not a plush bike, but then you know that all ready don't you?
Bottom Line:
I have about 70 miles on the bike, time for a first review.
Climbing: A+ Climbs well in and out of saddle, pro pedal works as advertised. Climbs up tight switch backs with ease.
Descending: B+ Slack HT angle means descending with confidence, a very stable ride. 100 mm front and rear does not have a "trail bike" feel, looks else where (trek fuel ex?) if you'll never race this bike. Geometry makes technical descending, tight single track, and tight steep switchbacks lots of fun.
Comfort: A longest ride to date was 35 miles of Santa Fe's most challenging climbs and descents. No sore ass, no numb hands and feet. Can't wait till my first endurance race on this bike.
Weight: B+ 25.8 lbs for a $3500 fs bike isn't bad and I have some REALLY clunky tires on this thing. A cheap diet could get it down to 23 lbs.
So far very happy, I'm riding faster, further, longer, and having more fun. Buy this bike if like me you are looking for a do it all bike...endurance racing, trail riding, and some week end warrior xc racing. Don't buy this bike if you want a pure trail bike or something leaning toward AM.
Strengths: Weight, sex appeal (if you're into that), anno finish (black), handling (more on this below).
Weaknesses: None yet, but haven't put many miles on it. May have to use ProPedal to eliminate bob on climbs, unlike other RP23 equipped bikes, where the open setting can take it all on.
Bottom Line:
This is for a 2009 ASR Alloy frame w/ Yeti's XTR build and my CrossMax SLR wheelset/Marta brakes. This bike is suitable for a cross-country racer looking for a full-suss bike on rougher courses or a more aggressive weekend warrior looking for a jet pack.
Ok, only 2 shorter rides so far - I'd usually wait longer to post a review, but dang, this bikes warrants immediate attention. I race on a steel hardtail and all-mountain on a carbon Mojo. This bike falls right between those two and is light enough to race, but forgiving enough for recreational use.
What sets it apart after logging 18 miles is this - it goes where it should go. Vague, I know. But these words best describe the handling. Uphill the front end stays firmly planted (fitting/component sizing upon purchase helped with this) and tracks straight. Too many bikes are biased towards one discipline or another, leading to a wandering front end or a lack of necessary trail feedback. This bike is a great 'tweener. Downhill it takes little effort to get the bike tracking on the chosen line. Yes, most bikes do this if the rider has basic capabilities. But the geometry on this bike seems to heighten those basics. I've spent less time telling the bike where to go, leaving more of my noggin to focus on moving forward.
I guess some would say that the MSRP for the frame ($1830) is on the higher end, especially for an off-shore fab. Seems middle road to me. And the company still has a grassroots feel and direct dial telephone numbers. Plus, any company willing to use a whooly myth for a name and hold an annual gathering for it's "tribe" scores points with me (for some reason, two years ago it didn't).
Finally, the black anno finish is beautiful and free of stickers. Remove the Fox logos and you're left with a prototype lookin' bike.
Goes where it should go, goes where it should go, goes where it should go. Or is it, everything in it's right place?
p.s. call on Brian at Big Swingin' in SF - a mountain biker selling bikes, no frills, fitting.
Similar Products Used: Ibis Mojo Carbon, Retrotec Twin Steel.
Bike Setup: Fox RP23, Fox Float 32 RLC FIT, Easton bars, Thompson stem/post, XTR, Mavic CrossMax SLRs, Magura Marta's, SDG saddle (23.6 lbs.)
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Paul Crawford
a Cross Country Rider
from Vassalboro, Maine
Date Reviewed: October 16, 2008
Strengths: Light, Beautiful, Built from the best stuff on Earth.
Weaknesses: None yet
Bottom Line:
I had originally built a Ti hardtail thinking I would make best use of a light bike, and after building an 18.5 pound rocket I realized that I had a parts selection that would really be better used at higher speeds, and didn't know what to do to get to that. I analyzed my riding and found that a great deal of energy was being wasted sucking up the roots and ruts of the Maine mountainsides. I got this frame for $680 shipped. It is an ASR-SL Carbon frame with Al seatstays! I guessed it was time for a rear suspension that would match my SID's capabilities without ruining them with too much travel. I also wanted something stiff laterally. Having read nothing but, good about the ASR, I got a 2006 in Red/White Team paint, the last of the handmade Yetis. I am in the process of building the beast, and will edit this review to accomodate the need for an actual review of the finished machine. It ought to come in at about 20lbs even, based on the difference in frame weight, but could come in lighter, since there will be less cable housing and less seatpost, and I believe the steerer tube for the SID will get a slight shaving. This could get it into the teens, but that is hardly a concern. Suspended weight does not have nearly the impact of unsuspended weight when the bike is moving, with the exception of the wheelset. My wheels aren't the lightest in the world, but I wanted some confidence on the bigger drops, and I am 185lbs and 6'2" tall. My frame is a Medium, which is really suited to slightly shorter riders, but I like a low and short bike, and this is perfect for me. Just based on what it looks like, I would recommend this frame, but I will have more reasons to do so after the build is finished. I am sure of that.
Similar Products Used: Ibis Szazbo w/Fox Air, SlingShot XC MTB Frame, Haro Ti Hardtail (not similar, but fast)
Bike Setup: C.Bros Cobalt Ti/Ceramic ISIS BB, AC Carbon ISIS Cranks, Stronglight Zycral chainrings, King Headset, Hope MonoMiniPro Brakes, Xyclone Disc Wheels, SID WorldCup Fork, SSM Carbon Monocoque Saddle, Syntace Stem and Post (stem to replaced with a Hope 65mm 0deg shortly), X0 rear(Ceramic Pulleys/Carbon plate upgrades)/XTR front Mechs, XTR Cassette (w/King lockring), KMC X9SL Chain, C.Bros EggBeaterSL Pedals, RaceFace NEXT SL bars, ODI/Oury LockOn Grips, X0 Shifters, Hope Skewers, Hope Seat Binder, PurelyCustom Al bolt covers, ProBoltUK Ti bolts throughout
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Submitted by
123duder
a Cross Country Rider
from Monterey, CA
Date Reviewed: August 3, 2008
Strengths: The ASR is light, solid, and fast. It is solid on the climbs, quick in technical, smooth on fire roads, and well grounded on the down hills.
Weaknesses: non that I can tell so far.
Bottom Line:
I road a Schwinn Homegrown hard tail for 11 years and was nervous about letting it go. I ride XC about 15 day a month and I seldom compete. When I tried the ASR I was sold. From riding on the fire road to the down hills at North Star in Tahoe CA it handles like a dream. Very comfortable geometry and has solid suspension. The folks at Yeti were a huge selling point, they are very knowledgeable, friendly, and go to great lengths to get you on a bike. I don't regret my decision at all.
Similar Products Used: Trek fuel, Gary Fisher suger, Intense Spider, Specialized Stump Jumper.
Bike Setup: Yeti ASR Aluminum frame with carbon rear triangle, DT Swiss wheels, XT-XTR drive train, XT disc brakes, fox RSL fork, Fox flot rear shox, and Thompson, Easton, Chris King, Salsa high lights.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Brian
a Cross Country Rider
from Golden, CO
Date Reviewed: May 4, 2008
Strengths: Awesome climbing, respectable descending, great geometry, light weight. Made here in Golden, CO (2007 was last year for that though). Yeti crew is awesome, customer service is legendary.
Weaknesses: Bit expensive. I believe they are a little cheaper now that they are being made overseas.
Bottom Line:
Get this bike if you are looking for a fairly firm 4 inch cross country bike. If you are looking for a all-around plush trail-bike, look into the 575. The AS-R geometry is tight enough for nimble handling but slack enough to be confident on the downhills. This bike is a ton of fun to ride and has made me a faster rider.
Bike Setup: 2007 AS-R turquoise color, full carbon rear triangle, 2008 Race package with full XT/XTR
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Submitted by
Justin Zak
a Cross Country Rider
from Park City
Date Reviewed: April 13, 2008
Strengths: Climbs and handles amazingly well. Very light. Amazing build quality.
Weaknesses: Somewhat expensive (but if you're buying one, you know you are paying for quality).
Bottom Line:
Broke this bike in this weekend in Moab. I really thought people who were bragging that their bikes made them much better riders were full of sh#t. I was wrong. Sick sick sick bike. Climbs rediculously well. Descends well for an XC rig. It definitely inspired confidence in my riding and we crushed it on our first weekend back in the show since November. If you've got the cash - get it.
Similar Products Used: Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Expert
Bike Setup: 07 Frame 08 Shimano (Race Configuration)
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Submitted by
26rando
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego, California
Date Reviewed: February 2, 2008
Strengths: Stiff,light,predictable,sticks like glue. bathroom scale weight test says 25.5 lbs.
Weaknesses: None what so ever
Bottom Line:
I got the bike in a trade. I wanted a bike with the vpp or fsr design. i had ridden 'em a bit and figured it was the latest and greatest so why not. my bro convinced me otherwise. when i got the bike it was actually the first time ever riding a yeti. The thing rails. up and down. sticks to the ground climbing seated and standing. tracks amazingly well on super steep uphill rocky and sandy climbs and switchbacks. very little pedal bob. going down this bike rips. it's definitely bred for technical singletrack. it's an xc rig so it's fast and responsive but not twitchy in the least bit. the suspension is predictable and never feels mushy. you can actually feel the trail. to put it simply, the bike is just super fun to ride. santa cruz, specialized, giant and all that are cool companies; however, they're bikes for the masses. yeti is a kick ass company that sticks to it's roots and delivers.
Similar Products Used: Giant Trance,Reign. Santa Cruz Blur,Blur LT, Nomad.
Bike Setup: Carbon rear, Reba WC,RP23,Sram XO rear and shifters,XTR Front,Juicy Ultimates,Truvativ Noir,Crank Bros,Crossmax SL,Thomson Masterpiece Post,Truvativ Team Stem and Carbon Bars,weirwolf tires
Strengths: Weight, suspension design, no-bob travel, climbing, decending, I can go on and on.....
Weaknesses: One weakness - I have been able to create a "locked-out" condition in the rear end. This has happened twice on fast downhills when I firmly apply the brakes and turn.
Bottom Line:
I had ridden hard tails for 10 years, but gave up a ti hard tail for the ASR. This bike doesn't bob while climbing, but hooks up when needed, at the same time, it doesn't feel like your sitting back on the suspension, the position on the bike is fairly upright and unlike some other bikes, it retains this position throughout the suspension travel, front and rear. The bike climbs very well, tracks well on the downhill, super fast and handles extremely well. This bike handles better than my old Litespeed Ti, which is tough for me to admit. I prefer longer rides and this bike has made my rides more comfortable and the recovery period shorter. I shouldn't have held out for so long.
Similar Products Used: Specialized FSR, Fuel, Enduro
Bike Setup: SRAM XO rear, XT front, Fox 100, RP23, Juicy 7, time pedals
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Submitted by
Ron Jeremey
a Racer
from Boise, Idaho, USA
Date Reviewed: December 14, 2007
Strengths: Good bike...but not great. Pretty light (25.5 lbs).
Weaknesses: Likes to be steered through corners...I like to drift bikes through corners. Tall center of gravity. Rear end troubles that LBS took care of but Yeti didn't seems to believe. Pivot bearings have short life. Poor finish in seat tube (burs). Sloppy paint finish work. Noisy!
Bottom Line:
Good trail bike. Not a race bike. Not for those who like to drift through corners. Not for those who want a quiet bike. I kept it for two years hoping that I would learn to like it...look for it on craigslist.
Fantastic. The best suspnsion flattens a trail without letting you know that it's working. I like to sit and pedal as much of a race as possible which is why I no longer race XC with hardtails. The Razorback was light and cheap but I had to crank the rebound damping to keep from getting bucked out of the saddle on some terrain. The Ellsworth Truth is also a great bike: stiff, controlled, but too active out of the saddle. The ASR pretty much locks out when you stand up and no suspension movement on flat terrain while only pedaling, the Fox RP3 works well here. The only bob I notice is in the Fox fork (going to try the White Brothers IMV next). Going over bumps the ASR just takes it. It's like driving a Cadillac that handles like a Ferrari; you wouldn't think it possible. You can hammer a climb and not get worked on the downhill.
Similar Products Used: Ellsworth Truth, K2 Razorback
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Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Littleton, CO
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2006
Strengths: Weight, speed, stiffness, climbing ability, handling. This company is the only one with a web page dedicated to owners of their bikes (http://www.YetiFan.com).
Weaknesses: Cost but you get what you pay for! I broke my rear derailleur hanger on my first ride but don't feel it should have torn apart. I've replaced it and have had no other issues since then.
Bottom Line:
I did a lot of research and overnight demo rides before purchasing the ASR-SL. I don't have a single regret and swear that your marbles will grow three sizes if you own this bike. Most everyone has said all the awesome things I would say about this bike but I'll share my own story. When I demoed the Yeti I passed somebody on the major downhill. This is unlike me (being an XC weenie) and the guy was on a longer travel bike built to do down but he couldn't keep up. The bike just hooks up to all terrain! Their are sections of trails going both up and down that I was not able to ride previously that I just mow through now. I think the RacerX is the best climbing bike although the Yeti is better overall as it is superior coming down hill. I did experience some brake jack for the first time the other day but I think that was more my fault (stupid rider) than the bikes.
Check out http://home.comcast.net/~john.bullock/ for reviews of all the overnight demos and the bottom line on the ASR. The first posts about a new bike are in January and the final decision is in March. All bikes would have been a big jump over my old 1998 GT Zaskar hardtail but I honestly believe Yeti's are the best buy.
If you want the best XC bike money can buy, the Yeti is your bike. If you don't want to spend a chunk of change or don't want the best, then Yeti is not for you.
Similar Products Used: Twenty-four hour demos of the Ellsworth Truth (nice but very expensive), Santa Cruz Blur XC (didn't like the feel at all), Titus RacerX 100 (great climber), and Rocky Mountain ETSX-70 (not for an XC rider like me). I've ridden friends' Specialized and Cannondale full suspension bikes and have owned Trek, Gary Fisher, and GT hardtails.
Bike Setup: Basically the standard Race Disc kit with two deviations (brakes and front tire). Color: Team (2005 paint job) Weight: 27 lbs (easy to make lighter if desired) FOX F100 RLT fork, Fox RP3 shock, CANE CREEK S-2 headset, RACE FACE DEUS LP crankset, SRAM X-GEN Front, SRAM X.0 Rear, SRAM X.9 shifters, SRAM PG-970 cassette, SHIMANO HYPERGLIDE chain, SHIMANO XT hubs front and rear, MAVIC XM819 DISC UST rims, MAXXIS HI-ROLLER UST (2.1 Rear, 2.3 front), Avid Juicy Seven brakes, RACE FACE handlebar, THOMSON steam, YETI HARD CORE grips, : YETI / WTB ROCKET V TI saddle, THOMSON seatpost, Shimano 540 pedals
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Submitted by
Mark Merrill
a Weekend Warrior
from CA
Date Reviewed: March 20, 2006
Strengths: Customer service, paint and overall construction,attention to detail, backing up their product, did I mention Customer service.
Weaknesses: None at all
Bottom Line:
I bought this frame used from a local individual and the frame had obvious problems from the get go. The seller wasn't man enough to admit that the frame had a problem when I bought it. The only way I found the problem was during build up, and it was too late to go back to the low life that sold it to me so I emailed the factory to see what could be done to rectify the problem. Understand this frame was used and under no warranty but the guys at Yeti wanted to see the frame and see the problem so I sent it to them. To make a long story short the company took the frame back and sent me out a brand new frame in place of the used defective frame I sent them. They didn't have to do it, but they did and they even covered shipping. I could really go on and ramble about how great these smaller bike companies are like Yeti but they go way beyond what is required of them to make the customer happy and I am sold on Yeti products and would highly recommend them to anyone thinking about a high end frame or complete bike. Just don't make the same stupid mistake I made by buying it used from some scumbag on line. Well worth the money spent to get a well backed outstanding bike. Thanks again Yeti, may the good karma be with you.....
Similar Products Used: I think I've ridden just about everything made and I keep comming back to the American made frames like this ASR SL.
Bike Setup: Frame only but will be built up with top notch and quality components
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Kevin Kane
a Racer
from Dillon, Colorado, U.S.A.
Date Reviewed: March 6, 2006
Strengths: The ASR is a classic bike. It's extremely smooth and races like a dream. The Yeti is light, simple and efficient. It always holds up on tight singletrack and climbs like a goat. The great thing about the ASR is it holds up and performs on the uphill and the downhill.
Weaknesses: The only problem I've had with my Yeti is that the Carbon Chainstay Protector broke off. It started to peel about 6 months after I got it, and it fell off completely about a week ago, leaving my chainstay naked and ready for some serious chain wear. Fortunately, I have plenty of old tubes in my garage.
Bottom Line:
Yeti makes great bikes. Their crew is great, even though they are a small company. They have a great line of bikes from the 303 to the ASR to the ARC. They all perform just as good as any bike out there. The ASR is the ultimate racing machine. I suggest it to anyone who wants a light performance racing bike.
