Submitted by
mjsteam
a Cross Country Rider
from Steamboat Springs, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: August 30, 2010
Strengths: Fun to ride, great tracking, great climbing, great downhill.
Weaknesses: Breakage, poor customer service. I broke my first frame last year, YETI provided a warranty replacement for the front triangle, I up-graded the rear triangle and shock for $1,200. That frame lasted for 9 months, broke in the same place, rear triangle was also cracked. LBS had no loaner or demo and took TWO weeks to ship the bike back to YETI, and now YETI will not warranty.
Bottom Line:
YETI has quality issues. They did offer to provide a replacement for $900, when I pointed out I could buy the same closeout frame on JENSEN USA for $50 buck less with a new shock, they essentially told me it was my choice! My choice will to be to not buy an other YETI.
Similar Products Used: Trek STP carbon, (10 years old of regular use and no issues there)
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Submitted by
coloradoRider
a Cross Country Rider
from Lakewood, co
Date Reviewed: August 24, 2010
Strengths: Light weight, efficient XC frame
Weaknesses: Durability
Bottom Line:
Don't buy the 2009 version of this frame. I broke the rear seat stay within 1 month of building the bike. I fell on a climb and inspected the bike after the fall. There were some scratches on the chain stay, but that was the only damage that I noticed. This was really not a hard fall as I was climbing. An hour later in the ride the seat stay cracked.
The crash replacement for the rear end is $475.00. I don't have any confidence that the new rear swing arm will last any longer that the first one given the other reviews and how easily the first one broke.
I did ask what the warranty will cover and here is the explanation that I was provided from my LBS. For example, if you fall and scratch the rear chain stay and then two months later break the seat stay on the same side, that would not be covered under warranty, it would be considered crash replacement. So basically, if you scratch the carbon you will void the warranty.
Given that this is a mountain bike, and my previous mountain bike frames have many scratches, I have decided to scrap the frame altogether and start shopping for a new mountain bike frame. I am very, very, disappointed in this purchase and the durability of this Yeti frame. I really believe Yeti was working with a new frame material and under engineered the rear swing arm given the number of reviews on this site that indicate that the rear swing arm was broken. They should have an aluminum replacement available, or a stronger carbon replacement so that people that do have an issue are less likely to experience the same problem with the $475 replacement. I would suggest that you consider a different brand of bicycle given all the excellent options in the market.
Submitted by
Fort Fun Rider
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Collins, CO
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2010
Strengths: I was pretty happy with the performance of this bike. The pro-pedal woks great an the climbs as well as the downhills.
Weaknesses: The rear carbon triangle is VERY fragile. I'm not a big rider and I do not ride very aggressive but I have now broken two of these in as many months. The fist was the result of lateral flex and the chainstay failed near the bottom pivot. The second break was on the seat stay after a very light impact.
Bottom Line:
Don't get this frame unless you want walk the trail with a broken frame. I was very disappointed in its construction.
Bike Setup: Rock Shox Reba front fork, Mavic Ride wheels. Race Face Atlas Crankset, SRAM 9 cassette, Shimano Saint brakes/shifters, XTR derailler.
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Submitted by
kjpushie
a Cross Country Rider
from Australia
Date Reviewed: April 15, 2010
Strengths: Climbs well and is very light and fast
Weaknesses: Carbon doesn't belong on chainstays. My chainstay cracked in half after only 5 months of use (and not abuse). For my type of riding, a frame of this quality should have lasted longer. The limited help recieved from Yeti in fixing the problem also will deter me from buying another.
Bottom Line:
Great bike to ride but its lightweight design makes it too weak. Limited warranty help for such a high end product.
Similar Products Used: Intense Spider, Santa Cruz Heckler
Bike Setup: Full SRAM X9, Hayes, Reba Race, Crossmax XL, Deus Crankset
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Submitted by
XcCountry
a Cross Country Rider
from Malaysia
Date Reviewed: January 25, 2010
Strengths: The frame geometry is good. Climb like speed goat. The carbon read is stiff and good handling. Even with rear pop lock open, don't realy feel much up hill. Is good on downhill and handling. No issue on climbing hill even on 40 degree.
Weaknesses: I do find the cable routing is not that good but again I stick on the carbon sticker to protect the rubbing near the shox, bottom and the rear end. Shox is standard FOX RP23.
Bottom Line:
I bought this frame new from ebay very cheap. Never regret to pay so much to send it over across to the other part of the country from US. Is stiff and a very good frame.
Similar Products Used: Santa Cruz Blur, Santa Cruz Suprtlight.
Bike Setup: Groupset is all XTR including wheelset. Wellgo Magnesium Paddle. RockShox Reba Team with Pop-lock 100mm. Carbon Scub stem, ChrisKing headset, Yeti Grip, Selle Italia SLR saddle with Thomson Elite seat post, Jagwire cable, Coolpad brakepad, Monkey Lite handle bar. Kenda Nevegal 2.1 front and Panaracer XC Pro rear
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Submitted by
bennymtb
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney, Australia
Date Reviewed: November 8, 2009
Strengths: Light...very light for a alloy frame. Great geometry. Lateral stiffness is great. Climbs like a goat both on smooth firetrails and rocky technical climbs. No bob, platform propedal does a good job here.
Weaknesses: None so far.
Bottom Line:
Awesome bike and for the $ even better. Handles extremely well, climbs great and the slackish head angle allows confidence descending. Love the carbon rear triangle. If your type of riding is XC or trails then this a bike worth looking at. Great stuff Yeti. Saving up for the ASR Carbon now!
Bike Setup: Fox F100 RLC fork, RP23 shock, Avid Juicy 7 brakes, 6 inch rotors, XT drivetrain and shifters. Easton XC one wheelset.
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Submitted by
FlyingSam
a Cross Country Rider
from switzerland
Date Reviewed: October 14, 2009
Strengths: The ASR alloy frameset is light enough to build a reliable cross country race machine. But you can also use it for everyday rides as the geometry is perfectly adjusted. The frame is very stiff due to the rear carbon triangle and the pivot bearings. The Fox RP23 shock goes very well with the frame and almost eliminates bobs when needed. It climbs like a goat especially on rough terrains as the rear wheel stays glued to the groung. My bike is L sized, and it is a bit longer than some others. I'm 187 cm (a bit over 6'), had to install a 90mm stem to get right. As a consequence the bike is very stable and almost impossible to front lift while climbing steep. The front angle allows for safe downhilling, keeping in ming it's not a DH bike...100mm fork travel is perfect for balanced geometry.
The V-shaped top tube is perfect in singletracks as it give plenty of leg clearance to let you move your body!
Not to mention: I'm proud of riding such a valuable bike, and a brand that's so famous in the MTB history. A dream come true...
Weaknesses: If I have to find one, well, I would mention cable routing for the rear der. I had to find a way to make the cable housing stop slipping into the frame holders when the shock works, leading to damaging the frame's top tube.
Bottom Line:
I higly recommend this bike. It has everything you need to feel safe in almost all situations, as far as you are not into freeriding or world cup racing ! It performs best during long distance rides, is plush enough for your comfort, light and stiff when it climbs. A must have...
Bike Setup: ASR allow frame, reba team fork, American classic wheels, Race face next crankset/stem/bar, XTR shifters and brakes
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Submitted by
Picinino
a Cross Country Rider
from Lake Oswego, OR, USA
Date Reviewed: July 17, 2009
Strengths: Agile, smooth ride. Bike is fast on slight to steep downhills. Really comfortable geometry.
Weaknesses: Not as efficient on uphills and flats as the hardtails I have ridden. But what do you expect - you can't have it all. If it was nobody would buy hardtails anymore and Yeti wouldn't make them. Rear triangle a little on the heavy side, I understand the newer models have overcome this.
Bottom Line:
Ridden this bike hard for over 7 years in all conditions, it is by far the best mtb I have owned. Ridden hard and put away wet and keeps going. Would recommend this bike, but I am sure there are other manufacturers with equivalent products.
Similar Products Used: Bridgestone MB-1 - 1992 year model
Cannondale Super V - 1994 year model
Cannondale F 700 - 1995 year model
Bike Setup: FSA XC 300 wheelset (replaced original Mavic 317,s)
Avid Juicy 7 Brakes (replaced original Avid Mechanicals)
Fox Float R rear shock (original)
Rockshox REBA fork (replaced original Manitou Skareb)
Mixture of Shimano XT and XTR components (most of them have been replaced)
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Submitted by
BISTRO
a Cross Country Rider
from Newcastle - Australia
Date Reviewed: February 10, 2009
Strengths: Light, fast snappy and responsive ride that forgives in tricky situations. Minimal (if any) BOB with propedal on
Weaknesses: Need to turn off pro pedal on descents. Brake jack on descents when on the anchors - problem on all single pivot bikes though
Bottom Line:
Terrific if a little pricey. Light, efficient and well worth the step up to the higher price bracket. Everything works extremely well on this bike
Bike Setup: Reba fork, Full X-O, DT swiss 4.1D rims on 240 hubs, DT swiss tubeless conversion kit (works well), SDG I-Beam seat on KORE carbon seat post (tres light), Juicy 7 brakes.
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Submitted by
bellullabob
a Racer
from providence, ri
Date Reviewed: January 14, 2009
Strengths: Super fast bike. It's true, it climbs amazingly well. Light.
Weaknesses: Everyone says laterally stiff but I somewhat disagree. It
s not bad but not super stiff.
Bottom Line:
LOVE IT! Super fast bike. What really stands this bike out is how well balanced it is, which is one of the reasons it climbs so well but can still handle the descent! I can go from standing to sitting when I climb w/out loosing traction. I thought initially that it would be too stiff for me, especially coming from a tracer. I like my comfort. Now I ride w/ the shock on 3 and w/ my front fork locked out most of the time. This bike has really changed my riding style and greatly improved me! No need for 29er when you ride this bike! I am now saving for the full carbon version...
Similar Products Used: Spec, Proflex (still have it!), Intense Tracer
Bike Setup: Xtr, marta, Reba, etc...
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Submitted by
Paul Crawford
a Cross Country Rider
from Augusta, ME, USA
Date Reviewed: October 23, 2008
Strengths: Made for me, in the colors I wanted. Light, seems strong but nothing tells me otherwise...
Weaknesses: None so far.
Bottom Line:
It's 23 lbs. Shockingly light. Fox RP23 does it's job, the rest of the parts are already tested beyond necessity, so I know I won't have issues... but my Ti hardtail was 18.7 lbs. Not a lot of difference. Anyone who picks up this bike gets a dropped jaw, since it looks like it ought to weigh 40lbs. Nope, 23... and I am pretty happy about it. Being that the SID and Yeti paint are matched... I don't want anything else... Unless someone has a Pushed R7 Carbon Manitou they don't want... haha
Strengths: Wonderful simple single pivot frame. Works a treat and matched with the RP23 fox shock ---- BOB has left the building!
Weaknesses: Slightly bumpy if down hilling with RP23 shock in pro pedal mode. If you are on th money with flicking it over to open valve prior to down hill sections the yeti just steps up one more level.
Bottom Line:
Sensational bike worth every bit of the extra outlay
Bike Setup: Reba fork, DT swis 4.1d rims laced to 240 hubs, I beam seat on a carbon Kore seatpost, Avis juicy 7's (carbon), SRAM X0 through out.
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Submitted by
mark vernon
a Cross Country Rider
from APO AE
Date Reviewed: January 6, 2008
Strengths: very light frame
Weaknesses: None!
Bottom Line:
I looked at 4 differnt frames and narrowed it done to the Yeti. It took me a full year to research all the parts and to build. This is my first full suspension. I love this bike with a passion! I really enjoy riding this bike it is unbelievable easy to get up hills.
Bike Setup: Rock Shox Reba, Race face cranks, Srame x.0 shifters, 990 gears, Thomason seat post, Easton Monkey handle bars, Cane Creek rims with headset
Strengths: Suspension design, Weight, stand over, carboness, Stiffness
Weaknesses: Nothing......
Bottom Line:
One of the best, if not the best light weight racing full suspension bikes in the world, it may cost an arm and a leg, but its worth every penny. It is fast enough to be a race machine, but strong and fun enough to be a training bike, and just a plain fun bike.
To see that single pivots work on XC race bikes, push on the nose of the saddle, no bob, press on the back, and it sinks into the travel, just how it should be stiff for climbing and very active for decending
Bike Setup: F100 RLC Mavic wheels,Specialized fast track 2.00, XT, XTR, juicy carbon, monkey light, RP23, Chris King
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Submitted by
used2bhard
a Racer
from Evergreen, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: October 25, 2006
Strengths: Light, quick, great composure while descending, very little bob, great company
Weaknesses: Single Pivot
Bottom Line:
I love this bike. It climbs as fast as my HT ever did, yet has amazing descending and cornering abilities. I train on the bike as well, so it gets all the day to day abuse on technical terrain.
Mine weighed in at 5.1 lbs for a medium, so my entire build is 23.4lbs without resorting to any crazyness.
The Horst link designs have a plusher feel in the rear, as this ride relies on the RP23 to keep bob in check. The shock does it's job well and keeps the ride very efficient.
Hey guys,
Girlfriend as seen a 2nd hand medium as-r sl 2007 that she likes. Shes 170cm tall so im assuming its going to be too big, can anyone confirm?
Cheers,
Marc Read More »
Hello Everyone--
After weeks of research (and reading a LOT of these forums) I've narrowed my dilemma to the following three choices: [B]Titus X (or Racer X...still a lot out t Read More »
