DEFINITION READY - Introducing the Yeti SB120
“This year’s product line is the culmination of two years of work from our product and engineering team. When we launched the SB130 and SB150 over four years ago, we pushed the envelope on geometry, kinematics and ride quality. Those bikes stood the test of time, but we knew we could make them better, and make them faster. Our goal was to improve an already great platform by updating the kinematics, chasing down every detail to make the bikes faster, smoother, quieter, and easier to service. Each small detail is considered — taken in aggregate they make a massive difference in ride quality. This year’s new bikes – the SB120 and SB160 are the best bikes we’ve made to date. Thanks for all the support and see you on the trails”
As the guys say above, frame geometry that was ground breaking four years ago has been revisited with a keen eye on making a more balanced ride. Yeti engineers and designers mined the depths of every millimetre to create a nuanced set of refinements that deliver another leap forward in how well a mountain bike can ride. No hyperbole here: the bikes ride even better than before, enabled by MANY new features:
SIZE SPECIFIC SEAT TUBE ANGLES Riders of all sizes stay in a powerful pedal position with seat tube angles that increase with frame size. This makes the transition from seated to standing easier, especially for taller riders.
*Dependent on actual seat height on specific bike size. Crushing souls on the descent is more than half the fun and a hell of a lot more than half the point. The SB120 is wicked quick in your direction of choice. Yeti Cycles offer a lifetime warranty for the SB120 frame and all of their other frames from 2019 onwards, more info can be found here about Yeti’s lifetime warranty.
A REACH FOR AGILITY A more neutral position keeps riders weighting both wheels more evenly. This makes the bike more agile and sprightly. New reach numbers also scale with travel of each bike.
SIZE SPECIFIC CHAIN STAYS Chainstay length increases with frame size, ensuring the rear centre of the bike is proportionately correct for riders of all sizes (XS-XXL).
BALANCED VERTICAL TRAVEL Modern head angles are slack, so we run more front travel than rear travel to balance the bike. This delivers a brilliantly balanced ride.
LEVERAGE RATES REFINED With the release of the last generation of Yeti Switch Infinity bikes, Yeti focused on fine tuning leverage rates. The results are apparent in their award and race winning bikes. Yeti builds on this already successful set of suspension kinematics with subtle refined leverage rates that are adjusted for the added travel of the new bike. The new bike maintains their balanced approach to leverage rate, resulting in an incredibly predictable ride.
BETTER SHOCK TUNING Yeti Cycles has been tuning their shocks in-house to ensure their kinematics pair seamlessly with their shocks. Using data acquisition and a shock dyno, they are able to correlate hours of ride testing, splitting hairs over tenths of millimetres, to deliver the most out of their suspension. Each new bike goes through countless hours of ride and lab testing with multiple, ground-up shock tunes before Yeti settles on the final tune.
THE NEW SILHOUETTE OF SPEED The refined main frame and swingarm silhouettes are more than just striking good looks — it’s an engineering approach that packages Switch Infinity and the shock linkage in a tighter, more efficient package with added impact clearance. Holistic frame chassis stiffness has increased, along with frame ground clearance on all new models.
INCREDIBLE RIDE FEEL FROM THE INSIDE OUT Over the course of hundreds of virtual simulation comparisons and back-to-back carbon prototype testing, Yeti have refined their carbon layups to deliver consistent torsional stiffness and flex profiles across all frame sizes. The feel is precise yet compliant while structurally balancing light weight and durability.
SWITCH INFINITY RECALCULATED Discover the next-generation of translating pivot suspension designs. Setting new expectations for kinematics, longevity, sensitivity, and strength. All new T-series builds will be equipped with our new Switch Infinity system with improved seals, bearings and hardware. This will be backwards compatible too!
SPEED METAL Yeti’s new pivot designs use 100% standard sized cartridge bearings secured with precision-machined floating collet axles. All bearings are pressed into the linkage assembly vs. the swingarm or front triangle. The new floating collet pivot design uses standard sized cartridge bearings in precision and machined floating collet axles boosting longevity. The end result is perfect alignment and smooth suspension motion every time.
PATENTED COMPACT WISHBONE & NEW ULTRACOMPACT LINK Yeti’s patented, two-piece wishbone shock extender is used on the SB120 ensuring optimal clamping, shock compatibility and ease of shock removal for longer travel applications. The shock extender optimises leverage rates while pushing the shock forward in the frame. This forward positioning allows for a large range of shock compatibility, decreases standover height, reduces shock tab sizes, increases water bottle compatibility and increases downtube clearance.
CABLE MANAGEMENT Internally routed cable tubes with secure closures at entry and exit points eliminate rattles and cable rub. Whether running a mechanical drivetrain and dropper or a wireless setup, cable management is intuitively easy and quiet.
FRAME PROTECTION The new downtube protection system features two layers that work together. The foundation of the system is a rubber under-guard that provides cushion against the frame. The external hard cap provides superior impact resistance. The new system brings edge to edge protection to the downtube and is easily replaceable. The hard cap is also removable to aid in dropper post cable routing.
UNIVERSALLY READY If a hanger bending crash occurs, the new SB120 uses the Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH) interface — the industry standard mount for a rear derailleur. The UDH is available in nearly any bike shop, Yeti dealer or not.
FULL DROP As the capability of the Yeti bikes continues to increase, so does their ability to run modern day, full-stroke dropper posts. For 2023 seat tubes are shorter to allow for longer dropper posts. Most riders will be able to use a 150mm dropper posts on Small frames*, 175mm on Medium frames*and 200mm+ dropper posts on L-XXL frames* respectively.
THREADED CO-MOLDED BOTTOM BRACKET A threaded aluminium bottom bracket shell with internal ISCG-05 tabs is co-molded into the carbon during layup. No glued in BB shells here — this critical drivetrain interface is more durable, cleaner, and easier to service.
TRAIL. CHECK MATE.
