YETI SB140 LUNCH RIDE REVIEW

THE DIRT

The SB140 first showed up at my door in the early days of fall, just as trails were starting to get some moisture here in Bellingham, so it was graced with some pretty special conditions to get things rolling. At 6’3”, it initially seemed like the Extra Large was going to be the size for me, but after a few rides I began to question that decision. With a reach of 505mm, the stock 50mm stem length, and a stack of 635mm, the riding position both up and down felt a bit stretched and awkward, at least per my preference. I tend to prefer a more upright geometry, where you’re left with more room for body English to navigate the tighter and steeper trails here in Northern Washington. After trying some different cockpit options, I ultimately decided the geometry of the size Large made more sense for me, so we traded out for the smaller of the two.

On the first ride with the smaller SB140, things absolutely clicked. The bike felt much more balanced and maneuverable, while still retaining plenty of stability at speed. The rear center of the bikes don’t change a ton, only 2mm per size, so the real difference here was the reach. I still ended up swapping out for a 40mm stem and higher rise bar, as the stock cockpit felt too “Colorado high country” (that is, pretty damn slammed) for the trails here. The only other change I made from the stock setup were the tires, as the EXO/MaxxTerra combo Yeti specced really don’t do bikes justice here.

Putting stickier tires to dirt, what immediately impressed me about the 140mm Yeti was just how lively and energetic it felt on even the most mundane sections of trail. If you’re someone who enjoys jibbing off little side hits and making the most of every bit of track, then try to get some time on the SB140. Adding to the fun was just how nicely this bike climbs.

I’m never one to shy away from a big climb, but the SB140 makes it a real joy. Whether spinning up graded logging roads or picking through technical terrain, the bike feels calm and efficient, but still retains enough traction to hold on when you’re out of the saddle and putting down power. For flatter trail systems and longer days on rolling terrain, this Yeti would undoubtedly be on my short list of ideal bikes.

When it comes to descending, I kept coming back to the feeling that the SB140 has a bit of a bright line where you suddenly hit the limit of what the bike wants to do. Like with any bike, you can push beyond this and simply rely more on skill (with a healthy dose of hope), but it’s worth noting just where that limit is. On typical trails in Bellingham, with plenty of flow, roots, and features, the 140 never felt under-gunned. But when I took it out on steeper, rougher tracks, it struggled to stay composed and retain that nice balanced feel I came to enjoy on mellower terrain. Part of this is the relatively steep head angle, with most bikes in this category falling closer to 64° than the Yeti’s 65°/65.4°. Couple that with the very active feel of the Fox 36 fork, and I think it can lead to a bit of a sketchy feel when you’re picking down a wall of roots. Obviously this is well beyond the purview of the bike, but it’s what I like to ride so I always like to see how these all-rounder bikes can handle that sort of jankiness.

While I didn’t spend enough time on the SB140 through the depths of winter to incur any major wear, it’s worth noting that my long-term test SB160’s Switch Infinity link wore out after about 600 miles of über-sloppy winter conditions. With better maintenance, this would likely not happen quite as quickly, plus the grit and wetness of Bellingham’s winters are pretty unmatched. More on that in the 160 writeup, so stay tuned.

The Wolf’s Last Word

The Yeti SB140 surprised me with just how fun it was on a wide swath of terrain. It’s not meant to tackle the gnarliest tracks around, but for long days out and making the most of your local trails, it makes for a very fun companion. All this comes at quite the premium, but the frame quality and ride feel are both top notch.

Price: $10,200 LR T3 Turq | $4,500 Turq Frame Only
Weight: 31.3 lbs. STOCK | 32.8 lbs. AS TESTED
Website: Yeticycles.com

SPECIFICATIONS

CHASSIS
Frame: Yeti Turq Carbon; 140mm
Fork: Fox Factory 36 Grip 2 | 160mm
Shock: Fox Factory Float X

COCKPIT
Brakes: SRAM Code Rsc, Centerline 200/180
Handlebar: Yeti Carbon 35x780mm
Stem: Burgtec Enduro Mk3 35x50mm
Headset: Cane Creek 40 Integrated
Seatpost: Fox Transfer 31.6mm / Sm: 150mm, Md: 175mm, Lg-Xxl: 200mm
Saddle: Silverado Custom

WHEELS
Wheelset: DT Swiss XM1700 30mm
Front Tire: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.5 Exo
Rear Tire: Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.4 Exo

DRIVETRAIN
Bottom Bracket: SRAM Dub BSA 73
Cassette: SRAM X01 Eagle 1295 10-52t
Cranks: SRAM X1 Eagle 30t 170mm
Shifter: SRAM Eagle AXS
Derailleur: SRAM XX1 Eagle AXS