YETI SB165 T3 MOUNTAIN BIKE REVIEW

THE BEST BIKE OF 2024?

Words by Robert Johnston  |  Photos by Max Rhulen

Since my first rides on Yeti’s updated SB165 earlier this year, I’ve been taking every opportunity I can to get more trail time on it. Instantly inspired by its generally well-rounded character, I was excited to tickle the limits and see where this mixed-wheel Enduro mountain bike would tap out. Keep on reading or watch the video to see how the Yeti SB165 has performed over the last few months of abuse.

ABOUT THE YETI SB165 T3

The SB165 is Yeti’s longest travel bike currently, with the 165mm rear travel that you might expect from the name paired to a 170mm fork. It runs exclusively on a mixed wheel, or mullet, setup, with the geometry designed to maximize performance with this setup. While the Yeti SB160 hints towards a speed – and therefore race – focused nature, the SB165 sits somewhere between a “park” bike and enduro bike.

FRAME AND FEATURES | Yeti continues to rely upon carbon fiber for their frames, offering two material grades to suit different price points. Their C-series carbon fiber is slightly cheaper and heavier, but should offer the same strength. The higher grade TURQ carbon fiber, found on the “T” builds, shaves weight without compromising strength. Yeti goes the extra step and designs a unique carbon fiber layup for each frame size in order to deliver the same torsional stiffness across the size range, ensuring riders of all sizes get the same ride feel.

Yeti covers the details very well on the SB165, as you’d expect from a premium product. The frame pivots use floating collet axles, boosting stiffness and preventing them from coming loose during abuse. All frame bearings are fitted to the linkages, making service easy and preventing damage to the main frame during service. Yeti specs the SB165 with a threaded BB, which has integrated ISCG-05 tabs to keep the chainring safe. The rear end will clear a 2.6” rear tire with room to spare, perfect for tackling sloppy mud.

As with most Yeti full suspension bikes over the last ten years, the SB165 uses their Switch Infinity suspension system. The heart of the Switch Infinity system is a slider that allows the lower pivot to translate vertically. This allows Yeti to tune the suspension kinematics to their liking. There’s a standard central pivot equipped with a pair of bearings to allow it to rotate, which is fitted to a slider that uses bushings to slide up and down on what are effectively two small shock stanchions. Grease ports are fitted to each slider to inject fresh grease in order to keep things sliding smooth. This Switch Infinity system is now housed in a more compact casing, yielding improvements to stiffness, weight and packaging constraints.

Yeti revised their frame layout to address the downtube clearance concerns that many shared on the previous generation, obtaining an inch extra clearance to keep it safe. Adding to that safety is generous downtube protection and a shapely chainstay protector to keep things quiet. Speaking of quiet, Yeti uses fully guided internal cables and adds secure closures to the entry and exit points to minimize rattle.

SUSPENSION | Yeti’s Switch Infinity system has been tuned on the SB165 to work best with a coil shock. This means increased progression towards the end of the stroke, sitting at 22% overall. The first 120mm of the travel is mildly progressive in a linear nature, offering predictability and support. The last 45mm of the travel receives a pronounced ramp up to handle the hardest hits.

GEOMETRY | The SB165’s do-everything (aggressively) nature is backed up by a geometry package that screams “attack”. The rear end is shorter than the SB160, and size-specific to aid weight balance across the size range. This shorter rear end is designed to yield a more rearward position for improved poise in the steeps, with a slightly reduced focus on out-and-out speed.

The effective seat tube angle is maintained across the size range, but is on the slacker side of what is becoming normal. Even so, the climbing position was comfortable with the saddle pushed slightly forward in the rails.

BUILD SPECS | Yeti offers the SB165 in a range of builds from the C2 at $6,300 / £5,999 to the $9,200 / £9,499 T3 XO T-Type build tested. There’s also a frame-only option, equipped with a Fox DHX2 shock and SLS spring, which retails for $4,800 / £4,799.

Our top-end T3 build featured a decidedly premium spec list, but avoided being flashy for the sake of it. Sure, you might wish that your near-10k investment would deliver some flashy parts, but Yeti has selected a very purposeful build kit that will keep most riders happy. There’s a couple of components that we’d have liked to change, but for the most part it was a bike that was ready to hop on and rip.

The suspension duties are handled by Fox, with their Factory level 38 170mm fork and a DHX2 coil rear shock. Also Fox is the Transfer dropper – albeit the black Performance Elite model – with long travel models across the size range. SRAM provides the drivetrain and brakes, with their XO AXS T-Type transmission and CODE RSC brakes.

The cockpit features Yeti’s Carbon Fiber handlebar, clamped by a Burgtec Enduro MK3 stem in 50mm length. A WTB Silverado saddle is given Yeti branding for a premium look.

A DT Swiss EX1700 Custom wheelset is wrapped in Maxxis Maxx Terra Assegai and DHR2 tires as standard, with EXO+ up front and Double Down in the rear. This tire spec was quickly replaced for a more suitable burly and tackier Schwalbe Tacky Chan DH Ultra Soft combo to deliver the traction deserved.

Claimed weight of the Yeti SB165 T3 build is 34.1lbs (15.4kg), however our size large tipped the scales at XX.X lbs once more suitable tires were fitted.

THE DIRT

My time onboard the Yeti SB165 included riding all over the Pacific NorthWest, from the high desert rocky chunk of Bend to Whistler Bike Park, and many other spots in between. I’d be lying if I said that I’d put an insane number of miles on this bike to give a report back on the durability over the long term, but I’ve certainly racked up the vert and done my best to find the limits of what the SB165 is capable of.

SETUP | The SB165 was an easy bike to get dialed in once I’d sprung it appropriately for my 100kg/220lbs mass. A 550lb Fox SLS spring proved to be the ticket, leaving me in a comfortable spot. The size Large fitted my 6’2”/187cm stature well, albeit with considerable seatpost sticking out the frame to suit my 36” inside leg. I switched out the stock Burgtec 50mm stem (which was faulty) for a RaceFace Turbine stem in my preferred 40mm length. The 50mm stem felt reasonable during the first ride though – it certainly wasn’t screaming out to be holding back the capabilities of the bike.

The other change I made to the spec were the tires, as mentioned. The MaxxTerra Assegai EXO+ front tire seemed particularly ill fitting for a bike with such aggressive intentions, and with a Whistler trip looming I figured a burlier rear tire wouldn’t hurt either. A pair of Ultra Soft, DH casing Schwalbe Tacky Chans were my selection, and instantly lifted the capabilities of the SB165 to the level it deserved.

CLIMBING | The geometry of the SB165 put me in a comfortable seated position once I’d pushed the saddle forward in the rails. The seat tube angle is not ultra-steep, and only gets slacker the higher you push your seatpost. There was adequate weight through the front wheel to keep things in check on steep and technical climbs, with no issues with wandering.

Consistent across Yeti’s SB range is solid suspension performance when climbing, with a nicely blended pedaling characteristic. The Switch Infinity setup on the SB165 made for an impressive climbing machine in this category. It was supportive enough to keep me from wallowing into the sensitive rear end with every pedal stroke, yet was still able to find traction and provide comfort. This support continued to be provided when hammering the pedals hard in the smaller cogs, making the SB165 a bike that would support racers looking to lay down a heater.

DESCENDING | Whether it be A-Line jump and berm cruising; Joyride rock roll survival, or attacking the tech on Fade To Black, the SB165 was excellent. And this continued to be the case on every trail I encountered that pointed downhill. The suspension platform provided plentiful comfort and traction, yet offered support and feedback that let me feel the traction under the tires and work the terrain for speed. Unlike some bikes that need to be pushed hard to come alive, the SB165 remained a comfortable bike when fatigue had fully set in after a couple of days nonstop lapping the park. Following countless huck-to-flats and a few instances of knuckling ambitious gaps, I didn’t feel a single harsh bottom out in the rear. It’s safe to say that the bottom out bumper in the DHX2 was doing God’s work, even with that coil-optimized suspension kinematic.

The geometry Yeti selected for the SB165 offered up plentiful poise and stability without killing the agility and playfulness. I could easily get the front wheel up for a manual or slash the rear end round a turn, yet its neutral stance placed plentiful weight on the front end to inspire confidence in flatter corners. I’ve complained of some bikes feeling as if they had “been mulleted” in the past, when a short rear end and smaller rear wheel lead to an excessively rearward weight bias. The SB165 avoids this sensation, but still offers plentiful inspiration to party on the rear wheel. It’s bold, but there’s not a single geometry figure I’d like to change on the SB165 for its all-rounder enduro and bikepark nature.

Through two big days of lapping the hell out of Whistler with Sourpatch – who was on a big burly downhill rig – the only time I felt somewhat underbiked was on the huge rock roll at the exit of Joyride. With Sean able to let off the brakes and charge through it all, I was uncertain if I’d have the reserves to hold on, so took it a little more cautiously. But with 99.9% of the rest of what was running in Whistler being eaten up by the Yeti SB165, I’d still consider its capability seriously impressive. All of this while being agile enough to pop and play, and generally ride like a dream bikepark rig.

FINISH AND VALUE | As I mentioned earlier, this has not been an ultra long-term test where I can talk about the Switch Infinity longevity or how many miles the drivetrain will last. What I can say with certainty though is that the SB165 has been put together very well by Yeti, with the details covered extremely well. Aside from some chain noise on the hardest slaps, it’s been quiet throughout testing, and I’ve only had to check the suspension pivots as a formality. With most pivots featuring a locking collet design, it’s no surprise that they’ve stayed tight regardless of the abuse I’ve thrown at them.

In terms of value, I can’t ever say that a $9,200 mountain bike is good value. What I can say though is that the finish quality is excellent in typical Yeti fashion, and the build kit tested was mostly dialed. I’d be looking to switch out the stock tire setup immediately to avoid holding back the capabilities of the bike. Otherwise, the remainder of the components are top-tier and solid performers that I’d happily run.

HOW DOES IT COMPARE? | Yeti SB165 vs Canyon Strive CFR

As the bike that I still think represents the pinnacle of all-rounder Enduro performance, the Canyon Strive CFR makes for a solid competitor to the Yeti. The Canyon would take the cake in terms of technical climbing ability thanks to the higher, steeper setting of the Shapeshifter system. The descending mode on the Canyon offers slightly increased stability, though not necessarily any extra capability as a result – you can push both of these machines very hard.

Where the Canyon loses is in its increased complexity, due to the reliance of the Shapeshifter system to unlock this performance. The Yeti SB165 is still a very solid climbing machine, and offers the same levels of descending prowess, but loses an extra cable and lever on the bar. Sure, some may argue that the Switch Infinity system also increases complexity, but it’s undeniably simpler than Shapeshifter. If you’re a rider who is happy to accept this complexity and utilize it, then the Canyon is absolutely a bike I’d recommend. But if you want to keep things a little simpler and still get insanely well-rounded performance, I reckon the SB165 is as good as it gets just now.

The Wolf’s Last Word

Almost a Master of All Trades, the Yeti SB165 is one hell of a bike. From flow trail party laps to attacking chunky tech against the clock, the SB165 performs excellently for it all, and packs amicable climbing performance at the same time. If you’re in the market for an Enduro mountain bike that’ll keep you happy in all trail situations, it doesn’t get much better than the Yeti SB165 right now.

Price: $9,200 /£9,499 (T3)
Website: Yeticycles.com

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