"There are only two kinds of mountain bikers. Those that ride Yetis and those that wish they did."
It's quite a truism really. Has any other brand managed to stay aspirational but just about affordable throughout the (mainstream) history of mountain biking?
Ironically, the only Yeti bike I've ever desired was the ARC-X.
I had a horrible sensation that this was going to be another "Look who's just gone bust" thread. Glad it's not.
I think Yeti make great looking bikes but there's been too many stories over the years of broken frames and poor warranty support to make me not actually want one . I'm not even sure if that holds up to actual scrutiny but it's the impression I've got . There's a yeti dealer near me so you do see a fair few about but even their ex demo bikes are very expensive
To be fair I'm priced out of that end of the market anyway but when I play fantasy bike shopping I'm starting to lean towards Athertons which I wouldn't have thought when they first launched .
Santa Cruz seems to have lost some of its allure, I feel like they used to lead the market in certain ways and I don't think they do now and at least Yeti seems to do things their own way .
Never been on my want list.....and that list has been open coming up to 40 years.
I’ve had 3 Yetis and currently own an ARC. All have been carbon. All have been faultless. All have been awesome.
"There are only two kinds of mountain bikers. Those that ride Yetis and those that wish they did."
This is the kind of quote that makes me feel a yeti even less desirable than a Trek. Or a Santa Cruz.
pompous, aspirational bollocks
I've never been a fan of the rear triangle.
I have a mondraker foxy, Id happily have another (despite snapping two rear ends). Have mondraker been around long enough?
Yeah, nah. Not wanted one since the 303RDH, because it was different. To my mind they’ve always been at the expensive end of mass market. Horror stories of various warranty issues didn’t help either.
All have been faultless
Did any have the switch infinity suspension system?
Much as I'd have loved a Yeti back in the 90s the maintenance and support stories I've heard rather put them off the list these days. I'd rather have a Santa Cruz, feedback on those is so positive
I think Yeti make great looking bikes but there's been too many stories over the years of broken frames and poor warranty support to make me not actually want one
That was my experience. Fast on the odd occasion it was working, but never again.
To really just reconfirm what's already been said....
I hired an sb150 in Whistler a few years back - and to this day it's probably the best enduro/gnar trail bike I've ever ridden. Felt great on the downs and pedalled brilliantly on the ups.
But
Switch infinity worries
Warranty worries
Hmm. Puts me off.
If it flies, floats or, erm, is a Yeti....hire it
😜
John Squire used to ride a Yeti. I'm not sure if that was what he was riding when he broke his shoulder, but it's possible.
https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/accident-cancelled-the-stone-roses-glastonbury/
I lusted over the '90s Yetis. They looked cool, had great riders on their team, and seemed awesome to a young 10. My surgeon buddy has a Yeti now, which is the recent stereotype, I guess. He likes it a lot, and it's not broken yet. They're too expensive for me, sadly, but I still want one. One day.
Had an SB66C. Well, I actually had many of them, because they broke for fun. They were absolutely deserved of the reputation they had for warranty as well.
More recently, I had an SB130. Again, I should rephrase that. I had many, as they also snapped for fun.
Never again. Can’t think of a brand I’m less interested in.
Thought they were great when Missy & Myles road for them BITD - however not a fan of Richie Rude recently (not sure why, just something about him) & their bikes look terrible for UK conditions.
Regarding Santa Cruz again they're nice bikes I'm sure, but also they seem to be exclusively ridden by VW Transporter owners & are only really seen at places like BPW.
For me the unaffordable bike of desire at the moment is the Atherton - race pedigree, gets on with UK conditions, feels like you're part of something & cutting edge manufacturing tech. They also look to be built strong enough to not need any warranty support.
Had two, both fractured rear triangles, both OK but nothing special to ride. Both looked the bollocks though!
Should point out that both were full bounce bikes and apparently hardtails are very reliable.
They're not my bag, baby.
I have been Yeti curious over the years. Not realling 'wishing I did ride a Yeti' more 'What is all the fuss about'
But now that advert has landed I have no wish to ride a Yeti when the company is being that pompous. Get f*ckd.
I think I'm in the 3rd category - used to own a Yeti and loved it. But then they brought out that infinity BB crap and the prices went through the roof, so I wouldn't touch them now.
My 575 (with the knuckle) really was fab. Best years of my riding life on that bike, no question.
Lookit that! XTR sti pods! Fox Vanilla! XTR cranks, carbon post.. what a beast
Must say, their website is a great source of Windows wallpaper pics 😀
Owned two: An ASR5C which was insanely light and capable, sold it to but an Airdrop Edit, and I currently own an ARC hardtail. Neither had/have any issues at all.
In my hunt for a longer travel full suss I keep getting drawn back to a discounted SB160. I assume it’s a bit of nostalgia from the early 90’s as they really were pin up bikes back then.
I then remember all the horror stories about cracking, maintenance and switch infinity, that it’s not in classic Yeti blue and that the head tube seems really short so continue my search.
Santa Cruz are far more mainstream in my head. Loads of em around here and they don’t look anything special imo.
If you don't want a Yeti, you got something missing
Yeti are a brand I still have soft spot for. My 575 was great, if flexy and the swingarm died 3 times. The last two out of warranty, one repaired, the other was whilst on holiday and I bought the ASR5c as the replacement and rebuilt it in the campsite.
The ASR5c was probably the bike most suited to my riding, such a nice bike, light, stiff, lovely handling. Killed it hitting a huge rock coming in to the downtube.
Don’t think they have anything in the range I’d currently buy, but still admire them.
Just remembered that I also hired a Sb130 in Bend. Was a fun bike, but the bb seemed low.
I'd rather have a Pivot if I was spending Yeti money.
I think that sort of marketing is quite divisive and the sort of thing that some marketers get really excited about and shouldn't.
I've got an Arc, shopped around didn't spend a fortune (and not a dentist / surgeon) and love it. Best hardtail I've ever had, but I must say I wouldn't touch a full sus though, to much exposed to UK crap paste.
Hardtail big tick from me, but they can keep the full sus and the marketing.
James
I had an SB140 built in December and it’s an amazing bike. The switch infinity takes some maintenance and I have had one replacement already - thankfully under warranty 
The Switch Infinity mechanism is a simple, lightweight, bombproof system built by FOX Racing Shox from proven suspension components.
Ha ha ha
I can't think of any other bike brand that has become synonymous with one particular colour. Some kind of clever marketing there. I've always wanted one but never have for some reason.
