[Closed] yeti sb66 - anyone ride one?

I've had my alloy for a bit over 18 months now & couldn't imagine replacing it. It climbs as well asa a 14kg bike can. & is an absolute blast on the downs. Eating anything you can throw at it.
I did crack 2 swingarms, but that appears to be fixed now.
Went through one set of bearings, but that's nothing new with FS bikes.
I did get some wear on the blue switch link through my ham fisted maintenance. Did't seat the bearing properly.
The absolute best change I've made is ditching the Fox 32 for a new Pike.

I know someone who uses an Ali SB66 as his only bike in the Alps, he is pretty happy with it does all sorts of riding on it.

I'm British but I don't ride mine in Britain but use it for basically everything from all-dayers to the odd DH park.
Its not for everyone with its long top-tube and it takes a little speed for the suspension setup at the rear to start working, but I have to say its the best bike I have ever owned.
Not cracked or broken mine and I'm a good 90kg and ride it 2-3 times a week, had mine for 10 months now without any issues.
We don't get as much mud as the UK in winter but mines survived a particular muddy trip to Japan and our very wet (and muddy) summer without any bearing issues.

Also, get the carbon, they don't look to bad!.
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Oh, and as Kiwijohn said, go for Pikes upfront (I soon will be).

thanks guys that's what I needed to hear - credit card ready!!!

A friend has done one set of bearings in six months (replaced under warranty)!

Also a sponsored rider went through 5 sets of bearings in a season!

So I would look at the cost of them and factor that into your budget.

ahh bearings. Was thinking about a 66 myself but saw some horrific costs for bearing kits starting at about £90 for the basic swing arm set though to about £300 quid for a full rebuild set, including the fixings and switch link top hats.

I loved my Yeti ASR and would by another Yeti but those sort of running costs are putting me off a bit. Haven't found any reasonably priced "non yeti bearings" for sale yet, anyone got any ideas of bring the costs down?

The main switch link bearing can be a problem if the bottom pivot stop isn't sealed properly. Once it lets water in it sits behind the bearing washing the grease out. However they're £24 to replace not hundreds. Rest of the bearings generally last. I've not read anything that contradicts that.

I've sealed mine with some bathroom silicone after the first set were replaced under warranty.

Rides and climbs great though a 160mm fork slacken the seat angle making getting the correct saddle position a pain with the saddle right forward on the rails.

Pretty bomb proof otherwise. Invisi-shelded mine from new and it's still like new 🙂

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I have a 2012 Alu frame with Lyriks up front. Burly build throughout, (RF Atlas cranks and finish kit, reverb and Hope/Flow wheels) so not especially light, but not noticeable heavy. Planted climbing,great down hill, very stable at speed through the rough stuff. Have done the UKGE series on it in all weathers, trips to Molini and PDS.

It's perfectly happy on DH runs, trail centre stuff and big days out in the hills. It's probably due a full service this winter, but it has been faultless otherwise. The frame is thoroughly mauled through bad weather and ineptitude, but the mechanicals are still fine.

I did find the rear shock took a lot of fiddling to get right, and I've found that the RP23 it comes with has benefited greatly from an internal volume reducer, to stop it blowing through the travel on drops, etc. Once i got that sorted, and rebound speed set, it has been a revelation on rough descents.

I'd also lash out to get the 12x142 rear axle, as this is a bike to be ridden hard, so a bit of 9mm wire seems very out of place in the overall build.

I want to go and ride it now....

I want to go and ride it now....

Not had mine long, only had it out on one ride in Swinley and 3 over in the Peaks this last weekend. Love it! Climbs better than my old Stumpjumper FSR and I love the supportive feeling the Switch platform gives you to be able to pump the terrain. It takes a little to get into the suspension because of this, so its not as plush feeling as the FSR, but I much prefer it like this.

Agree with what the others have also said, especially InvisiFRAME, go for the matte one if you get an SB66c, its blends in wonderfully, can hardly tell its there.

Up on Shatton Moor yesterday:

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I've had a few goes on one. I liked it. The large was a little too long for me (6ft), and the shock tune felt all wrong (rebound v.fast).
With a medium frame and some Loco magic; I reckon it would be a ripper!

I love mine - best bike I've ever owned, truly All Mountain. Set of DT EXM's on the front which are fantastic and compare to the 36's I ran previous (but lighter) HOWEVER - my swingarm I've just found is cracked - searching around on the internet last week I had no idea it was such a common issue.
If you go the alloy route then hold out for the new carbon swingarm "free upgrade".

Not wanting to sound like a broken record but the points above pretty much sum up the bike, I've got an ally version that's about 18 months young now and I'd also say it's the best all round bike I've ridden.

At this point I should say I'm a bit obsessed by the brand and only owned YETI's since 1991, so I may have a biased view - I have ridden plenty of other brands though and still go back to the sb. I have an asr and an arc but always pick up the sb when going out as it does everything so well.

I've raced the UKGE series all year too, been out to ARE Bike Park in Sweden and ridden everything from the Peaks to my commute on it with only the expected regular service and replacement bushings needed.

Yetifan.co.uk is a great source of parts at a good price and availablility and provides a focal point for YETI owners and their unique bikes.......go and put your hand in your pocket, you won't regret it.

Theyre pretty amazing.

Burly build, lyriks, vivid air etc. Can ride it all day in big hills and not feel hepd back when doing uplift days. So much fun.

Side note - suspension isnt to everyones taste, think sporty and the faster you go, the better it is. Had to choose between "harsh" (i like everything firmer than most) and using up travel unneccessarily. Stuck on the vivid air, now im getting the best of both worlds, its on another level now.

Stewartc for crying out loud dont rest your bike with its dropper post on the edge of a wall!

Any point accrued are now null and void!

I know it's a bit off topic, but the new Yeti 575 is going to be 650b. Maybe give that a test ride and see how it stacks up against the sb66?

I have had one (Ali) since March. Like the other owners I have nothing but praise. It climbs really well ( as well as a 150mm bike should). There is very little pedal bob when seated, you have to stand to activate the 'bob'. It's a long, low and slack bike so descends really well. I have pedal strike occasionally on the descend mode (mine has the ctd rear shock).

Check out classified, I have this stella SB66 for sale

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How is the sizing on these, I would normally be a large but a 25.2" seems very long on paper, does it feel right when you are sitting on it
.Im 6"2 BTW.

They are long in the TT, just run it with a short stem. I'm only a short ass, so fit a small whereas I'd usually be a medium, with a short stem it feels perfect to me.

I'm 6ft on a large with a 50mm stem and 750mm Easton Bars and it feels perfect.

thanks for replies, I already run a 50mm stem on my current bike, this one has a 20mm longer TT so I cant really run a shorter stem. My current bike has felt a bit shorter since changing the post to a reverb so maybe this will even out on the Yeti.

35mm stem. I'm 6'1" and find the large is great size for me (especially since changing down from a 60mm stem - where I found myself seating on the nose of the saddle before)

Santa Cruz before and just couldn't stand sitting on such a short bike, never got used to it.

6'2" I think you'd struggle with a medium TBH - I'm running a lot of seat post out with 34" inseam.

Hope it helps.

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