Yeti Cycles SB100 C Series GX Eagle Mountain Bike

Why We Like The SB100 C-Series GX Eagle Mountain Bike

As the age-old saying goes, you’ve got to get up to get down, and we think that there are few better disciplines in life that fully captivate the true meaning of this than riding a bike. The trouble is, many steeds are so single-purpose built that they only excel at one or the other. Featherweight cross-country steeds have the reputation of rocketing up climbs and feeling flighty and twitchy on descents, while downhill ready enduro sleds are a bit cumbersome when you point them uphill. Yeti aims to find a balance between the two with its down-country SB100. At first glance, you may think it’s a cross-country race machine, and you wouldn’t be entirely wrong. It’s built with progressive geometry that keeps you perched nicely for attacking technical climbs, but point it downhill and you’ll find a reward that many other XC bikes can’t offer—pure confidence at high speeds. Its Switch Infinity suspension allows it to perform like a trail bike when pointed downward, providing a more confident ride feel than your average 4-inch travel steed, so you can rocket to the front of the pack on climbs, and drop them on the descent, so the only thing separating you from a podium is a few miles of smooth singletrack.

We typically think of cross-country bikes as one-trick ponies that barely trouble the scale, which makes going uphill less of a chore. But when pointed downhill, the borderline anorexic builds can be slightly unnerving, and even the most confident riders are faced with a good test of faith when pushed through the paces saddled up on a feathery whip on technical descents. Fortunately, the SB100 has some pretty good lineage to draw inspiration from, and even though the geometry and suspension have cross country riding and racing on its mind as the intended purpose, it’s hard not to notice the trail and enduro highlights that bleed over from Yeti’s longer travel offerings.

The brief exodus from the XC scene allowed for a few reboots and allowed Yeti to truly build a no-compromise bike that could climb and descend, not just one that was great at one and mediocre at the other. A 67.8-degree headtube angle might look more appropriate on a trail bike and on paper it would appear that it would detract from the nimble handling and quick steering XC bikes are known for. Yeti has a few tricks up its sleeve, however, and spec’d a FOX 34 Step-Cast fork with a 44mm offset. After a bit of experimentation, Yeti found this reduction in fork rake improves your weight distribution on the bike, offering a bit more downhill stability without compromising its ability to clean tight switchbacks on climbs and negotiate around trail obstacles at slower speeds.

The 74 to 74.3-degree seat tube angle (depending on size) puts you on top and in control of your bike and offers maximum pedaling efficiency for marathon 24-hour stretches or for those lucky enough to have the time off work, a stage race. The wheelbase also walks the tightrope of being nimble and offering stability so you can blitz through the techy bits without wondering if you’ll blow it through the berm on the next turn. A departure from the ASR, this rear end is updated with Boost spacing, which allows for wider hub flange spacing and better bracing angles to stiffen things up. It also allowed Yeti to hack off a little length on the chainstays and they now sit at 17.2-inches, so you have plenty of rear-wheel traction for competent climbing while remaining agile through tight singletrack. Other notable frame features include internal tubed cable routing for silent operation and easy setup, and an uninterrupted seat tube allowing for maximum dropper post compatibility.

*Due to unprecedented demand in the global supply chain and the bike industry over the last 18 months, material weight and exact components are subject to change. We are working diligently to keep tech specs updated, and any adjustments will be minor. If you have any questions, reach out to a Gearhead by chatting online or calling 1-888-276-7130.

Details

• Get up to get down with Yeti’s lively XC-to-trail whip
• 4in of smooth, highly efficient Switch Infinity suspension
• 67.8° head tube angle balances agility with stability
• Beefy tires, dropper post, and 34mm SC fork for aggressive riders
• Main triangle has plenty of room for larger water bottles
• Carbon frame is backed by a lifetime warranty for good measure
• FOX’s Performance suspension offers plush travel to eat up rocks
• SRAM GX Eagle components balance price with performance

Tech Specs

• Frame Material: C-Series Carbon
• Suspension: Switch Infinity
• Rear Shock: Fox Float Performance Series
• Rear Travel: 100mm
• Fork: FOX 34 StepCast Performance Series
• Front Travel: 120mm
• Headset: Cane Creek IS41 / IS52 Integrated
• Shifters: SRAM GX Eagle
• Rear Derailleur: SRAM GX Eagle
• ISCG Tabs: ISCG-05
• Crankset: SRAM GX Eagle DUB
• Chainring Sizes: 32t
• Crank Arm Length: [medium] 170mm, [large, x-large] 175mm
• Bottom Bracket: SRAM DUB
• Cassette: SRAM XG-1275 GX Eagle
• Cassette Range: 10 – 52t
• Chain: SRAM GX Eagle
• Brakeset: SRAM G2 R
• Brake Type: 4-piston hydraulic
• Rotors: 180mm SRAM Centerline
• Handlebar: e*thirteen Base 35
• Handlebar Rise: 20mm
• Grips: Lizard Skins Charger Evo
• Stem: e*thirteen TRS Base
• Stem Length: 40mm
• Saddle: WTB Volt Steel
• Seatpost: e*thirteen Vario Dropper, [medium] 120 – 150mm adjustable, [large, x-large] 150 – 180mm adjustable
• Wheelset: e*thirteen LG1 EN
• Front Axle: 15 x 110mm
• Rear Axle: 12 x 148mm
• Tire Clearance: 29 x 2.4in
• Tires: [front] Maxxis Minion DHF EXO Dual Compound, [rear] Maxxis Ardent EXO
• Tire Size: [front] 29 x 2.3in, [rear] 29 x 2.25in
• Extras: downtube protector, chainstay protector
• Activity: cross-country, trail
• Manufacturer Warranty: [frame] lifetime