Yeti Cycles

SB5 Beti Turq X01 Eagle Race Complete Mountain Bike

Being a lighter rider doesn't mean we don't charge hard, hit the occasional gap jump, or barrel into banked berms with overcooked speed, but what it does mean is that the typical suspension packages we find on most mountain bikes are a bit overbuilt for us, and harder to tune to our exact liking. Yeti takes care of this by offering the SB5 Beti Turq X01 Eagle Race Complete Mountain Bike with every bit of technology that you'll find in the standard SB5, but with a lighter shock tune that's best suited for lighter weight riders, providing us with the same supple feel, traction, and give through the gnarly sections as its ever popular sibling, but with an eye on those of us with smaller stature. It offers nimble 27.5 hoops that are agile enough for threading the needle through tight trees, plus deep suspension for softening the blow when you misjudge your space between two rollers, and that double you intended to hit has you landing flat.

The SB5's geometry is universally praised, meaning its plenty stable without missing out on nimbleness, thanks to its head tube angle sitting at an all-mountain appropriate 66.5-degrees. This pairs nicely with a slightly longer wheelbase and reach that combine for increased confidence when blasting through steep rock gardens. Conversely, the longer, slacker front end is tempered by a steeper seat tube angle and stiff, stubby rear triangle that keeps handling responsive and snappy as you deftly navigate tricky root systems and washed out trails.

The Switch Infinity suspension system is the key to the SB5's versatility. Switch Infinity offers a linear feel, while the eccentric link changes direction so you get excellent anti-squat properties for efficient pedaling and climbing. It rides unlike any other platform on the market because no other design can do what it does. The Switch Infinity slider travels upward under the first phase of compression when the SB5 is settling into its sag point. As the rear end compresses deeper, the direction changes and the DH-inspired slider travels down toward the bottom bracket shell to maintain a steady pedaling platform. This change of direction is smooth, and the transition is made without any harshness or spikes. Deep in the stroke, it works in conjunction with the upper pivot to produce a vertical wheel path that effortlessly flattens big, square-edged impacts. This further partners up with a Beti-specific tuned Fox Factory DPS shock, designed to take the sting out of jarring rock gardens, and better accommodate lighter riders, compared to its beefier SB5 brother.

This SB5 Beti carries Yeti's Turq designation, which represents the most advanced frame the company knows how to make. For the SB5, this means a more precise carbon layup, carefully molded to reinforce key stress points along the frame without adding any unnecessary bulk. This results in a frameset that has strength where you need it and much-appreciated weight reductions where you don't for a claimed weight saving of roughly 300g compared to the standard SB5 Carbon.

The build kit on this SB5 checks off everything important we look for spec wise and doesn't have us wishing for any upgrades anytime soon. It also leaves a little more in our wallets relative to the XX1 build that we'll happily put toward travel expenses to reach epic riding destinations. This SRAM X01 Eagle Race build differs slightly from the standard X01 build with the aim of dropping weight and adding some performance touches. The wheels are upgraded to DT Swiss XM 1501 Spline Ones and the brakes are SRAM Guide RSC, which is a smart choice since you'll be needing to reign in all that speed with equal parts outright power and modulation with one digit. FOX Factory suspension with Kashima coating handles the squishy bits offering a wide range of adjustments to help dial it in for your individual weight, riding style, and terrain so you can charge the hardest lines and revel in how composed the ride is. The frame has clearance for modern 2.6-inch tires, and features internal molded tubing that makes it a cinch to route cable and brake lines. This makes the bike a lot quieter and a whole lot easier on the maintenance front so you can keep this all-mountain slayer performing in tip-top condition all year long.