AI quick summary
- Yeti Cycles is the Colorado premium mountain bike brand, founded 1985 in Golden, now headquartered in Golden. Yeti is mountain-only and race-obsessed — the brand's identity is built on the EWS (Enduro World Series) and the Turquoise Racing tribe of fans
- Switch Infinity is Yeti's signature suspension: a translating pivot (a carriage that slides on Kashima-coated rails) that changes the axle path direction mid-travel. Licensed from Fox, Switch Infinity is unique to Yeti and tuned per model
- The SB naming convention encodes the rear travel: SB140 = 140 mm rear, SB160 = 160 mm rear, etc. 'SB' originally stood for 'Super Bike'. The ASR and ARC are short-travel / hardtail models without Switch Infinity
- Carbon grades: TURQ (top-tier, turquoise badge) and C-Series (value carbon, same geometry). Yeti's pricing is premium — among the highest in mountain biking — justified by the Switch Infinity tech and the racing pedigree
/ 01
Full-suspension — SB140, SB150, SB160, SB165
SB140: Yeti's trail bike, 140 mm rear travel, 29". The SB140 is the all-arounder — efficient enough for long climbs, capable enough for technical descents. The current SB140 (Gen 3) uses a refined Switch Infinity tuned for trail.
SB150: Yeti's 29er enduro bike, 160/150 mm. The SB150 is the EWS weapon for riders who want 29" wheels — fast, stable, with race geometry. Among the most raced 29er enduro bikes.
SB160: Yeti's MX enduro race bike, 170/160 mm, mixed wheels. The SB160 is the current EWS race platform — 29" front for rollover and traction, 27.5" rear for agility. The bike of Richie Rude (multiple EWS champion).
SB165: the heavy enduro / bike park bike, 180/165 mm, MX. The SB165 is for the biggest terrain — more travel and more progressive linkage than the SB160. The SB165 is the choice for riders who want one bike for enduro racing and park laps.
ASR: the down-country bike, 130/120 mm, 29". The ASR uses a simpler four-bar linkage (no Switch Infinity) for weight savings — it's the XC-leaning Yeti.
Yeti full-suspension family (Switch Infinity). SB number = rear travel in mm. TURQ = top carbon, C-Series = value carbon (same geometry).
| Model | Category | Travel (F/R) | Wheel size | Carbon grades | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SB140 | Trail | 150 / 140 mm | 29" | TURQ and C | ≈$5,500 (TURQ X01) |
| SB150 | Enduro | 160 / 150 mm | 29" | TURQ and C | ≈$5,800 (TURQ X01) |
| SB160 | Enduro race | 170 / 160 mm | MX (29 F / 27.5 R) | TURQ and C | ≈$6,000 (TURQ X01) |
| SB165 | Heavy enduro / park | 180 / 165 mm | MX (29 F / 27.5 R) | TURQ and C | ≈$6,200 (TURQ X01) |
| ASR | Down-country (short travel) | 130 / 120 mm | 29" | TURQ and C | ≈$5,000 (TURQ XT) |
/ 02
Hardtail and e-MTB — ARC and 160E
ARC: Yeti's carbon hardtail, 130 mm fork, 29" wheels. The ARC is the modern hardtail — capable on real trails, not just XC. The ARC is the bike for riders who want the simplicity (and low maintenance) of a hardtail without sacrificing fun. TURQ and C carbon grades, same as the full-suspension line.
160E: Yeti's e-enduro bike, 160 mm travel front and rear, Shimano EP8 motor. The 160E uses Switch Infinity adapted for the added motor torque. Yeti entered e-MTB late but the 160E is a genuine enduro-capable e-bike, not a detuned trail bike.
Yeti hardtail and e-MTB. ARC is the carbon hardtail; 160E is the e-enduro.
| Model | Category | Travel (F) | Wheel size | Carbon | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARC | Hardtail trail | 130 mm (F only) | 29" | TURQ and C | ≈$4,500 (C XT) |
| 160E | E-enduro | 160 mm (F) / 160 mm (R) | MX | Carbon (Shimano EP8) | ≈$7,500 |
/ 03
Switch Infinity — Yeti's signature
Switch Infinity is a translating pivot: a carriage that slides up and down on Kashima-coated rails (manufactured by Fox) above the bottom bracket. At the start of the travel, the pivot moves rearward (for square-edge bump absorption); midway through the travel, the carriage reverses direction and the pivot moves upward (for mid-stroke support and anti-squat for pedaling).
Switch Infinity is licensed from Fox and unique to Yeti. It's more complex than a fixed-pivot design (the sliding carriage adds parts and requires periodic service), but Yeti argues it provides a uniquely supportive and supple ride feel that no fixed-pivot can match.
Compared to competitors: Santa Cruz VPP (counter-rotating links), Trek ABP (concentric rear pivot), Specialized FSR (Horst Link). Switch Infinity is the most mechanically complex, and the most polarizing — riders either love the supportive feel or find the added complexity unnecessary. Yeti has kept it on all full-suspension models for over a decade.
/ 04
TURQ vs C-Series, and Yeti's positioning
TURQ and C: Yeti's two carbon grades. TURQ (turquoise badge) is the top-tier, higher-modulus layup. C-Series is the value carbon with the same geometry and suspension kinematics. The C-Series is ≈250–300 g heavier than TURQ. Both are full carbon — Yeti offers no alloy frames.
Premium pricing: Yeti is among the most expensive mountain bike brands. The SB160 TURQ X01 build lists at ≈$6,000–7,000, comparable to a Santa Cruz Bronson CC. The premium is justified by Switch Infinity, the TURQ carbon, and the racing pedigree — but it places Yeti firmly in the no-compromise enthusiast category.
Turquoise: Yeti's signature color since the 1990s. Most Yeti team bikes are turquoise; the TURQ carbon badge is turquoise. The color and the 'Yeti Nation' tribe of fans are core to the brand's identity — Yeti markets to a community, not just to buyers.
/ Sources