Could 2016 be the year of the long-travel 29er?We’ve already seen new big-wheelers from Santa Cruz, Evil and YT, and nowYeti are in on the action too. While their shorttravel SB4.5c is more than capable for general trail riding, the SB5.5c is aimed at riders looking to tackle terrain that’s a little bit wilder.
The frame
Tucked neatly in just above the SB5.5c’s bottom bracket is Yeti’s Switch Infinity system, which allows the main pivot to move up or down depending on where the bike sits in its travel. Geometry wise, the SB5.5c is on trend with other aggressive 29ers. Yeti pair the 140mm travel frame with a 160mm travel fork to produce a slack 66.3-degree head angle. This lifts the bottom bracket around 345mm off the floor and gives a seat angle of 73.6 degrees. The chainstays measure just under 440mm, while the reach on our medium bike was 421mm.
Like the SB4.5c, the SB5.5c is designed around 1x drivetrains only. Other features include ISCG-05 tabs, 12x148mm Boost spacing at the rear and internally routed cables. The Shimano E-Thru rear axle sits proud of the frame but we had no issues with knocking it on the trail. The lack of a small frame size
means that, according to Yeti’s sizing chart, if you’re under 5ft 7in (170cm) you’ll struggle to find one to fit. The tall seat tube also means upgrading to a longer-travel dropper post won’t be possible for everyone.
The kit
It’s no surprise to see a top-end Factory series Fox fork and shock bolted to the SB5.5c. Yeti have opted to use a 160mm travel 36 Float with the FIT4 rather than RC2 damper. This limits adjustment but makes set-up quicker. To help stiffen the big hoops, the front also gets a Boost hub. Grippy Maxxis rubber paired with 30mm (internal) DT Swiss rims means big tyre volumes and plenty of support, even at low pressures. While the SB5.5c won’t take ‘plus’ tyres, it will accept 2.4in rear rubber.
The ride
The SB5.5c is eager to get moving. Climbing feels comfortable, no matter how steep it gets, thanks to ample cockpit room.We never felt the need to toggle the shock’s low-speed compression lever either, leaving it fully open during even the most awkward, slow uphill sections.
Over rough ground the big wheels, wide rims and high-volume tyres do a great job of ironing out chunder and really claw onto any available traction.As speeds creep up and the frequency of hits increases, the SB5.5c’s keenness to carry speed really shines. The rear shock never delves into its stroke more than required and offers enough feedback through the bike to ensure you know what’s going on, but without it feeling harsh or uncomfortable.
Thanks to the stumpy head tube, we had no issue getting our desired bar height, something that can be a problem with tall-forked 29ers. This, coupled with the taut chassis and stiff wheels, meant we never felt the big hoops held us back in the turns, remaining lively and agile through fast, successive corners and not afraid to be properly cranked over.
The SB5.5c really stands out when the pace picks up and the trail gets nasty. The stiff 36 fork with its smooth, well controlled action loves being pummelled head-on into the rough stuff while the back end of the bike works away in a stealthily efficient manner, dishing out confidence and sustaining speed without feeling like you’re on the edge of the bike’s limits. Push things harder and the SB5.5c just keeps on giving. It’s not the plushest ride out there, but it could well be one of the fastest.
HIGHS
- Lightweight build and decent geometry make the SB5.5c capable going up or down
- Uses travel very eiciently
- Carries speed well
LOWS
- Tall seat tube means some riders won’t be able to upgrade to a longer-travel dropper post
- It’s certainly not cheap
Extremely expensive, but accurate, efficient and seriously fast
Frame Carbon, 140mm (5.5in) travel
Fork Fox 36 Float Factory FIT4 Boost, 160mm (6.3in) travel
Shock Fox Float X Factory DPS
Drivetrain SRAM X01 with Race Face Turbine cranks (1x11)
Wheelset DT Swiss XM481 rims on DT Swiss 350 Boost hubs, Maxxis Minion DHF 29x2.5in (f) and Maxxis Aggressor 29x2.3in (r) tyres
Brakes SRAM Guide RSC
Bar/stem Easton Havoc 35, 800mm/Easton Havoc 35, 35mm
Seatpost/saddle RockShox Reverb Stealth (dropper)/ WTB custom
Weight 13.0kg (28.6lb), medium size without pedals
Price 10350$