Long-travel, dual-crown compatible freeride bike moves to mixed wheels
Yeti has revealed the latest iteration of the SB165 freeride bike, moving away from full 27.5in wheels to the ever-popular mixed hoops, with a front 29er and rear 650b wheel.
The carbon frame’s shape has also been updated for 2024, losing its angular down tube belly bulge for a sleeker shape.
The frame has moved away from the previous iteration’s press-fit bottom bracket to a BSA threaded model and inherits SRAM’s Universal Derailleur Hanger for increased compatibility.
A four-model range gives you the choice between Yeti’s high-tech and costly Turq or more affordable C-Series carbon. Prices start at £5,999 / $6,300 / €6,890 for the C2 and lift to £9,499 / $9,200 / €10,890 for T3 full bikes.
2024 Yeti SB165 frame and suspension details
The latest SB165 shares plenty of tech with the outgoing model.
Tube-in-tube internal cable routing, a long, straight seat tube, plenty of chain-slap and underside protection, and a low-stack integrated headset remain – not to mention its sleek carbon fibre construction.
However, the bike’s bottom bracket moves away from press-fit to the much-loved threaded BSA fitting. SRAM’s UDH – for Transmission compatibility – is now included.
Cable-entry and exit ports get clamps to help reduce rattle, and while the underslung protection is still present from the old model, it has been updated with a bolt-in-place section to aid internal cable routing.
The iconic 165mm-travel Switch Infinity suspension design has had a revamp rather than a total overhaul.
Exclusively on the T-Series builds, the new system gets improved seals, bearings and hardware in a bid to improve service intervals.
Each of the linkage’s pivots is fastened using floating collet axles, and the bearings are pressed into the linkage rather than the bike’s frame, making replacement easier.
A redesigned linkage – that uses a wishbone to clamp the shock’s eyelet – has been shrunk to improve shock compatibility and create more space in the front triangle for water bottles, while decreasing standover heights.
There’s compatibility for up to 190mm-travel dual-crown forks and 180mm-travel single-crown forks, depending on the style of riding you want to do.
2024 Yeti SB165 geometry
The Yeti’s geometry remains relatively unchanged from the outgoing model, and its figures are befitting of its long-travel credentials.
Up front is a slack 63.5-degree head tube angle, matched with a relatively steep 76.9-degree seat tube angle, although this has slackened by 0.1 degree from the outgoing model.
The four-size range (small to extra-large) has reach figures spanning from 430mm to 505mm and standover heights from 730mm up to 750mm.
| Size | Small | Medium | Large | Extra-large |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube length (mm) | 365 | 400 | 440 | 470 |
| Top tube length (mm) | 573 | 604 | 625 | 653 |
| Head angle (degrees) | 63.5 | 63.5 | 63.5 | 63.5 |
| Seat tube angle (degrees) | 76.9 | 76.9 | 76.9 | 76.9 |
| Chainstay (mm) | 433 | 435 | 437 | 439 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 1207 | 1242 | 1266 | 1298 |
| Standover (mm) | 730 | 738 | 744 | 750 |
| Head tube length (mm) | 95 | 101 | 107 | 118 |
| Stack (mm) | 620 | 625 | 630 | 640 |
| Reach (mm) | 430 | 460 | 480 | 505 |
Stack figures are archetypally Yeti, ranging from a low 620mm (small) up to an equally squat 640mm (extra-large).
Chainstay lengths grow proportionally with each size: 433mm (small), 435mm (medium), 437mm (large) and 439mm (extra-large).
2024 Yeti SB165 models and prices
The four-model line-up spans a £3,500 price range.
The most affordable SB165 C2, that’s decked out with a Fox Performance 38 fork, Factory DHX2 shock, mechanical SRAM GX Eagle drivetrain and DT’s E 1900 wheels, costs £5,999 / $6,300 / €6,890.
At the high end is the SB165 T3 with a Fox Factory-level 38 fork and DHX2 shock, SRAM’s X0 Eagle AXS Transmission and alloy DT Swiss EX 1700 wheels. This retails for £9,499 / $9,200 / €10,890.
Sitting in the middle are the SB165 C3 GX ($7,300) and SB165 T2 ($7,900), which are both only available in the USA.
2024 Yeti SB165 T2
- Frame: Turq carbon fibre, 165mm travel
- Shock: Fox Factory DHX2
- Fork: Fox Factory 38, 170mm travel
- Wheels: DT Swiss EX 1700
- Tyres: Maxxis Assegai EXO (f), Maxxis Minion DHR II EXO (r)
- Drivetrain: SRAM X01 Eagle
- Brakes: SRAM Code RSC
- Contact points: Yeti Carbon bar, Burgtec Enduro MK3 stem, ODI Elite Pro grips, WTB Silverado
- Seatpost: Fox Transfer
- Price: $7,900 (USA only)
2024 Yeti SB165 T3 X0 Transmission
- Frame: Turq carbon fibre, 165mm travel
- Shock: Fox Factory DHX2
- Fork: Fox Factory 38, 170mm travel
- Wheels: DT Swiss EX 1700
- Tyres: Maxxis Assegai EXO (f), Maxxis Minion DHR II EXO (r)
- Drivetrain: SRAM X0 Eagle AXS Transmission
- Brakes: SRAM Code RSC
- Contact points: Yeti Carbon bar, Burgtec Enduro MK3 stem, ODI Elite Pro grips, WTB Silverado
- Seatpost: Fox Transfer
- Price: £9,499 / $9,200 / €10,890
2024 Yeti SB165 C2
- Frame: Turq carbon fibre, 165mm travel
- Shock: Fox Factory DHX2
- Fork: Fox Performance 38, 170mm travel
- Wheels: DT Swiss E 1900
- Tyres: Maxxis Assegai EXO (f), Maxxis Minion DHR II EXO (r)
- Drivetrain: SRAM GX Eagle
- Brakes: SRAM Code R
- Contact points: Burgtec Ride Wide Alloy Enduro bar, Burgtec Enduro MK3 stem, ODI Elite Pro grips, WTB Silverado
- Seatpost: OneUp Dropper Post
- Price: £5,999 / $6,300 / €6,890
2024 Yeti SB165 C3 GX Transmission
- Frame: Turq carbon fibre, 165mm travel
- Shock: Fox Factory DHX2
- Fork: Fox Performance 38, 170mm travel
- Wheels: DT Swiss E 1900
- Tyres: Maxxis Assegai EXO (f), Maxxis Minion DHR II EXO (r)
- Drivetrain: SRAM GX Eagle AXS Transmission
- Brakes: SRAM Code R
- Contact points: Burgtec Ride Wide Alloy Enduro bar, Burgtec Enduro MK3 stem, ODI Elite Pro grips, WTB Silverado
- Seatpost: OneUp Dropper Post
- Price: $7,300 (USA only)
2024 Yeti SB165 T3 initial ride impressions
The SB165’s climbing demeanour flies in the face of its freeride intentions.
The seated position is comfortable; the seat tube angle places your hips sufficiently over the bottom bracket, but I still opted to angle the seat’s nose down.
Skinny EXO+ casing tyres and a top-spec build make it feel light, improving efficiency and reducing rider effort to get it to the trailhead.
Its coil-sprung suspension is wonderfully smooth, absorbing trail chatter and providing grip on the most technical jank. Overall, it’s a surprise performer on the climbs.
On the downs, it has a comfortable, familiar feel. None of its geometry figures – bar the stack height – raise eyebrows.
Install a few spacers and the bars can be lifted (as long as you’ve got enough steerer tube on your fork) to create an ‘in’ rather than ‘on’ the bike feel.
The mullet wheels don’t appear to detract from the previous bike’s character, but neither do they enhance it; if you’ve ridden the old SB 165 you’ll feel very much at home.
The smooth suspension works hard to absorb the trail’s bumps and big compressions alike. But there’s also plenty of pop, creating what is a surprisingly versatile bike, for what Yeti positions firmly in the freeride category.