Holy surprise launch, Yeti! Well, we certainly knew little about this bike, or at least the new technology that Yeti have introduced with the new SB5c. There were rumblings that Yeti were jumping into the 5 inch travel, medium-wheel market with an all-new bike, but the new Switch Infinity suspension uses a system that looks like nothing seen before. We have no idea how it works, so hopefully the video and this press release info will explain it some more…
The SB5C is our interpretation of what a trail bike should be — lightweight, great pedaling uphill and a screamer going down. This bike will make you smile.We’ve taken all we’ve learned from our popular Switch Technology and merged it with our bump smashing 303 Rail Technology to come up with a completely new suspension design called the SWITCH INFINITY.
SWITCH INFINITY is a Yeti patented design that allows unprecedented control of suspension kinematics. The end result — an extremely efficient pedaling platform without compromising small bump compliance. Point it down and the suspension switches to controlled and bottomless. FOX know-how makes the system bombproof and low maintenance.
The SWITCH INFINITY system utilizes a patented translating pivot that switches direction as the bike moves through its travel. This provides excellent anti-squat characteristics for superior pedaling performance and ideal suspension characteristics as it gets deeper into the travel.
This new system allows the suspension achieve seemingly contradictory characteristics. In the early stage of the travel it displays superior pedaling efficiency and excellent small bump sensitivity. As you move deeper into the travel, it is well supported and responds effortlessly to square edge hits.
Travel: 5” (127mm)
Weight: 5.1 Lbs (2.31 Kg)
Sizes: X-Small, Small, Medium, Large, X-Large
Colors: Black, Turquoise
R.shock: FOX Float CTD Adjust BV 7.875” x 2.0”
B.bracket: PF30
F.derailleur: Direct Mount
Seatpost: 30.9mm Diameter
FOX 34 / 140MM FORK
XS SM M L XL
A 15.0 16.5 17.5 19.0 20.5
B 21.6 22.6 23.6 24.6 25.6
C 67.0 67.0 67.0 67.0 67.0
D 72.8 72.8 72.8 72.8 72.8
E 17.4 17.4 17.4 17.4 17.4
F 43.4 44.4 45.5 46.6 47.6
G 13.4 13.4 13.4 13.4 13.4
H 29.6 29.7 29.8 30.0 30.5
I 3.70 4.30 4.80 5.60 6.30
J 21.0 21.0 21.0 21.0 21.0
L 23.6 23.2 23.6 24.4 25.0
M 14.6 15.5 16.3 17.1 17.9
*All measurements are in inches
So there’s these guys that have a job as suspension designers for a bike company. They’ve got this really bad crack habit and suffer from terrible hallucinations and bad ass flash backs. They come up with the whackest ideas during these out of it periods and manage to convince their employers that their ideas are awesome and will be lapped up by the buying public, if you do as much crack as them maybe. You guessed it, they work for Yeti Bicycles.
Glad you were able to unleash all your negativity in a public forum like this – you must feel a lot better now. I’m guessing people said the same thing when they saw the first mountain bikes with suspension or disc brakes. Maybe try riding the thing first before you go all judge, jury and executioner on it. Or at least say something constructive. Ie like why it won’t work/why it sucks. But preferrably back your claims with something resembling fact/knowledge. I agree that the design is out there (and complex and yes, perhaps it sucks). But unlike you I can’t make a snap judgement when I’ve never even ridden the thing.
I’m sorry you took my little jibe so seriously. Suspension on bicycles doesn’t need to be complex, as we all know simple is good and more preferable to those with extra bits to wear out and maintain. There are plenty of designs in use that are very simple and yet work amazingly well. What I’m getting at is the madness that seems to be going on in the bike industry to make bikes more complex and less reliable and yet no more fun to ride. Also, Jared Graves is an extremely talented rider, fantastic for Yeti’s marketing, but would he go just as well on another brand? So far the EWS results seems to be mostly about how many punctures and mechanicals you can survive and still get to the finish.
Not sure what planet you are on Stefen… The thing I love about Yeti is that they are prepared to push the limits. They build bikes out of passion and for nothing else then to prove everyone else wrong. And based on the results on the EWS this weekend I think they are doing okay?
It obviously works well. You can’t argue with results at consecutive EWS rounds. But I’m growing increasingly skeptical of claims to the legitimacy of innovation