2020 Yeti SB140 T2

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A27.5 bike update when 29ers are on such a big rise? Absolutely. First and foremost, Yeti's newest bike is made to rip. They're not shying away from the fact that their bigger-wheeled bikes are best for those looking to race. The SB140, on the other hand, is a trail bike that's made to play around. This massive refresh to the SB5 includes 13mm of additional travel out back, 10mm up front, updated geometry, and all the other fine touches and features gained through Yeti's latest platform evolution.

SB140 Highlights

• 27.5-inch (650b) wheels
• 140mm (5.5-inches) rear travel // 160mm (6.3-inches) front travel with shorter offset fork
• Switch Infinity suspension system with two-piece wishbone-style shock extender
• High-end TURQ and more affordable C-Series carbon models (220g frame weight difference)
• Tapered integrated headtube (41mm/52mm)
• Custom downtube protector and chain guards
• Internally molded carbon tubes inside of the frame for improved cable routing
• Integrated axle and derailleur hanger system
• Boost hub spacing front and rear
• Press-fit 92 bottom bracket with ISCG05 mounts
• 180mm direct rear brake mount
• Clearance for a standard-sized water bottle inside the frame
• Lifetime warranty and crash replacement program
• Actual Weight: 29.2-pounds (13.2kg, size medium, no pedals)

"Happy to pedal. Greedy for more. Boost confidence as you boost everything. The mayor of jibtown, proudly wearing the rip crown. The SB140. Down to fun." - Yeti Cycles

Geometry

As the little brother to the recently introduced, rowdy-ready SB165, this thing has some pretty big expectations to fill. Compared to the SB5, Yeti has made several great updates along these lines. First and foremost, it's a good deal longer and slacker. Reach values are 23-40mm longer across the board, and the 65-degree front end is also 1.5 degrees slacker than the SB5. That's a big change. Yeti pairs this with a shorter 37mm offset FOX 36 fork.

Out back, 4mm shorter chainstays add to the agility side of the equation without going crazy short. Of course, you're looking at a 77-degree effective seat tube angle, which is a full 3.5-degrees steeper. This takes what was already a great pedaling bike and improves on it, no doubt about it.

The SB140 was designed for riders from 4'11" to 6'7", so you'll note low standover heights that are great for shorter riders, women, and getting on or off the bike with ease. 30mm shorter seat tubes also expand dropper post compatibility.

Suspension Updates

The bike uses the latest version of the Switch Infinity suspension design, which allowed Yeti to make room for a water bottle and have a tunable platform to carry into a wide variety of bikes. It also shares a lot of hardware with the newest generation of Yeti bikes.

Switch Infinity uses a translating pivot built by FOX that switches direction as the bike moves through its travel, helping to dial in anti-squat and suspension performance across the entire stroke. With the up and down movement of the translating pivot Yeti aims to provide good pedaling traits across a large range of sag values, but have things fall off deeper in the travel to prevent pedal kickback.

I loved this bike in more casual, everyday terrain at moderate speeds where it's a pump, pop, and jump machine. Playing around on it is an absolute joy.

The SB5 had a low 7% progression built into the linkage design and relied heavily on compression damping. While it was bested by others in terms of terrain sensitivity, it provided riders with loads of manageable trail feedback and a quick response that made it feel like you were flying. The SB140 sees an increase to 13% progression and more subtle amounts of compression - making the ride a good deal more supple and accommodating in chunky terrain.

The new bike eats up the chop surprising well for a 140mm 27.5 bike. It's a nice smooth feel and the suspension design allows the rear wheel to get up and out of the way quickly. This helps maintain speed in flatter, rougher terrain. It's not a hyperactive bunny rabbit on the trails, but instead the rear end strikes a nice balance between planted and playful. The feel is quite supportive and you can get that last-second pop you desire. On the gas, it's quick to respond and bottom-outs have been a non-issue.

Build Kits, Pricing & Availability

Yeti has five SB140 builds across their C and TURQ-series starting at $5,399, all with a lifetime warranty. TURQ frames save 220g (0.5-pounds) over more affordably made C-Series frames. Both types of carbon achieve the same stiffness ratings according to Yeti.

View C-Series Builds | View TURQ Builds

• C-Series C1 (GX) - $5,399 USD
• C-Series C2 (X01/GX) - $5,999
• TURQ T1 (XT) - $6,899
• TURQ T2 (X01) - $7,399 (Tested)
• TURQ T3 (XX1) - $8,299
• TURQ Frame + Shock - $3,499

The SB140 is available now.

What's the Bottom Line?

Yeti recently recategorized their lineup as bikes to race and bikes to rip, and I fully agree with the "rip" designation for the SB140. I loved this bike in more casual, everyday terrain at moderate speeds where it's a pump, pop, and jump machine. Playing around on it is an absolute joy. This is a good option for those who prefer 27.5 wheels and are out to maximize their fun levels on mild to moderately technical trails with lots of undulations. Just spend some time dialing in the front end feel to suit you best.

For anyone wanting what feels like a little extra bike, the 29-inch SB130 is an excellent ride.

Visit www.yeticycles.com for more details. Thanks to H+I Adventures for the first ride experience.

Vital MTB First Ride Rating: 4.0 Stars - Excellent

About the Reviewer

Brandon Turman - Age: 33 // Years Riding: 18 // Height: 5'10" (1.78m) // Weight: 170-pounds (77.1kg)

"I like to have fun, pop off the bonus lines on the sides of the trail, get aggressive when I feel in tune with a bike, and really mash on the pedals and open it up when pointed downhill." Formerly a mechanical engineer and Pro downhill racer, Brandon brings a unique perspective to the testing game as Vital MTB's resident product guy. He has on-trail familiarity with nearly every innovation in our sport from the past several years and a really good feel for what’s what.

Photos by Ross Bell // Video by John Reynolds and Brandon Turman