Yeti's Fancy New Bike Will Smooth Out Your Bumpy Backcountry Rides

With the sweltering, dry days of summer slowly coming to an end, it's time to start preparing for the lush, dirt-covered trails that autumn will provide. If you're itching to roll over rocks and scream down banked sweepers, Yeti has a new full-suspension carbon trail bike that might interest you.

The SB5c features 27.5-inch wheels, a compromise between the lighter weight of 26-inch wheels and steam roller-like qualities of a 29er. According to some industry experts, this in-between wheel size is also appealing to aggressive riders who want to get some air, and more petite riders who may feel overwhelmed by 29-inch wheels.

There's also a new suspension platform that optimizes pedaling efficiency by smoothing out small bumps and offering controlled travel during descents. It uses a "translating pivot" system composed of a pair of short rails above the bike's bottom bracket. The carrier goes up on these rails to make pedaling smoother, and as rear travel increases, this hardware moves downwards on the rails to increase chain tension and give a better path for the rear wheel.

Yeti

Some other notable specs include 127mm of travel on its Fox Float rear shocks and a 140mm fork; Shimano XT disc brakes; and a SRAM 11 speed cassette. You can also choose between a Thomson Elite or Elite Dropper seatpost (the latter of which seems like no-brainer upgrade). Its curvaceous frame comes in turquoise or black, and the whole setup weighs in at 26 pounds before pedals.

The SB5c ships now starting at $6,600 with a SRAM X01 build, but can run up to $10,600 if you opt for SRAM XX1 parts and an Enve M60 wheelset.