The new Yeti SB120 is a genre-busting trail bike that is equally at home toeing the line of an XC race as it is sending big rock slabs. 120mm of Switch Infinity rear travel allows us to pedal efficiently uphill while still giving us plenty of rear wheel traction and small bump sensitivity on the downhill. By utilizing C/Series carbon construction, the SB120 gains an impressive strength-to-weight ratio while remaining a little more wallet-friendly than Yeti’s premium options. Yeti’s engineers took to the drawing board this year to refine both the geometry and carbon layup, which in turn created a consistent ride feel across the entire size range and stiffened up the frame so we can throw down the power on uphill passes and downhill straightaways. The slack, but still climbing-friendly 66.5-degree headtube angle is paired to 29-inch wheels and a 130mm fork for precision handling and stability at speed so we can tackle technical terrain with confidence.

This Yeti SB120 C1 SLX Factory build starts with Shimano’s 12-speed SLX drivetrain for smooth, reliable shifting with replacement costs that are a fraction of XT and XTR components. The wide-range cassette also offers plenty of gears for tackling climbs that seem almost vertical, while a pair of 4-piston brakes let us modulate our speed with precision through technical terrain. The 130mm Fox Factory 34 fork sports a GRIP2 damper with seemingly infinite adjustability so we can dial in our suspension to suit our riding style, and the 29-inch Crank Brothers Synthesis Enduro alloy wheelset helps us get over any obstacle without worrying about dinging our rims. Yeti also worked the geometry to allow for a long OneUp dropper post on every size so we can get our saddle out of our way when we point it downhill. The Yeti SB120 C1 SLX Factory mountain bike is a genre-blending trail machine that is equally at home on high-alpine tech as it is toeing the line of our local XC series.

Details

• Short-travel 29er trail bike for big climbs and even bigger descents
• C/Series carbon is impressively light and strong
• 120mm Fox Factory Float DPS is supportive for speedy climbing
• Switch Infinity rear travel has been revised for easier maintenance
• 130mm Fox Factory 34 fork eats up rocks and roots
• 12-speed Shimano SLX drivetrain offers time-tested reliability
• Clearance for up to 2.6in tires gives us options for traction
• Dual-density downtube guard fends off dings from rocks and drops
• Item #YTIR1FZ