Review: Yeti's Back in the XC Game With the 2024 ASR

Mar 19, 2024
by Mike Kazimer  
It's been nearly a decade since Yeti stepped away from the XC race world and shifted their focus to the trail / enduro side of things. Sure, they had the SB100, and then the SB115 in their lineup, but neither of those bike were purebred XC race bikes. The use of the Switch Infinity system added weight, and while those models were light, they weren't that light.

The 2024 Yeti ASR changes that, a revision of a classic model that's designed to join in on the XC resurgence. It boasts 115mm of rear wheel travel, a lightweight carbon frame, and a flex-stay suspension design. Flex-stays have quickly become the norm when it comes to this style of bike, but Yeti's no stranger to the design – the 2003 ASR featured a titanium flex pivot.

Yeti ASR Details

• Wheel size: 29"
• Carbon frame
• Travel: 115mm / 120mm fork
• 66.5º head angle
• 75.5º seat tube angle
• 439mm chainstays (L)
• Weight: 23.6 lb / 10.7 kg kg (size L)
• Price: $10,600 USD ($8,600 + $2,000 wheel upgrade)
yeticycles.com

There are six complete builds, with prices starting at $5,600 USD for the C2 model, and climbing all the way up to $13,900 for the T5 Ultimate XX – that model has RockShox's Flight Attendant suspension system, and uses a wireless-only frame.





bigquotesThe handling is still plenty quick, and if anything the slacker head angle makes it easier to stay on line while climbing; there's less twitchiness, and you can relax a little more when navigating tricky technical bits. Mike Kazimer



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Frame Details

The ASR's carbon frame design has a typical XC silhouette, with a top-tube mounted shock that leaves room for two water bottles, and routing for running a remote lockout. It may look fairly simple, but a serious amount of time and effort went into figuring out the optimum carbon layup for the frame – 36 unique configurations were tried during the development process.

The goal was to keep the weight down by eliminating any excess carbon, while also creating a frame that was strong enough to withstand the demands of modern cross-country courses. Special attention was paid to the areas around pivot points, where it ended up being possible to remove material without affecting performance or frame longevity. Even the 7075 aluminum rocker link's shape was designed with weight savings in mind.

The result of those efforts is a frame that weighs a claimed 1530 grams for the frame without shock, and 1830 grams with a shock. There's an even lighter version, the T Series Wireless, that forgoes the drivetrain and dropper cable post ports, dropping the frame to 1448 grams without a shock, and 1813 grams with one.

Those numbers aren't the absolute lightest, but they are very competitive – for comparison, a Scott Spark SL weights 1870 grams, an Orbea Oiz is 1750 grams, and the new Specialized Epic 8 is 1965 grams for the regular version, and 1795 for the S-Works version.

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A twist shifter is used to set the suspension in Open, Pedal, or Lock mode.
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The remote controls the shock and the fork at the same time.

Thankfully, the ASR doesn't have thru-headset cable routing – the cables run through a port in the side of the head tube. There's also a little hatch in front of the bottom bracket that makes it easier to route the dropper housing. Unlike Yeti's longer-travel frames, the ASR doesn't use tube-in-tube construction, a design choice that was made to save weight. Instead, the housing is clamped at the entrance port, and foam tubes are used to maintain silence. For the full-on weight weenies, removing those tubes off is one way to knock off a few extra grams. You could also take off the rubber downtube protection and little rubber mud flap on the swingarm, but that seems excessive to me.

All of the models (with the exception of the Flight Attendant version) are equipped with RockShox's 3P remote, which uses a twist shifter to toggle between Open, Pedal, and Lock, and changes the compression damping on the fork and shock simultaneously.

Other details include room for 2.4” tires on 30mm internal width rims, a threaded bottom bracket, and a custom chainguide that is integrated into the main pivot bolt.


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A little rubber flap helps keep the frame from eating rocks.
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An access port on the underside of the downtube aids with dropper or brake installation.



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Geometry

Looking back at the 2015 Yeti ASR is a quick way to see just how far cross-country geometry has progressed recently. That bike had a 69.1-degree head angle, a 73.8-degree seat angle, and a 443mm reach for a size large, and those numbers were thoroughly modern back then. Nine years is a lot of time between models, so it's not surprising that the 2024 ASR's numbers are substantially different.

The ASR's head angle is 66.5-degrees, the seat angle is 75.5-degrees, and the reach on a size large is 465mm. The chainstay lengths vary slightly, starting at 433mm for the XS frame and increasing in 2mm increments, topping out at 441mm for the XL.

For the sake of comparison, here's a brief list of other modern XC bikes and their head angle / seat tube angle / reach (size L).

Specialized Epic 8: 65.9° / 75.5° / 475mm

Orbea Oiz: 67°/ 76.5° / 475mm

Scott Spark RC: 67.2° / 76.6° / 472mm

Cervelo ZFS-5: 66.6° / 75° / 457mm

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Suspension Design

While many companies suggest running 25% sag on their XC offerings, Yeti recommends 30%, in order to make sure that all 115mm of travel is accessible when necessary. The leverage ratio change is fairly linear, with a 10% progression rate. Anti-squat sits at just above 100% at sag, and decreases slightly as the bike goes through its travel, although it always remains above 82%.


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Specifications
Price $10600
Travel 115
Rear Shock RockShox SIDLuxe Ultimate 3P
Fork RockShox SID Ultimate 3P
Headset Cane Creek 70
Cassette SRAM X0 Transmission 10-52
Crankarms SRAM X0 Eagle Transmission
Rear Derailleur SRAM X0 Eagle AXS Transmission
Chain SRAM X0 Eagle Transmission Flattop
Shifter Pods SRAM AXS Pod
Handlebar Race Face Next SL
Stem BikeYoke Barkeeper
Grips SRAM Twistloc
Brakes SRAM Level TLM 2-piston
Wheelset DT Swiss XRC 12300 Carbon
Tires Maxxis Rekon 2.4 / Rekon Race 2.35
Seat WTB Solano
Seatpost Fox Transfer SL Factory


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Test Bike Setup

The only change I made to the ASR was swapping out the 740mm Next SL bar and Bike Yoke Barkeeper stem. That's a very light setup, and if 740mm or shorter is your preferred handlebar width there won't be any reason to swap it out.

These days, I prefer running a 760mm bar and a little higher rise bar on XC bikes. More and more brands are spec'ing 760mm bars, which is great to see - even the less expensive models of the ASR come with 760mm bars. In any case, I felt more at home on the ASR once I'd made that switch.

205 psi in the SIDLuxe shock put me right at Yeti's recommended 30% sag, and I ran 83 psi in the SID fork. Tire pressures were 21 psi front and 23 psi rear.
2022 Trail Bike Field Test photo by Satchel Cronk.
Mike Kazimer
Location: Bellingham, WA, USA
Height: 5'11" / 180cm
Inseam: 33" / 84cm
Weight: 160 lbs / 72.6 kg
Industry affiliations / sponsors: None
Instagram: @mikekazimer



Testing Info

Testing took place over the course of the last five weeks in Bellingham, Washington. Trail conditions tended to be on the wetter side of the spectrum, but there were a few hero dirt days thrown in for good measure. Techy XC trails are where the Yeti feels at home, and this loop from last year's BC Bike Race is representative of the type of a modern race course where the ASR would fit right in.


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Climbing

The overall fit of the ASR felt perfect for my 5'11” height – it's more upright than the fully stretched out XC machines of years past, but not so much that it puts too much pressure on your hands, or creates a strange pedaling position. Even with a 50mm stem I didn't have any trouble keeping the front wheel weighted on steep climbs, and the transition from seated to standing pedaling didn't require any odd body movements to find a balanced position.

As XC bikes become slacker and slacker, some riders have expressed an understandable concern that'd the ride experience is going to be dulled too much, that the liveliness that makes XC bike so fun will disappear. I understand the sentiment, but I don't think we're there yet. Yes, the handling of the ASR does feel calmer than its predecessor, which had a 69-degree head angle. However, the handling is still plenty quick, and if anything the slacker head angle makes it easier to stay on line while climbing; there's less twitchiness, and you can relax a little more when navigating tricky technical bits.

I've ridden plenty of cross-country bikes that don't really need the lockout that they're spec'd with, but it's a slightly different story with the ASR. The Open position really does feel open, and by that I mean there's some noticeable suspension movement during hard pedaling; it doesn't have the extra-firm, extra-efficient feel that's typically associated with an XC race bike. Now, we're still talking about a bike with 115mm of travel here, so the suspension movement I'm referring to is fairly subtle, but the overall feel is noticeably softer than something like the Orbea Oiz.

That's where the 3-position remote comes in – with a quick twist to Pedal (or Lock mode if there's not a bump in sight) and the ASR's suspension stiffens up, giving it a much more efficient feel. I used the Pedal mode for most climbs, unless it was extra slippery and technical, in which case I'd open things up in order to maximize the amount of traction.

I'm not totally sold on the twist shifter setup, mainly due to the ergonomics of the short, push-on grip that butts against the shifter, but it does make it very quick and easy to switch between modes. In my ideal world there'd be some sort of blip button, or a low profile toggle that could be used to switch between the three modes. The new Flight Attendant recently launched, and that's an option on the fanciest ASR, but that's still not exactly what I'm after. For now, the 3P twist shifter gets a passing grade, but I'm going to keep trying to figure out an even better solution.


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Descending

The softer suspension feel in the Open position pays dividends on the descents, or really on any rougher sections of trail. For a 115mm bike the ASR does an impressive job of maintaining traction, an important characteristic when you're rolling around on a low profile tire like the Rekon Race. On a longer travel bike I'd likely call the sensation 'fluttery', but that term doesn't fit as well here, since the rear wheel isn't really moving up and down that much. 'Muted' would probably be a more accurate descriptor – you can still feel the trail under you, but it's as if the really sharp pointy bits have been dulled down.

The RockShox SID and SIDLux fork / shock combo work very well together, and the lack of noise from either suspension unit is worth a note – there were no squawks or squelchs to be heard, one of those little details that seems especially nice when you notice it.

As far as the overall handling of the ASR goes, it hits the mark that I thought the SB120 missed – it's light, smooth, and capable of tackling a relatively wide range of terrain. Now, we're still talking about a sub-24 pound XC bike here, and more moderate, flowing trails are still its happy place, but if a jump or drop with a good landing happens to pop up, or a tangled mess of roots on a steeper section of trail presents itself, the ASR can handle it. Again, all things in moderation, but the geometry and overall suspension feel coalesce to make the ASR a much calmer, more composed ride than I'd anticipated.


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Yeti ASR
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Orbea Oiz

How Does It Compare?

The Orbea Oiz is the XC bike that I've spent the most time on recently, so we'll start with that comparison. As far as geometry goes, the ASR has a .5-degree slacker head angle, and a 1-degree slacker seat seat tube angle. The Orbea has a 472mm reach and the Yeti's measures 465mm for a size large, but the top tube length of both bikes is identical due to the difference in seat tube angles, which means the seated pedaling position feels very similar on both bikes.

On the trail, the Orbea has a firmer suspension feel, firm enough that I was happy racing it without any remote lockout at all. That makes it feel a little snappier than the Yeti (when the ASR is in Open mode), although that does come at the price of reduced traction – the Yeti does a better job of filtering out trail chatter, and overall provides a smoother ride while climbing and descending.

The Orbea will appeal to the rider who's looking for a more traditional XC experience, with firm suspension characteristics and snappy handling. The Yeti delivers a smoother, calmer ride than the Oiz, which can come in handy on those extra-long rides, the ones where your response time starts to slow and tunnel vision starts to take over. It really comes down to personal preference more than any one factor in this case (well, the Oiz does have thru-headset cable routing, so there's that) – both bikes are very capable of being raced at the highest level.

As far as pricing goes, Orbea offers a deeper model lineup, which includes aluminum-framed options, as well as a custom parts picker.


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Which Model is the Best Value?

Out of the five version of the ASR that Yeti offers, it's the $5,600 C2 that strikes me as offering the best value. That model has a cable-operated GX drivetrain, RockShox SID Select suspension, Level TL brakes and DT Swiss M1900 wheels. The frame is Yeti's C level, so it'll be slightly heavier than the Turq series option, but that does help keep the cost down.

Yeti offers the option to upgrade to the Ultimate level suspension and the 3 position twist shifter for an additional $600, something I'd say is worth considering. After that, I'd recommend putting a ton of miles on it, and upgrading parts as they wear out or your budget allows. Things like carbon wheels, bars, and cranks would be easy ways to knock off a significant amount of weight; it'll just come down to deciding how much you're willing to pay for that weight savings.


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Technical Report

Maxxis Rekon / Rekon Race tires: I'm a fan of the Rekon and the Rekon Race tire combo. It's quick and predictable, as long as you keep in mind that you're on cross-country tires – the limits come up a little quicker than a big meaty enduro tread. In addition, the Rekon Race tire isn't the best option for really wet conditions, since there's not much tread to bite into the ground on slippery climbs, or to help with braking traction. Other than that, though, the range of conditions that this fast-rolling combo works in is pretty impressive. I ran 21 psi in the front and 23 psi in the rear and didn't have any punctures during the test period.

Fox Transfer SL dropper post: The Transfer SL post only has two position – up and down. It drops and raises very quickly, with an audible 'thwunk' that leaves no doubt it's fully extended. With the 150mm version, I found myself missing the ability to stop it anywhere in its travel. On rolling terrain there were times when dropping the seat halfway would have been a nice option. The two-position concept makes a lot of sense for the shorter travel versions – a middle setting's not going to be that useful when there's only 125mm of drop – but on the longer travel version it's a little less convenient.

DT Swiss XR1200 carbon wheels: These wheels are a new addition to DT's catalog, with a new carbon rim design, DT 180 hubs with ceramic bearings, Revolite spokes, and a weight of 1303 grams. The majority of my time on them was trouble free – they've stayed true, and are nice and quiet, free of the nerve-wracking 'twangs' that some light XC wheels emit during hard cornering.

I did have one issue arise on a winter ride, when the temperature was hovering around freezing. I went to put in some pedal strokes after a hard corner and was met with... nothing. The ratchet ring didn't engage, and there were two full crank revolutions before the hub engaged. I've been on several rides since then without any issues – I have a hunch the freezing temperatures played a role, but it's worth a mention. I'm going to be putting more miles on these wheel for a longer term review, so we'll see if the issue repeats itself.

What about a Lunch Ride version?

There's no Lunch Ride edition of the ASR, the overforked and slightly overbuilt option that Yeti offers with their other models (at least not yet) but it's worth tossing a few ideas out there for riders that have a downcountry itch they want to scratch. If this were my bike, there are really only two things I'd change to smooth out some of the XC edges a tiny bit. The first is the brakes. At the very least, I'd install metallic pads in order for better wet weather performance. Switching to Codes would be a good option too – that's the spec you'll find on the recently release Epic Evo. Codes weigh around 100 grams (total) more than the Levels, and that's a quarter pound weight penalty I don't mind taking.

The other change I'd make would be to the SL post. Even though I typically run 210mm of drop on trail and enduro bikes, the 150mm of drop on the ASR is well suited to its XC intentions. I miss the infinite height adjustment, though, and I wouldn't complain about a little more drop, so a 170mm post would likely get substituted in.

What about a 130mm fork and beefy tires? Honestly, I wouldn't go that route. A longer fork would slacken the seat tube angle even further, and heavy tires would take away some of the joys of riding a light bike with fast rolling tires. Plus, it's good for a bike like this to have at least some sort of reminder that while it's plenty capable, there are limits to the terrain it's supposed to be ridden on.


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Pros

+ Very competitive weight
+ Excellent grip and suspension performance
+ Well-rounded handling for a cross-country bike

Cons

- Slightly softer ride feel works best with 3 position remote lockout
- Narrow bar, underpowered brakes (even for an XC bike)



Pinkbike's Take

bigquotesWhile Yeti's athletes were out enduroing, cross-country race courses were becoming more technical, and bikes were being adapted to meet the new demands. With the new ASR, Yeti is back in the mix – this is a bike that's ready to meet the needs of the modern XC racer, or the rider who's looking for a fast, light machine that also happens to be surprisingly comfortable. Mike Kazimer







Author Info:
mikekazimer avatar

Member since Feb 1, 2009
1,721 articles

218 Comments
  • 257 10
 Maybe it's silly, but I am super stoked and really proud to see our Barkeeper stem and our Squeezy saddle clamp as Original Equipment on a Yeti bike. Yeah, maybe silly, definitely silly, but very gratiyfing for us, as such a small brand! Thank you, @yeticycles for having us on board!
  • 53 0
 They need to put Divines/Revives over the Transfers too!
  • 5 32
flag zonoskar (Mar 19, 2024 at 9:28) (Below Threshold)
 You mean, they didn't ask the manufacturer when they specced the bike? Very weird.
  • 19 5
 @zonoskar: I don't want to live in a world where I cannot buy 300 of the same seat from a manufacturer without having to answer questions about what I'm doing.
  • 106 1
 @zonoskar: Well, of course I knew that they were planning to use the Barkeeper and then they eventually ordered it. Having known it for a while doesn't diminish my excitement, however. And today is in fact the first time I'm seeing the actual bike.
  • 10 0
 @Sacki: Yeah dude! Stoked for ya!
  • 9 1
 Love the barkeeper! Nice stiff stem that weights the same as the faceplate on overbuilt stems! just built up a bike with a 45mm raw colored barkeeper. Barkeeper is such a cool juxtaposition to the all blacked out carbon bike. The 35mm rise renthal bars passed through no problem
  • 10 0
 I was very glad to see that spec myself - I love my Bike Yoke products and the Barkeeper stem is fantastic - sleek, light, and not overly expensive or flashy!
  • 4 0
 @HciNGPDo: ❤️❤️❤️
  • 6 0
 I have the barkeeper stem on my Epic Evo… It’s definitely my favorite stem for this type of bike… super light and elegant. Great spec choice Yeti Smile
  • 10 0
 Only have a revive from you folks. Absolutely bulletproof for 2+ years. Sent in for rebuild. Small issue with return speed. Through very patient customer support your team was able to resolve what turned out to be a PSI issue. Not sure I could ever ride a different dropper (performance has been incredible) or support a competing brand to bike yoke. Cheers on building a great company, ethos, and product!
  • 34 0
 @Ianjmalcolm: I think I remember your mail. It was just a couple of weeks back right? I rememeber for two things:
1) You are named like my favourite character in Jurassic Park
2) I usually take my time to rread all inquiries, personally and check if there is something unusual that I might need to assist with. In your case it seemed to be only low pressure but please keep an eye on it. Pressure loss is quite uncommon. In case you should have a problem again, please reach out. We'll get it sorted.
And thank you so much for supporting us! Commments like yours and customers like you make my day. That's what we're all workíng for at BikeYoke - every single day.
  • 8 2
 Take note Ari, this is the way to properly hype your products. Humility and genuineness go a freaking long way. Good for you @Sacki, that’s dope!!
  • 4 0
 Love all your stuff Sacki and happy that more are recognizing it! Waiting patiently for the Revive electronic version so me and my wife can just have one seatpost+seat combo each and move between all our bikes Smile
  • 1 0
 Ive had a 185 dropper since 2017 and a 213 dropper since 2000. Both have only needed one service in that time and the run silky smooth. In comparison, the 2x one up components droppers need servicing every 3-4 months!
  • 2 1
 @SATN-XC: If you ask the manufacturer, you might get a big discount on those 300 seats. That's what I'm saying. And of course, we need more @sacki's in the bike industry.
  • 1 0
 I can't even tell it's your brand
  • 2 0
 The raw barkeeper is the coolest looking part on my bike. And I built it from the frame up!
  • 2 0
 @cgmorais: I do also really like it. Have the RFF version on my Druid. Some people say it looks completely out of place (cause it's the only silver part on this bike). But I love it. Glad to hear there are enough people who pay attention to detail, just as we do, and who then also happen to like our parts. You are the ones allowing BikeYoke to exist! Thank you so much! It means the world to us!
  • 2 0
 @chaoscacca: I'm team bike yoke. Got rid of my Transfers....they all failed.
  • 66 1
 Linkage driven single pivot design works great for XC. It's like NASCAR, they are basically all the same with a different logo on them.
  • 32 3
 There is a surprising difference in feel between most XC bikes. I had an Epic Evo and Allied BC40 at the same time and they felt very different on the trail despite both being Fox suspension and flexstay design.
  • 11 0
 @salespunk: which one did you like more out of curiosity?
  • 6 2
 @salespunk: “very different”? Hmmm… how so?
  • 4 0
 The design reminds me of my 2018 cannondale scalpel with that linkage look/configuration.
  • 4 1
 I was thinking the same. Still lots of refinement differences that may add up to different feel and fit for any given rider, but it sure does seem to becoming more and more about the athlete as the bike designs converge.
  • 2 1
 Another old Scott Spark clone.
  • 5 1
 @AndrewFleming: The suspension was set up correctly on one of them
  • 4 0
 @salespunk: Love the bc40 ..Makes me feel like I'm on a far more capable bike than what I'm actually on..
  • 3 0
 @salespunk: i can attest that even two hardtails can feel very very different..
  • 1 0
 The downcountry field test pointed out how different bikes can be that seem the same. Remember the LaPierre? Also you can call one a clone of another but sometimes one has a 67.5* HTA and 450 reach in a size L and the other "clone" has a 66.5* HTA and 475 reach. They ride very different.
  • 1 0
 @RadBartTaylor: I still have the BC40
  • 1 0
 @AndrewFleming: The BC40 is an amazing do everything bike. The Epic Evo is racier with a more on the bike feel rather than in the bike. Both are awesome, but I got an Epic World Cup and the BC40 was a little more separated from that bike.
  • 1 0
 @salespunk: That's fine and I get it. I still think the phrase "very different" is an exaggeration but I'm probably just being a jerk about it. If those 2 bikes ride "very different" from each other how would you compare a road bike vs a BMX bike vs a downhill mountain bike?
  • 66 5
 Is headset cable routing on enthusiast-level mountain bikes already on the way out? Hope so.
  • 22 6
 Customers love it, until they get charged $200 to change a headset bearing, for the second time in 12 months.
  • 17 8
 @Fix-the-Spade: Who in the world needs new headset bearings that often?
  • 34 4
 @kilz: Lots of people when the rain and road salt drips down the cable, past the seals and into the bearing. There's nothing steel likes more than salt and water, the three of them are positively inseparable.
  • 3 3
 @Fix-the-Spade: yeah basically this.
Until I had one of these stupid headset cable routed bikes, I don't think I've ever paid any attention to headset bearings.
Now they need regreasing regularly and then replacing in less than a year
  • 28 9
 I always assumed Yeti owners just buy a fresh bike when the headset starts to get creaky, so this seems odd.
  • 6 1
 @Fix-the-Spade: Fairs. I live in a very dry climate so my headsets will usually outlast how long i have a bike.
  • 2 1
 @kilz: All my OEM bearings crap out after 6 months. Replacement ones usually the lower bearing goes after a year. This is on multiple bikes. Where I ride it's very root/rocky, often wet, and it destroys lower bearings.
  • 1 9
flag totaltoads (Mar 20, 2024 at 7:28) (Below Threshold)
 @VtVolk: I've never seen a Yeti that was more than 2-3 years old.
  • 1 0
 @kilz: Well now I'm jealous of you.
  • 1 0
 @Fix-the-Spade: Get an acros headset with seals at both the upper and lower races. Had one for nearly 4 years and ok when I put the bike back together after travelling I regrease both bearings but so far it’s been bomber.
  • 49 0
 Does it look like a blur and every other xc bike right now? Yes. Do I want one? Also yes.
  • 4 0
 For once I applaud the designers. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
  • 3 1
 Get one! I have an OIZ, it's awesome for doing all day rides.
  • 33 2
 Wow, 1 hour in and not a single reference to Dentists
  • 3 13
flag Sothheka (Mar 19, 2024 at 10:32) (Below Threshold)
 No one could find a dentist that wants to fork over >$10K USD for a bike
  • 59 2
 Dentists have moved on to ebikes
  • 9 3
 We're in orthodontist territory now.
  • 11 0
 I love a good dentist joke, but Yeti doesn't seem that stratospheric anymore.

Yeti ASR GX Build: $5,600
SC Blur GX Build: $5,600
Orbea Oiz Cheapest Build (XT, no GX Available): $6,500

None of those are direct-to-consumer budget brands, but 5 years ago Yeti would have been 20% more expensive than those other two. Now, they're pretty on par.
  • 19 0
 It seems recent "pure" XC race offerings are making an attempt at being more approachable, but still feeling like an XC bike. This makes sense because IMO downcountry went too far into the trail bike realm but with less travel and the same weight. I like this concept (epic 8, Oiz, and ASR as long as the bike still maintains a super snappy feel with loads of acceleration when stomping the pedals. Based on reviews it seems like they've hit the mark!
  • 21 0
 Kashima post on this colorway with everything else black is an eye sore, I get that its the lightest option, but they should have specced a Revive.
  • 11 1
 It comes in black Performance Elite model at the exact same weight and 150mm travel. Spec’d it on the XC bike I built this winter. Strange choice to run the Kashima version with black suspension.
  • 37 18
 Santa Cruz Blur?
  • 7 8
 came here to say this
  • 11 1
 Check their IG ad. They make direct allusion to the Blur... Interesting marketing tactic.
  • 2 2
 This is my XC bike. it's great with a 120 fork up front and 110 out back.
  • 5 3
 You mean the single pivot carbon flex stay suspension Santa Cruz Blur?
www.pinkbike.com/news/yeti-asr5-carbon-test-2011.html
  • 6 0
 @KJP1230: True, another IG ad makes allusion to the Epic..."Epic Looks - Yeti Performance"
  • 6 0
 @KJP1230: The Pinkbike banner ad "looks a lot like everything else"


..."rides like nothing else"
  • 4 0
 The blur is not the first bike to use a single pivot with a linkage driven shock. Yeti had the ASR like this 10 years ago. All the top XC pros in the world are riding some sort of the same design.
  • 2 0
 @xlcheese:

Nino isn’t, and he’s pretty top.
  • 29 16
 Bike industry: we’re struggling so bad please support us
Also Bike Industry: we would like over $13,000 for our bike and stop complaining about price, it costs what it costs.
  • 16 0
 I suppose it’s like when the economy is tough and overall car sales decline, the luxury brands still won’t lower their prices. Why? Because the wealthy will still pay high prices for luxury items
  • 19 6
 $5600 for a GX mechanical drive train and alluminum wheels, or get a Cervelo ZFS-5 that has a premium carbon frame, reserve XC wheels, carbon bars, and XT with 4 pot brakes for $4500... hard to justify the yeti.
  • 24 0
 The cervelo is on sale though correct? Not defending pricing but I think that adds clarity.
  • 1 0
 @Ianjmalcolm: It is, they havent sold the XT model off sale though for what thats worth... So we will see what price tag they give it when that comes about. But as a buyer right now, you'd really have to bleed the yeti tribe to justify the cost premium between the two.
  • 1 0
 You're right. I didn't notice that they have some pretty good prices on all levels of that bike.
  • 2 0
 @Exp: bleeding turqouise? Sounds fungal
  • 1 0
 Where are you seen that price for the Cervelo? I'd be interested at that price.
  • 1 0
 @kilz: Mikes Bikes, or but Cervelo dealer at the moment will price match it as the sale price is encouraged by Cervelo themselves.. It really is a great deal.
  • 7 0
 Yeah, but that Cervelo geometry....
  • 2 0
 Exactly. I recently purchased a ZFS-5 at a price that is nowhere near what is published above, and the Cervelo is a great bike for its intended purpose.
  • 1 0
 @Exp: I dont see anything on thier site at that price with Reserves. BUT there are some damn good deals on there regardless
  • 1 0
 @kilz: I just check it, for some reason now you have to search ZFS-5 for it to show the XT model. I got one and after tax it came out to $4958.81. Thing is a beaut, the sale has been on for a month or so now, so i imagine the bikes are fairly picked over.
  • 14 1
 I love when the cons have nothing to do with the bike
  • 6 0
 Man, good timing. Was just trying to decide between the the Epic and the Blur but I am really liking this Yeti. Need to slow down and see if I can take one for a spin. Remind me of my first FS bike- an ASR-SL with the Titanium flex pivot.
  • 6 0
 blur, epic....flex stay style bikes is the way to make a light weight xc bike it would seem.
  • 13 6
 Wow it looks like every XC bike from the last 3 years!!
  • 1 0
 2000 Gary Fisher Sugar.
  • 7 0
 Looks like a Kona Hei Hei CR/DL
  • 1 0
 Sure does, I have one, in turquoise too.
  • 5 1
 SRAM played everyone with the UDH so they can roll our transmissions. Are we sure they’re not spamming everyone with headset cable routing so we all go nuts and buy only flight attendant stuff?
  • 1 0
 UDH benefits everyone, not just SRAM.
  • 8 4
 Dear all commenters complaining about price,

Sram makes wireless junk thats getting specced and costs significantly more than its competitors. 300+ Canadian for an entry level casette. Long live Deore

Sincerely logic
  • 3 0
 I bought 11 speed Deore drivetain for my hardtail for $150.

Linkglide XT is about $300
  • 3 0
 @totaltoads: point made.

Only a GX casette is $240 USD

Absolutely insane
  • 6 0
 WTB Solano,is that seat not available yet?
  • 8 0
 I don't think so, but hopefully soon. I'd say it's my new favorite seat in their lineup - it has the same shorter length of the Specialized Power saddle, which is typically my go-to.
  • 1 0
 that's what i was wondering as well. looks quite nice
  • 1 0
 i will look for it when it does. I bought their "Gravelier" thinking it would pass for a good XC saddle, i was wrong. Also looks like Raceface is coming back out with their SL flat bar...
  • 9 2
 XC is the new enduro?
  • 9 4
 Here before the exhausting "dentist" jokes.
  • 10 6
 Weird! I already have this exact bike, but mine says "Cervelo" on the downtube.
  • 7 3
 Looks like an XC bike Smile . They all look the same, Santa Crux, Specialized, Canyon etc.
  • 5 4
 A beautiful crazy-expensive purpose-built bike. There's a 2016 Yeti Beti ASRc (27.5) in my garage right now, and it's still fantastic. Take care of a bike and it'll last a really, really long time and stay the same amount of fun.
  • 1 0
 I bought the same model second hand for my daughter. Much lighter and more fun to ride that a new entry-level kids MTB.
  • 5 1
 So you're telling me the SB100 isn't a cross country race bike? There's gonna be a lot of disappointed boomers..
  • 1 6
flag naptime FL (Mar 19, 2024 at 20:40) (Below Threshold)
 Boomers are still riding MTB, surely there's not many left now?
  • 3 3
 @naptime: You think 56 is too old to ride MTB? I plan to be riding mtb until...I die (hopefully that's well after 56)
  • 5 1
 @gnarnaimo: how the f*ck is a boomer 56 years old?? that's a hippy not even gen X
  • 3 1
 @naptime: Ah sorry my math was off...it's early here lol 60 years is still not too old to ride a MTB though
  • 2 0
 @gnarnaimo: agreed im the big 5 OH in april. Though it doesn't get any easier. For me it's the mental game of dealing with knowing I can't ride as fast an hard to win at 4X like my heart want's to Frown
Soon as I get on the gate an hear those beeps my race head,tunnel vision, red mist kicks in an then I end up sending myself to A&E.. Again....
  • 4 1
 @gnarnaimo: still young enough to shout "GEN X BIIIITCHES" when dumb kids call me a boomer :'D
  • 1 0
 @mikekazimer great review and it looks like a nice bike with the good new features and some good old features/options as well. I'm curious - is the down tube bottle cage in a natural spot or a little higher/farther forward than "normal" ?? Thanks in advance,
  • 5 0
 So no one specs Shimano any more
  • 6 0
 It's too bad, I think a lot of bike companies are missing an opportunity. Not everyone wants Transmission, and GX isn't exactly up to par with XT and XTR.
  • 1 1
 Well even SRAM uses centerlock so there is a part of shimano on that bike
  • 3 0
 @stevemokan: totally agree with this. Not a fanboy and SRAM high end stuff seems awesome but XT and even SLX for me has been insanely good for years and cost effective. I prefer both to mechanical GX. Moreover all things interchangable with wife's entry level hardtail with Deore.
  • 1 0
 Trek still has Shimano builds…if I bought this Yeti, it would get switched out to XTR.
  • 4 1
 A little rubber flap helps keep the frame from eating rocks I think you mean, A little rubber flap helps keep the rocks from eating the frame
  • 5 1
 Allied BC40 but a Yeti. Looks fun.
  • 4 0
 Was hoping for a comparison note to the SB115.
  • 4 1
 or an SB115 SE (Salad Edition)?
  • 12 8
 Yeti must have gotten a deal on overstocked 2021-23 Epic Evos.
  • 8 6
 Really nothing new or exciting here to separate it from the plethora of bikes now living in this category. Not to mention the price. Pass.
  • 2 1
 @mikekazimer "heavy tires would take away some of the joys of riding a light bike with fast rolling tires". Ok,.. but I bet a Rekon rear, Forekaster front would make this bike a DownCountry beast.
  • 6 1
 no, it's better to have downcountry beast for that... here you just end up with slow XC bike
  • 1 0
 @valrock: Fair enough!
  • 2 0
 I love that they brought back the Spruce color. Turquoise always looks great but spruce is perhaps my favorite color of any bike I've owned
  • 3 2
 I don't ride XC but I'm having ASMR for the ASR imagining Mike Levy on this rig. Nice try without the spandex Intern Kazimer... def' holding out for those of us who are XC curious but unwilling to invest in Spanx.
  • 2 0
 If @mikekazimer is getting this XC bike assignment, that means Mike Kazimer is the new Mike Levy. He already started posting crystal content in Sedona.
  • 2 0
 Pretty good looking machine, just ordered a Surly Krampus frame for a parts bin build though Smile
  • 4 0
 Looks Blurry
  • 1 0
 Guess they're coming out with a new freeride bike too, the sb165 has been on fire sales lately. GX drivetrain+full factory suspension +C grade carbon costs 4449.
  • 2 3
 My first Yeti was a 2007 ASR 575. The swingarm had no bearing hinges but relied on a carbon "hinge" that flexed under load. Over time this weakened and broke. The replacement cost $400 which Yeti tried to convince me was a "special customer service consideration". It was not. That was the list price for the part. This bike appears to have pretty much the same design swingarm but I'd bet you'd need a 2nd mortgage to replace this one when it inevitably breaks.
  • 1 0
 I love Yeti, and the ASR line. Wanted one then, want one now. But I will not pay money for anything using a grip shifter. End of
  • 2 0
 Soft launch of updated 1200-level DT mountain wheels? Any other info?
  • 2 0
 So, would you choose the Yeti or the Orbea for stages 5-7 during the BCBR?
  • 10 0
 That's a tough one. Both bikes have geometry that's well suited to techier XC courses. For a longer, multi-day race I'd gravitate towards the Yeti, mainly because of its more comfortable ride feel - it does a better job of dealing with chattery sections of trail. On the flip side, I do like how the Orbea really doesn't need a lockout, and I'd probably go with the Oiz for single day, fast and furious races.
  • 1 0
 @mikekazimer: Ha! I was hoping it would be a tough one.
  • 3 0
 looks like a blur
  • 5 3
 It doesn't have a switch infinity link so it should be cheap, right?
  • 1 0
 Looks like a great candidate for a manitou mattoc!! It is an XC fork after all
  • 3 0
 Looks Epic.
  • 2 0
 I just wanna know if this thing is Richie Rude certified
  • 2 0
 Full SRAM/rockshox with a fox transfer post WTF
  • 3 1
 Inability to exceed the new Epic S-Works ~15k price.

Abject failure!
  • 1 0
 DT still hasn't got on top of the issues with the new ratchet design? 350's are the way to go!
  • 1 0
 I also Love the dropped chainstay on the Non-Drive side.. you know.. for not having that non-driveside chain slap.
  • 1 0
 When will be released the new ASX with an idler ? asking for a friend
  • 13 12
 A.S.R. "Already Seems Redundant"
  • 1 3
 I like frames with a more solid/durable looking suspension design. Not calling this fragile, but I wouldn’t buy it to ride for 10 years. This’ll be one of the most bought and sold XC bikes for the Looky Loos
  • 4 2
 So even worse value BLUR
  • 1 0
 I’m bonking just looking at this thing.
  • 5 4
 Downcountry. So hot right now
  • 2 2
 Love this BUT - Seat tube lengths are waaaaay too tall. 430mm should be the large, not the medium!
  • 2 2
 Yeti dentist Strava aero La Cañada sweaty XC! Well at least it doesn't have cable tourism...
  • 2 0
 New DT XRC1200!
  • 1 0
 Full SRAM groupset and Suspension....then a competitors dropper post? huh?
  • 6 6
 Yeti needs to stop being so cheap/horny for SRAM drivetrains, spec Shimano for once.
  • 2 3
 Those cable need cleanup. Not sure they didn’t route the cables through stem/bar. I wouldn’t buy a bike that looks dated..
  • 1 0
 This is the geo that the SB115 should have had, vice versa
  • 5 7
 These are all beginning to look exactly the same...why bother with a Yeti if it looks/works the same way as a bike costing half as much ?
  • 2 1
 YETI sticker?
  • 2 3
 Come on @mikekazimer! This yeti is cool and all, but you know all we really want to see is your Madonna V3 review.
  • 4 5
 Im really hating the trend of no wired droppers on top spec models.
  • 1 1
 nice bike
  • 2 3
 I want 150 travel XC (light and snappy) high pivot - flight atendant bike
  • 2 5
 In every DC or XC review, save for the one, they never compare to the OG lightweight do all (Epic Evo)
I’d like to see that…

Hump
  • 1 2
 SO I guess that infinity link stuff DID suck.
  • 2 5
 Dang, right as Specialized drops the new epic with internal frame storage...
  • 1 1
 The prices per build for this bike are outrageous. You build an XC bike you have to expect ppl to want to race it. Even by the $8600 price point build you still have aluminum wheels? Who is going to be buying that? Pass.
  • 1 0
 @Willemhc: Many people will buy it ... But I agree with your sentiments.
  • 2 4
 Epic ASR Smile
  • 1 3
 ...
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