Yeti 575 Bike Review

WHAT:Yeti 575 HOW MUCH: $3,100 ($1,400 frame only) WHERE: www.Yeticycles.com

A bike with nearly 6 inches of rear travel doesn’t necessarily conjure images of an agile climber. You think all-mountain at least, a bike designed for going down. But the Yeti 575, named for its 5.75 inches of rear travel, is one of the new breed of “trail” bikes that are shifting the suspension paradigm—it climbs like a demon and descends like one too. Weighing less than 30-pounds helps, but still, 5.75-inches of travel and climbing efficiency—its kind of tough to get your head around.

The 575 is a long-travel version of Yeti’s AS-R full-suspension, XC race bike and features the same unique V-shaped sloping toptube with a CNC-machined “knuckle” to provide plenty of standover clearance. The main frame is stout for its 5.95-pound weight, thanks to Yeti’s custom butted and tapered aluminum tubes that boost strength while minimizing bulk.

The swingarm features asymmetrical chainstays and carbon “flex” pivots where seatstays meet the rear dropouts, which weigh less than bushings or bearings and can be used safely at points that see a limited range of motion. Yeti still uses cartridge bearings on the main pivot and the entire design allows for a laterally stiff bike that, upon first appearances, looks anything but overbuilt.

Having grinded the 575 for a summer in Nelson, British Columbia, I must say that I never thought a “cross-country” bike could have such big cojones. There aren’t too many of the ilk who can hang in these parts, but it wasn’t long before I found myself truly enjoying all the 575 had to offer.

The fairly straightforward suspension design, coupled with a 5th Element Air Shock, felt solid enough to hit mini hucks and burly descents with speed.

However, Yeti’s design lacks the linear feel of other bikes with a similar travel, and is designed to be fairly stiff early in its travel for pedaling efficiency. But once the shock surpasses its pedaling platform, there’s a good chunk of plush travel to enjoy before experiencing a slightly falling rate as it nears the end of its travel. As the suspension compresses, the swing link increases the leverage ratio to counteract the air shock’s naturally progressive spring rate.

Even though the Yeti is difficult to bunny hop without first significantly preloading the rear suspension, this is a minor criticism since it is virtually impossible to bottom out—even when I unintentionally hit a 6-foot drop.

The 575 was an equally impressive climber. With no need to lock-out the rear shock, I found myself cleaning things I’ve never cleaned before, thanks in part to a Fox Talas front fork easily adjusted from 5-inches down to 3, or locked out completely. My main caveat was the Yeti ARC single-bolt seatpost. I found it weak, allowing me to unintentionally adjust my seat angle when I least wanted.

The bike was a joy—something you could take on any trail, confident it would perform well. It’s perfect for anyone looking to splash a little freeride sauce into their cross-country roots, or for those who crave a high-performance, epic, all-mountain ride.