7-14-08 // Tested: Yeti 575 XTR

YETI 575 XTR $5,550

With muscular curves and a distinctive aqua hue that screams Yeti race heritage, this decked-out 575 is a real looker. Yeti’s redesigned flagship trail bike (named for its 5.75 inches of rear travel) is built for versatility, and to illustrate this Yeti sent us two with disparate personalities: a beefier one with a Fox 36 fork and Fox DHX Air shock, and this one—an XC-leaning model with a lighter-weight Fox Float 140 RLC fork and blingy Shimano XTR build.

This model is aimed at covering a lot of territory—and fast. The bike’s redesigned toptube, which replaces the previous-generation 575’s odd-looking “knuckle” design, provides plenty of clearance with its elegant bend. The new toptube is also slightly longer than last year, which, for most riders, is probably a good thing. Further back, the strikingly shaped, asymmetrical carbon rear end gives the 575 a distinct, snappy ride. It’s easy to forget you’re packing nearly 6 inches of travel when you’re climbing, sprinting out of corners or hammering flats. The chassis is bolstered with a “dogbone” link, which connects the shock to the frame and is designed to eliminate side-to-side flex.

The 575 employs a fairly straightforward rear-suspension design with a Fox RP23 shock. This combo took a little getting used to, and after fiddling with air pressure I eventually settled on keeping the Pro Pedal flipped on (firm) most of the time. In the softer setting, the suspension felt smooth off the top, but extremely active—great for rough, technical descents, but in most riding conditions the shock tended to blow through the middle part of its travel. This was especially noticeable on compressions or tricky, technical climbs with the saddle fully weighted for pedaling finesse. I never experienced rough bottom-outs, but I preferred to temper the mid-stroke squishiness with the Pro Pedal.

Most 6-inch travel bikes, no matter what they weigh, sacrifice efficiency on steep, technical climbs, but this is where the 575 shines. A 68.5-degree headtube angle and 140-millimeter fork eliminate the bike from the super-climber category, but it’s a testament to the 575’s capabilities that it can even be compared to racy XC bikes. And why not? Even with big, cushy 2.3 Michelin Dry2 tires, the 575 weighed about 26.5 pounds. If I’m embarking on a marathon ride or race with body-battering terrain chiseling away at me all day long, I like my chances with this race-bred Yeti.

HIGHS: Versatile, lightweight allrounder; no-compromise XTR build

LOWS: Expensive; tight waterbottle spacing crowds rear-shock dials

MORE INFO: 888-576-9384; YETICYCLES.COM