Description
Trail rated while being wholly enduro capable the longer and slacker Yeti SB130 Turq T1 XT Mountain Bike turns us onto a whole new style of riding. This edition of the SB130 sees slacker where it needs to be so we can ride steeper terrain consequence-free. The bike gets a plethora of enduro-rated parts and components, so much so that we’re close to entering our first enduro event on this rig. Though this year of the SB130 doesn’t see new geometry figures or crazy components, the bike remains as capable as ever and begs for harsh and technical riding. With 130mm of rearward travel and 150mm of front travel, there’s not much we won’t do aboard the SB130. Geometry on this year’s models doesn’t see any changes, but for old times sake, a rehash into what’s capable seems right. With 29in wheels and a slacked-out 65. 5-degree head-tube angle, this rig is ready to take on anything we’re comfortable throwing ourselves into. The big wheels and slack angles mean keeping the speed high is almost too easy, but with slack angles, we can quickly get ourselves back out of trouble. To pair with the descending prowess is a 77-degree seat-tube angle on a size medium and makes pedaling up fire roads or chunky terrain less exhaustive than in years past. Helping out on the descents is the 1230mm wheelbase on a size large and this provides a number that just a few years ago we would’ve seen on downhill bikes. With all these numbers in focus, it becomes obvious why we’re taking this trail crusher to dabble in the enduro scene. We can’t go this far without mentioning Yeti’s new-school and ultra-modern Switch Infinity linkage system. This system is purpose-built by Yeti to soak up pedal bob and allow for near bottomless suspension when the going gets rough. Kit on the T1 starts with the frame, and Yeti’s T1 top-of-the-line Turq mold gets top marks all around. The T1 carbon is built stiffer and lighter to promote a premium ride feel for decades to come, as the bike employs a no-frills li…
