Following the update of the Yeti SB160 last week, Yeti drops another new bike today. This newest model could very well be the Yeti we have been waiting for. The new Yeti SB120 is a 120 mm rear travel trail bike paired with a 130 mm fork. The predecessor to the SB120 was Yeti’s SB115, which felt like a rowdy XC bike. After seeing the new bike and its geometry numbers combined with its design intentions, we think this new model is more of a mini-SB130 than a juiced up SB115, or, dare we even say, the continuation of the older SB4.5. I know there is a lot to unpack right there, but let's just say we are extremely stoked to get even more time on the SB120.

While at Yeti HQ in Golden, Colorado we were able to see the SB120 in the flesh, check out all the details and even get some light riding on it. Immediately we knew the SB120 meant business. The silhouette mimics that of the SB130 and gets all the same frame updates and details from the SB160. The SB120 rocks a 65.5 degree headtube angle and lots of the other updated details that we also got on the SB160. Some of the nice new features include size specific chainstays, secured cable routing, noise reducing frame protection, a Universal Derailleur Hanger, floating collet pivot axles, improved ground clearance, and a threaded bottom bracket. Another other highlight of the SB120 is the expanded size range, now from XS - XXL, and it's also available in four colors: Turquoise, Dust, Raw Carbon, and Loch.

Specs:

• 120mm rear travel, 130mm front travel
• Completely redesigned short travel platform
• New switch infinity assembly
• Updated pivot design and compact shock extender
• Threaded bottom bracket
• Increased downtube clearance
• Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH)
• Secured cable management
• Dual-density downtube protection
• Shorter seat tube, longer travel droppers
• Sizes XS-XXL
• 66.5 head tube angle / 76.5 seat tube angle
• Reach (M = 455mm, L = 475mm, XL = 500mm)
• Size-specific chainstays (M = 437mm, L = 439mm, XL = 441mm)
• 4 colors to choose from (Turquoise, Raw Carbon, Dust & Loch)

What's New:

To start, everything. The SB120 is a new category from Yeti, filling a gap that I thought they had since the SB4.5 was moved out of the line. The Yeti SB4.5 was a favorite at Worldwide Cyclery. It fit the light trail category so well and was way ahead of its time. We feel the SB120 picks up the mantle of the SB4.5 in the light trail category and brings it into the modern era. With the long and slack treatment of many bikes coming out, the details Yeti packed into this small travel bike are second to none. As mentioned above, lots of new frame details have been added to create an overall quiet ride, improve durability, and increase the ease of maintenance.

Geometry:

The geometry is spot on for a shorter travel bike that’s meant to be ridden on the aggressive side. Starting with a 65.5 degree headtube angle and a 76.5 degree seat tube angle, it's slack enough to be ridden hard but not too slack that it only wants to be ridden in an aggressive manner. Next, we have the size specific chainstays which is something I think all bikes should have at this point. I think it really helps make the bikes ride balanced, especially when Yeti is offering so many sizes from XS-XXL. At 437 mm, 439 mm and 441 mm for a medium, large and x-large sized frame, respectively, it’s a great length to pair well with the reach numbers and provide stability without being so long that you can't turn the bike. Reach is comfortably long but not extreme with the medium at 455 mm, large at 475 mm and x-large at 500 mm.

On Trail Performance:

While at Yeti HQ, Jared and I were able to get a short amount of time on the SB120. I said it before but I'll say it again, it immediately felt like a mini-SB130 in the best way possible. The SB130 is an amazing trail bike that can go up and down all day. The SB120 feels like the spunky little sibling to that and pedals even better while not really giving up much on the downhills. With all the improvements on the pivots and hardware, the frame felt extremely stiff while pedaling and pointing it downhill. The test bike was a size large and it felt like a great spot for us. With both of us at 5’11, the chainstays really helped achieve a balanced feel. While noticeably longer than its predecessor, it didn't take a huge amount of effort to get the front wheel up and over obstacles or to hold a manual. The build kit also lends itself to getting rowdy downhill. The first thing I noticed was the Grip2 damper in the Fox 34. This isn’t always a spec you see on a 130mm travel fork but we are all for it. Being able to tune your fork with the Grip2 is excellent, not to mention how great it feels to bring another level of control to the bike. It’s definitely better than most stock build kits in this travel range. The Fox 34 pairs up with four piston brakes and 180 mm rotors, 2.5 Maxxis Minion DHF up front and an Aggressor 2.3 out back wrapped around 30 mm internal DT Swiss wheels and lastly a 200 mm travel dropper on the large. It’s undeniably a killer build kit, particularly thanks to the Grip2 damper and the 200 mm travel dropper, which are rarities on 120mm travel trail bikes.

What's Worldwide's Takeaway?:

The Yeti SB120 gets us really excited, filling a spot in Yeti’s lineup that we felt was empty. We now have a great pedaling light trail bike that will only be held back on the descents by the rider. With updated geometry, frame details for a quiet and responsive frame, and a killer build kit, Yeti really nailed it with the SB120. All we could think about after leaving Yeti HQ was how soon we can get some SB120s in the shop to really get out for a proper test ride. We have a feeling it will become the new shop favorite, taking the place of the SB130 and previous SB4.5.