Party Machine! Yeti SB135 First Ride 27.5” is back!

[@jasonnorman522]

I ride my mountain bike for fun… and that is what 27.5 is 👍🏼

[@TheLoamWolf]

It sure is!

[@doepicchet]

275 has its place. I love it for tighter trails and flowy jump lines; it's just easier to maneuver. I love my 29er for chunky and technical trails, but the 275 holds its own too.

[@TheLoamWolf]

For sure! A well built 27.5 bike is still an absolute riot.

[@anthony9600]

Yep I sold my 29r & brought a 27.5 Giant Trance X. Couldn’t be happier, it turns & its super fun. A couple of local pros in my area ride them for fun also

[@willineufeld7162]

I did the same thing. I went from a 2021 rocky mountain instinct to the 27.5 giant trance x. Love that bike.

[@anthony9600]

@@willineufeld7162 yep I had a Reign 29r and after my first ride on the X I realised I don’t suck in corners. It’s long 29r’s that suck in corners. I find you change direction at will.

[@barrakingbeatz7794]

I owned a Trek remedy and it was one of the most fun bikes to ride

[@neekodevinchi]

27.5 ain't dead yet😁🤙🏿

[@TheLoamWolf]

Evidently not!

[@DougieFresh13]

Just ordered my first Yeti. Currently tracking it FedEx has it in Cali still coming to the Adirondacks. Stoked to build it up.

[@jaywolff16]

Glad to see Yeti didn't drop the 27.5 bike from their 2023 lineup. This bike looks like a ripper.

[@TheLoamWolf]

It sure is!

[@soulzerosix]

A bit surprizing yet very nice to see Yeti with a new 27.5 bike. The reviews have been stellar so far as well. I'd love to see a comparison between the latest generation of smaller wheeled trail bikes - Yeti SB135, Giant Trance X, Transition Scout, Pivot Shadowcat. At 5'4" I find 27.5 more natural to ride, but having once mulleted my bike with a borrowed fork and wheel, I can't deny the 29" at the front felt so stable and safe. I'm currently on a very progressive 150/140mm 27.5 bike and all my mates are on 160mm 29ers. I can keep up on slow tech and fast flow, but when things get both fast and rough I have to put way more effort and get left behind at the slightest mistake. This is of course both bike and rider related but there are cases where it's obvious I have to work harder to maintain speed.

[@danielgrafik]

For the love of all that is fun, I smell a 27.5-ish US group test: SB135 vs Pivot Shadowcat vs Santa Cruz 5010! Puh-leeease

[@TheWrigle]

Throw the transition scout in there.

[@jaywolff16]

Santa Cruz ruined the 5010 by making it a mullet. Would love to see it compared to the Transition Scout though

[@willineufeld7162]

Throw in a Canyon Spectral 27.5 and a giant Trance X 27.5

[@cameroncooper3065]

And a Revel Rail 27.5!!!

[@TheLoamWolf]

We like the sound of this! If we can make it happen we will..

[@nikolaibohachevsky2301]

27.5 was never gone. Neither is 26. 29 might be the one in danger; when all the newbs on 29’s finally gain enough experience to understand the difference…

[@TheLoamWolf]

An interesting take! What do you think 29ers are holding back?

[@murchman0]

Why does any of them need to be in danger? There is no reason you can't choose the size that fits your style the best.

[@grahamwren6385]

DONT YOU DARE LET ME CATCH YOU ON 26s! 26 is DEAD

[@achdumeineguete]

Totally agree. The industry tried to sell something new. That was 27,5. Then they came up with the idea to fit trekking bike wheels on mtbs. Again new - again sell increase. Now some folks say that you could use smaller wheels like 27,5 %) I recently compared my 26 with an Enduro motorcycle's front wheel. Guess what - 26 was bigger. 29 is shit imho.

[@BrandonViani]

💯

[@RedWingsninetyone]

After 5 years on a 27.5, I've gotten a 29er. Still getting used to it.

[@LastAphelion]

I can't get used to it I want to go back every time I try lol

[@johndef5075]

I have 2 similar weight full suspension bikes. A 26 and a 29. On the tight singletrack I usually ride I can go faster on the 26. At 60 Im able to accelerate out of turns faster on small wheels.

[@TheLoamWolf]

They have their benefits for sure!

[@SuzeM_C_GravityRider]

great video, do you know when you'll have the long term review out, and how it compares to the shadocat?

[@TheLoamWolf]

We’re working on it still. Been a busy summer of travel and tons of bikes. Stay tuned!

[@davevanderzwet1209]

My next bike purchase will be the shadowcat, no question in my mind that 27.5 is still alive.

[@TheLoamWolf]

It’s a fun bike for sure!

[@tttass]

Seems like the 27.5 wheels did OK in the tech, but I have it on good authority that 26" wheels WILL explode going through tech or chunk

[@stephenkohler3472]

True. It was also illegal to go on long rides or race XC until the invention of 29" wheels. Little known fact.

[@johndef5075]

Uh oh....😅

[@TheLoamWolf]

Physically impossible to ride a 26” wheel on anything rough.

[@stephenkohler3472]

@The Loam Wolf Yup, downhill races in the 90's we're held on bike paths and Moab didn't actually exist... until the invention of the 29" wheel😉

[@chrisivey4461]

What trail system is this? Looks great compared to most of our trails here in central Oregon currently.

[@-kaster--kaster-6090]

Was wondering the same thing .

[@TheLoamWolf]

The rough stuff was filmed at Cline Butte, the rest at the Lair 🤘🏼

[@Fillamatics]

Transition scout owners be like “ AND?” We never left

[@Onlydansmtb]

marketing will tell you 27.5 is dead - riders won't.

[@tonyparkin3379]

I buy bikes on "how much maintenance time it will need". This linkage system looks as paint chippy as the Ripley d w link.

[@SeanKWhite-lk5zf]

Scotland looking a LOT like eastern Bend

[@TheLoamWolf]

Eastern Bend looking a lot like Eastern Bend 😎

[@SeanKWhite-lk5zf]

@@TheLoamWolf that ascent is slaying at Crux tho

[@andreasfritsch4831]

I am 1.78m (5‘10“) and have no possibility to test different sizes. Would you suggest to go rather medium or large on this bike?

[@marktechsci]

The LR is only available on M and larger.

[@TheLoamWolf]

Yes indeed. You could always upstroke the fork on a standard build if you ride a smaller size, though.

[@323johnnybravo]

Does Yeti have a mullet bike ?

[@brianhunt914]

I never find 27.5" less capable that 29" at all the thing i always find is 29"is less fun and real pain the bum in tighter trails with switch backs and all which lowers my fun level.

[@travisshrey6720]

Does this replace the 140?

[@marktechsci]

Yes. This replaces the old 140.

[@steveharper4017]

So they put 29” wheels on the 140 and 27.5 on the 130. What was the point really? Beautiful bikes but way over priced.

[@TheLoamWolf]

They’re tweaked and tuned too, more than just a wheelsize and travel number! Very expensive but high quality too

[@jesusalbertoguerrerocarden6628]

​@@TheLoamWolfDo you think that they are higher quality than high value brands like Canyon, YT, Vitus, etc.? And that mainstream brands like Trek, Giant, etc.? If so, is the diference in quality worth the diference in price?

[@dhruvsawarkar3285]

Vital mtb type intro...😅

[@marksandoval5361]

I mostly think that 27.5 is extinct unless you're 5'6" or shorter. And, I still think this bike would be better as a mullet even for the shorter rider.

[@TheLoamWolf]

Why do you think it would be better as a mullet? Not arguing, just interested!

[@marksandoval5361]

@@TheLoamWolf Bottom line, rollover matters and it matters most to the front wheel. When the front wheel runs into ledge and doesn't rollover, the rider gets pitched. However, when the rear wheel gets hung up, it just slows the bike down but doesn't usually pitch the rider. In fact, I think rollover matters so much, I would like to see a 29/31 mullet with a front wheel that is even taller than a 29er wheel. I rode 29+ bikes for years and you can definitely feel the improved rollover the taller wheel provides. I didn't find the 3.0 width added much but the 30.5 inch height added a lot. A 31x2.4 tire on an i27mm rim would keep things from getting to heavy.

[@marktechsci]

This is designed to mullet if you like.