Inside Line: Yeti introduces new SB4.5c, a Switch Infinity 29er trail bike

The 29er trail bike market continues to heat up, and Yeti turns up the flames even more with the SB4.5c. This is Yeti’s first 29er to use its Switch Infinity suspension system. We covered the tech behind Switch Infinity here if you want to read more about it, but to sum it up: “As the suspension moves through its travel, the main pivot, mounted to a carrier that slides on two Kashima coated shafts, initially moves up, but at the inflection point, it moves back towards the bottom bracket.” At this point, Switch Infinity is well proven under Richie Rude and Jared Graves, who have been rallying the SB5 and SB6 in the Enduro World Series.

The 4.5 stands for 4.5-inches of travel, also known as 114 mm, and the bike is designed around 130 or 140 mm forks. Geometry is fully modern with 67.9/67.4 degree head angle (130/140 fork), a 23.7/23.8-inch toptube in a medium frame, 13.0/13.2 bottom bracket height and 17.2-inch chainstays.

“When we released the SB5c and SB6c, the number one question we heard was ‘When are you going to make a 29er trail bike?’ Truth is, we were already well into development and have been riding prototypes for nearly a year,” said Yeti’s President Chris Conroy. “The goal with the SB4.5C was to build a trail-specific bike with the firm pedaling platform and supple bump absorption that our Switch Infinity design is known for. Based on feedback from racers on our team like Jared Graves and Richie Rude as well as a range of local riders and dealers who’ve ridden it, the SB4.5C is exactly the bike we were trying make.”

Yeti SB4.5C Features:

• Frame Material: Carbon
• Frame Weight: 5.4 pounds
• Travel: 4.5 inches / 114mm
• Rear Shock: FOX Float Factory DPS
• Bottom Bracket: PF92
• Rear Spacing: 148 Boost
• Internally routed cables
• Manufacturer Warranty: 5 years

Models / Availability

• Yeti SB4.5c + XO1: $6,899 (September 15th)
• Yeti SB4.5c + XO1 + Enve: $9,299 (October 1st)
• Yeti SB4.5c + GX: $5,599 (December 1st)
• Yeti SB4.5c + XTR + Enve: $10,499 (October 1st)