Yeti SB140 - The Bike So Good I Bought It Twice

Cinderella and the glass slipper—a tale as timeless as it is enchanting. But today, let me introduce you to a modern fairy tale: Matty and the Yeti SB140. 

It's not often you find a bike that makes you feel like it was crafted just for you. Yet somehow, the Yeti SB140 (the 29 version, of course) did precisely that for me—right out of the box. The perfect fit, ideal suspension kinematics, and stunning aesthetics; everything aligned to create the ultimate riding experience. 

As all good stories go, it's only fair to tell you a bit about me as a rider. I am 5’11” (180 cm) with a 34” (86 cm) inseam, weighing 170 lbs (77 kg)—a pretty average build. But this average Joe fits perfectly on a size large SB140 with a 42mm stem and a 210mm dropper post. (Though a 240mm post would easily fit onto the frame at my saddle height).

I’m a one-bike kind of person, switching seamlessly between long days in the saddle and adrenaline-pumping jumps at the bike park. Many trail bikes can handle this versatility, but none can do it like the SB140. It has taken me everywhere, from the trails of Palm Canyon to the thrilling bike parks and DH tracks of Europe and more. 

As a younger rider, I crave aggressive, steep lines and will always aim for the bigger jumps. This is where the SB140 shines brightest. It matches any other trail bike on the climbs and leaves them in the dust on the descents. The way the bike opens up when you get it on fast sections of trails is quite unbelievable when you feel it happening. The switch also works to give you an incredibly supported feeling under your feet which in turn gives you the ability to pump any and every bump in the trail to create speed. 

Grip of the rear wheel is predictable and gives the rider the comfort to push hard into turns and be late with braking. This grip also transfers into technical sections of climbing where you can simply power through and make it up anything. Not to mention it just works to help keep you rubber side down. 

Early I mentioned buying this bike twice—and it’s true. My first version was a Sage T3 LR build with some tweaks like Nobl TR37 wheels and Shimano XTR M-9120 brakes. It was love at first ride: efficient uphill, nimble on slow technical sections, and as swift as a cheetah chasing prey on fast sections of trail. 

The SB140's potential inspired me to build that on paper probably wasn't a great idea. But I wanted a dedicated bike park beast—a veritable SB140 Super LR. I began with just a Raw SB140 frame and went full-on with bike park-ifications. A 160mm Fox 38 fork and a Push ElevenSix Rear shock made sure that I had the ideal suspension set up. And upgraded XTR-9120 brakes paired with MTX Gold pads made sure I could perfectly modulate my speed for any feature. The Maxxis DD tires and thicker spokes made it even better by adding stiffness in the rear end. 

This might have been the logical step towards an SB160, but instead, it resulted in the best bike I’ve ever ridden. Despite its added weight and coil, the SB140 defied expectations with impeccable uphill prowess, thanks to its flawless Switch Infinity system. Compared to other bikes on the mountain it was very playful both on the trail and in the air, as well as maintained the nimbleness that longer bikes lacked on the tech sections. 

However, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. The Switch Infinity demands more maintenance than other setups. After several wet days on a bike park trip, it needed some TLC. Thankfully, Yeti makes servicing straightforward with just a 4mm and 8mm hex, a grease gun, and 15 minutes of your time. This is something I don't mind as I love tinkering with my set up and constantly making sure my bike is in top mechanical order.

Mechanically, Yeti frames are superb. They feature a threaded bottom bracket, tube-in-tube routing, and the best cable ports on the market—all elements of the premium experience Yeti promises. It's no surprise they have a low rate of warranty claims, but that's something to expect when you pay a premium. 

Even after owning two SB140s, I'd buy another in a heartbeat. It’s the perfect one-bike quiver killer—a versatile and thrilling companion on any trail. And... I should note that Mark had one and loved it as well! 

Specs Below: 

• Rider Weight / Height: 170lbs / 5’11”

• 42mm Stem // 15mm Under Stem // 20mm Rise Bars

Fox 38: 

• PSI:85 

• LSC: 14

• HSC: 14 

• LSR:11

• HSR: 12

Push ElevenSix: 

• Coil: 475lbs

Trail:

• LSC:14

• HSC:10

Park:

• LSC: 10

• HSC: 4

• Rebound: 12
  (Positions From Closed)