Yeti TURQ & Yeti Carbon
Yeti TURQ
Yeti TURQ carbon is the Colorado brand’s big news for the 2017 model year. I assumed that meant TURQ as in the colour Turquoise. As in Yeti’s signature colour. As in the colour that has been generally reserved for their top end bikes. But I was wrong. About the colour.
Yeti SB 4.5 TURQ in Black contrasted against the Yeti SB 4.5 Carbon in Turqouise. The X01 Eagle and Fox Factory TURQ model lists at $7000 (USD) and the XT/SLX and Fox Performance Carbon model shown here lists at $4700 (USD).
Like Trek, Specialized, Scott, and Santa Cruz, Yeti is moving to hit multiple price points by using different grades of carbon fiber. Yeti TURQ designates their premium frames and Yeti Carbon is positioned to hit lower price points.
The split between TURQ and Carbon frame options allows Yeti to hit a lower price point with their SB5.5. This XT/SLX and Fox Performance version will hit your wallet for $4800 (USD) – significantly less than the 5.5 NSMB.com is currently testing.
In addition to Turquoise the SB5.5 Carbon carbon and TURQ carbon frames are also available in “Tehllamma42 will be drinking Costco Light Beer” Silver. The TURQ carbon and Carbon carbon frames for each bike model share the same paint jobs.
Carbon technology is constantly improving on the higher-end and those advances are trickling down to allow us to offer better price points. – Chris Conroy, Yeti Cycles
I think it is awesome that more mountain bike companies are recognizing what has been a reality with carbon road bikes forever: the frameset on a $14,000 road bike and a $4,000 road bike are usually not the same in terms of design, manufacturing, or materials. Unfortunately, a lot of companies aren’t positioned to offer a lower grade of carbon fiber or cheaper level of manufacturing than they already use, but it is a nice differentiator for companies that can.
Yeti SB5 in the wild. The only way you can tell that it’s a Carbon carbon frame and not a TURQ carbon frame without a scale is the spec – until you put it on a scale.
Can you tell the difference? That’s a Yeti Beti ASR TURQ on the left dressed in XX1 Eagle and Fox Factory suspension for $9800 (USD) and a Yeti Beti ASR Carbon on the right dressed in Eagle (no X01 designation – we think it’s an OE only version) for $4900 (USD).
Between Yeti TURQ and Yeti Carbon, a rider should notice no difference in stiffness or ride quality. Yeti is claiming a difference of weight between 250-350 grams depending on the model and size. It’s hard to compare pricing head-to-head as the Carbon level bikes are not available as frames only and the build kits have been clearly demarcated.
Suffice it to say that an SB 5.5 TURQ frameset at $3500 (USD) and an entry level SB 5.5 Carbon bike with an XT/SLX Kit and Fox Performance suspension clocks in at $4800 (USD). The TURQ level bikes get Fox Factory suspension instead of Performance level forks and shocks and are offered with XO1 and XX1 Eagle or XT drivetrains.
Yeti SB5 Series
More Yeti Beti action. The Beti SB5 on the left is the TURQ model in Turquoise running XX1 Eagle and Fox Factory suspension, coming in at $10,500 (USD). The Beti SB5 on the right is the Carbon model in ‘Storm’ running a basic Eagle groupset for $5600 (USD).
Did you think you were getting through an entire press release without a mention of the PLUS bike? Ha. This year the Yeti SB5 is updated with lower standover, internal cable routing, the suspension has “improved kinematics”, and is available in three models (that’s six once you count TURQ and Carbon) with a variety of builds:
The Yeti SB5, the Yeti Beti SB5 (which is the same frame but with “women’s specific touch points and suspension tunes”), and the Yeti SB5+ which comes stock with 27.5 x 2.8″ tires.
New Bike Industry rule: mandatory photo of PLUS bike being jumped must appear in all publications, by all publications, regarding PLUS bikes. Yeti SB5+.
The new Yeti SB5+ comes stock with 27.5 x 2.8″ tires with both TURQ and Carbon frames. This Carbon XT/SLX and Fox Performance version is listed for $4700 (USD).
Just to really throw you for a loop, on the left is a Yeti SB5 TURQ and on the right is a Beti SB5 TURQ. The X01 Eagle-equipped Yeti lists at $7000 (USD) and the Yeti Beti with XX1 Eagle and ENVE Carbon wheels will cost $10,500 (USD).
“The SB5 is an extremely popular bike in our line… we saw an opportunity to make this bike even more relevant for the hard-charging trail rider… We were able to carry over our commitment to female athletes by updating the SB5 Beti as well.” -Chris Conroy, Yeti Cycles
You can be TURQing some time in early October and the Carbon level bikes will land in November.
Wheelies in the woods: Yeti SB5+.
Wondering about the SRP price for a specific model/trim? Between all builds and models in Yeti TURQ and Carbon it’s a big list but post a comment below and we’ll post it for you.
Comments
Merwinn
7 years, 7 months ago
Andrew, the cheaper carbon fits my wallet better but how would you compare the suspension quality of the Fox Performance series fork against a regularly maintained 2012 pre-CTD Kashima'd version. Is ponying up the difference for a TURQ worth it?
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DrewM
7 years, 7 months ago
Hi Merwinn,
I apologize for the delayed response!
The Fox Performance level stuff for 2017 is awesome. For the forks the air systems are the same as the Factory level and while the dampers are not as externally tune-able the internals share most common components. For the rear shocks the only difference of note is the Kashima coat which does help with heat management (less friction / less heat) but otherwise I would suggest is un-notable comparing a Performance and Factory DPS shock.
With the level of tune-ability in most air springs now (progressivity/bottom out) having adjustable HSC is arguably un-necessary (where it was hugely helpful in tuning more linear coil forks) so I think for many riders the Performance level forks would be ideal if not at least equivalent.
The cheaper carbon frames, Performance suspension, SLX/XT 1x drivetrain and, if you need an extra bailout gear, possibly the addition of a OneUp Shark hop- up actually delivers a Yeti at a pretty decent value for what it is!
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Sidhartha Datta
6 years, 5 months ago
Thanks so much for your views Merwinn. Im in the same boat - and trying to decide if the extra $1500 is worth it.
Im not an enduro racer - just looking for a bike that i can hold for a while and have fun.
I just dont know when Yeti says the cheaper carbon frame what im loosing out on compared to the Turq.
I hope you can help shed some perspective here.
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Tehllama42
7 years, 7 months ago
Is there actually an affordable 5.5c in black that comes with Fox Performance all-black suspension? I may be significantly poorer by year's end.
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DrewM
7 years, 7 months ago
It looks like your piggy bank may survive the year. The colours shown for the 5.5-Carbon and 5.5-Turq are either Yeti Turquoise or Grey.
The 4.5 comes in Black though and the only thing trendier than buying a 170mm bike with a climb switch, a full face helmet with a removable chin bar, and a "freeride's not dead" T-shirt is buying a shorter travel frame and then hanging all the same parts including the fork that you would have run on the longer travel frame (for a bike that is essentially the same weight) am I right?
Interesting that it appears that both the Carbon carbon and Turq carbon frames get Kashima coated Switch Infinity links. I would have assumed they would go all black to match the Performance level Fox suspension.
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Tehllama42
7 years, 7 months ago
I would have thought the same, although the previous Enduro kits still carried the Kashima coated SI pillars, so it makes sense. Could probably custom order, or if I was feeling especially unintelligent, strip it and then DLC coat it black.
Bad news for me - if it's the gunmetal grey (already the best color), with Black… might as well pitch the old wallet directly into the fire.
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DrewM
7 years, 7 months ago
Yes, Gunmetal Grey. It is a sick looking bike! Besides, what else are you going to spend money on? Food? Next thing you know you'll be writing Uncle Dave asking how much less beer you have to drink if you want to wear size small Sugoi shorts.
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Tehllama42
7 years, 7 months ago
Got pictures? It'll only improve the odds of me opting to subsist on Ramen, Chewable multivitamins, and Costco 'Light Beer'.
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DrewM
7 years, 7 months ago
I added the shot they included into the article!
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Tehllama42
7 years, 7 months ago
Awesome. Good news - Costco Light Beer is fairly decent; hard part will be wrangling an XL 5.5c to test ride and see if I fit on it.
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Tehllama42
7 years, 6 months ago
Update: Costco had a sale on both chewable multivitamins and the 48-racks of 'Costco Light Beer'. Everything is going to plan.
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reformed roadie
7 years, 7 months ago
The SB5+ should come in white…I always wanted a Kestrel Nitro, but couldn't afford one back then…
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DrewM
7 years, 7 months ago
Ha! Awesome.
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qduffy
7 years, 7 months ago
Feels like they got the marketing backwards. Doesn't TURQ sound like the cheap one? Or is TURQ something the kids are hip to these days?
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DrewM
7 years, 7 months ago
My best guess is still that it is TURQ as in Turquoise as in back in the day only the handbuilt in Colorado top end Yeti frames were painted that colour. But it is a fully a guess.
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Ian Koscielski
7 years, 7 months ago
What are the SRP points for different turq sb6 builds, more specifically on the cheaper end.
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DrewM
7 years, 7 months ago
Hi Ian, SRP $6600 (USD) for the TURQ frame with an XT build and Fox Factory suspension. X01 Eagle hits at $7100 (USD).
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