, now Yeti’s SB115 XC bike is being supplanted by this ever so slightly longer SB120. But even though an extra 5mm of rear wheel travel doesn’t sound like much, Yeti assures us that the new XC bike punch above its short-travel class.From the most basic standpoint, the suspension concept is the same as before – with the moving Switch main pivot, one-piece rear end, and linkage-driven shock under the toptube. So why does the new Yeti SB120 look completely different than the.
It gets fully revised pivot designs that use standard-sized Enduro Max bearings and presses them all into the linkage assembly, so the carbon main frame & swingarm just connect with a floating collet axle design that ensures more perfect alignment and thus smoother suspension movement. You do still get the same moving / translating Switch Infinity V2 main pivot that works its balance of plushness AND support throughout the bikes travel, plus it’s upgraded with improved seals, bearings & hardware. And on the new SB120 it gets a mostly linear leverage ratio with only 11% of progression which means you can run 30% sag for plush traction, with good mid-level support, and enough end-stroke ramp-up to handle the odd unexpected big hit.
This slacker front end also does an interesting thing to the relative front suspension. Like the 115, the new SB120 gets a 130mm fork. But now with more than a degree slacker head angle, that means the effective vertical front wheel travel drops a millimeter to 119mm vs. 120mm out back.