Reviews You Can Rely On

Yeti SB140 LR T2 TURQ Review

Highly active suspension system with tremendous attention to detail, this bike may be perfect, but it lacks the adjustability and storage of many of its modern rivals
gearlab tested logo
Yeti SB140 LR T2 TURQ Review
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Price:  $7,700 List
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Manufacturer:   Yeti
By Joshua Hutchens ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Sep 15, 2023
86
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#5 of 19
  • Fun Factor - 25% 9.0
  • Downhill Performance - 35% 8.0
  • Climbing Performance - 35% 9.0
  • Ease of Maintenance - 5% 8.0

Our Verdict

The Yeti SB140 LR isn't significantly different from the outgoing SB130, which is good. The retired model was one of our favorite trail bikes and set our expectations pretty high. The new bike gets a bevy of small changes, notably an updated suspension curve, and longer (size-specific) chainstays.
REASONS TO BUY
Highly tuned suspension
Impressive ride quality
Mostly stellar build
REASONS TO AVOID
Geometry isn't adjustable
No frame storage
Costly
This playful 29" trail bike sports 140mm of rear suspension, and the LR denotes Lunch ride; those bikes get beefier suspension, stronger brakes, and more aggressive tread. This bike has suspension that feels positively fantastic; it's active yet supportive and has incredible small bump sensitivity. It manages to feel athletic but not aggressive. We had many moments of perfection on this bike; is it everything we could have wanted from Yeti? Almost.

Compare to Similar Products

 
yeti sb140 lr t2 turq
Awards Top Pick Award Editors' Choice Award Editors' Choice Award Editors' Choice Award Editors' Choice Award 
Price $7,700 List$7,299 List$9,199 List$5,899 List
Check Price at Backcountry
$2,999 List
Overall Score Sort Icon
86
89
88
83
80
Star Rating
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Bottom Line An inspiring bike, the suspension absolutely stands out with a near-perfect mix of support and depth; this is a true connoisseur bike; Yeti doesn't yet offer frame storage or adjustable geometryThe best gets even better, and the V2 Ripmo is the best all-around trail bike we've ever testedIt's a snappy mid-travel bike that is down for heavy-duty trail days but never feels like too much bikeThe new and improved Ibis Ripley is one of the best all around mid-travel trail bikes we've ever riddenThe aluminum framed Ibis Ripmo AF is the best aggressive trail bike you'll find at this price
Rating Categories Yeti SB140 LR T2 TURQ Ibis Ripmo V2 XT Revel Rascal XO Tra... Ibis Ripley GX Eagle Ibis Ripmo AF NX Eagle
Fun Factor (25%)
9.0
9.0
10.0
9.0
8.0
Downhill Performance (35%)
8.0
9.0
9.0
7.0
9.0
Climbing Performance (35%)
9.0
9.0
8.0
9.0
7.0
Ease of Maintenance (5%)
8.0
7.0
7.0
8.0
7.0
Specs Yeti SB140 LR T2 TURQ Ibis Ripmo V2 XT Revel Rascal XO Tra... Ibis Ripley GX Eagle Ibis Ripmo AF NX Eagle
Wheel size 29" 29" 29" 29" 29"
Suspension & Travel Switch Infinity 140mm DW-Link - 147mm CBF (Canfield Balance Formula) - 130mm DW-Link - 120mm DW-Link - 147mm
Measured Weight (w/o pedals) 31 lbs 10 oz (Large) 31 lbs (Large) 31 lbs 5 oz (Large) 28 lbs 14 oz (Large) 34 lbs (Large)
Fork Fox Factory 36 GRIP2 160mm Fox Float 36 Grip 2 Factory 160mm Rock Shox Lyrik Ultimate, 140mm Fox Float 34 Performance 130mm 34mm stanchions DVO Diamond D1 160mm
Shock Fox Factory FLoat X Fox Float X2 RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate Fox Float Performance DPS EVOL DVO Topaz T3 Air
Frame Material Carbon Fiber Carbon Fiber Carbon Fiber Carbon Fiber Aluminum
Frame Size Large Large Large Large Large
Frame Settings N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Available Sizes S-XXL S-XL S-XXL S-XL S-XL
Wheelset DT Swiss XM1700 30mm ID Ibis S35 Aluminum rims with Ibis hubs, 35mm ID Revel RW30 Fusion-Fiber Ibis 938 Aluminum Rims 34mm ID w/ Ibis Hubs Ibis S35 Aluminum rims with Ibis hubs, 35mm ID
Front Tire Maxxis Minion DHF EXO 2.5" WT Maxxis Assegai EXO+ 2.5" Continental Kryptotal 2.4 Schwable Hans Dampf 2.6" Maxxis Assegai EXO+ 2.5"
Rear Tire Maxxis Assegai EXO+ 2.5" Continental Xynotal 2.4 Schwalbe Nobby Nic 2.6" Maxxis Assegai EXO+ 2.5"
Shifters SRAM GX Eagle Shimano XT 12-speed SRAM AXS Pod SRAM GX Eagle SRAM NX Eagle
Rear Derailleur SRAM XO1 Eagle Shimano XT M8100 Shadow SRAM XO Transmission SRAM GX Eagle SRAM NX Eagle
Crankset SRAM X1 Eagle DUB 170mm(size Large) 30T Shimano XT M8100 170mm 32T SRAM XO Transmission 170mm 32T SRAM Descendant Alloy 32T SRAM NX Eagle DUB 32T
Saddle WTB Silverado Pro WTB Silverado Pro 142mm SDG Radar Lux Alloy WTB Silverado 142mm WTB Silverado Pro
Seatpost Fox Transfer 175mm 31.6 diameter Bike Yoke Revive (185mm size large) Bike Yoke REVIVE 185mm Bike Yoke Revive 160mm KS Rage-i 150mm(Large)
Handlebar Yeti Carbon 780mm 35mm rise Ibis Adjustable Carbon 800mm (30mm rise) Trail One Crocket Carbon 800mm 20mm rise Ibis 780mm Alloy Ibis 780mm Alloy
Stem Burgtec Enduro MK3 Thomson Elite X4 Trail One The Viking Stem 40mm Ibis 31.8mm 50mm Ibis 31.8 50mm
Brakes SRAM Code RSC Shimano XT M8120 4-piston SRAM Code RSC Shimano Deore 2 Piston SRAM Guide T 4 piston
Measured Effective Top Tube (mm) 624 632 625 625 631
Measured Reach (mm) 480 475 471 475 473
Measured Head Tube Angle 65-degrees 64.9-degrees 65.5-degrees 66.5-degrees 64.9-degrees
Measured Seat Tube Angle 77-degrees 76-degrees 76-degrees 76.2-degrees 76-degrees
Measured Bottom Bracket Height (mm) 342 341 345 338 340
Measured Wheelbase (mm) 1246 1238 1222 1210 1239
Measured Chain Stay Length (mm) 440 (varies by size) 435 436 434 435
Warranty Lifetime Seven Years Lifetime Seven Years Seven Years

Our Analysis and Test Results

This bike feels like a celebration of engineering to ride; cheers to the designers who made this bike shine.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Should I Buy This Bike?



Yeti calls it Any Trail, Any Time geometry, but is it for any rider? If you appreciate the nuances of finely tuned suspension, don't mind paying for a premium product, and aren't concerned with the latest fads in trail bike tech, absolutely. The ride quality and suspension performance are sublime and amongst the best we've ever tested. Yeti nailed the design and engineering of this bike; we found it comfortable, efficient, and confidence inspiring. Riding this bike on trails feels more reactive; it rewards your focus and finesse. The Yeti never felt like too much bike, never giving up its athletic stance to rely on its size or headtube angle. Big hits and deep stroke impacts aren't where this bike excels, but it doesn't disappoint in those areas.

There are some great bikes in this category, and features like frame storage and adjustable geometry are becoming more common. Why do you need to adjust the geometry if it's perfect? Maybe you don't, but the feature's versatility is hard to refute. If you're a trail rider who thinks about your bike's kinematics, you geek out over suspension setup, or you want to treat yourself, spend more than a few minutes aboard the SB140; the bike is superb!

yeti sb140 lr t2 turq - the sb140 is an incredibly versatile trail bike.
The SB140 is an incredibly versatile trail bike.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

This bike is incredibly stable at speed; modern, longer wheelbases challenge our ideas about how fast you can ride a trail bike. The bike climbs like it has a flexible tank track for a rear wheel, and while the suspension is incredibly active during the ascent, it never feels inefficient. The pedal platform feels high and supportive, while the shock seems to react to the ground, not the rider. Yeti's Switch Infinity suspension utilizes a pair of Kashima-coated sliders to create a modified single-pivot design. This enhances the bike's anti-squat properties and provides deeper isolation for the drivetrain during travel. The bike also has an increased leverage ratio, which helps initiate the shock's movement.

The 34.9-seat tube is a touch shorter on this model, giving riders more dropper room, but it still seems longer than needed. Our 5'10" lead tester was able to use the 200mm dropper in our Large test bike, but just barely. Our test bike ran DT Swiss XM1700 wheels and Fox Factory suspension. The 35.0 carbon bar is 780mm wide, and the Burgtec stem puts them 45mm ahead of the steerer. Wheel upgrades are available with each of the Yeti build kits.

This bike shares many similarities with other modern trail bikes, but let's look at where Yeti dared to be different. Adjustable geometry would be the elephant in the room, but Yeti says the bike is perfect as is. To be fair, the ride quality is spectacular; why would you change it? Maybe you'd like to take that trail bike to the bike park or maybe saddle up for a huge distance event. The appeal of adjustable geometry is undeniable, but is it necessary? It's a similar story with the frame storage; anyone using it on a modern trail bike has experienced a ride with less stuff hanging on their waist, but is it really needed? We have no shortage of other ways to carry tools and water. Riding with fewer things strapped to your body is certainly nice, not a deal breaker. Should you sacrifice the adjustable geometry and frame storage to make the SB140 your new trail bike, you're in for a real treat.

Frame Design


When Yeti replaced the SB5.5 with the SB130 in 2018, mountain bikers took notice. Yeti has a history of great riding bikes, but the SB130 was special; it's celebrated as one of the best riding trail bikes of the era. Updating that bike was a serious and daunting task, but the folks at Yeti nailed its replacement. SB140, as the name would imply, gets an extra 10mm of travel and a slightly increased leverage ratio.

The Switch Infinity system has been bulked up on the TURQ models with new bearings and seals, which will extend its service life. Also, bearings have been repositioned from the carbon frame parts into the aluminum linkages, where servicing is much easier. New for this model are a threaded bottom bracket and Universal Derailleur Hanger, the former making bb service much easier while the ladder was necessary for use with SRAM Transmission. The shock runs from the middle of the top tube to the seat tube and rear end via a two-piece wishbone shock extender. The wishbone pushes the shock further forward than it normally sits, opening up space for other shock options and allowing easy access to its mounting bolts.

In a nod to how dialed the SB130 geometry was the SB140 geometry is only slightly tweaked. The new head tube is 0.1-degree slacker, the reach is 4.4mm longer, and the seat tube is .5 degrees steeper. The chain stays grew by 7mm, giving us a wheelbase that is 12.6mm longer. Stack has increased by 7mm, and the seat tube has been trimmed by a scant 10mm, which is nice but just barely gave your tester the room needed for the 200mm dropper.

Our size Large has 485mm of reach and a 65-degree head tube angle, which feels middle of the road for trail bike geometry in 2023. The effective seat tube angle is 77 degrees, which also feels middle of the road. Head and seat tube angles on non-Lunch Ride models are 65.4 and 77.5, respectively. Yeti specs the bike with size-specific chainstays starting at 436mm for small frames and topping out at 444mm for XXL; the stays on our Large measure 440mm. Cable routing has been improved with terminals that stop the cables from rattling, and the downtube has been contoured to provide 34mm of additional ground clearance, a welcome change for technical riders.

We tested the LR T2 build (formerly T1 X0) with the TURQ carbon frame, which is about 225 grams lighter than Yeti's C series frames. Yeti says the weight savings in TURQ come from utilizing only the highest quality carbon fiber. The TURQ frame can be had ala carte for $4400 while the C series is only available as a complete bike and helps Yeti offer this design at a lower price point.

The SB140 feels agile, athletic and fun.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Design Highlights

  • Comes in TURQ carbon fiber and standard carbon
  • 29-inch wheels
  • 150mm fork or 160mm (Lunch Ride) fork
  • Size-specific chainstays
  • Internal cable routing with secure terminals
  • Threaded bottom bracket
  • Available in 5 sizes (XXL)
  • Universal Derailleur Hanger
  • Excellent suspension setup guide using Yeti's website

yeti sb140 lr t2 turq
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Downhill Performance


This bike descends with confidence and poise, always feeling stable and balanced. The frame's new rear triangle and updated Switch Infinity track quite well, losing some of the wagging rear end of the SB130. While that feel has tightened up, the decoupling of drivetrain and suspension forces feels even more evident when putting down the power or under heavy braking. Traction is phenomenal on this platform; the bike felt sticky and perfectly dampened, giving predictably heroic cornering. The LR stands for Lunch Ride, and those bikes get the Fox Factory 160mm fork with a Grip2 damper instead of the standard 150mm with Fit4 damping. They also get the Fox Factory Float X shock instead of the Fox Factory DPS shock. The extra travel up front gives the bike a touch more confidence.

yeti sb140 lr t2 turq
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Sixty-five degrees doesn't feel so slack at 40 mph and requires a little faster reaction time than some slacker bikes we've been riding lately. We enjoyed all-day alpine epics on this bike; its mild manners make it an excellent choice for technical rides that give a bit of everything. The stack is still fairly low, and the headtube angle is conservative, so at higher speeds, the rider can't hide behind the front end or crush a poorly planned line. This bike rewards precision and performed flawlessly in all but the nastiest of our testing. Fox Factory suspension is a highlight, and nothing about this bike distracted from its trail bike capabilities. It's not our top choice for bike park laps or aggressive trail slashing.


Uphill Performance


This bike absolutely excels in technical climbing! If you like to claw away at challenging trail sections and ride the “impossible” climbs, this is your bike. From the pedaling platform to the bite of the tread in the soil, the whole bike comes together for propulsion. The anti-squat is supportive, but the shock remains ultra-sensitive even as your pedaling forces vary greatly. The seat tube is moderately steep in all but the sharpest pitches, while the headtube angle keeps the bike from wallowing on the climbs. The bike has a bit of forward bias, so your weight is upfront and engaged while climbing. Handlebars at 780mm feel appropriate and keep the cockpit tight. Perched on that 77-degree seat tube is an efficient spot for laying down the power, but don't let your form get lazy. Again, the bike rewards precision; we had to keep our weight low and forward to keep the magic alive in the steepest sections.

yeti sb140 lr t2 turq
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The pedaling platform shines when you get out of the saddle; the bike feels supportive but eager to climb. The bottom bracket height is refreshingly high (342mm) and helped us keep the pedals off the ground in the technical sections. Modern trail bikes tend to bury the bb as low as possible to enhance cornering capabilities, but it's detrimental to those who like to ride the hard scrambles.


Photo Tour


The rear end is incredibly active and tracks quite well.
The rear end is incredibly active and tracks quite well.
The Switch Infinity looks complex to the untrained eye; think of it...
The Switch Infinity looks complex to the untrained eye; think of it as a floating single pivot.
Lunch ride bikes get the Fox Factory Float X instead of the single...
Lunch ride bikes get the Fox Factory Float X instead of the single can DPS shock.
The cockpit on the Yeti is all business, 780mm carbon bars dampen...
The cockpit on the Yeti is all business, 780mm carbon bars dampen the vibrations.
The Fox Factory 36 with Grip2 damper is exclusive to the Lunch Ride...
The Fox Factory 36 with Grip2 damper is exclusive to the Lunch Ride models.
Downtube protection offers good coverage.
Downtube protection offers good coverage.
Code RSC brakes are also exclusive to the Lunch Ride models.
Code RSC brakes are also exclusive to the Lunch Ride models.
Here, the Burgtec 35mm stem holds the 780mm carbon bars
Here, the Burgtec 35mm stem holds the 780mm carbon bars
The two-piece shock extender is a clever little feature.
The two-piece shock extender is a clever little feature.

Value


For those of you paying attention, bike prices are falling from those meteoric pandemic highs; they're still quite expensive, but competition keeps prices in check. Yeti builds some very expensive bikes; some might even call them luxury items, but this build feels reasonably priced in today's market. Without adjustable geometry, you don't have many ways to change this bike's personality. Do the people buying adjustable geometry bikes utilize the adjustability? We can't be sure. Would we like this bike even more if it had a drop-in headset angle adjustment or some frame storage? Probably. While those features would help us feel we're getting a better value, the bike never felt like it needed a change.

yeti sb140 lr t2 turq
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Conclusion


For most trail conditions, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better riding bike. For technical trail riding, this bike is a precision instrument that finesses you through the woods. This bike doesn't pack that enduro bravado; it's a touch timid in the steepest drops but doesn't lose composure. Traction is this bike's real strong suit, and its ability to maintain grip inspires confidence, making you a better rider. If your budget has you considering the SB140, we recommend one of the kits using Sram Transmission. This test bike was not Transmission-equipped, but after testing multiple bikes with the drivetrain, it's clear there is a new era of drivetrains. Finally, if you've made it this far in the review, thank you; we recommend this bike!

yeti sb140 lr t2 turq - this is an outstanding bike that inspires confidence.
This is an outstanding bike that inspires confidence.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Joshua Hutchens