A strong all-rounder from Colorado: The new Yeti MT is the perfect light enduro motorcycle.

Yeti fans had already suspected it, and now it's official: After last year's introduction of not only the LTe but also the MTe, ​​it was only a matter of time before an MT model would see the light of day following the presentation of the new Yeti enduro, the LT. Now it's here – and we immediately put the 140mm full-suspension bike to the test. Read on to find out why we were so impressed.

Fast trail ripper – Yeti MT key data

Despite sharing the same 140mm of rear and 160mm of front travel, the brand-new Yeti MT isn't a replacement for the SB140, but rather an addition to the premium Colorado brand's lineup. As the flagship of the trail bike/light enduro segment, the MT is exclusively available in Yeti's top-of-the-line "Turq" carbon frame. It shares several similarities with its big brother, the LT ( read our first review here ), not just in name. The MT also features the flip chip for adjusting the spring curve, and of course, it utilizes the new Sixfinity rear suspension system, which replaces the Switch Infinity system found on previous Yeti models.

We'll discuss the ride feel of the new six-bar linkage in a moment, but first, a few differences compared to the LT: The MT lacks the interchangeable dropouts, as well as the option to run a smaller 27,5-inch wheel – the MT is 29er-only. Furthermore, the size-specific carbon layup is slightly lighter to save even more weight compared to the Enduro model. The result is a bike weighing in at 14,85 kg in the tested spec, for which Yeti is asking €9.900 – the overall price range is between €7.200 and €1.1.500 Euro (RRP).

• Travel 160 / 140 mm
• frame material Carbon (Turq)
• Impeller size 29 inch only
• Weight 14,85 kg (size L, tubeless, without frame bag & pedals, with bottle holder)
• Wheel weight 2,35 / 2,76 kg (v/h)
• rear end Six-joint
• Features Frame storage compartment, progression chip, AirTag holder
• yeticycles.com
• Price (RRP) 7.200-11.500 Euro

driving impression

We had ample opportunity to put the new Yeti MT through its paces, not only at the Yeti press camp high above Brixen, but also on Velomotion's home trails, namely the Geisskopf Bike Park and the Arber Bike Park. On both familiar and unfamiliar trails, the MT proved to be a predictable and reliable machine, offering a remarkably confident ride. "Blind" descents are tackled with confidence; it gets even better when you can really push the limits on familiar terrain. The MT extracts a tremendous amount of performance from its 140 mm of rear travel, practically shouting to you, even over the wind, that the trail holds even more speed!

uphill

But let's start from the beginning: As a trail or light enduro bike, the MT is meant to be pedaled uphill under your own power. The next biggest obstacle after gravity on the climbs are the Schwalbe radial tires – though only by a considerable margin. The rolling resistance of the trail casing is acceptable, especially considering the added downhill performance; nevertheless, it's clear that there's potential for upgrades to create a faster home trail bike.

Yeti quotes an anti-squat value of around 204% across the relevant suspension travel and gear range. When you put tension on the chain, you can feel the rear suspension stiffen and readily transfer power to the rear wheel. This makes the MT feel genuinely agile and eager to accelerate, not only because of its 14,85 kg weight, but primarily due to its rear suspension performance. The rear end isn't completely bob-free, however; there's plenty of traction for some uphill fun on technical climbs.

With the MT, you tend to travel uphill at a brisk rather than leisurely pace and definitely enjoy accumulating altitude – a reason that speaks for the bike's strong all-round characteristics.

Downhill

The Yeti MT maintains the same agility on descents as described above. Botched a corner and now you need to really hammer the pedals? The MT eagerly forges ahead. Fat roots or some nasty, rim-shredding rocks ahead? A well-aimed bunny hop lets you simply glide over them. Did the trail builder want tight, twisty corners? You'll carve through them with ease on the Yeti. But what's truly impressive is that Yeti combines this agility with the resilience of an enduro bike. Okay, I might have to soften that last sentence a bit, because even the MT has its limits, and a full-fledged enduro bike certainly offers more safety margin. But the new Yeti definitely leans in this downhill-oriented direction and presents itself as a more capable bike than its 140 mm of travel would suggest.

And this rear suspension! You could almost say it's magic. The nominal 140 mm of rear travel almost gives it a "bottomless" feel. Definitely comfortable, yet never harsh, the rear end absorbs impacts, handles fast, bumpy terrain well, and maintains a defined pop that helps bunny hops and jumps achieve airy trajectories. The low stack, perhaps combined with the 50 mm stem, is a slight drawback; at least for me, the cockpit height meant I had to work the front end a bit more to get it airborne or cleanly over a jump. The advantage of the low stack: you can lean your upper body low over the front and push the bike through the terrain.

Ultimately, Yeti's decision to pair the 140mm rear travel with a 160mm fork was definitely the right one, as the Sixfinity system extracts a great deal of performance from these trail bike specifications. Component choices like the powerful SRAM Maven brakes and the traction-enhancing Schwalbe Radial tires also make perfect sense in this context.

Quick Hits

chainstay protectorCable wearflip chipFork crowntire choiceinsertion depthFrame storage compartment

The chainstay and the drive-side seat stay of the Yeti MT are generously covered, so nothing rattles – excellent!

Yeti avoids routing the cables through the headset. Instead, the cables enter the frame in the head tube area and are guided through laminated tubes. The cables are clamped at the entry points, so there's no rattling – again, very commendable.

The spring curve progression can be changed via two different pairs of flip chips – 10, 15, and 20% progression are possible. Adjustment takes only a few minutes, even off the trail, and is definitely noticeable. Water can drain from the shock mount area through the small opening diagonally below, but it still creates a bit of a mud trap.

While not Yeti's fault, it was a problem for the rider: the fork crown of the Fox 36 creaked audibly during the test and would need to be serviced by Fox; Yeti does not currently offer RockShox kits for the MT.

Schwalbe radial tires are always a welcome sight on test bikes – in this case, an Albert up front and a Romy in the rear, each with a trail casing, and the front one even in the softest UltraSoft compound. These tires offer plenty of grip and damping and are a bit of a game-changer in the MTB segment.

The Colorado-based manufacturer has put a lot of thought into how riders can maximize the travel of their dropper posts. Comprehensive information on aftermarket dropper posts is available on their website; on full-suspension bikes, riders must consider not only the maximum insertion depth but also the lower limit for potential collisions between the saddle and rear wheel during suspension compression.

The frame storage compartment holds the most essential repair tools – but really only the most essential ones. A carbon divider separates them from the bottom bracket area to prevent anything from getting lost. The lid's locking mechanism feels high-quality and secure.

Equipment

Five build options are available at launch for the MT, all equipped with a Fox 36 fork and a Fox Float X shock, DT Swiss wheels, and SRAM components. The rest of the package typically includes carbon handlebars with a 35mm rise, ODI Reflex grips, and WTB Solano chromoly saddles on all models. All cranksets feature 165mm short crank arms and small 30t chainrings. For those seeking a more customized experience, the XT Di2 model and the X0/90 model can be upgraded to DT Swiss XMC 1700 Evo wheels, including DEG DF rear hubs, for an additional €1.200. The DT Swiss hubs with anti-pedal kickback system are delivered in the zero-degree setting; we tested them in the 20° setting.

Geometrie