Most of the hubub surrounding Yeti lately has been focused on the new SB5c and SB6c trail/enduro bikes and the new Switch Infinity linkage. And rightly so: those are fabulous bikes, and the Switch Infinity technology is incredibly innovative. However, Yeti’s brand-new XC race bike, the ASRc, shouldn’t be ignored!
You can find full specs and info on the ASRc in this article we published when this rig was released, but the specific bike I got to ride at Outerbike was built with a Fox 32 fork, Fox CTD rear shock, a SRAM X01 1×11 drivetrain, Stans Crest ZTR 29er wheels, and Shimano XT brakes. This X01-built bike weighs in at a scant 23lbs and retails for $5,799.
One of the most interesting aspects of the ASRc is the 120mm-travel front fork paired with a 100mm-travel rear end. More and more bike companies are realizing that a longer-travel front end can make for a more capable, playful bike, with a shorter travel rear end providing great pedaling efficiency. And efficient this bike was! The ASRc felt like a freaking rocket ship when I got on the pedals, flying up hills and blasting through corners. The big wheels got up to speed pretty quickly thanks to their low weight, but they carried momentum very well.
The ASRc is more than capable of aiming for cross country and endurance podiums! This is an absurdly fast bike that doesn’t compromise. However, the 120mm fork and 68-degree head tube angle also make this bike absurdly fun. I was having a blast airing off of lips, pinning it through rocks, and jamming this bike into the corners. This would be a fantastic bike for epic, long-distance rides that incorporate a lengthy, gnarly descent, or for a gravity-oriented rider that likes to dabble in endurance or cross country racing.
With a bike that handles this capably and pedals this fast, I could almost be convinced to recant my enduro leanings and convert to the cross country persuasion 100% of the time. Almost.
1 Comments
Oct 4, 2014
Plan of attack.
Trade in my Yeti 5 Carbon for the ASRc
Trade in my Yeti 7 for the SB6c
Ooops, I almost forgot step one--tell my kids they won't be going to college, 'cuz I'm getting new bikes!