The Yeti ASR 5 is brand new this year (not even on the Yeti website yet) and marks a bit of a departure from the 575 and ASR 7 models. The ASR 5 is still hand-built by Yeti in Colorado and boasts spectacular craftsmanship just look at those welds and signature tube shapes!
The rear axle on the ASR 5 is both quick release and 10mm through axle compatible. A 10mm through axle offers a little extra stiffness over a 12mm axle PLUS its much easier to line up when youre mounting the rear wheel. Good call.
During my test ride I had a hard time getting the rear shock dialed in for climbing and the large sized bike felt a little too short for my 63 height. But once I got to the top of the hill, the ASR 5 felt like a nimble, aggressive downhill bike and the 5 of travel felt more like seven. Riding the dips in Bootleg Canyon was like riding a wave which makes the shape of the top tube all the more appropriate.
Yeti has a full line of cool bikes for 2010 and well be sure to bring you more info from the show later this week.
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4 Comments
Sep 22, 2009
1. Can a 2.4 rear tire fit without rubbing on the frame ?
2. Is the headtube a flared 1 1/8 to 1 1/2 headtube ?
3. Is the geometry the same as the current Yeti 575 ?
Sep 23, 2009
Element22 says you probably can't run a 2.4 rear tire on the frame (the test bikes were set up with 2.25 tires). Element also says the headtube is indeed flared from 1 1/8 to 1 1/2".
The stiffness thing is confusing to me too ChiliPepper. I honestly didn't get it myself but the rep I spoke to made it sound like a big deal. We'll have to try to find out more once the official spec sheet comes out...
Sep 22, 2009
Sep 22, 2009
Yeti's are by far very fine bikes, but I have never been able to understand their lack of longterm warranty on their frames. Five years frame warranty is not much for a high dollar bike in my book. Trek, Specialized, Fisher, Giant, among a few others offer a lifetime warranty on their frames.