Yeti Cycles launch all-new ASR XC race bike

Yeti has introduced an all-new ASR, the brand’s ultimate XC racing bike, with the new model aiming to channel the ethos of previous generations – fast, fun and light.

The latest ASR also marks the most extensive carbon project that Yeti has ever tackled, yielding the lightest full-suspension bike in the brand’s history.

Critically, thinking brand heritage, “Yeti set about contemporising their flex stay design to meet today’s kinematics standards, increase small-bump sensitivity and traction, yet provide 100% usable travel.”

The new ASR is, naturally enough, designed to tackle the most extreme World Cup XC circuits, where bikes need to excel in the fastest turns, tackling the biggest drops, as well as climbing the steepest switchbacks.

To enable the ASR’s performance, Yeti states it has “optimised the ride position to reward riders over varied terrain.” To achieve this the brand undertook the development of a custom compression stack and custom volume architecture, working in collaboration with RockShox.

Suspension tuned for podium performance

The ASR runs with 30% sag, paired with what’s described as “a near linear leverage rate that compliments short-stroke shocks … to increase small bump compliance, all without sacrificing deep stroke control.”

The result is described as a “sprint efficient suspension, that also delivers 100% usable travel to meet the features and fringes on today’s XC courses.”

Shocks that don’t bob at the mention of hammer time

Across the six-build option range, the ASR comes with either a custom-tuned SID Luxe FA, SID Luxe ULT, or SID Luxe Select.

Yeti points out that higher compression ratios can prevent the rider from using full travel. The ASR features a 40mm shock stroke, which reportedly optimises the compression ratio, something which aims to reduce end-of-stroke harshness inherent in small volume shocks.

• The range-topping ASR Ultimate model features the new RockShox Flight Attendant system for further fly-and-forget riding.
• SRAM Flight Attendant controlled lockout, found on the T-Series Ultimate build, enables riders to focus on the race.
• 3-Position TwistLoc Lockout on T-Series and C-Series upgrade builds.

Carbon fibre – the devil is in the detail

Yeti has used custom ply shapes, critical material choices, intelligent draping methods and smooth transitions between every carbon ply to eliminate redundant carbon, giving strength but remaining super lightweight.

Such a boundary-pushing schedule driven by in-depth carbon analysis tools marks a Yeti first.

All this extra work means that the Ultimate T-Series wireless-only frame weighs just 1448g without a shock, and the T-Series frames without a shock weigh only 1552g.

Additional features:

• Size-specific carbon layups to tune flex and stiffness accordingly
• Room for two bottles (21oz on the seat tube, 15oz on the down tube for XS sizes, 21oz on the seat tube,
  24oz on the down tube for S-XL sizes)
• Integrated Frame Protection
• Custom integrated chain guide allowing for 28-36t Max (XS to S), or 28-38t (M to XL)
• Internal routing for clean integration with the RockShox 3-Position Twistloc lockout system
• Tyre clearance for up to 2.4tyres with 30mm internal rims
• One-piece aluminium alloy link shaving grams without sacrificing stiffness
• Threaded BB
• Neat and secure cable management
• UDH Hanger

Availability

ASR bikes will be available from UK distributor, Silverfish, toward the end of April in the ubiquitous Yeti Turquoise, as well as two new colours, Spruce and Greyhound, the wire-free Ultimate is Raw Carbon.