Last year, Yeti made the difficult decision to abandon the World Cup Downhill scene in order to support their Factory Enduro World Series Team, which included top contender Jared Graves, and up and comer Richie Rude.
Mid way through this years EWS Campaign, they released two well received trail & enduro models sporting their new Switch Infinity Platform, and shortly thereafter, Richie Rude was spotted testing a long travel aluminum prototype. Details regarding that prototype have been scarce, although on a post on MTBR, the Colorado based company claimed the test mule was simply being used to dial in kinematics and geometry, and that a new model was no where near production.
Despite these claims, Jared Graves just posted this incredible new build to his Facebook page.
Comparing this “prototype” to the aluminum rig spotted in Whistler earlier this year, and the SB6c, it’s not clear if this carbon bike is just a souped-up SB6c, or an all new model.
It was made clear during the launch of the SB5C that Yeti would no longer be producing new models in aluminum, so if the SB8c ever does make it to market, it will likely be available in carbon trim only.
Also of note are the DT Swiss wheels pictured. Bereft of identifying labels, they do appear to be carbon.
