Yeti’s roots run deep in cross country. With the amount of coverage and focus lately on the enduro and trail categories, it may easy to forget that the brand has sponsored a number of XC legends including none other than Johnny T. As the market trended towards longer travel and slacker angles, the cross country specific bikes in Yeti’s line started to fade away.
That all changes with the new AS-Rc – a carbon fiber race bike designed to regain Yeti’s spot on the podium. When it came time to introduce a new XC full suspension race platform, Yeti’s own Chris Conroy knew it was time.
“We have been out of the cross-country market for several years, so it was important that we nailed the form, fit, and function of the AS-Rc.” said Yeti’s President and co-owner. “The AS-R has been a storied bike in our line and we raced cross-country for nearly twenty years and have produced some greats in the sport. XC racing is in our DNA and we’re excited to reintroduce people to our heritage with a bike that sports Yeti’s progressive geometry.”
That geometry Chris is referring to is the AS-Rc’s longer, lower, and a bit slacker measurements of the new bike coupled with size specific wheels….
Designed around 100mm of rear travel, complete bikes will include a 120mm fork. This should make for a very raceable platform, but still a bike that won’t shy away from the fun stuff especially with the bike’s 69 degree head tube angle. The carbon frame is said to have a 4.2lb frame weight and will be available in both 27.5 and 29″ wheels – depending on the size. The extra small and small frames will receive the smaller wheels, while the medium through extra large frames will roll on 29″ stock.
After their Switch and Switch Infinity systems were unveiled, it may be surprising to see a form of Yeti’s single pivot Active Suspension employed – though maybe not. The AS-Rc is all about light weight and efficiency and the single pivot design should have both in spades. We should get more details on the suspension design at either Eurobike or Interbike, but in the meantime the frame includes what looks to be a full carbon swingarm that is anchored to a carbon rocker link. Given the shape of those seatstays, we also wouldn’t be surprised to hear that they are designed to flex similar to many other Yeti designs.
Offered in two builds and two colors, AS-Rcs start at $5799 with a SRAM X01 build. Shell out another $4,200 and you’ll drop almost a pound and be rewarded with a SRAM XX1 build with XTR brakes and ENVE M50 wheels and a Chris King headset.
