Description
Yeti SB165 T1 Mullet
The Yeti SB165 is a great Mullet option. Take advantage of the larger diameter wheel’s improved roll over as well as better braking while keeping the quick handling 27.5″ wheel in the rear.
Mullet’s are extremely popular in enduro racing allowing riders to get low over the back of the bike while monster trucking over terrain with the larger wheel.
Multiple travel options are available to fine tune your SB165s personality. We have options that allow the Mullet to maintain close to the stock geometry keeping the SB165s personality close to the Yeti design as well as longer travel Mullet options.
Chat with our team about SB165 Mullet benefits and which riders will prefer the mis-matched wheels as well as pricing options.
(*T2 kit shown)
(*T2 kit shown)
Learn more about the Yeti SB165’s FOX Float 38 GRIP2
Yeti SB165 Fork Travel Options
27.5″ SB165: 180mm
The stock Yeti SB165 fork is a 180mm travel FOX 38. This produces a 63.5 degree head tube angle and an estimated bottom bracket height of 344.9
SB165 Mullet: 160mm or 170mm 29″
BikeCo.com builds SB165 mullets with 2 fork lengths depending on desired disposition. Most riders gravitate to the shorter travel option which keeps the axle to crown measurement closer to the 27.5″ bike, thus maintaining the famous Yeti personality. The 29″ wheel still provides roll over and braking benefits and has been an extremely popular build with the SB165.
Want More Travel?
The SB165 is approved for dual crown forks for the burliest riding you can find. Chat with us about options to custom tune your SB165 with either a 27.5″ or 29″ dual crown FOX 40 fork option.
Not sure which is right for you? Chat with our team, we can help you define the right setup for your riding conditions and goals.
Air Spring & Volume Spacers
The FOX 38 provides riders a range of setup options using air spring as well as volume spacers.
Suggested sag is 15% for a firm feel and 20% for a plush fork. On the stock 180mm setup 15% equals 27mm or about 1 inch of sag. 20% will use 36mm or about 1.4″ of sag.
Volume Spacers
The 180mm FOX 38 is factory spec’d with 1 volume spacers (bike manufacturers may or may not change this). The 180mm fork can carry a maximum of 4 volume spacers.
Do not install more volume spacers than the FOX advises. Installing more than the maximum volume spacers will result in product damage and potential for injuries, etc.
Learn more about the FOX 38 on FOX’s Tuning Guide Here (opens in new tab)
FOX 38 GRIP2 Rebound Controls
The GRIP2 damper provides both Low (LSR) and High (HSR) rebound controls.
The addition of the High Speed or HSR control provides increased rebound control to account for the higher PSI produced by aggressive or heavier riders.
Typically riders will adjust LSR, Low Speed Rebound, to suit riding style and taste and refer to FOX’s guide for the appropriate HSR, High Speed Rebound, pairing.
FOX GRIP2 Compression Controls
The FOX GRIP2 damper provides Low and High speed compression controls to fine tune support.
Compression circuits hydraulically damp (or slow) the fork’s input assisting the air spring in providing appropriate mid-stroke and bottom out feel.
Low Speed Compression helps provide mid-stroke support. This allows a bike to ride taller in the travel in cornering while resisting brake dive, rider weight shift and other slow shaft speed inputs.
High Speed Compression works to fine tune bottom out feel as well as other high shaft speed inputs also known as square edge bumps. Example: if you sprint straight into a curb you’re likely to engage the High Speed Compression even if you’re not using full travel. This is due to the speed of the shaft moving oil to compensate for the hit.
Learn more about the Yeti SB165’s FOX Factory DHX2 Coil adjustments
SB165 Spring Rate
The Yeti SB165 uses a 230 x 65mm shock.
The SB165 T2 build is spec’d with the DHX2 Factory shock with a 2 position Open / Firm lever.
SAG is adjusted by Spring Rate and preload. Fine tuning performance is possible by modifying spring rates and preload which can produce a more or less progressive feel even on a coil.
Compression Tuning
Compression tuning is very important with coil spring suspension. The damper’s compression circuit is able to provide additional mid-stroke support as well as bottom out resistance to aid the coil spring depending on terrain input.
Learn more about the FOX DPX2 with the FOX Tuning Guide Here (opens in new tab)
FOX Factory DPX2 Rebound Control
The FOX Factory DPX2 provides a low and high speed rebound control.
As rider ground speeds increase they will allow the rebound to “speed up”.
The higher PSI the more rebound control a rider will need to control the more forceful air spring.
Rebound should be set to allow the suspension to return to neutral before the next terrain feature without being so fast as to “skip” across the trail.
The DPX2 has 16 clicks of low speed rebound and 8 clicks of high speed rebound.
FOX Factory DPX2 Compression Controls
The FOX Factory DPX2 has a 2 position open and firm lever.
The DPX2 also has low and high speed compression. Compression controls include 8 clicks for high speed compression and 16 for low speed compression.
Compression controls on coil shocks are utilized to assist the coil for bottom out and mid stroke support.
Learn about suspension setup basics on the following tabs. Each tab has a video with the basics of Air Spring / PSI, Volume Spacers, Compression, Rebound (or watch it all in one place with the final tab).
Each tab has a text section with a bit more in-depth look at the typical MTB suspension settings and how they intertwine.
PSI / Spring Rate
MTB suspension must accommodate a wide range of rider weight. To achieve this nearly all forks and rear shocks use an adjustable air spring.
By varying air pressure riders set a desired sag, or percentage of travel that the bike “sits into” under neutral loading.
Modifying this sag percentage will change small bump compliance as well as bottom out characteristics.
Learning how to Pre-Charge your suspension pump will help you make finite adjustments to sag.
Typically 15% sag is for a firm setup and 20% sag is considered plush.
Air Spring Fine Tuning Control(s): Volume Spacers & Compression
Volume Spacers
Air springs ramp rate, sometimes called Spring Rate, is based on how air compresses in the containment cylinder. As the air is compressed the PSI increases according to the decreasing volume of the containment. This is done via non-compressible volume spacers in the air chamber.
Compression.
Hydraulic damping assists air spring providing support in mid-stroke and bottom out.
Opposing Control: Rebound.
Higher spring rate will drive the suspension back to neutral with more force than a lower spring rate. To keep the bike from skipping across trail rebound damping is utilized.
Volume Tuning
As suspension compresses (travel reduces) a piston moves closer to the end of a sealed container. By decreasing the volume of the container the PSI pushing back on the piston is increased.
By adding or removing non-compressible volume spacers riders modify the air spring’s ramp rate which directly changes the amount of support and bottom out feel of the fork or shock.
By removing volume spacers a rider increases the available volume in the suspension. The larger volume compresses less per mm of travel resulting in a lower PSI per mm of travel. This creates less support and is utilizes more travel.
Adding volume spacers decreases the available volume. With less air volume the PSI per mm of travel increases providing more support and greater resistance to bottom out.
Opposing Control: Rebound.
Rebound may need to be adjusted for volume tuning depending on how drastic of a PSI change is being tuned in or out of the suspension.
“Helping” Control: Compression.
Compression provides additional support and bottom out resistance.
Compression
Compression controls provide damping to slow suspension travel as a load is applied and the suspension is compressed. (easy one right?)
When riders have found sag and volume spacing preferences compression controls provide minute adjustments to dial in performance. Adding compression provides more support allowing the suspension to ride taller in its travel which is important when dialing in a bike’s personality in corners, etc.
With too little compression a bike will sit deep in the travel. This compromises cornering and braking force resistance. Headtube angle, bottom bracket height, front to rear weight bias, etc are modified as a bike goes through its travel. Maintaining control of the use of travel is paramount for good performance.
Since compression hydraulically slows the suspension’s use of travel it therefor lowers the air spring’s PSI. Properly setting compression controls will help ease the load on the rebound system by controlling the air spring’s push back onto the rebound circuit.
Too much compression will cause a bike to feel harsh and not use appropriate amounts of travel.
Generally, compression settings are fine tuned after sag and volume spacing have riders “in the ballpark.”
Low speed compression controls mid-stroke as well as support in cornering and against brake dive.
High speed compression helps with bottom out and high shaft speed inputs.
3 positions switches are a type of compression circuit with Open the most plush, Mid providing some additional support and Firm for climbing. If you climb in firm remember to put it back to plush for the downhill or you’re in for a potentially rough ride.
Rebound
Rebound damping controls a suspension’s shaft speed returning to a neutral position. Or, how fast the air spring pushes back as the load changes.
More rebound damping slows the suspension by decreasing the amount of fluid allowed to pass through the hydraulic design.
Less rebound damping allows the suspension to return faster with less hydraulic restriction on the damper.
Rebound setting is based on weight, ground speed, terrain and aggression. Setting the rebound properly means finding the right frequency or feel for your riding.
If your rebound is too fast, or doesn’t have enough clicks of rebound, the bike will tend to skip and suffer poor small bump compliance.
When the rebound is too slow, or you have too many clicks of rebound, the suspension may “pack up” creating a harsh ride as each bump uses progressively more travel forcing the suspension deeper into the travel, which will have higher spring rates.
Opposing: Air Spring PSI / Spring Rate.
“Helping” Control: Low & High Speed Rebound.
Some suspension is designed with 2 rebound circuits. The High Speed Rebound circuit is designed to provide additional control resisting increased PSI late in suspension travel.
Typically High Speed Rebound settings are used as the Low Speed Rebound controls edge towards closed. Example: you might not use any clicks of High Speed Rebound until you reach “X” clicks on the low speed.
Yeti SB165 T1 Build – MSRP $8,600
The Yeti SB165 Complete features 180mm of front travel paired to 160mm of rear travel. The Switch Infinity suspension provides a well balanced platform confident in down-country descents while poppy under power.
SB165 is a great Mullet option and the 29″ front wheel and fork is a popular upgrade.
The stock fork offering is the FOX 38 Factory GRIP2 and the rear shock is spec’d with the coil FOX Factory DHX2.
Carbon Wheel upgrades are available.
note: supply chain issues may result in substitutions for similar parts at Yeti’s discretion.
Component Type
Fork:
Shock:
Wheels:
Front Tire:
Rear Tire:
Brakes:
Brake Rotors:
Crankset:
Bottom Bracket:
Rear Derailleur:
Shift Levers:
Cassette:
Chain:
Headset:
Grips:
Handlebars:
Stem:
Seatpost:
Saddle:
Yeti T1 Kit – MSRP $8,600
Fox Float 36 Float GRIP2 180mm
Fox Factory DHX2
DT Swiss EX 1700 Wheelset, 30mm
Maxxis Assegai DHF 2.5″ EXO+
Maxxis Minion DHR II 2.4″ EXO+
Shimano XT 4 piston
Shimano 203/180mm
Shimano XT 30t 170mm
Shimano XT BB92
Shimano XT
Shimano XT
Shimano XT5 10-51t
Shimano XT
Cane Creek 40 Integrated
ODI Elite Pro
Yeti Carbon Bar 35x800mm
Burgtex Enduro MK3 35x50mm
FOX Transfer (may ship with Race Face)
WTB Silverado Custom
Compare Yeti SB165 Geometry
Open the tab to the right to display our interactive mtb geometry comparison.
You can compare bottom bracket, chainstay, wheelbase, headtube angle, trail, reach and stack as well as learn more about rider’s reach and rider’s stack! The SB165 is also a popular mullet option and you can compare the SB165 mullet with either a 160mm or 170mm fork.
Yeti SB165 Sizing
Sizing your mountain bike involves balancing your height while taking into account torso length (or conversely, leg / arm length). Riders with longer legs and arms will often upsize and possibly run a shorter dropper seatpost or slightly lower cockpit setup. Riders with long torsos for their height (or, shorter legs) may tend to go slightly smaller on frame size if they’re in the middle.
Questions on frame size? It’s not surprising – our team can help you define the right size for your build, terrain and aspirations.
Yeti Factory Sizing
Small: 5′ 1″ – 5′ 7″
Medium: 5′ 5″ – 5′ 11″
Large: 5′ 10″ – 6′ 3″
X-Large: 6′ 1″ – 6′ 7″
Popular Upgrades to the Yeti SB165 Complete
There are a variety of popular upgrades or part swaps on Yeti complete bikes. Flip through the tabs below to explore some of the most popular including Brakes, Tires, Chain Guides and Frame Protection.
Brake Upgrades
Along with tires the most common upgrade or swap to a stock Yeti build is brakes.
Brakes are extremely important to your bike’s personality as well as your confidence on trail.
Finding brakes with the right modulation and power for your riding style allows you to further fine tune performance with rotor size.
Modulation:
Brake modulation is how the lever position relates to the amount of power at the caliper.
Brands like Magura and Hope offer great modulation. A slight pull on the lever will produce less pressure at the caliper and increases as lever throw continues. Magura riders can fine tune this even further with a variety of short or long brake levers to further modify the leverage ratio. In fact, Magura offers brake levers with adjustable modulation!
Shimano brakes have less modulation and the power tends to “come on” quicker. This isn’t necessarily good or bad – it’s just a personality.
Power:
Magura and Shimano offer similar levels of total power differing in personality more on modulation than max power or feel.
Hope brakes have a little less “bite” at full power but most riders are able to fine tune this by running a slightly larger rotor to increase both leverage and heat capacity.
Pricing / Value
Interested in updating the brakes but on a tight budget? Check out the Magura MT5. In many cases it’s available as a No-Cost upgrade. Cost conscious yes, light on performance or service life? Not a chance. The MT5 brake is the most popular offering here at BikeCo.com
Popular MTB Tire Pairings
Let’s break this down into a couple sections: Tread and Sidewall Pairings.
Aggressive Setups:
Ultimate grip, ready to chew into any descent.
Assegai front, Assegai rear
Fairly popular.
Great front grip with a bit faster rolling rear tire for acceleration / climbing.
Assegai front, Minion DHR II (or DHF) rear
Most popular of aggressive setups.
Great front grip with a fast rolling rear.
Assegai front, Aggressor rear
Not as common
Great grip, with an open, medium height rear
Assegai front, Dissector rear
Not very common, but growing in popularity. The Dissector is a bit of an acquired taste locally with its shorter lugs being good for fast acceleration. Maxxis’ Dissector features larger gaps at a similar lug height to the Aggressor. The larger gaps are beneficially in looser conditions that require tires to “funnel” more dirt.
Moderately Aggressive Setups:
Proven, balanced, popular.
Minion DHF front, Minion DHR II rear
Very popular setup.
DHF front and rear or DHR II front and rear are both viable, the DHF tends to feel like the faster combo.
Fast, fun, great for loose over hard.
Minion DHF front, Aggressor rear
Another popular setup. As dirt conditions improve over the winter this is often a go replacing a Minion rear.
Minion DHF front, Dissector rear
Not seen often as the DHF is a tall lug with tightly spaced cornering lugs while the Dissector features shorter more spaced lugs, particularly along the cornering lugs.
Dissector front, Dissector rear
For riders who need the lug spacing increased for dirt conditions but don’t need lug height.
Not seen often, although in loamy conditions this would be a fast rolling setup where riders can trust dirt to help make up for the corner lug spacing.
Fast Rolling Setups:
Aggressor front, Aggressor rear
The Aggressor is a fast rolling tire with good cornering capacity. However the relatively large transition gap may create a front tire prone to slide until the cornering lugs engage.
Rekon front, Rekon Rear
If you’re looking for fast rolling the tightly spaced and low height lugs on the Rekon are hard to beat. The Rekon as a rear tire creates interesting match up issues for the front, but if you’re riding in conditions that the Rekon is comfortable it’s a ridable XC / Trail front tire.
Minion DHF front, Rekon Rear
This is going to be a more confident setup with a more aggressive front tire providing cornering power. The Minion DHF is a slower rolling option, but, as a front tire that’s not as much of a penalty. The tightly packed cornering lugs will better compliment the Rekon than say a lower lug option like the Dissector that has greater lug spacing.
Want to learn more about tires? Check out more about sidewall, tread pattern, cornering lugs, compounds and more (opens in new window)
One of the most common upgrades to a trail or enduro bike is adding a chain guide.
A variety of options are available depending on your riding needs.
The Wolf Tooth Gnarwolf is a great upper guide as is the OneUp option.
OneUp goes a step further with the Guide + Bash or, for riders who don’t need or want the upper guide, simply a lower bash to protect the chain ring and bottom bracket area.
The lower bash only is a popular option with oval chain ring setups that can be complex to pair with upper guides.
RideWrap Frame Protection
A popular upgrade for any mountain bike, we offer two options of RideWrap Frame protection.
The RideWrap Tailored Kit covers the majority of your frame based on individual model size and shape. This is a $95.00 addition. We will install the Tailored kit for an additional $250.00 labor at time of initial build.
RideWrap’s Covered Kit protects the high wear areas such as downtube, top tube, etc. Custom trimming of the stock Covered Kit helps with fitment depending on model and size. The Covered Kit is $65.00 and installation is $150.00 at time of build.
Installing RideWrap isn’t particularly hard – but it is time consuming. Thinking about doing the labor yourself? Awesome! Check out a quick video on the installation process below.
Contact Me About This Product!
