Yeti 160E Upgrades and Swaps
BikeCo loves offering riders the ability to fine tune or dial in that perfect bike spec. Whether you’re looking for some minor swaps or want to dial in a full custom Yeti 160E you’ve found the resource.
Yeti spec’s great kit options for the 160E. Few components on the 160E builds would be considered “no-go”, all and all there is a lot of value for your dollar in the Yeti build. But, it’s common for riders to develop preferences. Whether it’s a performance swap or upgrade or getting you that perfect part in the right color to personalize the 160E’s performance or look we have you covered.
Common 160E Upgrades
These are areas we commonly see riders update a bike purchase. Some are personal preference, others are budget or performance choices. Questions? Chat, email or call our expert sales staff and we will help you buy the perfect Yeti 160E.
Rider Contact Points
Do you have a preferred grip and pedal go-to?
We can provide a range of grips with variable patterns, technology and shape to improve your riding. There might even be a grip in a color to set off your Turquoise, Rhino or Black 160E as well.
A lot of riders purchasing a new bike find it a good time to refresh their pedals. We have the best clipless and flat options for a wide range of riding styles at unbeatable prices.
Tires
Like contact points its not unusual for riders to have a “must-have” go to tire spec. This is one of the most common swaps on builds from any manufacturer. With notable performance differences between tread pattern, compound and sidewall lets make sure we get you on the perfect tire setup.
The 160E is spec’d with an Assegai EXO Plus front tire and a Minion DHR II Double Down Rear.
It’s not unusual to see riders upgrade to a Double Down front tire. This adds some tire protection but more notably increases the small bump compliance damping through the tire allowing for a more progressive suspension setup to resist the heavier eMTB weight shifts while riding.
On the rear tire we often see riders take advantage of the eMTB drive system and swap to a more aggressive tread pattern like the Assegai.
Questions on what tires are right for your riding style and locale? No problem – chat with our team about swapping to tires perfect for you on your new eMTB.
Maybe you’re also thinking about rim protection? We have that covered too. We often see riders use combinations of CushCore PRO and CushCore XC or even a single rim protection strip (usually on the rear tire). Questions? Let us know!
Cockpit
Along with Brakes, Cockpit is the most common place we see part swaps and upgrades. Since fit is so important to your bike it’s not surprising that you’ll want to work with a resource that has more than 1 option!
On eMTB bikes like the 160E its common to see riders looking for handlebar designs that maximize small bump compliance. Like we mentioned with the Double Down front tire, the heavier eMTB bikes often utilize more progressive suspension setups for ultimate performance. This means finding small bump compliance elsewhere is important on you 160E build.
The most common handlebar for eMTB purchases is the OneUp carbon e-bar. Designed with a unique shape to provide maximum stiffness in a fore/aft load but while offering subtle give in vertical loads.
Another common handlebar spec is the carbon option from TAG Metals which has an ovalized internal design for similar performance benefits.
Handlebar rise and overall stiffness also improve the personalization and performance of your bike. As you trim your bars they will get stiffer due to the decreased lever arm – so if you’ve got narrower shoulders you’ll likely want to start with a narrower bar rather than cutting tons off. Similarly getting the right bar rise will help your setup. Ideally you want your hands in a power position. Too low and the bike will try to pull “under” and out in steep chutes. Too tall and you’ll lose front end grip. While some of this is adapted with headset spacers the preference for performance and looks is generally to have 15-30mm of spacers and get the rest of the rise from the handlebar.
Looking for suggestions? Chat with our team about hand positioning and the advantages of getting the right handlebar rise on your new rig. We have the best in the market from OneUp, Tag, Renthal and Raceface.
Brakes
This is one of the most common swaps or upgrades on any bike. Brakes that compliment your riding style and preference make a huge difference on trail. We offer class leading options in a variety of price points from Hope, Magura, Shimano and TRP.
Most riders will update brakes on the Yeti 160E.
Shimano brakes are very popular and are spec’d on several of the build options. Shimano brakes have good overall power with quick lever throw. This produces a brake with a strong feel.
TRP brakes are similar to the Shimano lineup. The TRP brakes provide a touch more overall power and extra modulation compared to Shimano offerings.
Riders who prefer a bit more modulation or “feel” to their brakes gravitate towards Hope and Magura.
The latest Hope Tech 4 updates have improved their power. This puts the Hope Tech 4 in the Shimano and Magura range for overall power while retaining the excellent modulation Hope has been known for.
Magura brakes are the most frequent swap or upgrade across all Ibis builds. Riders who appreciate modulation and power will find Magura excellent in both aspects. Magura offers models with across a wide price range allowing budget friendly swaps or upgrades. Riders looking for the most adjustability or tuning for their brakes will shop the MT7 with HC3 levers.
Custom Wheels
Handbuilt or custom wheels are another popular upgrade no matter what brand you’re shopping. Custom wheels allow riders to spec a rim, spoke and hub combination as well as build specifics for the ultimate performance.
Custom wheels for Ibis builds usually feature slightly narrower rim options. This will decrease the volume slightly as well as shifting the tire’s shape to provide more grip in high lean cornering. We see many riders work with NOX carbon or WTB, Factor and RideFast alloy options.
Riders also will find traction from using the right spokes and build techniques. Our team will help you define this at time of purchase to ensure you maximize performance and longevity.
Popular hubs from Chris King, Industry Nine, Onyx and Factor are spec’d on Yeti 160E builds. All of these hubs are available in a range of colors to highlight your build.
Wireless Shifting
Yeti offers a range of wireless shifting with the new SRAM Transmission series.
On the 160E T3 X0 Transmission riders find the strongest and longest lasting wireless shifting option on the market. Few riders would upgrade a T2 bike to wireless as it basically just becomes the T3 X0 Transmission bike.
However, on the Shimano C1 kits we do see wireless upgrades. Some riders swap out to the new SRAM GX Transmission kits, or even GX AXS upgrades. While not for everyone, you might be intrigued by mating the GX AXS with Shimano Drivetrains. Chat with our team about your various options.
Pro Tune Suspension
Take your bike’s performance to the next level with our proprietary Pro Tune Suspension. Our team will custom tune your FOX fork and rear shock and narrow the performance from the FOX Factory range to a more precise setup designed for your riding style, aggression, ground speed, size and terrain.
This is one of the biggest upgrades to any bike – having the suspension dialed in as well as having a resource like BikeCo to help you fine tune the bike at time of delivery and as your riding speeds increase!
BikeCo Pro Tune Suspension – because Every Click Counts.
Dialing in the perfect 160E Build
Still have questions? If you’re here to compare Yeti 160E kits we’d expect you to have questions! Don’t be shy, our team is here to help you define what you need to take your bike build from “this is good” to “man, this is DIALED.”