Yeti SB160 Upgrades and Swaps
You want your new bike dialed. The right spec will dial in your bike’s trail personality taking it from “pretty good” to “this is insane”. BikeCo is here to ensure you get the right parts, right off the bat. Small swaps and upgrades are common for every mountain bike. Let’s glance at some of the more popular Yeti SB160 Upgrades and Part Swaps.
Yeti spec’s great kit options for the SB160. Really there are few components on the SB160 builds would be considered “no-go”. From the C2 all the way to the T4 XX Transmission builds there is a lot of value for your dollar in the Yeti build.
However, it’s common for riders to have spec preferences. Whether it’s a performance swap or upgrade or getting you that perfect part in the right color to personalize the SB160’s performance or look we have you covered.
Common SB160 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 dial in your perfect Yeti SB160.
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, Radium or Cobalt SB160 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 SB160 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 forces of aggressive enduro riding.
Another option for SB160 front tires is the Minion DHF in EXO Plus or Double Down. The Minion DHF is a slightly faster rolling option which many riders enjoy in a range of terrain.
On the rear tire some riders will spec a more aggressive tread pattern like the Assegai. Or, the opposite and sometimes we’ll see riders spec a faster rear tire like a Double Down Aggressor.
It really comes down to what you like and where you’re using it. 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 MTB.
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!
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.
Headset
Many riders will update the Cane Creek 40 to a Cane Creek 110 or Chris King headset that will last the service life of the frame. Chris King riders can choose from a range of colors as well.
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 SB160. Updating with BikeCo means we will credit you for the SRAM brakes and get your preferred stoppers on your new bike.
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 SB160 builds. All of these hubs are available in a range of colors to highlight your build.
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 SB160 Build
Still have questions? If you’re here to compare Yeti SB160 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.”
