Yeti AS-X thoughts

[Desloc]

Anyone own this ride? I can get a pretty smokin' deal on a used AS-X and need some feedback. How does it ride? Downfalls? Pluses?

I know the Flowriders rode these bikes for a couple seasons so they should able to take some abuse. I also understand the wheelbase on a medium is pretty short... 43.5" compared to a VP-Free at 45". The seat tube is pretty high for a medium freeride bike too... 19", but I'm 6' with a 34" inseam so I 'should' be ok.

I've been without a bike for too long and I need to get back on the saddle. Everyone's help is greatly appreciated :)

Des

[SysCo.]

i took one for a day up on fromme once,
and i did notice the short wheelbase , and much appreaciated it on wood stuff..
and the bike pedals really really nice.
i did notice rear end flex though under heavy loads..
ive heard of the dog bone linkage wearing out, and its not warrantiable
but theres a kit o fix it for aroun 80$
oh and watch that your 7th hole doesnt ovalized.
but honestly...i havent heard a single person who didnt love there bike..
even with its few flaws.

[Desloc]

I heard the 7.3" hole doesn't ovalize since they changed the shock stroke from 2.25 to 2.5" for less leverage in 04.

I figured flex would be less than a Bullit with 4 bearings at the main pivot... 8 bearings total.

Thanks and keep it coming :)


Des

[SysCo.]

I heard the 7.3" hole doesn't ovalize since they changed the shock stroke from 2.25 to 2.5" for less leverage in 04.

I figured flex would be less than a Bullit with 4 bearings at the main pivot... 8 bearings total.

Thanks and keep it coming :)


Des

you never mentioned the year of the frame..
i tried to cover bases.

[Desloc]

No worries. It's an 05, but I could buy new too.

Des

[sampo]

Well, I had one for 2 1/2 years, just cracked it right across the headtube weld 4 days ago here in Whistler...RIP little Yeti :crybaby:

My thoughts on it are that the new bearing link kit is a worthy upgrade, it did improve the suspension feel quite a bit. The bike is a good all rounder, it jumps real nice and is great at tech trails. It is not too bad at DH, however it has a highish BB and therefore does not rail like a DH bike - but then that is true of almost all bikes like it. Also, the back end stiffness isn't that great as it is a QR rear - however it isnt that bad either. It pedals well too with a platform shock.

Overall I would recommend it as a great all round bike. I liked mine, although I did find myself wishing it were a bit slacker and lower. I guess this was only because I moved more towards DH in my riding style though.

[Desloc]

Well, I had one for 2 1/2 years, just cracked it right across the headtube weld 4 days ago here in Whistler...RIP little Yeti :crybaby:

My thoughts on it are that the new bearing link kit is a worthy upgrade, it did improve the suspension feel quite a bit. The bike is a good all rounder, it jumps real nice and is great at tech trails. It is not too bad at DH, however it has a highish BB and therefore does not rail like a DH bike - but then that is true of almost all bikes like it. Also, the back end stiffness isn't that great as it is a QR rear - however it isnt that bad either. It pedals well too with a platform shock.

Overall I would recommend it as a great all round bike. I liked mine, although I did find myself wishing it were a bit slacker and lower. I guess this was only because I moved more towards DH in my riding style though.

Sorry to hear about your headtube, warranty? At least it didn't fail :)

Thru axle is the way to go then. I heard of alot of peeps running it in the 6.5" setting for downhill giving it a 2.6:1 leverage ratio and a slacker HA. Another option I read about was using a 24" rear wheel to obtain the same geo in the 7.5" setting.

Thanks for the info.

Des

[jmartin]

I have an 05 ASX and love it. No problems with it yet other than the sherman fork that it came with. For an all around bike I say get one. Any specific Q's about the bike feel free to ask.

[ERregular]

There is a pretty good writeup about the AS-X onthe boutique bikes web site. Check the Intense (cant recall if it was for the Uzzi or 6.6) review there for a few of the negatives on the AS-X.

My impression of the bike was that it was well put together and solid feeling, but a little uninspiring. The fit was not quite right for me, but a good bike overall.

[seand]

Well, we have had one in our house now for a while (1.5 seasons). It is definitely a supercross bike with some added umph.

It climbs pretty well, but it is not a bike meant for that. After 5ish miles of up, your back will hate you.

The shock that is on the asx is a 2.8 stroke and it feels wonderful. The shock, however, feels like ass when in 6" mode compared to 7" mode. There is a dead spot in the stroke which makes riding a bit less enjoyable.

The rear is a bit flexy, but a bolt-on fixes this nicely. With a lighter rider a QR will be fine - you won't notice the flex.

The asx can take a wicked beating and keep going. The painjob on it is amazing and after wailing on the bike for well over a season's worth of abuse, it looks like only a few rides have been taken on it.

The customer service is amazing, and parts are very easy to replace/order direct from Yeti.

180 bucks and you can have a full master rebuild kit, which is pretty cheap to keep a bike running considering how much the overall cost of our toys are :)

The bb height seemed where it should be to keep the bike railing on trails with tight berms...it is a supercross design and well it rides like it. On a-line, dirt merch, etc...the asx really shines...but places like cypress and whatnot don't make the bike flinch at all.

Would we replace the asx with another one? yes.

[schoenrock]

i had one as a second bike for a season.....lets just say it didnt get ridden much.

[Desloc]

jmartin - Thanks for the offer. Expect a PM :beer: :beer:

ERregular - Thanks for the link. In what way did it 'uninspire' you?

seand - I take it the AS-X is your lady's ride? How was the standover being that 17" is the smallest size offered? Was this 'dead spot in the stroke' only noticable in the 6.5" travel setting? Thanks for the info.

schoenrock - What was the other ride that sidelined the AS-X and why?

Cheers and thanks again peeps!


Des

[schoenrock]

the other ride was an 03 v10, sold the asx for a 05 vppfree which was an excellant choice, then sold the v10 for a turner then the turner for a demo 9...i'm happy now with the vppfree and the demo.

my problem with the yeti was the constant repair of rear hubs due to the flimsy super flexy rear end, it didnt track well and it felt unstable at speed.

[shorelocal]

I currently ride a large '05 AS-X and I'm quite happy with it.

The factory support is so-so. They only sell direct off their website to US addresses, so I ordered a full rebuild kit to a buddy's place in OR and then had it sent up here. It cost $120 US plus $20 US for the assembly tool (recommended) and $6 US for shipping. It came with all the bearings, axles, hardware, and washers. I just installed it this past weekend and it wasn't too difficult.

I run a Hadley 135mm QR rear hub and haven't had any problems with it blowing up or whatnot, but I'm not at mattj's level (he posted that he had numerous hib problems on his AS-X).

I can run everything on this bike from A-Line, DM, Cypress, Eagle, Seymour, etc. As seand says, it's a supercross bike and can do everything well and I find it climbs well too. My back does ache once I get to the entrance to 7th, but being 6'5" might have something to do with that.

All in all, I've really enjoyed this bike, but I'm looking for a change to something more DH specific. Anyone know someone looking for a large do-it-all bike?? :D

[Desloc]

the other ride was an 03 v10, sold the asx for a 05 vppfree which was an excellant choice, then sold the v10 for a turner then the turner for a demo 9...i'm happy now with the vppfree and the demo.

my problem with the yeti was the constant repair of rear hubs due to the flimsy super flexy rear end, it didnt track well and it felt unstable at speed.

A VP-Free and a Demo9 eh? Quite a stable you have there. Those bikes are pretty long and slack. How do they handle the shore? Obviously Whistler isn't an issue :)

Des

[Desloc]

I currently ride a large '05 AS-X and I'm quite happy with it.

The factory support is so-so. They only sell direct off their website to US addresses, so I ordered a full rebuild kit to a buddy's place in OR and then had it sent up here. It cost $120 US plus $20 US for the assembly tool (recommended) and $6 US for shipping. It came with all the bearings, axles, hardware, and washers. I just installed it this past weekend and it wasn't too difficult.

I run a Hadley 135mm QR rear hub and haven't had any problems with it blowing up or whatnot, but I'm not at mattj's level (he posted that he had numerous hib problems on his AS-X).

I can run everything on this bike from A-Line, DM, Cypress, Eagle, Seymour, etc. As seand says, it's a supercross bike and can do everything well and I find it climbs well too. My back does ache once I get to the entrance to 7th, but being 6'5" might have something to do with that.

All in all, I've really enjoyed this bike, but I'm looking for a change to something more DH specific. Anyone know someone looking for a large do-it-all bike?? :D

Thanks for the info. I thought the AS-X was the only large, longish travel, light, do-it-all bike :) The VP-Free may be, but I'm not to sure about it's long(17.5") chainstays. Sounds like a chore to wheelie drop, ride ladder work, and manual.

What didn't the AS-X do well enough that makes you want to switch it up?

Cheers.

Des

[sampo]

Warranty on mine was only a year...

If I were buying a bike in that category now I would probably go with the 06 SX trail or perhaps wait a bit for the 07 demo 7.

You can also look at the VP Free, Turner Highline, Cove G Spot etc.

[shorelocal]

What didn't the AS-X do well enough that makes you want to switch it up?

I demo'd a Trek Session 10 from Dizzy's a while back and liked how the weight was carried lower down and just the way it plowed through everything in its way. Maybe not the best for riding techy stuff on the Shore, but it would rip up Whissy. So, while I'd like to have a quiver of bikes in my stable, and the AS-X is definitely more of a do-it-all bike than a DH specific rig, I'm looking to try something different for next season.

[Desloc]

Ya, I was wondering where the weight was carried on the AS-X. I also like a frame that has most of it's weight closer to the BB. I figured the Yeti would be pretty balanced if the Flowriders were riding them.

I'll tell you I love buying a new ride and having the budget to do so, but this time it's been so hard to narrow down the choices and just make the damn purchase. Everyday that goes by without a ride is elevating my stress level :flame: :crybaby:

Thanks again people.

Des

[Hack On Wheels]

Have you considered the Banshee Chaparral? It is a great all-rounder, its not as heavy as people tend to think it is (with it being a Banshee), and with a 7 or 8" fork it handles beautifully, still snappy and quick but with added stability.

[ZHendo]

i have an ASX right now and I love it to death. for the money, no other bike can touch it that i have ridden. i'm a purist so i chose it over the vp-free after testing both for a fairly extensive amount of time. the strengths of the bike are that it handles tech stuff very well, drops smoothly, pedals extremely well, is made with some high quality materials and has extremely comfortable geometry that makes you feel comfortable on the bike pretty much as soon as you sit on it. the bad stuff that i have noticed is that the seat tube is a little long. that has been a little uncomfortable in certain situations, but i have yet to run into an actual issue with that. i choose to ride this bike on even my XC loop because it is so damn fun. it climbs like a tractor, not necessarily fast, but as long as you keep laying down power, the bike will keep moving. it has proven very stable in the rough stuff for me and it can haul ass comfortably when you want it to. i am very light so i havn't noticed any flex really with my bolt-on profile racing hub, but i have heard that it does have flex issues for some heavier or abusive riders. at $1300 USD for the frame, no other company can really beat it, and the quality control on the frame is fantastic. there are nicer frames, but they cost a shitload more, and i dont have much money at all. great value and great performance overall.

[Desloc]

Have you considered the Banshee Chaparral? It is a great all-rounder, its not as heavy as people tend to think it is (with it being a Banshee), and with a 7 or 8" fork it handles beautifully, still snappy and quick but with added stability.

Yes I have. Nice ride with nice geo, so is the Switch and Gemini. All of these bikes are pretty dialed for their intended purpose. I just prefer the feel of a 2.5" stroke shock on a 7" travel bike over a 2.25" stroke shock.

Des

[Desloc]

i have an ASX right now and I love it to death. for the money, no other bike can touch it that i have ridden. i'm a purist so i chose it over the vp-free after testing both for a fairly extensive amount of time. the strengths of the bike are that it handles tech stuff very well, drops smoothly, pedals extremely well, is made with some high quality materials and has extremely comfortable geometry that makes you feel comfortable on the bike pretty much as soon as you sit on it. the bad stuff that i have noticed is that the seat tube is a little long. that has been a little uncomfortable in certain situations, but i have yet to run into an actual issue with that. i choose to ride this bike on even my XC loop because it is so damn fun. it climbs like a tractor, not necessarily fast, but as long as you keep laying down power, the bike will keep moving. it has proven very stable in the rough stuff for me and it can haul ass comfortably when you want it to. i am very light so i havn't noticed any flex really with my bolt-on profile racing hub, but i have heard that it does have flex issues for some heavier or abusive riders. at $1300 USD for the frame, no other company can really beat it, and the quality control on the frame is fantastic. there are nicer frames, but they cost a shitload more, and i dont have much money at all. great value and great performance overall.

Thanks for your input. Here's a question for you... I understand the overall value of the AS-X, especially with custom built kit options, but if the VP-Free was only $100 more than the AS-X, with the same built kit, would you have gone the same route?

Des

[ESHER SHORE]

not sure how long the Yeti's last...we're talking after 2 years?

my buddy just cracked his AS-X behind the head tube, 2 years from new

and another buddy cracked his dropouts after a year and half

these are only 2 guys i know with Yeti AS-X so not exactly a statisical certainty


always liked Yeti though, the old Lawhill design susser was sweet as :)

rob

[ZHendo]

Thanks for your input. Here's a question for you... I understand the overall value of the AS-X, especially with custom built kit options, but if the VP-Free was only $100 more than the AS-X, with the same built kit, would you have gone the same route? Des

Wow, great question actually. I think that I actually would have gone for the Yeti still even though so many people were telling me that it had nothing on the Vp-Free. I rode both bikes, and I liked how lively the Yeti felt over the Vp-Free. This isn't a direct result of me not having ridden the Vp-Free much because I logged about 8 hours on a Free and only about 3 on the ASX. I am also inclined towards buying bikes that I know have been carefully examined and stuff because of bad past experiences. Sure, warranties cover most situations of failure, but still, who wants to send their frame in for warranty stuff? The Yeti is made overseas, but the bearings and all the final quality control work is all done by hand in Golden, CO. The main reason that I got the Yeti is because I love the feel of a quality single pivot frame. The angles all seem pretty much spot on and the wheelbase is about perfect for me. Hope that answered your questions, if not, I'm willing to help as much as you'd like.