Colorado mountain bike brand Yeti have unveiled their first venture into women’s specific mountain bikes – with two Yeti Beti bikes.
Both bikes are based on existing unisex bikes – the frame geometry remains unchanged. Tweaks have been made to the sizing, handlebar width and reach, cranks and saddles. The decision not to make radical frame alterations came from feedback from the Yeti Beti female race team, who the company have supported for a decade.
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Chris Conroy, Yeti co-owner and president, told Bicyleretailer.com: The feedback we got from them [the riders] is that some of the features on women’s-specific bikes are legit, but that they liked the fit of our current frames… So we took that feedback and applied it to the spec you see on the Yeti Beti. It’s an existing platform they already loved.”
The two bike line-up includes the SC5c Beti ($6,899), a hard-charging trail bike with 27.5” wheels, and the ASRc Beti ($5,799), a lightweight cross country machine with 27.5 – 29” wheels depending on size choice.
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Quality has not been dumbed down for the female models, a trend we would hate to see. The changes are in the smaller sizes offered, maximised stand over height, 27.5 inch wheels on extra small and small frames, WTB Diva Saddles, smaller diameter grips, narrower handlebars, and 170mm cranks on extra small to medium sizes.
The frames fit riders from 4ft11 to 6ft6 – if you’re taller than that but want the female specific saddle, handlebars and reach, you’d need to buy the unisex bike and invest in replacement components.
The colour palette for the SB5c is based on the best-selling Norrie short, with approval from the Yeti Betis – a bright “coral” frame with white accents. The shorter-travel Yeti Beti ASRc is black with white and black splashes.
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The Beti’s helped with the designs, and Covoy said: “It’s funny, when we asked the Betis about using matte black, they preferred a gloss black over a matte finish because they thought it looked cleaner. Those are the kind of details we needed help with!”
Existing bikes in the range have been available in smaller sizes, with maximised stand-over height for some time. Convoy explained: “We’ve always made bikes that fit women, and the Yeti Beti line is a nod to the women we’ve worked with for years who have helped us create our products and community.”
