Yeti SB165 T2 Bike w/DT Swiss EXC 1501 Wheelset

The Yeti SB165 T2 Bike w/DT Swiss EXC 1501 Wheelset is Yeti's most travel-focused machine — 165mm of rear suspension in a TURQ-Series carbon frame that, by most accounts, pedals better than it has any right to at this travel figure. The T2 build brings Fox Factory suspension front and back, SRAM X01 Eagle drivetrain, and DT Swiss EXC 1501 carbon wheels to the platform: a complete enduro setup that doesn't ask you to spec up from a base build before you can ride it hard.

Switch Infinity is the engineering story of the SB165. Yeti's patented translating-pivot suspension design uses a two-piece shock wishbone to optimize the frame's leverage rate independently of its anti-squat and anti-rise characteristics — which is a complicated way of saying the bike climbs efficiently and descends progressively without the usual tradeoffs between the two. The system runs 22% progressivity, staying sensitive to small bumps throughout the travel while ramping up at the end of the stroke to resist bottom-out. Standard-sized bearings with precision-machined floating collet axles make service straightforward when the time comes. Yeti also gives each frame size its own custom carbon layup, so the size S achieves the same torsional stiffness targets as the size XL — the geometry numbers translate consistently across the range.

The Fox Factory 38 GRIP 2 fork runs 170mm of travel and pairs with Yeti's 63.5° head tube angle and 44mm offset — a combination chosen specifically to reduce wheel flop at low speed while keeping the front end stable at the speeds the SB165 is built for. The Fox DHX2 coil shock is tuned to the SB165's progressive kinematics, with a 2-position lever for firm/open switching mid-ride. Coil on the rear is the right call here: the DHX2's linear spring rate works with the frame's built-in progressivity rather than stacking air spring curve on top of it. SRAM Code RSC brakes handle the stopping — 220mm rotor up front, 200mm rear — sized to match the bike's descending ambitions.

The mixed-wheel setup runs 29" front and 27.5" rear. The larger front wheel provides more rollover momentum and front-end stability at speed; the smaller rear drops the bottom bracket, shortens the effective chainstay, and keeps the bike maneuverable in tight or technical terrain. The DT Swiss EXC 1501 carbon wheelset is purpose-built for enduro — enduro-specific carbon rims combining lateral stiffness with the impact resistance aggressive riding demands — making this the spec to reach for if you're planning to actually race or push the bike on demanding terrain. Maxxis Assegai 29x2.5" front and Minion DHR II 27.5x2.4" rear is the tire pairing that most of the enduro world lands on, and for good reason.

Design Benefits

1. Switch Infinity suspension: Yeti's patented translating-pivot design decouples the leverage rate from the pedaling platform, delivering 22% progressivity and genuine small-bump sensitivity in the same travel package. It's why the SB165 gets consistent praise for climbing efficiency despite running 165mm of travel.
2. TURQ-Series Carbon with size-specific layup: Yeti's highest-grade carbon construction, with each frame size tuned independently for torsional stiffness. The result is consistent handling feel across the size range rather than a one-layup compromise that works best in the middle.
3. Fox Factory 38 GRIP 2 and DHX2 coil: The GRIP 2 damper gives four-way independent adjustment for the most precise fork setup in Fox's lineup. The DHX2 coil shock works with the SB165's progressive kinematics without the heat sensitivity or maintenance requirements of an air shock — a meaningful advantage for riders who push the suspension hard.
4. Mixed-wheel geometry: The 29/27.5 mullet setup is the geometry choice Yeti made for riders who want front-end stability and rollover on steep terrain without sacrificing the rear-wheel agility that makes the bike feel alive in tight sections. The 63.5° head angle and 44mm fork offset are calibrated specifically for this wheel combination.
5. DT Swiss EXC 1501 Carbon wheelset: Enduro-specific carbon construction built for the combination of lateral stiffness and impact durability that aggressive mountain riding demands. Lighter and stiffer than the alloy wheels on lower-tier builds, the EXC 1501 is the wheelset that keeps pace with the rest of the spec.

Final Take

The SB165 T2 with DT Swiss EXC 1501 wheels is a fully specified enduro mountain bike that doesn't leave anything obvious to upgrade. Fox Factory suspension, SRAM X01 Eagle, carbon wheels, and Yeti's Switch Infinity kinematics in one package — for the rider who wants the most capable bike in Yeti's lineup and wants it ready to ride the moment it's built up.