Yeti Cycles' highly praised ASR Carbon cross-country frame will head into 2010 with the same front triangle as last year but an all-new carbon rear end.
A claimed 50 percent leap in overall stiffness – with the same weight as last year – is expected to yield a quicker pedal response but also more precise tracking for improved handling predictability, especially in rougher terrain.
Like on the new ASR 5C trail bike, the new rear end sports symmetrical chain stays and also does without Yeti's long-standing flex pivot design, instead distributing the necessary movement across the entire length of the seat stays. More stoutly braced disc brake tabs should eliminate any potential brake shuddering issues, too, and the rear derailleur housing is internally routed for a cleaner appearance.
The best part, however, is that the price will actually go down from US$2,990 to US$2,700 – now that's what we call progress.
Yeti will also debut a wholly revamped DJ frame for '10 with a far beefier hydroformed aluminum tubeset and a shorter and quicker geometry. The front end gets a tapered 1 1/8"-to-1 1/2" head tube and bigger multi-shape profiles while the seat tube is now a squared-off bit for additional stiffness and strength and accepts a larger 30.9mm seatpost.
More changes are found out back with far bigger diameters throughout and new sliding box-section dropouts convertible for geared or singlespeed use. Suggested retail price is US$650.
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