The Yeti LT marks the beginning of a new era for the iconic MTB brand. Their latest enduro bruiser is the first LT model to feature the American manufacturer’s proprietary Sixfinity suspension platform, combining 170/160 mm of travel with an exceptionally versatile geometry. We’ve already put the € 10,900 carbon bruiser through the wringer on the trails around Innsbruck.

Yeti LT X0 | 170/160 mm (f/r) | 16.3 kg in Size L | €10,900 | Manufacturer’s website

With the new Yeti LT, the cult brand from Colorado ushers in the next generation of enduro bikes, and there’s a lot more going on beneath that iconic turquoise paint finish than first meets the eye. Alongside the brand-new carbon frame with integrated frame storage, Yeti have given the LT an extensive range of geometry and suspension adjustments using several flip chips and modular dropouts. At the same time, they’re saying goodbye to one of the defining features of their bikes over the past decade: the Switch Infinity suspension platform.

Its successor is Sixfinity, a six-bar linkage that represents the culmination of almost ten years of development. The platform first debuted on the 160E eMTB before making its way onto the LTE and MTE, with further refinement coming through Yeti’s current Downhill World Cup programme. Now, Sixfinity makes its debut on a non-motorised enduro bike. The real advantage isn’t the number of pivots, but the additional freedom it gives Yeti’s engineers to fine-tune the suspension kinematics, geometry and overall ride character.

On paper, the LT promises more traction, greater composure at speed, and a more balanced ride feel all round. But does all that engineering effort translate into real gains on the trail? We headed to Innsbruck to find out how the € 10,900, 16.3 kg enduro bike performs in the real world.

The New 2027 Yeti LT in Detail

With the LT, Yeti haven’t just developed an all-new rear suspension platform, they’ve reworked the entire frame from the ground up. Despite the extensive redesign, the LT stays true to the brand’s iconic design language, taking clear inspiration from Yeti’s latest eMTBs. The slim silhouette, flowing tube shapes and premium white and turquoise paint finish give the LT an elegant, almost timeless look. The biggest addition is the integrated downtube storage, which makes its debut on a Yeti bike.

Hidden behind the flush-fitting hatch is a premium storage pouch featuring a neoprene lining that prevents rattling, and a water-resistant outer shell. Unfortunately, Yeti only include a single storage pouch, even though there’s clearly enough room inside the downtube for a second one, and the storage opening itself is a little on the small side, too. The latch mechanism, however, feels reassuringly solid, engaging with a crisp, positive click. The opening is fully lined with a plastic surround, eliminating any exposed carbon edges and giving it a premium finish. The only slight drawback is the unpainted hatch, which could blend into the frame a little more neatly.

Another practical touch is the pair of tool mounts beneath the top tube, which lets you strap additional trail essentials directly to the frame. Yeti have also hidden a mount for an AirTag or Tile tracker inside the downtube protector. The tracker sits well protected from the elements, and the opening doubles as convenient access to the inside of the frame, making jobs like cable routing noticeably easier.

The LT also shows plenty of attention to detail when it comes to frame protection. The generously sized chainstay protector extends onto part of the seat stay and proved highly effective during our test. An integrated MRP chain guide and bash guard come fitted as standard, as does a bolt-on fender on the swingarm that helps prevent mud and small stones from collecting around the suspension.

Yeti’s familiar headset cable ports also help keep things quiet on the trail. They securely clamp the hoses and cables as they enter the frame, effectively eliminating unwanted rattles when the trails get rough.

The frame has few genuine weaknesses. The most notable is the small recess around the lower shock mount, which tends to collect water and mud despite having a drain hole. Yeti have also omitted torque specifications from the pivot hardware, making maintenance more awkward than it needs to be. On a bike in this price bracket, that’s a detail we’d expect to see.

The Spec of the New 2027 Yeti LT X0

The spec of our Yeti LT X0 test bike leaves very little room for upgrades. Yeti pair the full carbon frame with a FOX Factory suspension combo consisting of a new 170 mm FOX 38 Factory fork with GRIP X2 damper, and a matching FOX FLOAT X2 Factory shock managing 160 mm at the rear. Both suspension components offer an exceptionally wide range of adjustment thanks to independently adjustable high and low speed compression as well as rebound damping, and they work together seamlessly. The new FLOAT X2 is also said to be significantly more durable than its predecessor.

Shifting is taken care of by a wireless SRAM X0 Eagle AXS Transmission drivetrain, which really comes into its own under load. Braking duties are taken care of by first-generation (A1) SRAM MAVEN Silver brakes with large 200 mm HS2 rotors front and rear. It’s a combination that showed no weaknesses, even on long, steep descents.

For the wheels, Yeti rely on a DT Swiss EXC 1700 EVO carbon wheelset with DT Swiss DEG hubs featuring their latest DF technology. The freehub engagement angle can be adjusted in three settings (0°, 10° or 20°), helping to reduce pedal kickback while allowing you to tailor the bike’s ride characteristics to suit your personal riding style. The wheels are paired with Schwalbe’s new radial Gravity tires, with a Magic Mary Trail Pro in the Ultra Soft compound at the front, and an Albert Gravity Pro in the Soft compound at the rear, delivering a well-balanced mix of traction and durability. It’s a well-matched combination for the bike’s intended use. Top!

The rest of the spec is equally well chosen. The FOX Transfer dropper post serves up a generous 210 mm of drop in size L, granting plenty of freedom of movement on the descents. Less impressive is how quickly the post developed noticeable play during testing. We do, however, rate Yeti’s decision to skip the Kashima coating on the dropper. It looks good, but in our view it brings hardly any functional benefit to a dropper post. Fight us ;) The money saved goes towards components that actually count on the trail.

Another highlight is the ODI Reflex grips. They offer plenty of vibration damping, feel superb in your hands and are currently among the best grips on the market in our opinion. Rounding off the build is the cockpit consisting of a Burgtec Enduro MK4 stem and Yeti’s in–house 780 mm carbon handlebars with 35 mm rise.

Tuning Tip: Make sure you take advantage of all the adjustment options on the new Yeti LT.

The Geometry of The New 2027 Yeti LT

The new Yeti LT is available in four sizes, S to XL, and is designed to fit riders between 1.55 m and 2.04 m tall. Across all frame sizes, Yeti pair a slack 64° head angle (63.5° in the MX setup) with a steep 77.5° seat angle (77.0° in the MX setup). This ensures a centred pedalling position on the climbs and plenty of confidence once the trail gets steeper. In size L, the LT has 485 mm reach (480 mm in the MX setup), which puts it towards the longer end of the modern geometry spectrum.

What makes the new Yeti LT particularly interesting is its extensive range of adjustment options. A flip chip in the seat stay allows you to run the LT either as a full 29er or with a mullet wheel configuration. A second flip chip alters the head angle by a further 0.5° both ways. In the MX configuration, the bottom bracket is 6 mm lower. If you want to take things even further, the head angle can be adjusted further still with optional headset cups.

The suspension can also be tailored to suit your riding style. A progression chip on the lower shock mount enables three progression settings: 15%, 20% and 25%. At 15%, the leverage curve is comparatively linear, making it easier to use the suspensions’ full travel. According to Yeti, this setting is aimed primarily at racing in high-traction conditions, where maximum ground contact and speed are the priority. The middle 20% setting offers a balanced compromise. At 25%, the end-stroke progression increases significantly, providing more support, greater reserves for hard impacts and a more playful ride character.

The modular dropouts provide another adjustment option, allowing the chainstay length to be increased by a further 10 mm. Even in the standard position, the LT’s 455 mm chainstays in size L are unusually long. With the longer dropouts fitted (+10 mm), they grow to 465 mm, giving the LT one of the longest rear ends in the current enduro market.

Yeti are following a clear design philosophy. Rather than chasing the shortest possible chainstay length and the most playful handling, the LT is designed to deliver a balanced weight distribution between the front and rear end. The long chainstays, particularly from size L upwards, are intended to improve climbing traction, deliver excellent composure at speed and distribute the rider’s weight more evenly across both wheels. On paper, that might sound like a bike that feels sluggish, but out on the trail the LT paints a very different picture. Despite the exceptionally long chainstays, it is surprisingly agile and also easier to push through tight corners and berms than the geometry figures suggest. Manuals do require a little more input, however, due to the long chainstays and comparatively short head tube.

Helmet MET Terrae | Glasses 100% S3 | Backpack EVOC Hydro Pro 3 | Shirt Troy Lee Designs Flowline | Shorts Troy Lee Designs Skyline | Knee pads DHaRCO Gravity Knee Pad | Shoes 1° First Degree Fuse Light Grey | Socks Volcom Full Stone Black

All Other Spec Options of the New 2027 Yeti LT

Alongside the € 10,900 LT X0 flagship model we tested, Yeti offer the new LT in three additional spec variants, each available in two different colourways. You can choose between the turquoise finish of our test bike or the more understated Nightout paint scheme. Every model shares the same full carbon frame, Sixfinity suspension platform with 170/160 mm of travel and identical geometry. All builds also come equipped with the same Schwalbe tire combination, so there are no compromises to be made here. Nice! The main differences lie in the suspension, wheels and drivetrain components.

Yeti LT XT Di2 | Turquoise | € 9,500

Priced at € 9,500, the Yeti LT XT Di2 comes equipped with Shimano’s wireless XT Di2 drivetrain and Shimano XT four-piston brakes. Compared to the X0 model, it rolls on a DT Swiss E 1900 aluminium wheelset and uses a Crankbrothers Highline dropper post with 200 mm of travel in size L. The DF technology carbon wheels from the X0 model are also available as an optional upgrade.

Yeti LT X0/90 | Nightout | € 8,800

Next in the range is the Yeti LT X0/90 at € 8,800. It combines SRAM’s Eagle 90 Transmission drivetrain with an X0 crankset and cassette, while retaining the FOX Factory suspension package and SRAM MAVEN Silver brakes. Like the XT Di2 model, it comes with DT Swiss E 1900 aluminium wheels, which can also be upgraded to the carbon wheelset at extra cost.

Yeti LT 90 | Turquoise | € 7,400

The entry point into the range is the Yeti LT 90, which retails at € 7,400. It features a FOX 38 Performance fork and FLOAT X Performance shock, paired with SRAM’s Eagle 90 Transmission drivetrain and MAVEN Base brakes. Despite the lower price tag, it uses the same full carbon frame as the more expensive models.

If you already have the right components, the LT is also available as a frameset for € 5,400, complete with modular dropouts and all flip chips and progression chips.

The New 2027 Yeti LT on the Trail

How Does the New 2027 Yeti LT Climb?

If you expect a sluggish climber based on its 170/160 mm (f/r) of travel, think again. The LT surprises from the very first pedal stroke. Its centred riding position distributes your weight evenly between your hands and the saddle, keeping you comfortable even on long climbs.

Even with the shock fully open, the rear suspension remains impressively composed, converting every pedal stroke efficiently into forward momentum. At the same time, the Schwalbe Albert rear tire rolls faster than a more aggressively treaded model. The result is an enduro bike that pedals more efficiently and feels more eager than you’d expect from a bike in this category. Once the climb turns technical, the Albert bites tenaciously into the ground while the Sixfinity suspension generates masses of traction. More often than not, you can simply stay seated and keep turning the pedals as the LT motors over loose rocks, roots and stepped sections.

How Does the New 2027 Yeti LT Perform on the Descents?

Even before you really let your fingers off the brakes, one thing immediately stands out: the LT impresses with how naturally it settles into the trail, making you feel at ease from the get go with its centred riding position. From the very first metres, it feels like you’re positioned right between the front and rear wheel. That balanced riding position is one of the LT’s biggest strengths.

For this test, we rode the LT in its full 29er configuration with the long dropouts installed and the progression chip set to the middle 20% position. As soon as the trail gets faster and rougher, the LT feels completely in its element. The suspension performs at an exceptionally high level and is one of the bike’s standout features. It responds sensitively to small bumps while offering plenty of support through the mid-stroke, and it still has ample reserves when you hit bigger impacts. Rather than feeling like you’re constantly pushing the bike to its limits, it always feels like there’s plenty more in hand. That inspires huge confidence and encourages you to keep your fingers off the brakes for longer.

The bike is equally impressive when it comes to noise. Even on the rough trails of Innsbruck Bikepark, the LT remains remarkably quiet, with little more than the sound of the tires rolling across the ground reaching your ears. Nice!

Despite the long chainstays, the LT never feels sluggish. Thanks to the exceptionally balanced weight distribution, it’s surprisingly easy to lean into corners and transition smoothly from one berm to the next. You’re never left hanging over the rear wheel. Instead, it’s easy to shift your weight precisely between the front and rear wheel as the trail demands. The combination of outstanding composure and intuitive handling is seriously impressive.

The only time the long rear end makes itself known is when you want to lift the front wheel and play with the trail. Manuals can be done, but they require a little more effort than on a bike with significantly shorter chainstays. In our opinion, that’s a fair trade-off because in return the LT feels incredibly composed at high speed and inspires enormous confidence, even in the roughest terrain.

Who Is the New 2027 Yeti LT the Right Bike For?

Conclusions about the New 2027 Yeti LT

With the new LT, Yeti have executed a platform change with remarkable confidence. The Sixfinity suspension pairs outstanding pedalling efficiency with huge amounts of traction and remains composed on even the roughest trails. Despite its unusually long chainstays, the LT rides far more agilely than the geometry figures suggest, impressing with an exceptionally balanced character. Factor in a host of well-considered details and a build that leaves little to be desired, and the only drawback of note is the hefty price tag. On the trail, however, the LT sits right at the sharp end: currently one of the most complete enduro bikes on the market.

For more information about the Yeti LT, head over to Yeti Cycles.

Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of ENDURO, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality mountain bike journalism. Click here to learn more.

Words: Benedikt Schmidt Photos: Mike Hunger