yeti 575 vs. giant reign 1

[IDkid]

I've been riding a little over 2 years now on a 2011 Trek Fuel EX 8. I'm now looking to get into a little bit longer travel bike which has led me to this current conundrum: My LBS can order the 2013 Yeti 575 Enduro for me right at $3200. They also suggested looking at the 2013 Giant Reign 1 which also sells for $3200; but they can get me a 10% discount on it which would make it about $2900. No shipping, assembly or fitting costs for either. The Reign has straight Shimano SLX componentry while the 575 has a mix of SLX and SRAM X-7 and X-9. I don't know enough about the differences between those groups and brands to make an educated decision at this point. Can someone who understands the difference better help me out here? This probably shouldn't matter but I do like the look of the Yeti better and If I'm going to be getting similar performance out of either that could be a deciding factor.

Looking forward to what you all have to say. Thanks in advance for your advice!

[nauc]

Remedy 8...

SLX and XT parts (list $3150)

Trek Bicycle

[Tikiguy]

You need to ride them. The Yeti is a single pivot design and is going to feel real different than your Fuel. The Remedy would be more travel and you would feel right at home. I've had a Spec Stumpy, 575, Santa Cruz Heckler and I'm now on a Remedy. The SB66 is a sweet bike if you can fit the budget. Your budget gives you lots of options.

[charging_rhinos]

I've ridden a 575 a fair bit, and I owned a reign for 3 years. The reign is a floating pivot system, and the 575 is a single pivot. The single pivot will feel, unlike what the person above said, more like your fuel. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but you can do better in terms of linkage design. The Giant's floating pivot system makes it a more 'modern' suspension design. It is easier to tune it so that it climbs well and still feels supple and bottomless when descending. My Reign climbed incredibly well. I never used the pro pedal feature on my shock because it didn't do anything. The linkage already took care of pedal bob. And the geometry felt nice and slack when descending through choppy terrain. The yeti is a great bike, but the Giant is simply a better design. Now the yeti sb-66 is a different beast, and I would recommend it over the 575 in an instant, but I wouldn't necessarily choose it over the reign. The reign is a fantastic bike.

[dinosaurinachinastor]

I love that Yeti only makes frames because that means there are no in house brand components on their completes, the Reign has plenty of Giant brand components. Giant brand components are okay, they're just not great. Yeti on the other hand always has great components from reputable and respected brands that actually specialize in making those components.

I also hate interrupted seat tubes, you can't cram that much seat tube in there which limits the adjustability and the more seatpost you have exended the slacker the seat tube angle gets. These are my two biggest gripes as a 2011 Reign 2 owner. I've upgraded a lot of stuff to remedy my issues with the Giant brand components, but I will never own another bike I plan on pedaling up with an interrupted seat tube again.

Even the components that aren't Giant brand on the Reign, don't meet or beat the quality of components in the 575 build kit. The fork on the 575 is so much better IMO, the travel adjust feature takes up a lot of internal space, which has a negative impact on the overall dampening performance. The only thing I like for the Reign over the 575 build is the 3x crankset versus the 2x, but I'd set up either bike 1x so that doesn't really mater IMO.

Just a couple things to think about, were I in your position I'd opt for the 575.

charging_rhinos how much do you weigh? I can't believe you get away without pro pedal on the Reign, I'm 200+ with gear and can't seem to run enough pressure, even with the float spacer from fox.

[yeti575inCA]

yeti 575 beat reign in oct 2011 or 2012 shoot out in MBA magazine.
Love the 575 obviously, but also the company and culture behind it.. hang out in the Yeti forum for a bit... Yeti also tend to hold their resale value much better due to being a "boutique" brand...my .02

[Lelandjt]

The Yeti is a single pivot design and is going to feel real different than your Fuel.

The Fuel is a single pivot with similar pivot placement to the 575. When pedaling or coasting shock tuning will make more of a difference than suspension design in how they feel. The Trek should be freer under braking than the Yeti due to the brake being mounted on the linkage instead of the swingarm.

[CharacterZero]

You need to ask yourself these questions and give us the answers:
1. What kind of use will this bike primarily see? What trails will I be riding on it? What types of trails?

2. What kind of rider do I want to be? Where do I want to excel?



Plenty of talking heads on this one, without anyone knowing what kind of trails you are currently riding and where your current rig falls short.

[TwoHeadsBrewing]

If you like your current bike, and are simply looking for more travel, the Remedy 8 is a perfect candidate. But I can see wanting to try a different suspension platform, so ride them both and decide.

[eatdrinkride]

Don't fret the x7 vs slx vs whatever specs. Don't let key words like "modern suspension" or "house brand parts" sway you at this point.

Ride the bikes (if you can). That's all that matters.

FWIW Yeti does have a real neat sub-culture in the mtb community. Giant? Might as well be on a Specialized or Trek (so I've made my preference obvious, sue me)

Seriously, go ride. As Johnny Cochran once said, "To Decide....You Must Ride".

[charging_rhinos]

[QUOTE=eatdrinkride;10253271]Don't let key words like "modern suspension" or "house brand parts" sway you at this point. /QUOTE]

So when do you suggest he let them sway him then? Those are actually very important things to consider, and he is at the precise time to consider them. A linkage design is far more important than a cool subculture. That is, unless you wax your mustache tips after sliding into a pair of skinny jeans and loafers.

[Tikiguy]

The Fuel is a single pivot with similar pivot placement to the 575. When pedaling or coasting shock tuning will make more of a difference than suspension design in how they feel. The Trek should be freer under braking than the Yeti due to the brake being mounted on the linkage instead of the swingarm.

I can only speak of my personal experience but my 575 and my Remedy act completely different on the trail. My Remedy seams to have a more vertical axle path, Has no brake jack and you cannot feel the difference with pro-pedal on- off as drastic as my 575.
Yeti 575

Remedy 9.8

One could argue that Trek uses a modified single pivot design but the use of additional pivot points and linkage design does change the axle path. The Yeti is a Great bike and I am no way dishing it, just pointing out options as the OP asked. I think many will agree, go ride as many styles as you can. They are all different.

[EMR]

Neither design is superior to the other, don't let people steer you away from the yeti based on "modern suspension". I owned a reign for over a year and couldn't get the bike dialed to my liking. On a different note, I had my Transition covert (single pivot) set after a few rides. Is the covert a better bike than the reign, no, but I had more fun on the covert and enjoyed the ride more.

Also, yeti's sb66 has a cool new suspension design, yet the 575 is in the line up. Very similar geo and travel, but they keep the 575 because people love the feel of the suspension over the link design. Neither is "better", just ride differently, and will attract different riders.

Test ride, test ride, test ride... You may really like the reigns pedal platform and it may match your riding style and terrain. Only you can make that decision.

[eatdrinkride]

[QUOTE=charging_rhinos;10253304]

Don't let key words like "modern suspension" or "house brand parts" sway you at this point. /QUOTE]

So when do you suggest he let them sway him then? .

Never. Ride the bikes, then decide.

EDIT: How the hell did I manage to quote both myself and IDkid all in one shot? WTF

[James_spec]

Suspension design is all preference. Everyone has their own taste. I suggest you go out to your local LBS, see what is available to you, ride them and make your decision. If you can't get a hold of a Yeti and you really love the way the Yeti look over the Reign, I say go for it. They are both great bikes can't go wrong with either bike.

[Lelandjt]

I can only speak of my personal experience but my 575 and my Remedy act completely different on the trail. My Remedy seams to have a more vertical axle path, Has no brake jack and you cannot feel the difference with pro-pedal on- off as drastic as my 575.

I don't doubt that they feel different. I'm saying that since they're both single pivot swingarm bikes with very similar pivot placement that the axlepath and everything associated with it will be similar. They feel different because they have very different shock rates, spring rates, and damping (plus add in all the other differences in geo and parts). I owned the exact same 575 as your photo and it was a great bike*, though a little tall in the BB and the suspension always felt a little harsh, even after getting the shock Pushed. While both bikes use a linkage to drive the shock the resulting shock rate is much better on the Trek bikes than the 575*.

One could argue that Trek uses a modified single pivot design but the use of additional pivot points and linkage design does change the axle path.

It's called a linkage driven single pivot. Look at the main pivot above the BB. Follow the swingarm to the axle. The axle pivots in a circle around the main pivots of both bikes and in a similar arc. From that point both bikes use 2 links to drive the shock. Trek mounts the other end of the shock on the swingarm instead of the front triangle to save weight and play with the shock rate just a little more.

*The 575 has evolved a couple generations from our bikes and might now have nicer geo and a more traditional shock rate. Hopefully they've improved the composite pivots too since I felt they added a feeling of harshness.

[mnigro]

No one has yet mentioned that Yeti bikes run long and have a unique feel and fit to them. I recommend that you test ride a Yeti in your size and see how it feels. I have a newly built ASR5 and I've been tweaking the cockpit quite a bit to find my sweet spot. Didn't test ride before buying but had a spin on a size up from the one I have.

I have owned other frames that felt perfect as soon as I got on the bike. You'll be best off if you can demo these bikes.

[azdog]

No one has yet mentioned that Yeti bikes run long and have a unique feel and fit to them..

This is true. Not til I ran a 65mm stem did the bike feel spot on..oh and 760 bars.

[mdemm]

IMO, the Yeti 575 is one hell of bike... I own one, an '11 with Kashima coated shocks front and rear. It has been been tweaked here and there. LEV dropper seat post, XO trigger shifters, XT brakes w/ ice-tech rotors etc. I couldn't be more pleased. Always get complements on how cool it looks. Not to mention it leaves a smile on my face after each and every ride.

[yeti575inCA]

IMO, the Yeti 575 is one hell of bike... I own one, an '11 with Kashima coated shocks front and rear. It has been been tweaked here and there. LEV dropper seat post, XO trigger shifters, XT brakes w/ ice-tech rotors etc. I couldn't be more pleased. Always get complements on how cool it looks. Not to mention it leaves a smile on my face after each and every ride.

Me to

[eatdrinkride]

I.
. Hopefully they've improved the composite pivots too since I felt they added a feeling of harshness.

You felt that 1/2 inch piece of cf.... impressive.

At any rate the cf flex point is gone on the new gen.

[Lelandjt]

Yes, I felt the difference between a flexing piece or carbon and a ball bearing pivot. I must not have been the only one if they ditched them.

[IDkid]

Update: I talked to my LBS on the phone and in person and they actually can't order in a Reign 1 because it is currently oversold in my size. They offered to get the Reign 0 and sell it to me at cost on the difference in price (would be about $800 more than the Reign 1). Problem is with the season coming on I have a mere 2 weeks to give them an answer on whether or not to order it in. I've been looking at the Yeti SB66 as well now and it is an option if I can't front the cash in time for the Reign 0. So basically, I haven't really gotten anywhere at this point but it's okay. I don't want to rush into anything and I've got a few months before I can take the trip I would use this new bike on.

[Attacking Mid]

You seem more drawn to the Yeti, so you should go that way. Otherwise, once the newness wears off of the Reign, you'll probably be wishing you'd bought the Yeti. In the end, both bikes will accomplish the same feats, handle the same trails, etc. What matters is which one brings the biggest smile and least regrets.

I have two fairly similar bikes in the garage - Spec Enduro and a Reign. The Enduro is spec'ed higher and is more valuable, but I just like the Reign better. Perhaps if I had a Yeti, I'd like it even more - or maybe not. Buy what you like.

AM.

[kayman121]

575. I literally wonder what an awesome bike it is every time I am barreling down ruts and rock beds. I test rode it vs the SB66 and found that it just feels smoother through its travel. The suspension gives it a more muted feel (which I prefer), as compared to the more lively and sporty ride of the SB66, imo.