For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best eMTB of 2022 – 13 models in review
23.14 kg in size L | € 13,790 | Manufacturer’s website
With the 160E T1, Yeti enter the race with a harmonious overall concept that integrates a Shimano EP8 motor and 630 Wh battery neatly into the frame. Our test bike retails at € 13,790, rolls on 29” wheels and weighs 23.14 kg (size L). The Sixfinity suspension, developed specifically for this bike, is particularly striking. It generates 160 mm travel and is combined with a 170 mm fork. A flip-chip allows you to adjust the progression of the rear suspension in three stages (25%, 30% and 35%) to suit your riding style. A big down tube protector shields the slim frame from impacts and merges seamlessly into the battery cover. All cables are routed internally and securely clamped at the ports, while the motor cable runs through Yeti’s in-house thermoplastic handlebars.
Trail performance first – The spec of the Yeti 160E T1 in detail
Yeti rely on different manufacturers to provide the most sensible mix of components. The suspension consists of a FOX 38 Factory GRIP2 fork and FOX FLOAT X2 Factory shock, controlling 170/160 mm travel at the front and rear. Shifting is taken care of by a 12-speed Shimano XT drivetrain while SRAM CODE RSC four-piston brakes with 220/200 mm rotors do stopping duties. RockShox supply the wireless Reverb AXS dropper post and DT Swiss the robust EX 1700 alloy wheelset. While the drivetrain and wheels may not match the bling of the other components, they both deliver outstanding performance. The only downer is the MAXXIS ASSEGAI front tire with its puncture-prone EXO+ casing and hard MaxxTerra rubber compound. Yeti should specc the same tire with the more robust Doubledown casing and softer MaxxGrip rubber.
The Shimano EP8 motor is seamlessly integrated into the down tube, elegantly concealed under the big down tube protector.
Developed specifically for the 160E, the Sixfinity rear suspension is the secret ingredient behind the near-bottomless reserves and excellent riding performance of the Yeti.
The slim down tube conceals a 630 Wh battery. The elegant Yeti 160E T1 is a real headturner!
With their first eMTB, Yeti have made a real effort to route all cables neatly and clamp them securely at the ports. The motor cable runs from the remote to the display through Yeti’s thermoplastic carbon handlebars and only the display cable is visible.
Yeti 160E T1
€ 13,790
Specifications
Motor Shimano EP8 85 Nm
Battery Shimano BT-E8036 630 Wh
Display Shimano SC-EM800
Fork FOX 38 Factory GRIP2 E-Bike+ 170 mm
Rear Shock FOX X2 Factory 160 mm
Seatpost RockShox Reverb AXS 170 mm
Brakes SRAM CODE RSC 220/200 mm
Drivetrain Shimano XT 1x12
Stem Burgtec Enduro MK3 50 mm
Handlebar Yeti Carbon 800 mm
Wheelset DT Swiss EX 1700 29"
Tires MAXXIS ASSEGAI EXO+ / Minion DHRII DD 2.5"/2.4"
Technical Data
Size S M L XL
Weight 23.14 kg
Perm. total weight 130 kg
Max. payload (rider/equipment) 106 kg
Trailer approval no
Kickstand mount no
Specific Features
different progression modes
The flip-chip doesn’t alter the geometry of the Yeti 160E T1 but changes the progression of the rear suspension in three stages. If you tend to use little travel, you should run the 25% setting and if you bottom out on a regular basis, we recommend running the 35% setting. As always, the middle setting is a good starting point.
The only downer in the otherwise consistent spec is the MAXXIS ASSEGAI tire with its flimsy EXO+ casing and hard MaxxTerra rubber compound. Ideally, Yeti should spec a more robust front tire with sturdier casing and softer 3C MaxxGrip rubber for more grip.
The 170 mm FOX 38 GRIP2 fork suits the character of the potent Yeti 160E T1 perfectly.
The geometry of the Yeti 160E T1 in detail
The Yeti 160E features a long 450 mm seat tube with generous seatpost insertion depth, which allows you to get a long-travel dropper post all the way into the frame – even one with more travel than the stock 170 mm model . While the 78° seat tube angle is nice and steep, the pedalling position isn’t excessively front-heavy and doesn’t put too much pressure on your hands on flat trails. With all the spacers under the stem, the riding position is pleasantly upright and perfectly suited for long days in the saddle. Only on long tours does the firm suspension make it less comfortable than the plush FOCUS JAM² and Norco Sight VLT.
The Yeti 160E T1 is the perfect platform for any type of rider and riding style
| Size | S | M | L | XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat tube | 380 mm | 410 mm | 450 mm | 495 mm |
| Top tube | 561 mm | 592 mm | 613 mm | 642 mm |
| Head tube | 105 mm | 110 mm | 122 mm | 133 mm |
| Head angle | 64.5° | 64.5° | 64.5° | 64.5° |
| Seat angle | 78.0° | 78.0° | 78.0° | 78.0° |
| Chainstays | 446 mm | 446 mm | 446 mm | 446 mm |
| BB Height | 350 mm | 350 mm | 350 mm | 350 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1,209 mm | 1,240 mm | 1,262 mm | 1,292 mm |
| Reach | 430 mm | 460 mm | 480 mm | 505 mm |
| Stack | 617 mm | 620 mm | 625 mm | 635 mm |
Jersey 100% R-Core | Shorts Troy Lee Designs Wmns Lilium Shorts
Kneepad POC Joint VPD System Knee | Shoes Leatt DBX 5.0 | Socks On Vacation Paradise Socks
The fun starts uphill – The Yeti playfully winds its way up the mountain.
On steep climbs, the Yeti 160E lives up to its name, grinding over obstacles like its mythical Himalayan namesake. The suspension sits high in its travel, positioning you centrally on the bike and keeping the weight evenly distributed between the front and rear wheel. As a result, the front wheel stays planted on the ground and the rear wheel generates excellent traction without spinning out of control on loose terrain, even under an inexperienced rider. On the other hand, experienced ones can make the most of the poppy suspension to play with the trail and wheelie out of corners on their way to the trailhead. No other eMTB in this group test is more fun uphill than the 160E: as its name suggests, the Yeti is the undisputed mountain king, offering the perfect platform for all types of riders and riding styles.
The Yeti faces every climbing challenge with great eagerness, allowing you to roll over obstacles with plenty of traction or snake your way around them with great agility.
Whether technical, fast or fun trails, the Yeti 160E gets the most out of every riding situation and has the potential to make sporty mountain bikers even better riders.
The Yeti 160 E T1 downhill
Turn its nose downhill, and the Yeti unleashes its inner beast, proving that it’s far more than just an outstanding climber: whether you’re cruising the flow or shredding the gnar, the Yeti thrives thanks to its excellent suspension, providing bags of pop and allowing you to improvise with creative lines and build up speed through rollers and berms. At the same time, it offers sufficient reserves to shrug off big hits and always generates excellent traction, ensuring predictable handling even in slippery conditions. Compared to the Orbea Rise, the 160E isn’t quite as playful, but more composed at high speeds. The intuitive handling also makes it a great option for beginners. Only in open corners will you have to actively weight the front wheel to keep it tracking, particularly at the blood-curdling speeds the Yeti is capable of. Here, a softer and grippier tire compound would improve the handling! Experienced riders who want to explore the limits of the Yeti on fast trails will quickly find out how much potential the super-fast mountain beast has. The faster and harder you push, the better the rear suspension performs, impressing with excellent responsiveness and support. On top of that, the flip-chip in the lower shock mount allows you to fine-tune the progression of the rear suspension.
Tuning tips: front tire with MaxxGrip rubber compound and Doubledown casing | play around with the progression settings on the shock
Riding Characteristics
7Agility
- sluggish
- playful
Stability
- nervous
- stable
Handling
- demanding
- balanced
Riding fun
- boring
- lively
Motor feeling
- digital
- natural
Motor power
- weak
- strong
Value for money
- poor
- top
Riding Characteristics
8Agility
- sluggish
- playful
Stability
- nervous
- stable
Handling
- demanding
- balanced
Riding fun
- boring
- lively
Motor feeling
- digital
- natural
Motor power
- weak
- strong
Value for money
- poor
- top
Conclusion
A well deserved Best in Test! Yeti have dug deep into their box of tricks and built an exceptional eMTB all-rounder. As a result, the Colorado-based cult-brand was able to secure victory in our 2022 eMTB group test with their very first eMTB! The 160E is suitable for a wide range of applications, from long rides to bike park sessions, outperforming the entire test field with its nearly-perfect spec and outstanding riding performance, both up- and downhill. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, you’ll have a blast onboard the Yeti 160E T1!
Tops
- enormously-wide range of applications
- excellent suspension performance
- near-perfect spec
Flops
- none
You can find out more about at yeticycles-de.com
The test field
For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best eMTB of 2022 – 13 models in review
All bikes in test: FOCUS JAM² 7.0 (Click for review) | MERIDA eONE-SIXTY 10k (Click for review) | Norco Sight VLT C1 (Click for review) | Orbea Rise M-Team (Click for review) | Rocky Mountain Altitude Powerplay C70 (Click for review) | ROTWILD R.E375 PRO (Click for review) | SCOR 4060 Z ST XT (Click for review) | SCOTT Ransom eRIDE 910 (Click for review) | Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo (Click for review) | Specialized S-Works Turbo Kenevo SL (Click for review) | Trek Rail 9.9 XX1 AXS (Click for review) | Yeti 160E T1 | YT DECOY MX CORE 4 (Click for review)
Relaxed and comfortable riding on surfaced roads, both uphill and downhill.↩
Easy climbs up trails with few obstacles, wide turns and a moderate incline.↩
Active and playful descents on easy trails with few obstacles, wide turns and a moderate slope.↩
Single-track climbs on challenging terrain. Loose ground, steps, roots, tight corners and occasionally extreme inclines.↩
Singletrack descents on challenging terrain. Loose ground, steps, roots, tight corners and small jumps as well as some very steep descents.↩
High speed descents on sometimes very rough trails with large jumps and obstacles that you can’t roll over.↩
The rating used for riding characteristics refers to the bikes in the group test and the current state of development of eMTBs. The best bikes managed to blend supposedly opposite riding characteristics, feeling both lively and stable at the same time. The handling describes the balance of the bike on downhill sections. The information regarding motor-power refers to the ride-feeling in the overall context of the bike and not exclusively to the motor – that’s why the same motor can present different values.↩
Das Rating der Fahreigenschaften bezieht sich auf die Räder im Vergleichstest und den aktuellen Entwicklungsstand von E-Mountainbikes. Die besten Bikes schaffen es, vermeintlich gegenteilige Fahreigenschaften in sich zu vereinen und sind so z. B. agil und laufruhig zugleich. Das Handling beschreibt die Balance des Bikes im Gelände bergab. Die Angaben zur Motorpower beziehen sich auf das Fahrgefühl im Gesamtkontext des Bikes, nicht auf den Motor isoliert – dadurch können die Werte zwischen gleichen Motoren variieren.↩
Words: Rudolf Fischer Photos: Julian Lemme
About the Author
Rudolf Fischer
Editor
In his previous life Rudolf was a dab hand at promoting innovation, putting his brain behind big-ticket patent assessments that easily ran into six-or-seven-plus figures. These days, the self-confessed data nerd’s role as editor at DOWNTOWN and E-MOUNTAINBIKE is no less exciting. Given his specialism in connectivity, Rudolf’s often placed on the front line of future mobility conversations, but he’s also big into testing new bikes–both on the daily as a committed commuter and intensively for our group tests. The business economist graduate is as versatile as a Swiss penknife, and that’s no hyperbole. Away from two wheels, his background in parkour means he’s a master of front, side and backflips, plus he speaks German, English, French, Russian and a touch of Esperanto. Japanese remains woefully unmastered, despite his best home-learning attempts. Good to know: Rudolf’s sharp tongue has made him a figure of fear in the office, where he’s got a reputation for flexing a dry wittiness à la Ricky Gervais... interestingly, he's usually the one laughing hardest.
