M
In the last few weeks I have had the chance to ride a few different 2020 Yeti 129 Free Rides in a bunch of different conditions, everything from trail to pow to crappy hard crust. Obviously during those rides I've been on my 2020 Camso at the same times. After switching back and forth we've been having discussions about the differences. All of us are in agreement that the Yeti suspension absolutely slays it on the rough whoops, trail G-outs etc. that's what $10K gets you, Camso yahhhh not so much, BUT and this is a big but, the Camso is far smoother. The Yeti and Camso have essentially the same track now but the Camso is silky smooth where the Yeti vibrates and echoes like a MoFo. It must be the carbon fibre passing every vibration through the tunnel back through entire kit and then into your body. Even though the Yeti has 5.5 rail spacing the Camos stills rolls over much easier than the Yeti, is easier to ride and has a better wheel feel than the Yeti specially when you are standing. I run a complete Yeti front end on my Camso so the front ends have all been identical. They sidehill about the same, my buddies old MH with a CMX track is the best side hiller by far but it handles like a tank so its not worth the trade off.
Where this is all leading is for me at any rate, I would really like to see a Riot style 129 monorail suspension with real shocks. I always liked the EZ Ryde and it worked awesome on sleds. I haven't had the chance to try a Riot yet but being a 120 its a non-starter for me plus the track is just OK, its not great both the CMX and Yeti/Camso tracks are superior, they just are.
My guinea pig days are behind me so I don't do product testing for companies which means I don't buy the first season of anything but I almost snow checked the 2020 Yeti thinking it had everything I wanted. Now after riding it a bunch I'm not sure its worth the nut, I'm kind of disappointed to be honest. The Camso goes anywhere the Yeti does and one guy handed me my ass with my own bike when he was riding it which was a little humbling I must say which probably means all the kits are better than me as a rider. Caveat, I can put my bike anywhere he can it just might take try or two more.
We had the bikes on the deck so in such a way that the holes for the wheel kit on the Yeti spindles were in alignment. The driver location on the Camso and Yeti are quite different, the Camso is about 2 inches lower and a little more forward. I felt like I was sitting high on top of the Yeti setup where on the Camso you are lower and kind of saddled in more like on my dirt bike which makes it much easier to shift your weight back as well as side to side. The Yeti has a lighter front end by good margin but gives up some stability, it likes to lift the front end which is good in some cases but not all for instance when it wheelies doing a steep sidehill up through trees its a PITA riding the gas cap. Looking at the CMX kit with the drivers so far forward is it a high ride as well, I've never had the chance to ride one? Two of the Yeti bikes were setup quite differently one IMO the soft strut is set too short which made it wild on climbs almost uncontrollable, the other one is set much longer which gave the front end a more stable planted feel, so yes set up matters.
In conclusion, for me at least, monorail is mandatory, Camso/Yeti track 2.5" seems to be the sweet spot, not too high of a riding position, balanced planted front end, wheelies are fun but get old quick when you are trying to get someplace so I don't really care about that mode, REAL suspension, exo drivers, belt drive would be nice but IMO its just for weight savings it really doesn't buy much, kit weight lighter is better but its not a deal breaker, great ski and spindle Camso ski is a good deep ski but kind of blows everywhere else, Yeti ski has been good would like to try a CMX ski.
Starting to look like I might have to just build my own kit. Get an Alpha skid, shorten it, use a Camso track, Avid drivers, Yeti/CMX front end, cro mo tube frame...….
M5
Where this is all leading is for me at any rate, I would really like to see a Riot style 129 monorail suspension with real shocks. I always liked the EZ Ryde and it worked awesome on sleds. I haven't had the chance to try a Riot yet but being a 120 its a non-starter for me plus the track is just OK, its not great both the CMX and Yeti/Camso tracks are superior, they just are.
My guinea pig days are behind me so I don't do product testing for companies which means I don't buy the first season of anything but I almost snow checked the 2020 Yeti thinking it had everything I wanted. Now after riding it a bunch I'm not sure its worth the nut, I'm kind of disappointed to be honest. The Camso goes anywhere the Yeti does and one guy handed me my ass with my own bike when he was riding it which was a little humbling I must say which probably means all the kits are better than me as a rider. Caveat, I can put my bike anywhere he can it just might take try or two more.
We had the bikes on the deck so in such a way that the holes for the wheel kit on the Yeti spindles were in alignment. The driver location on the Camso and Yeti are quite different, the Camso is about 2 inches lower and a little more forward. I felt like I was sitting high on top of the Yeti setup where on the Camso you are lower and kind of saddled in more like on my dirt bike which makes it much easier to shift your weight back as well as side to side. The Yeti has a lighter front end by good margin but gives up some stability, it likes to lift the front end which is good in some cases but not all for instance when it wheelies doing a steep sidehill up through trees its a PITA riding the gas cap. Looking at the CMX kit with the drivers so far forward is it a high ride as well, I've never had the chance to ride one? Two of the Yeti bikes were setup quite differently one IMO the soft strut is set too short which made it wild on climbs almost uncontrollable, the other one is set much longer which gave the front end a more stable planted feel, so yes set up matters.
In conclusion, for me at least, monorail is mandatory, Camso/Yeti track 2.5" seems to be the sweet spot, not too high of a riding position, balanced planted front end, wheelies are fun but get old quick when you are trying to get someplace so I don't really care about that mode, REAL suspension, exo drivers, belt drive would be nice but IMO its just for weight savings it really doesn't buy much, kit weight lighter is better but its not a deal breaker, great ski and spindle Camso ski is a good deep ski but kind of blows everywhere else, Yeti ski has been good would like to try a CMX ski.
Starting to look like I might have to just build my own kit. Get an Alpha skid, shorten it, use a Camso track, Avid drivers, Yeti/CMX front end, cro mo tube frame...….
M5