2017 cannondale scalpel SI3 vs 2017 yeti ASR

[wazriley]

Hi all ,

 

Some help needed here to make a very important decision! I've had the privalege of testing both bikes , and was pretty much blown away by both. It's now coming down to questions around warranty , service and which will be better suited for my riding. The yeti comes in around 15k more than the scalpel so I guess I'm trying to find the justification for buying the yeti. If anyone has ridden both bikes it would be great help if I could hear your views. I'll mostly be riding Cape Town trails including durbanville , Constantia greenbelt and stellenbosch and the odd XC race.

 

The yeti is obviously 120mm travel and touted as xc/trail bike, but how big is the difference between the two bikes ?

[jcza]

Haven't been on the Yeti but tested the Scalpel and Pyga Stage. Bought the Scalpel and done around 500km now. Not sure if you're talking XCM or XCO but for XCO I'm sure the Scalpel will be better. The Scalpel is awesome!

[Eddy Gordo]

What is the component list?

Off the bat, I am a bit partial to Yeti, but I like cannondale. Will still take the Yeti

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Hi all ,

 

Some help needed here to make a very important decision! I've had the privalege of testing both bikes , and was pretty much blown away by both. It's now coming down to questions around warranty , service and which will be better suited for my riding. The yeti comes in around 15k more than the scalpel so I guess I'm trying to find the justification for buying the yeti. If anyone has ridden both bikes it would be great help if I could hear your views. I'll mostly be riding Cape Town trails including durbanville , Constantia greenbelt and stellenbosch and the odd XC race.

 

The yeti is obviously 120mm travel and touted as xc/trail bike, but how big is the difference between the two bikes ?

The ASR is a 100mm bike. SB4.5 is 115mm

 

And no. The ASR is an out and out xc race bike. I'd not suggest it unless you're racing for position, rather the 4.5 as an all rounder that can do anything you want

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

In fact given your focus I'd suggest the cannondale habit and the sb 4.5 instead of what you're looking at at the moment. Both far more capable than the scalpel and ASR

[Pikey]

After riding a 2014 scalpel (but wrong size) I am totally blown away by the scalpel. It's so fast yet agile. The lefty is a brillant piece of equipment and just works so unbelievably well . I am now so seriously hooked on getting a scalpel that I am actually considering selling my tb (which is the best all round bike I have ever ridden ) and buying a the new si scalpel.

 

If the scalpel I had fitted me I wouldn't of put it up for sale. But as it doesn't and I was so impressed with it I am now thinking about getting the new scalpel si 3 .

 

Is it really as good as they say it is ? Is it really that much better than the older one?

Better as in the average rider would benefit for the improvements ? The avg joe.

 

Keen to hear for those that have the new si scalpel. And maybe had the previous one.

 

Sorry hijack over ????

['Dale]

Pikey

 

There's a dedicated thread about the new Si

 

That's how cool it is

 

#justsaying ????

[PIETERY]

You should go back and ride both again. I've got an ASRC and my son had a Scalpel 1 and I have ridden both. I don`t know how the ride of the Scalpel SI differs from that of the 2015 scalpel 1 but from my experience there was a big difference between the Yeti and the Scalpel and you should have noticed the difference immediately. The Yeti is a much more plusher and forgiving bike than the Scalpel. The Scalpel is a speed machine in the hands of an experienced rider. Although the Yeti is labelled as a XC bike I think any other manufacturer would have called it a trail bike, it can`t be compared to XC bikes like the Epics and the Scalpels and the Sparks. It has a much more plusher and forgiving ride and is a much more playful bike and for long days over rough terrain is my choice. If speed is your thing you might be better of with the Scalpel. My son has since changed to an Epic DI2, according to him the Yetis is to slow, but guess what, we are  busy building him an ASRC something must have changed his mind. I had a self inflicted crack on my frame and the service I got from the guys at Yeti replacing the frame was top class. The fork travel is definitely 120 mm.

 

Good Luck with your choice

   

[wazriley]

Thanks for all the feedback guys. If I think back to testing the scalpel it was a less forgiving ride but felt helluva fast. In the end I guess it comes down to wanting to finish top of the pack at the weekend XC race or as pietery says a more playful bike for longer days on rough terrain. To answer an earlier question the scalpel comes equipped with XT groupset except for the rear derailer which is XTR. The yeti will be SRAM xo equipped with fox front and back suspension and SRAM guide brakes.

[Vanzyl]

 

Check this guys yeti...120mm fork works just fine!

[Danger Dassie]

The ASR is a 100mm bike. SB4.5 is 115mm

 

And no. The ASR is an out and out xc race bike. I'd not suggest it unless you're racing for position, rather the 4.5 as an all rounder that can do anything you want

 

ASR is a 102mm bike rear, 120mm front 

SB4.5 is 114mm rear and 130/140mm front

 

While Yeti punt the ASR as "x-country" in their terms, it's anything but an out and out xc race bike. It's more of an in betweener of a pure xc race bike and trail, similar vibe to Specialized Camber and Pyga Stage.

More than capable on the trails the OP wants to ride with a bit of a racy edge to it. 

SB also costs a fair bit more, it is a beaut of a bike though. That Switch Infinity works! It is restricted to one by only though, and not really any placement for a water bottle.

[Odinson]

 

Check this guys yeti...120mm fork works just fine!

 

Saw this a while back.

 

Hottest XC bike I've ever seen.

[Danger Dassie]

 

Check this guys yeti...120mm fork works just fine!

 

That was a very cool watch, thanks for the find. Bookmarked it. 

Really enjoy the explanation detailing his reasoning behind how and why he made changes/customisations.

[Matchstix]

http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/article/five-exciting-cross-country-race-bikes-for-2017-48671/