Yeti Cycles Inc. 1999 Road Project Ultegra

Price Paid:  $3200.00

Favorite Ride:
No cold weather

Bike Setup:
Look HSC3 fork, DuraAce STI shifters, XTR rear derailleur, IRD front derailleur and cassette, FSA K-Force compact cranks, Winwood carbon post, Storika saddle, Mavic Helium wheelset, Easton EC90 bars, 3T Less stem, Campy Record headset, Speedplay X2 pedals, DuraAce brakes, M2 Racer seatpost clamp, Conti GP3000 tires, SRAM chain.

Summary:
I have had my 1998 Road Project frame for 8 years now. I keep looking at other frames each year, wondering if I need a change, but I never find anything that offers more than I get from my Yeti.

Strengths:
Light, stiff, but not extremely harsh riding. It is unique; I never run into another Yeti road bike when out on a ride (and I am in a road-bike-filled town).

Weaknesses:
One inch headtube limits fork choices these days. Despite the beauty of handcrafted aluminum from folks who know how to use it, it lacks that psychological magic that other materials seem to stir in our minds. Derailleur hanger is not replacable. Chainstays may flare out more than some frames, so some riders may bump and ankle or heel.

Similar Products Used:
Lots of frames over the last 8 years to compare.

Price Paid:  $1.00 at Yeti

Favorite Ride:
The one I just finished

Bike Setup:
8 spd ultegra, 3T bars and stem, syncros post, San Marco saddle (yeti), mavic 571 hubs on reflex rims.

Summary:
This is a review of my '96 Road Project. I've ridden Yetis for years and I own more than a couple. That said, this is probably the finest road ride I've ever had (even without considering my loyalty). The Easton tubing is the perfect mix of stiff and light, yet doesn't rattle the teeth out of my head. If you can find one of these used, buy it!!

Strengths:
Stiff yet comfy. They don't make them anymore.

Weaknesses:
They don't make them anymore.

Similar Products Used:
Cannondale, Specialized, Merlin, Peugeot

Price Paid:  $700.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
As long as there's not 2 inches of ice, it's good!

Bike Setup:
Campy Chorus, 3T, hand-built Chorus hubs laced 3X to Open Pros, Kestrel carbon fork. Looks classy in all black with shiny Campy parts.

Summary:
I love Yeti's MTBs (I own 3), so I figured I give the Road Project a try. I'm happy I did! This was the last of the Roads being made, so I snatched one up at a discount price. If you can find one in your size, get it even if you can't build it up right away. It's worth waiting for!
This frame has a good stiff bottom bracket area that puts all of the power to the rear wheel, nothing is lost in flex. I weigh 165 lbs. and ride a 59 cm. Although it's aluminum, there is no harshness when I hit a bump in the road. The frame eats it up and keeps rolling smoothly, lke a good hand-built steel or even titanium frame. High speed is easy-going. Stability is spot-on. It never gets twitchy, but if you steer it somewhere it will respond! High speed turns are smooth. Weight the outside pedal, lean it over and you can hear the tires dig in! Uphills are easy, thanks to stiffness and lack of weight. Even though it's a light bike, it has a good grounded feeling, like you can sink into the bike and become part of it. This is a very comfortable bike, with that feeling of an old-school custom frame that you feel as an extension of your body. Be ready for questions from other cyclists, many of whom don't even know Yeti built a road frame. It definately gets stares and starts conversations! I would definately buy this bike again if I had the chance!
As another note, The Campy Chorus stuff is perfect, much better than any line of Shimano junk. There's no sticky shifters or worn BBs to worry about, and it all works so smooth when it's broken in.

Strengths:
Very light, good stiffness for power transfer and handling, forgiving ride, stable at any speed.

Weaknesses:
No longer made. I would get a Ti model if I could.

Similar Products Used:
Owned Surly, Bianchi steel, Pegoretti steel. Tested many others too.

Price Paid:  $1850.00 at Individual

Favorite Ride:
Lookout Mountain

Bike Setup:
Selle Italia saddle, ITM Millennium bar and stem, Thompson Set Back seatpost, Michelin Axial Pro tir

Summary:
This is an amazing ride. Climbs like no other bike I have ever ridden. Handles so as to inspire high-speed hands-free descents. Purchased as a frameset then built with full Dura Ace including the superfly 7700 wheels. Stiff yet it does not kill you on a long ride. I have put in almost 1300 miles since April and still find myself shaking my head when I crush people on a nasty climb.

Strengths:
Super-light 17 lbs. Flys up the hills then is stable on the descents. Very stiff so every bit you put into the pedals moves you along the road. Black and Yellow paint job really stands out in an area dominated by Litespeed. It is a "SUPER BEAST"

Weaknesses:
I really feel bad for the other people who do not have one...

Similar Products Used:
Pinarello.

Price Paid:  $1.00 at used individual

Favorite Ride:
anything over the hill to the ocean

Bike Setup:
time club fork, ttt controls, campy chorus/daytona mix, phil wood front hub and bb, ti railed seat, dope-ass yellow/black paint, etc

Summary:
i got the frame, fork, seatpost, and controls used for really cheap. ive only gotten to put about a hundred miles in the last three days since i built it, but i havent pissed blood yet. you think this large diameter alu frameset will be a harsh ride, but it is so smooth. when i stand up to sprint, instant power transfer, no frame flex. it built up to a hair over 19lbs.

rides like steel, sprints and climbs like aluminum. says yeti on the side, so you have complete confidence in the product.

five flaming turds!

Strengths:
stiff yet supple lightweight tubeset. trad shifter mounts not on headtube. did i say light? yeti quality. not a harsh ride at all.

Weaknesses:
no replaceable der hanger. campy chorus fits tight in rear dropouts.

Similar Products Used:
lemond, bianchi, litespeed, seven, schwinn. only ridden, not owned