Yeti SB5 turq Xo1 ordered. My LBS is swapping out the bars and stems for enve 800's and I'm going to try Rekon 2.8s (which will seat at 2.6+). I scored a pair of closeout ibis 741 carbons (35mm I'd) paired with I9 tourquoise hubs from Fanatik ( customer service there has beyond anything else I have ever experienced). Strongly recommend this company. I will post up pics of course. The switch infinity is superb. It's kind of like a
Stockli, damp smooth but with great feedback. It's truly a different feel from other bikes.
So why the 27.5? Simple. It's the best choice for where I ride and what I want. It was actually a simple decision. Not onLy did my lbs say this was the ticket but so did a really cool guy at Yeti who rides the same trails.
5.5 and unicorns: let me say again, the 5.5 is the best bike I have ridden. (I'm not a great rider) If you ride more true enduro with few tight switchbacks and you don't mind giving up some quickness this bike is unbelievable. And yes, the roll of the 9'r is addictive and this bike just has a supreme feel.
SB5 and the 5.5. A quick look at the 5.5 vs the SB5 geo will quickly tell you the story. Other than the longer travel fork and shock, the SB5 is identical to the 5.5. The fit and balance of the bike for me is dialed. There is no perfect bike as it's just too complex. But the SB5 ticks off the boxes that are most important to me. The SB5 also will fit 2.6's (true 2.6) so that nice feel and blend of performance of that width works on this bike.
Im not the best rider but I know what I like. Demoing bikes has been a ton-o-fun and reminds me so much of demoing skis. The similarities are striking. The dims/geos don't tell you everything but they are indicative. The feel of each brand is different just as skis are. For me, the yeti just felt right. One thing that I learned is that he choice of tire, rim and psi can change a bikes feel dramatically as can how the shock has been tuned. If you demo, insist on having the shop take the time to setup the bike as intended by the manufacturer. Then if possible bring a accurate psi gauge and a tire and shock pump along to tweak out the tires and suspension on your demos.