Evil FollowingvsYeti SB120

Yeti famously tries to avoid the downcountry label by calling the SB120 definition ready, yet its 30-pound weight and 130mm fork place it squarely in the category of bikes that climb too well to be trail bikes and descend too hard to be XC racers. Evil takes a more punk rock approach with the Following, using a Dave Weagle-designed DELTA link that makes the bike feel like it has 140mm of travel when you are deep in the stroke. Both brands have moved away from the fragile, twitchy nature of traditional short-travel bikes to build frames that are stout enough to handle genuine trail abuse. Yeti’s Switch Infinity system creates a sentient rear-end feel that stays glued to the ground during technical climbs, whereas the Following uses its stiff carbon chassis and 430mm chainstays to snap out of corners with a violence that can be genuinely startling. The Evil is the bike for the rider who wants to manual everything and boost off side hits; the Yeti is for those who want to carry maximum momentum through a rock garden without the bike getting hung up on square edges. While the Yeti is aristocratic and refined, the Following is a Pop Punk machine that is addictively danceable on almost any trail.

The Following is the definition of a poppy bike, encouraging you to interact with every inch of the trail rather than just plowing through it. The DELTA suspension is dual-progressive, meaning it is sensitive off the top for small-bump chatter but provides a bottomless ramp at the end of its 120mm travel that keeps it from ever feeling harsh on flat landings. It rewards precision and aggressive body English, making the trail disappear beneath you like a magic carpet ride when you are on the gas. The SB120 offers a more composed ride quality, where the Switch Infinity link manages the trade-off between pedaling support and downhill traction better than almost anything on the market. It feels more planted than the Evil, rewarding a rider who prefers to float down a line. While the Following can feel a bit twitchy at high speeds due to its 66.6-degree head angle and shorter wheelbase, the Yeti remains unflappable, even if it requires a bit more effort to pull a wheelie or flick the rear end around a tight switchback. Climbing on the Yeti is a masterclass in traction; the rear wheel tracks smoothly over ledges and roots while the frame stays calm under power. The Following is no slouch either, with a pedaling platform that feels as if it leaps ahead as soon as you mash the pedals, but it relies more on its stiff frame and anti-squat rather than the sentient tracking of the Yeti. On long, technical climbs, the Yeti stays glued to the dirt, whereas the Evil encourages a more active, out-of-the-saddle sprinting style. Descending on these bikes reveals their split personalities. The Evil Following gobbles up fat roots and invites you to send the bike deep into transitions, challenging the suspension's limits with a grin. The Yeti SB120 thrives in scenarios where you are extracting speed from linking rollers and jumps, feeling quick and precise on mellower trails but composed and snappy at high speeds. It is a more forgiving bike for long days in the saddle, whereas the Evil is a firecracker that leads you toward potentially regrettable situations and blazes out of the chaos hungry for more.