There was a lot of anticipation for the Yeti 4.5c. The model it replaced—the SB95—was one of our favorites. But more important, this is the first 29er to incorporate Yeti's unique Switch Infinity suspension design.

The signature feature of Switch Infinity is a link above the bottom bracket that slides up and down (or, as Yeti's engineers say, "translates") on a pair of shafts. Yeti designers claim this allows them to control the wheel path and shock rate in ways a rotating link cannot, and that the way the link moves—vertically—is more efficient, too.

This sounds like the usual suspension design hype. But the first two 27.5-inch wheeled Switch Infinity models—the five-inch-travel SB5c trail bike and the enduro-oriented SB6c—were so exceptional that they can legitimately be labeled game-changers. And the 4.5c largely lives up to the hype, too.

With 4.5 inches (114 millimeters) of rear travel, a 140mm-travel fork, a longish front end, lowish bottom bracket, and slackish head angle, this bike is, like many of the new breed of short-travel trail 29ers, a mashup: more descent-capable than an XC race bike and faster uphill than a trail bike. But you can choose which personality the bike skews toward. Yeti offers two tunes of the FOX FLOAT DPS EVOL shock—XC and trail—which change its character noticeably.

With the XC-tune shock, the rear suspension is firm, noticeably progressive, and rides higher in its stroke. There's little bob and it holds the bike up well, keeping it from wallowing when you're rolling through slow-speed, ledgy terrain. It has a sporty feel that wouldn't be out of place on a pure XC race bike—which is great on smoother trails and climbs, but makes the back end start to skip around on rougher descents.

RELATED: The Yeti SB5c is Ridiculously Fun to Ride

With the trail-tune shock, the suspension provides better traction and uses more of its travel more easily. The bike feels bigger in terms of travel and is more settled on rough terrain. But it also feels less crisp, less fast, and bobs more on steeper climbs.

I greatly preferred the trail tune because it made the bike feel similar to the SB5c, my favorite bike; and I think the typical 4.5c rider will as well. But the bike is versatile, capable, fun, and fast with either shock; it just depends on your preferred feel and where you usually ride. Either way, the bike can run on the downhills more than you would expect from 4.5 inches of travel, though much of this comes from the big wheels, 140mm fork, and a geometry that, like other Yetis, helps a rider feel more confident and a bike more stable. But it also calls for more attention on climbs to keep the front end from wandering, and reduces some pedal clearance.

At 437mm, chainstays are short for a 29er—even shorter than on either the SB5c or SB6c. Not only does this make the front wheel easy to loft, but it also helps the 4.5c feel less ponderous than a long, slack, and big-wheeled trail bike might ordinarily be. It rips the tight stuff well, and it's even more agile-feeling than some smaller-wheeled bikes.

With the trail tune, the 4.5c is almost an SB5c with bigger wheels. With the XC tune, the 4.5c is a near-XC bike with tremendous capability. Either way, with the benefits of 29-inch wheels, it is the most versatile and, I think, broadly appealing of Yeti's SB models, whether you're a little more XC or a little more trail.

What You Need to Know

• No front derailleur or chain guide accommodation means 1x drivetrain only

• Builds range from $6,899 for SRAM X01 and DT Swiss wheels to $10,499 for Shimano XTR with Enve wheels

• Four sizes (S to XL) and two colors: bright green and flat black

• Five-year warranty

• One bottle cage mount under the down tube

Price: $6,899 as tested

Weight: 25.8 lb. (M)

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