Ibis, Yeti and Santa Cruz Bikes Compared: Which Brand to Choose?

By Sam Millers / Last updated - December 29, 2023 / Blog, Ibis Cycles, Reviews, Santa Cruz Bicycles, Yeti

hardtail mountain bike frames

Ibis, Yeti, and Santa Cruz are three of the leading mountain bike manufacturers in the US. While both Ibis and Santa Cruz are based in the Californian city of Santa Cruz, Yeti operates out of the small town of Golden, Colorado. All three serve the high-end, competitive MTB market, with in-house teams that have won multiple awards across several MTB disciplines.

A brief overview of three high-end mountain bike brands.

All-Rounder – Trail / All-Mountain
Faster tracks, Steeper hills – Enduro

Ibis, Yeti and Santa Cruz in Numbers

Founded in:

Ibis: 1981
Yeti: 1985
Santa Cruz Bicycles: 1993

Est. number of employees:

Ibis: 86
Yeti: 51
Santa Cruz Bicycles: 200

Est. annual profit:

Ibis: $17mil
Yeti: $20.7mil
Santa Cruz Bicycles: $21mil

Number of Facebook followers:

Ibis: 47k
Yeti: 108k
Santa Cruz Bicycles: 422k

Ibis Cycles Mountain Bikes Range

DV9 – Mojo 4 – Mojo HD5 – Ripley – Ripmo

Ibis is the longest-running of the three companies, founded in 1981 by Scot Nicol and operated by a close group of friends ever since. The brand focuses all its efforts on the development of its limited range of high-quality carbon MTBs for downhill, enduro, and all-mountain riding.

It’s a small, boutique bike company that mostly caters to the professional MTB market, with prices ranging from $3,000 to $11,000.

Ibis’s top-range bikes feature custom-made carbon monocoque frames with DW Link suspension, SRAM groupsets, Fox suspension, and Maxxis tires. The company also develops some of its own in-house components, including handlebars, rims, and seat clamps.

Ibis DV9 – Front travel: 120mm travel 29″ hardtail – Trail, XC
Ibis Mojo 4 – Front travel: 140mm / Rear travel: 130mm – All-Mountain, Trail
Ibis Mojo HD5 – Front travel: 170mm / Rear travel: 153mm: Enduro
Ibis Ripley – Front travel: 130mm / Rear travel: 120mm – Enduro, All-Mountain, Trail
Ibis Ripmo – Front travel: 160mm / Rear travel: 145mm – Enduro, All-Mountain, Trail

Shop Ibis Bikes

JensonUSA.com

Yeti Cycles Mountain Bikes Range

Operating since 1985, Yeti is the second-oldest of the three brands but remains one of the most innovative MTB manufacturers in the US. The company philosophy is to only build bikes that they themselves would want to ride. Like Ibis, Yeti produces top-end carbon MTBs for the enduro, trail, and cross country market, with prices ranging from $4,000 to $8,000.

Yeti’s high-end bikes feature TURQ carbon frames with high-end SRAM groupsets, Fox suspension, and finishings from Cane Creek, Race Face, and WTB. They typically use Maxxis tires on DT Swiss rims.

RACE series – SB150, SB 115
RIP series – SB100, SB130, SB140, SB165

27.5” – SB140, SB165
29″ – ARC, SB100, SB115, SB130, SB150

Hardtail – ARC
Full-Suspension – SB

Yeti – Arc

Yeti ARC – 130mm travel 29″ hardtail – Trail, XC
Yeti SB100 – Front travel: 120mm / Rear travel: 100mm – Trail, XC
Yeti SB115 – Front travel: 130mm / Rear travel: 115mm – Trail, XC
Yeti SB130 – Front travel: 150mm / Rear travel: 130mm – Enduro, Trail
Yeti SB140 – Front travel: 160mm / Rear travel: 140mm – Enduro, Trail, All-mountain
Yeti SB150 – Front travel: 170mm / Rear travel: 150mm – Enduro, All-mountain
Yeti SB165 – Front travel: 180mm / Rear travel: 165mm – Enduro, Downhill

Shop Yeti Bikes

JensonUSA.com

Santa Cruz Bicycles Mountain Bikes Range

Founded in 1994, Santa Cruz is the newest of the three brands and probably the most well known, with the widest range of bikes available. Santa Cruz bikes are less niche than Yeti and Ibis, with some affordable MTBs available for less than $2,000. However, Santa Cruz’s top-of-the-range bikes like the Heckler electric mountain bike retail for over $8,000.

The Santa Cruz factory produces not only high-quality carbon and aluminum frames but also several of its own parts and components, including rims, handlebars, and grips. Santa Cruz bikes typically feature SRAM groupsets with Maxxis tires and RockShox or Fox suspension. Additional parts include Cane Creek headsets, WTB saddles, and Race Face handlebars.

27.5″ – Nomad, Bronson, 5010, Tallboy, Chameleon
29″ – Megatower, Hightower, Tallboy, Blur, Chameleon

Hardtail – Chameleon, Highball
Full-Suspension – Nomad, Bronson, 5010, Tallboy, Megatower, Hightower, Blur

27.5″ Chameleon / 29″ Highball

Santa Cruz Bicycles Chameleon – Hardtail. Front travel: 120 or 130mm – Trail
Santa Cruz Bicycles Highball – Front travel: 100mm – XC
Santa Cruz Bicycles Blur – Front travel: 100mm / Rear travel: 100mm – XC
Santa Cruz Bicycles Tallboy – Front travel: 130mm / Rear travel: 120mm – Enduro, Trail
Santa Cruz Bicycles 5010 – Front travel: 140mm / Rear travel: 130mm – Trail
Santa Cruz Bicycles Hightower – Front travel: 150mm / Rear travel: 140mm – Enduro, Trail
Santa Cruz Bicycles Bronson – Front travel 160mm / Rear travel: 150mm – Enduro, Trail
Santa Cruz Bicycles Megatower – Front travel 160mm / Rear travel: 160mm – Enduro, All-Mountain
Santa Cruz Bicycles Nomad – Front travel: 170mm / Rear travel: 170mm – Enduro, All-Mountain

Shop Santa Cruz Bikes

MikesBikes.com

Hardtail Mountain Bikes: Ibis vs. Yeti vs. Santa Cruz

	Ibis	Yeti	Santa-Cruz
	DV9	ARC	Chameleon	Highball
MSRP ($) from	2,200	3,600	1,949	2,799
Wheel Size	29″	29″	27.5″ / 29″	29″
Tire width	2.25	2.6″	2.3″ – 2.8″	2.25″
Travel (mm)	120/130mm	130mm	120/130mm	100mm
Head Tube	68.5º	67º	67.3º	69.5º
Seat Tube	73º	76º	72.8º	73º
Chainstay	439mm	433mm	415-430mm	426mm
Frame	Carbon	Carbon	Alloy/Carbon	Carbon

Ibis ARC Frame Size Guide

S – 5′ – 5’5″
M – 5’4 – 5’9″
L – 5’8″ – 6’1
XL – 6’0 – 6’6

Yeti DV9 Frame Size Guide

S – 5’1 – 5’7″
M – 5’5 – 5’11”
L – 5’10” – 6’3″
XL – 6’1″ – 6’7″

Santa Cruz Hardtail MTB Frame Size Guide

Highball

S – 5’1 – 5’5″
M – 5’5″ – 5’9″
L – 5’9″ – 6’1″
XL – 6’1″ – 6’5″

Chameleon

S – 5’0 – 5’5″
M – 5’5″ – 5’10”
L – 5’10” – 6’1″
XL – 6’1″ – 6’6″

27.5″ Full-Suspension Trail / All-Mountain Bikes: Ibis vs. Yeti vs. Santa Cruz

	Ibis		Yeti		Santa Cruz Bicycles
	Mojo 4	Mojo HD5	SB140	SB165	5010	Bronson	Nomad
Frame $	2,999	2,999	3,600	4,000	3,299	1,999	1,999
Bikes from $	4,499	4,399	5,200	5,500	4,099	3,499	3,599
Travel – front	140mm	153mm	160mm	180mm	140mm	160mm	170mm
Travel – rear	130mm	170mm	140mm	165mm	130mm	150mm	170mm
Head tube angle	65.4	64	65	63.5	65.7	65.4	65
Seat tube angle	76.6	75.8	77	77	77.9 – 77	75.3	74.5
Chainstay	425mm	430mm	433mm	433mm	423-432mm	430mm	430mm
Frame	Carbon	Carbon	Carbon	Carbon	Carbon	Al / Carbon	Al / Carbon

Ibis 27.5″ Mojo Frame Size Chart

Mojo 4 / Mojo HD5

S – 5’0″ – 5’5″
M – 5’4 – 5’9″
L – 5’8 – 6’1″
XL – 6′ – 6’6″

Yeti 27.5″ SB-series Bike Size Chart

XS – 4’2″ – 5’4″
S – 5’1″ – 5’7″
M – 5’5″ – 5’11”
L – 5’10” – 6’3″
XL – 6’1″ – 6’7″

Santa Cruz 27.5″ Full-Suspension Bike Size Guide

Bronson / Nomad

XS – 4’8″ – 5’1″
S – 5’1″ – 5’5″
M – 5’5″ – 5’9″
L – 5’9″ – 6’1″
XL – 6’1″ – 6’5″

5010

XS – 4’8″ – 5’0″
S – 5’1″ – 5’5″
M – 5’5″ – 5’9″
L – 5’9″ – 6’1″
XL – 6’1″ – 6’4″

29″ Full-Suspension Trail / All-Mountain Bikes: Ibis vs. Yeti vs. Santa Cruz

	Ibis		Yeti			Santa Cruz
	Ripley	Ripmo	SB100	SB130	SB150	Megatower	Hightower	Tallboy	Blur
Frame $	2,833	2,999	3,399	3,600	3,900	3,399	1,999	1,999	2,999
Bikes from $	4,199	4,399	5,099	5,200	5,600	4,499	2,999	2,799	3,799
Travel – front	130mm	160mm	120mm	150mm	170mm	160mm	150mm	130mm	100mm
Travel – rear	120mm	147mm	100mm	130mm	150mm	160mm	140mm	120mm	100mm
Head tube angle	66.5	64.9	67.8	65.5	64.5	65	65.5	65.7	69
Seat tube angle	76	76 – 77	74.3 – 74	77.1 – 76.9	77 – 76.8	76.8 – 76	77.1 – 76.3	76.8-76	74
Chainstay	432mm	435mm	437mm	433mm	433mm	435mm	443/449mm	430mm	432mm
Frame	Alu/Carbon	Carbon	Carbon	Carbon	Carbon	Carbon	Al / Carbon	Al / Carbon	Carbon

Ibis 29″ Full-Suspension Bike Frame Size Guide

Ripley / Ripmo

S – 5’0″ – 5’5″
M – 5’4″ – 5’9″
L – 5’8″ – 6’1″
XL – 6′ – 6’6″

Yeti 29″ Full-Suspension Bike Frame Size Guide

SB100 / SB130 / SB150

S – 5’1 – 5’7″
M – 5’5″ – 5’11”
L – 5’10” – 6’3″
XL – 6’1″ – 6.7″

Santa Cruz 29″ Full-Suspension Mountain Bikes Size Chart

Hightower / Megatower / Tallboy

S – 5’1″ – 5’5″
M – 5’5″ – 5’9″
L – 5’9″ – 6’1″
XL – 6’0″ – 6’4″
XXL – 6’4″ – 6’7″

Blur

S – 5’1″ – 5’5″
M – 5’5″ – 5’9″
L – 5’9″ – 6’1″
XL – 6’1″ – 6’5″

Where to Buy Ibis, Yeti & Santa Cruz Bikes?

Shop on Jenson USA Shop on evo.com

About the Author

Sam Millers

Sam Millers is the guy behind Bikexchange.com. From the early days of three wheels to conquering challenging mountain trails, Sam's love for cycling knows no bounds. With a background in web development, Sam seamlessly combined two of his greatest passions – cycling and technology. As the creative force behind Bikexchange.com, he shares insightful stories, expert tips, and engaging content for fellow cycling enthusiasts. When he's not exploring new biking routes or tweaking website codes, Alex enjoys sipping on a post-ride espresso and planning his next cycling adventure.