The inevitable bike comparisons continue. It’s always hard to say one bike is superior than another–especially with two awesome bikes like the Mach 5 and the 575.

The Mach 5 is a great all-mountain bike, but it leans a little more XC than the 575. It is built for a 140mm front fork to match its 140mm rear travel via DW-link. Don’t get me wrong, this bike is supremely capable and the DW suspension is the one to beat IMHO. It’s so smooth and soaks up everything. It’s a comfortable bike right out of the box.

The 575 can handle a little bit more freeridey-type of riding and could take a 160mm front fork (if you wanted). The single-pivot suspension design is simpler than the DW, but it’s not quite as smooth throughout the stroke.

If you want a bike that can be a near-freeride machine while still being a super-light all-mountain steed, the 575 is your ticket. If you want something that can climb and descend with equal ease, is a little more exclusive and not quite capable of handling large drops, then go for the Mach 5. The suspension pivots and overall frame design on the Mach 5 is awesome!

However… you really need to ride each one to decide for yourself. That’s about the best comparison I could do for ya.

The Yeti 575 that you’ve built up sounds stellar! You absolutely can’t go wrong with that frame–especially if you’ve built it up to your liking.

Why did you go with the Santa Cruz Blur LT2 over the Yeti or the Covert? May be I should have gone the same way.

However, the Covert is really a sweet bike. It does lean a little more towards enjoying the downhill. The seat angle is a little slack, thus putting you a teeny bit rearward.

If you want to get an awesome trailbike build with a solid frame, get the Covert. The guys at Transition are AWESOME!!!

If you want to get an awesome frame and eventually build out an awesome build, go for the Yeti. Those guys are definitely cool as well!

It’s really a tough call dude… I’m sorry if I’ve just muddied the waters. Good luck!

I also read your review on the Transition Covert and was wondering if the Yeti is that much better than the Covert to warrant the price tag difference. My budget is 3800, which gets me either the Yeti w/ the enduro race kit (not the long travel one, just the one with the float) or a custom build on a Covert, which in my opinion would be a better build kit than the Yeti). I’m a firm believer that you should by the better frame because you can always upgrade the components to your dream build, given enough time. So is the Yeti that much better?

Great reviews on both bikes, btw. I’ve been fence sitting between these two bikes for a while now, and your reviews made it that much harder.

Alan

I’ve had great luck with the WTB Mutano Raptor 2.4’s on the 09 Santa Cruz Blur LT2 I’ve got.

Yes, I went with the new Talas 150 QR with the Hope2 and XT in the rear. I also made a couple of other adjustments. XTR Crank and XTR shifters. Any tire recommendations? Now is the time as the bike is being built and I have not taken delivery. Universal in Oregon recommended the Tomacs.