---- ===== Yeti Cycles ===== John Parker started Yeti Cycles in 1985 in North Hollywood, CA, purchasing [[sweetheart:start|Sweetheart Cycles]] in 1984 from "Bicycle Bob Wilson" using the proceeds of selling his personal 1928 Indian motorcycle. Prior to Yeti, JP worked as a welder for both Hollywood movies, Lindwall Tool & Die and Sweetheart Cycles - and also making sleeping bags for a company called Yeti. JP acquired the Yeti name for a promise of a future t-shirt, changing the Sweetheart Cycles name to Yeti Cycles mostly to escape from Sweetheart's debts. Officially, Yeti's first bikes went on sale in 1985, but JP made a few in 1984 which he painted in Yeti colors. \\ One of Yeti's greatest accomplishments was putting together the //most successful// off road cycling team of all time, winning dozens of National and World Cup events. Yeti was bought by Schwinn in 1995, resold to Volant in 1999, and then Yeti employees brought it back to independence in 2001, maintaining its strong race program. \\ Details from [[https://freehubmag.com/features/southwest-cycle|freehubmag]], [[https://yeticycles.com/company|yeticycles]], [[http://www.yetifan.com/YETI_PAST/yeti_past.html|yetifan]] & [[https://www.secondspincycles.com/restorations-projects/early-yeti-history-a-photo-essay-sweetheart-cycles-motocruiser-years/|secondspincycles]].

{{jp.jpg?440|John Parker}} \\ John Parker, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLQejKJqccU|The Pro's Closet]] \\ Screenshot from The Pro's Closet "Meet the Maker" series on JP

---- ===== Yeti Racing ===== Yeti's early //legendary// racers.

{{jimmy.jpg?0x180|Jimmy Deaton }} \\ [[https://mmbhof.org/jimmy-deaton/|Jimmy Deaton]], [[https://fotos.mtb-news.de/p/2259055|mtb-news.de]]

{{juli.jpg?0x180|Juli Furtado}} \\ [[https://mmbhof.org/juliana-furtado/|Juli Furtado]], [[https://fotos.mtb-news.de/p/2259055|mtb-news.de]]

{{missy.jpg?0x180|Missy Giove}} \\ [[https://mmbhof.org/missy-giove/|Missy Giove]], [[https://revolutionmtb.com.au/history-lesson-missy-giove/|revolutionmtb]]

{{myles.jpg?0x180|Myles Rockwell}} \\ [[https://mmbhof.org/myles_rockwell/|Myles Rockwell]], [[https://fotos.mtb-news.de/p/2259055|mtb-news.de]]

{{tomac.jpg?0x180|John Tomac}} \\ [[https://mmbhof.org/john-tomac/|John Tomac]], [[https://mbaction.com/the-tomac-interview/|mbaction]]

.

---- ===== 1984 Yeti ===== Early prototype based upon a [[sweetheart:start|Motocruiser]] frame, now with decent cable routing, including their signature front derailleur routing.... JP welded this himself, and later relied upon Frank Wadelton to weld all further Yetis. JP's personal bike. Upgraded, non-original components.

{{1984.jpg?300|Yeti}} \\ Yeti [[https://www.secondspincycles.com/restorations-projects/early-yeti-history-a-photo-essay-sweetheart-cycles-motocruiser-years/|secondspincycles]]

---- ===== 1985 Yeti ===== Yeti #1, their official first bike. Yeti officially didn't start selling bikes until 1985. Campy G010-LG Victory rear (38T capacity), Simplex shifters, BMX bars, weird front derailleur cable routing.

John said he powdercoated the cranks that Shimano loaned him for testing or evaluation so that they would not ask for them back. [[https://www.secondspincycles.com/yeti-cycles/1985-yeti-1/|secondspincycles]]

{{1985.jpg?300|Yeti}} \\ Yeti [[https://www.secondspincycles.com/restorations-projects/early-yeti-history-a-photo-essay-sweetheart-cycles-motocruiser-years/|secondspincycles]]

---- ===== 1986 FRO ===== FRO stands for //for racing only//. This was a factory face bike with many components replaced. 9th FRO built.

{{1986.jpg?300|Yeti FRO}} \\ Yeti FRO [[https://www.secondspincycles.com/1986-yeti-fro-xr309/|secondspincycles]]

---- ===== 1987 Yak ===== A FRO with racks.

{{1987.jpg?300|Yeti Yak}} \\ Yeti Yak [[https://www.theproscloset.com/blogs/mtn-bikes?year=1987|theproscloset]]

---- ===== 1988 FRO ===== Full XT M730 throughout.

{{1988.jpg?300|Yeti FRO}} \\ Yeti FRO [[http://www.vintagemtbworkshop.com/1988-yeti-fro.html|vintagemtbworkshop]]

---- ===== 1989 C-26 ===== Carbon, aluminum and steel bonded bike, debuted by Juli Furtado and John Tomac at the World Championships. Yeti only made 10 in house and sold another 20 as kits.

Most of the original C-26s broke. The tolerances Easton claimed they were using just didn't work, and most of the glue Herting was told to use simply was squeezed out as the bond was made. \\ Parker is said to have thanked God the entire drive home [from the World's] that Juli’s bike didn’t fail during the race. Herting still is amazed at the risk they took by sending Tomac out on a bike that very likely could have broken at 40mph and injured or killed mountain biking's first million dollar man. [[http://ridevintagemtb.blogspot.com/2015/01/yeti-c-26-post-1-of-3-infosite-history.html|ridevintagemtb]]

{{1989.jpg?300|Yeti C-26}} \\ Yeti C-26 [[https://www.secondspincycles.com/1989-yeti-c-26/|secondspincycles]]

---- ===== 1990 FRO ===== Full XT M735 throughout.

{{1990.jpg?300|Yeti FRO}} \\ Yeti FRO [[http://www.vintagemtbworkshop.com/1990-yeti-fro.html|vintagemtbworkshop]]

---- ===== 1991 ARC ===== Juliana Furtado's personal bike. ARC is an acronym for "Alloy Racing Composite", Easton's 7000 series aluminum tubing.

Among all the greats, Jimmy Deaton, Myles, Missy, Tomac; Juli Furtado, pound for pound is the ultimate mountain bike racer. John Parker, [[https://www.theproscloset.com/blogs/mtn-bikes/juli-furtados-1991-yeti-arc|theproscloset]]

{{1991.jpg?300|Yeti ARC}} \\ Yeti ARC [[https://www.theproscloset.com/blogs/mtn-bikes/juli-furtados-1991-yeti-arc|theproscloset]]

---- ===== 1992 ARC ===== Yeti continue to show off their loop-tail BMX roots

{{1992.jpg?300|Yeti ARC}} \\ Yeti ARC [[https://www.secondspincycles.com/yeti-cycles/1992-yeti-arc/|secondspincycles]]

---- ===== 1993 ARC ASLT ===== Missy "The Missile" Giove's personal weapon for the 1993 season, placing 3rd overall in the world. ALST := "active suspension - long travel". Full XTR. One of the first fully suspended mtb placed into the timeline. ((Boulder and Offroad made full suspension MTBs starting in 1990, but aren't in the proper timeline. [[fisher:start|Gary Fisher's]] RS-1 debuted in 1991, which is the earliest of the original MTB makers. See: [[tech:rear|Rear Suspension]].))

{{1993.jpg?300|Yeti ARC ASLT}} \\ Yeti ARC ASLT [[https://www.theproscloset.com/blogs/mtn-bikes/missy-gioves-1993-yeti-arc-aslt|theproscloset]]