Founded in 1999, this UK brand quickly gained recognition and respect for producing bikes that not only suited challenging four season riding but for their innovative thinking and progressive frame designs.
The Whyte HQ is based in Hastings, with an R&D centre in Cheltenham (hometown to Jez from Bay Cycles), so when testing and developing new designs the UK’s trail conditions and terrain are at the forefront of the team’s mind. It’s no surprise that this brand has a strong following of hardcore riders who appreciate not only the forward thinking frame geometry and sizing but also the attention to detail that keeps the bikes rolling in adverse conditions.
“It’s why we spend days sessioning Welsh trails with stopwatches to underline our bikes with the best possible tyre match rather than just fitting whatever rubber we can get cheap”
Whyte was an early adopter of frames designed specifically around a single chainring (1x) transmission and with that comes excellent mud clearance and well as fewer geometry constraints. Well sealed (and easy to work on) pivot bearings, bespoke seatpost clamps and threaded (BS standard) bottom bracket shells ensure Whyte’s bikes are easy to work on and as quiet and creak free as possible.
The ten out of tens and five out of fives media review scores Whyte’s bikes have been getting are partly down to another set of numbers. The ones that make up Whyte’s unique geometry and ride character. Every Whyte is designed to create a unique chemistry with its rider to let you go faster, further and more comfortably – in total confidence.
“You’ve got to listen to the bike, in all kinds of ways. Sometimes by actually listening to the rip of the tyres or clatter of the chain, but you’ve got to listen in other ways too. Listening through your feet, for example” – Ian Alexander, Whyte (MBR Interview)
1. Whyte’s frame design pushes the front wheel further in front of the rider at a slacker angle to the frame. This helps the steering ‘self-correct’, keeping you on track whether you’re ripping down a rowdy mountain trail or navigating dark and wet city streets.
2. A longer reach top tube is another design cue from Whyte – teaming up the stable steering with a super short, quick reacting stem for dodging traffic and potholes on the way to work or surfing sliding tyres down a black run off-road descent.
3. Whyte’s carefully chosen handlebar shapes give the perfect balance of confident steering communication and bike connection in your hands.
4. A low centre of gravity is a foundation to Whyte’s bike design. It’s kept as low as possible, so the bikes naturally glue themselves onto the ground through corners, rather than leaving you perched and precarious. A long bike can be like driving a barge though, so the design team tune the rear ends to guarantee the hop and pop agility you need to bring the trail alive.
To sum it up, Whyte’s design team work very hard to make things easier for you. They know that sometimes the smallest things matter most of all. Many of us have stood on an icy road side mending punctures in the dark, had a complete melt down trying to thread badly routed cables or missed the ride of the year because of a worn out obscure part couldn’t get replaced in time. They sweat the details, listen to feedback from test riders, retailers and the media and push bike design forward – but not forgetting about reliability and durability.
We’ve got more in depth tech features on three of Whyte’s latest bikes:
A replacement to the popular T-130, this full suspension trail bike rolls on 27.5” wheels and is built around 140mm of travel. Read more HERE
All new for the 2022 model year, the electric assisted E-506 is a fully equipped multi-surface bike. The SUV of the bike world. Read an in depth feature on this e-bike HERE
As affordable trail bikes go this hardtail takes some beating. Packed full of clever design details and thinking from Whyte’s full suspension range, the 805 packs a punch in the singletrack and on the descents. Read our news story HERE
Whyte was one of the first brands to use the 4th generation Bosch Performance CX motor and the bikes have proven themselves in reviews, time and time again. A thorough testing and development period has resulted in the Whyte E series being well executed in every area. Take a look at the video below, where Sam from Whyte talks through the latest E-160 E-MTB with Alan from MBR.
