The G-150 enduro bike might seem the obvious Whyte for our annual Trail Bike of the Year test, but having ridden both it was the T-129, the 2013 TBOTY winner that made our shortlist – and very nearly pulled off the first double win.
- Highs: Excellent high/low speed handling balance; increased frame and fork stiffness; low weight and 29er wheels equal easy speed; trail-taming spec
- Lows: Very limited rear mud clearance; 120mm of travel only gets you so far
Whyte made a bike that was worthy of winning back in 2013, but the company hasn’t rested on its laurels. The new T-129, which we first rode in October, gets altered tubing, some super-smooth details but most importantly it’s now designed entirely around a single ring drivetrain – meaning the back end is significantly stiffer. That makes it even more fast and furious big-wheeled fun.
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The SCR (that's Single Chain Ring) frame makes big stiffness gains
The SCR (Single Chain Ring) specific frame niftily exploits the extra clearance gained by losing the front derailleur and inner chainring by using a 20 percent wider main pivot and symmetrical chainstays for a 24 percent stiffness increase at the point the rear wheel contacts the trail.
While most brands fit a skinny 32mm-legged fork to their low-mid travel 29ers to save weight, Whyte’s backed up the burly rear end with a 120mm travel, 35mm leg Pike RC. Add 750mm bars, 40mm stem and Stealth routed Reverb dropper and this isn’t your average short travel 29er.
You can read more at BikeRadar.com
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