WHYTE LIGHTNING?
The UK brand’s big-hitter gets bigger wheels for 2019
We’re big fans of Whyte’s G-170 – just look back through Rob’s long-term reports. Its geometry is just the right side of radical and when things get rowdy, it simply laps up the abuse. Even so, Whyte weren’t completely satisfied with their biggest-hitting trail bike and had an inkling this speed machine could be made even faster. That’s how the G-170C Works 29er was born.
On the surface, the 29er version looks almost identical to its smaller-wheeled counterpart, aside from the larger hoops. That’s because the front end is the same, except that the 29er uses a 160mm rather than 180mm-travel fork, with a short 42mm offset to sync with the slack 64.3-degree head angle.
While the rear centre measurement (BB to axle) is 435mm, the same as on this year’s 650b bike (but 5mm longer than on the 2018 version), the 29er uses a different rear triangle, to compensate for the bigger wheels and stop the BB shooting up. This leaves it sitting at a corner-carving 341mm off the floor – not quite as slammed as on the original G-170, but many riders will appreciate the extra pedal clearance.
The Works edition pictured here will set you back a cool £5,250 but comes with some seriously lust-worthy kit, including a RockShox Super Deluxe RCT coil shock and their incredible Lyrik RC2 fork. Keep an eye out for a review of one of these bad boys in the mag soon.