WHYTE T-129
Frame 6061-T6 aluminium, 120mm (4.7in) travel Fork RockShox Pike RC 29 Solo Air, 120mm (4.7in) travel Shock Fox Float CTD Factory Drivetrain SRAM X1 Wheelset SRAM ROAM 40 wheels, Maxxis High Roller II EXO 29x2.3in (F) and CrossMark EXO 29x2.1in (R) tyres Brakes SRAM Guide RS Bar/stem Whyte, 750mm/Whyte Gravity, 40mm Seatpost/saddle RockShox Reverb Stealth/Whyte Weight 29.80lb (13.49kg) with pedals Price £3,099 Contact Whyte www.whytebikes.com
WThe frame
ith their design team based in Cheltenham, Whyte are dedicated to making bikes that work in wet and muddy British conditions. The T-129 was already a great bike, but 2015 sees the overdue addition of an XL frame size along with the option of a single-ring specific symmetrical chainstay design, as featured on the Works SCR model. Made from 6061-T6 aluminium, the T-129 has a tapered head tube, dropped top tube and Whyte’s trademark Intergrip integrated seat clamp. This Works SCR model differs from the cheaper T-129 S and T-129 Works in that it’s designed for use with a single chainring, which means Whyte can make the main pivot wider and the chainstays symmetrical, stiffening up the whole BB area.
A Horst-style chainstay pivot completes the four-bar linkage suspension design, which drives a top-tube-mounted Fox Float CTD shock, delivering 120mm (4.7in) of rear travel. Cable routing is internal (with rubber
The kit
The ride
grommets to keep water out of the frame), there’s a neat cable guide on the BB shell and bosses for both a Crudcatcher and a single bottle cage. The Works SCR comes with SRAM’s new X1 drivetrain and Guide RS brakes. Intelligently, the XL size has larger disc rotors. A 120mm (4.7in) travel RockShox Pike fork mates well with the Fox-controlled rear end, and SRAM’s light but tough ROAM 40 wheels are paired with Maxxis High Roller II and CrossMark tubeless tyres. A RockShox Reverb Stealth post adds to the fun factor. Finishing kit is all Whyte branded, including a tidy 40mm stem and 750mm bar. The frame feels stout but not heavy – our XL bike came in at 13.49kg. The symmetrical chainstays and wider pivot behind the BB shell are to thank for the robust feel, making the bike more confident-inspiring than other mid-travel 29ers, which often fall into the ‘light and flexy’ category. This 120mm rig feels more like a big-hitting 160mm bike on the trail. The suspension action is supple, progressive enough to eat big hits and very efficient – we never ran the CTD shock in any setting other than fully open.
The big wheels and controlled suspension mean you can push the 120mm of travel beyond what you’d normally expect of a bike with these sorts of numbers. The geometry is bang on too. The 68-degree head angle is steep enough to keep the big wheels feeling lively, and the short 432mm chainstays and low 532mm BB help the front end pop up with ease. Couple that with a lengthy top tube, short stem and relatively wide bar, and this is one hell of a trail ripping package. We love that Whyte have finally offered an XL size too – and it’s perfect on this model.