WHYTE E-180 RS V3
You don’t need petrol to get Whyte’s new rig to start roaring...
As Whyte’s longest-travel electric mountain bike, the E-180 is optimised to handle the toughest terrain. That’s not to say it’s entirely downhillfocused, but it doesn’t take long with the powerful Gen 4 Bosch motor to rack up enough trails to realise this machine is most at home hammering down steep tracks before powering back up for another hot lap.
Self-shuttling enduro bike, then? You bet. The full-alloy frame has a massive down tube to house the 625Wh battery, while the E-180’s modern enduro geometry means a sub-64° head angle and roomy reach that stretches to 505mm on the XL size. And, typically for the UK brand, the BB is really low slung, at 335mm, and is paired to (short for an e-bike) 444mm chainstays.
To get the weight of the 625Wh battery to sit as low as possible, Whyte cleverly rotates the latest Bosch drive unit upwards, so the battery sits in front of the motor, rather than on top of it.
This simple sleight of hand combined with 27.5in wheels is what retains the bike’s manoeuvrability and dynamic handling. Basically, in much the same way a bobsleigh, racing car (or even downhillers who’ve experimented strapping weights to frames) lower the centre of mass and improve handling, having the hefty Bosch Powertube positioned closer to the ground optimises the E-180’s turning and ensures that it’s every bit as nimble as it is a pure bump muncher.
The flagship E-180 RS has top-drawer Fox Factory suspension bolted into a chunky chassis. Whyte’s knack for fitting bling parts that also function well is evident throughout, including a perfect Maxxis Assegai tyre spec; the Maxxterra rubber delivering good traction without immediately getting ripped to shreds by accelerated e-bike use. The casings are on point too, the lighter reinforced EXO+ up front and the tougher Doubledown casing on the rear. Both are set up tubeless on tough 32-hole WTB
HTZ wheels with asymmetric spoke alignment to help balance spoke tension. WTB’S hefty rims weigh the best part of 700g each, but remained true and ding-free, despite the abuse you can dish out on a 180mm travel e-bike that’s this capable.
With SRAM X01 12-speed gears and powerful Code brakes in the best RSC
£7,250 / 27.5in / whyte.bike
It’s every bit as nimble as it is a bump muncher