Specification & geometry

While all are 29er trail hardtails, there’s a marked difference in chainstay lengths on our four test bikes. At one end of the spectrum we have the Kona with super-short 415mm stays, at the other end Whyte’s eyebrow-raising 450mm rear end.

What’s more of interest though, is that the chainstay lengths on all of these test bikes don’t vary with frame size, unlike many of the forward thinking full-suspension designs from brands such as Norco, YT and Forbidden.

To give a more balanced ride across the full range of frame sizes we’d like to see this concept applied to hardtails too. A short rear centre may keep the Kona lively and suit sizes small and medium perfectly, but is it compromising stability on the larger sizes? And is the balance and poise that the 450mm stays bring to the Whyte 629 longer than ideal on a size M? Hard question to answer, but we will say that size specific stays should be the next evolutionary step in hardtail development.