Last year we were very big fans of UK bike company Whyte’s G-150 Works; for the price there was really nothing to fault and we found it “extremely capable, engaging and riotous fun to ride.” Well for 2016, the ‘geometry focussed’ Whyte have well and truly turned it up to 11 when designing the G-150’s replacement, say hello to the G-160! The new 13.2 kg G-160 is lower, longer and much more aggressive, in fact, it’s a bit of an animal! We have received one for our long term test fleet and have been putting in the trail time, it’s time to check it out.

The € 5,500 (£ 3,999) Whyte G-160 Works is a thoroughbred race machine, low, massively long and aggressive.
The € 5,500 (£ 3,999) Whyte G-160 Works is a thoroughbred race machine, low, massively long and aggressive.

Whyte G-160 Models

The G-160 is available in two different builds, the Works model we are testing is Whyte’s top end model, race ready with only the best components. The more affordable RS Model retails for €3900 (£2799) and includes a RockShox Monarch Debonair RT3 and Rockshox Pike RC with Boost and rolls on impressively wide 29 mm WTB Asym i29 TCS rims with a solid WTB Vigilante/Riddler tyre combo. The RS also features a full SRAM X1 drivetrain and SRAM Guide R brakes to round up the well-specced bike. Both models of the G-160 will be available in three sizes, Small, Medium and Large and the sizing is certainly generous – more about that later. Our 180 cm tall tester was between the two largest sizes, but the short seat mast allowed our tester to opt for the Large for maximum hard-charging fun.

The ultrashort 425 mm rear end keeps the handling agile and allows you to throw the tail around with abandon.
The ultrashort 425 mm rear end keeps the handling agile and allows you to throw the tail around with abandon.

Specifications of the Whyte G-160 Works

Fork: RockShox Pike RCT3 160mm
Shock: RockShox Monarch Plus Debonair RC3
Drivetrain: SRAM XX1
Brakes: SRAM Guide RSC
Wheels: SRAM Rail 40
Weight: 13.2 kg (Size Large)
Price: € 5,500 / £ 3,999

The build kit of the Whyte G-160 Works is all business, if you ask any racer for their ideal component choices for a season of hard racing, their list would not be far of the Works build. The Rockshox Pike RCT3 160mm fork and Monarch Plus Debonair RC3 suspension are exceptional performers and combined with a SRAM XO1/XX1 drivetrain it’s a reliable high-performance setup. We were delighted to see a 32 mm Easton Haven Oversized 35 mm stem and whopping 800 mm RaceFace SIXC Carbon 35 mm bar (we have cut it down to 770 mm). The SRAM Rail 40 Boost wheelset, once re-tensioned after the first few rides are a popular and lightweight choice, and the Maxxis High Roller II TR 3C Maxx Terra and Minion SS EXO tyres are race ready. The build is finished with the popular SRAM Guide RSC brakes and obligatory RockShox Reverb Stealth 125 mm seatpost.

The single ring specific design lets Whyte run oversized pivots and shorten the rear end.
The single ring specific design lets Whyte run oversized pivots and shorten the rear end.

We were delighted to see a 32 mm Easton Haven Oversized 35 mm stem and whopping 800 mm RaceFace SIXC Carbon 35 mm bar (we have cut it down to 770 mm). The SRAM Rail 40 Boost wheelset, once re-tensioned after the first few rides are a popular and lightweight choice, and the Maxxis High Roller II TR 3C Maxx Terra and Minion SS EXO tyres are race ready. The build is finished with the popular SRAM Guide RSC brakes and obligatory RockShox Reverb Stealth 125 mm seatpost.

The SRAM Guide RSC brakes are a popular choice among racers.
The SRAM Guide RSC brakes are a popular choice among racers.

Geometry of the Whyte G-160 Works

With modern suspension being so good, the only factor that separates good bikes from really great bikes is geometry. Whyte have always prided themselves on their understanding of making great handling bikes, but the G160 is certainly on the extreme end. The size Large is a whopping 655.9 mm on the top tube, with a 1231.7 m wheelbase, 3.6 cm longer than the same sized Santa Cruz Nomad.

The outgoing G-150 was already a spacious bike so we caught up with Whyte designer Ian Alexander to find out why they have stretched it further. “Well, we thought we were reasonably radical with the G-150 going into the 2015 season last year with some impressive results in the Mega Avalanche, but 6 months in Enduro bike design is seemingly a very short interval. When the release of 2016 component information from our suppliers came around, we could see that fork travel of 160mm was quickly becoming established as the Enduro benchmark. Easton had also released a new 32mm stem which is the shortest you can make a stem using a 35mm diameter handlebar.”

The new Easton 32mm stem has allowed Whyte to stretch the top tube for more performance.
The new Easton 32mm stem has allowed Whyte to stretch the top tube for more performance.

“So the combination of increasing the fork Axle-Crown length to accommodate the longer fork and a shorter stem by 18mm by using the Easton 32mm stem meant that to maintain the cockpit length, we moved the headtube forward in the frame 20mm. This obviously made the length much greater in the Front Centre and the overall rider position was more or less maintained. 800mm handlebars and a reduction in the headtube angle of about a degree all added up to a much more stable set-up on very steep sections and I think has greatly improved the bike overall.”

Size S M L
Head Tube Angle 65° 65° 65°
Seat Tube Angle 74.7° 74.5° 74.3°
Top Tube 607.6 mm 636.6 mm 655.9 mm
Head Tube Length 95 mm 110 mm 120 mm
Seat Tube Length 406.4 mm 431.8 mm 457.2 mm
BB Height 342.5 mm 342.5 mm 342.5 mm
Chain Stay Length 425 mm 425 mm 425 mm
Wheelbase 1181.7 mm 1211.7 mm 1231.7 mm
Stack 593 mm 607 mm 616 mm
Reach 455 mm 479 mm 495 mm
The G-160 Top tube is long, providing masses of stability and direct line confidence.
The G-160 Top tube is long, providing masses of stability and direct line confidence.

Suspension Setup

The Whyte G-160 uses Whyte’s Quad-4 link suspension, which has proven very low maintenance in previous models. With a 3:1 leverage ratio it could be considered tough on the bearings, but this is backed up by Whyte’s lifetime bearing warranty.

The Quad-4 Suspension System provides a linear platform for Whyte to work from with suspension tunes.
The Quad-4 Suspension System provides a linear platform for Whyte to work from with suspension tunes.

After a quick shakedown ride it was clear that the Rockshox Pike forks lacked support when running 20% sag (82 Psi for our 80kg tester) and were diving under hard braking, so we added 2 Bottomless Tokens and now they are perfect. With 180 Psi in the Monarch Plus Debonair and 30% sag, the rear suspension is super responsive and the linear action finds insane levels of traction, following the ground’s contours like a dog on the scent. Although this adds massive confidence, the regressive suspension action does make the bike feel a little too planted for an active, poppy riding style so we will be adding 3-5 bottomless rings to the Low compression tune Monarch to make the action a little more progressive and poppy. We like seeing linear suspension actions on bikes though as it allows lighter riders to enjoy the full suspension curve while heavier or more aggressive riders can easily adjust the progressivity through the addition of volume spacers.

We like the easy tuning of the Debonaire aircan, 5-8 Bottomless Rings can be added to the shock to make it more progressive.
We like the easy tuning of the Debonaire aircan, 5-8 Bottomless Rings can be added to the shock to make it more progressive.
If you find that your Pike fork lacks support one or two Bottomless tokens will transform it.
If you find that your Pike fork lacks support one or two Bottomless tokens will transform it.

Changes for the Long Term Test

The Whyte G-160 Works will be tested through a hard winter in the Tweed Valley in Scotland, where it’s bearings will be put through a tough challenge. UK Editor Trev Worsey has already started racking up the miles and getting a feel for how the bike handles. The only changes made to the stock bike was to cut the bars down to 770 mm and swap out the more summer friendly Maxxis High Roller II and Ardent SS tyres for some mud plugging Maxxis Shorty 2.3’s running 22/24 psi, the best all-around winter tyres on the market. A freebie mudguard was fitted too to keep the mud on the trail and not in Trev’s eyes.

We changed to our winter control tyre, the Maxxis Shorty, for more aggressive grip in the poor trail conditions.
We changed to our winter control tyre, the Maxxis Shorty, for more aggressive grip in the poor trail conditions.

First Riding Impressions of the Whyte G-160 Works

UK tester Trev Worsey has put in 160 km on the G-160 over the last week and here is his initial feedback: “No sooner did I throw my leg over the Whyte G-160 did its impressive dimensions make themselves known. The roomy top tube stretched out in front of me, and the 800 mm bars and 32 mm stem felt burly and aggressive, this is a bike to get wild on! Despite possessing hobbit sized legs, the standover, even in the Large, was ample and the pedalling position was both efficient and roomy.

The G-160 is a fire spitting beast of a bike, simply point it where you want to go and hang on!
The G-160 is a fire spitting beast of a bike, simply point it where you want to go and hang on!

Hitting the trail and flipping the Monarch Plus shock into ‘firm’ compression the G-160 climbs effectively, it’s not sprightly or urgent uphill (those looking for a trail bike would be better served with the T-130) but it spins up the fireroad in a composed manner. We found that on the climbs the Quad-4 suspension is very active, and is best with the shock set to ‘firm’, allowing the G-160 to cruise around long rides with ease. The climbing position is comfortable and upright and the 74.5-degree seat angle makes pedalling efficient.

With a short rear end and long front triangle the G-160 rails hard.
With a short rear end and long front triangle the G-160 rails hard.

Rolling to the trailhead and flipping the Monarch into ‘downhill’ mode turns the G-160 from a steady and able climber into a spitting feral animal on the descent. The long front triangle and stretched wheelbase keeps the bike super stable at, quite frankly, ludicrous speeds, allowing you to shift your weight through the bike easily without feeling exposed or unbalanced. You have to adjust your riding style a little with the longer reach, but shifting your weight further forward allows you to weight the front wheel heavily into turns for maximum gorilla grip in the dirt, rewarding with precise and intuitive steering. The low standover height allows you to slam the bike into turns and lean it over to carve tighter than you might expect. In hard berms and aggressive braking there were a few pings from the Rail 40 wheelset, so the spoke key may have to come out for a re-tension.

It’s a long bike for sure, but the tight 425 mm chainstays allow you to drift or rail depending on your mood around a tight turn. The linear Quad-4 suspension develops masses of grip, hugging the ground like glue and finding every last hope of grip. Switching from steep, slow and technical trails to high-speed DH tracks revealed that the linear character does make it harder to pump and hop the bike over roots and rocks or high-speed berms. This is easily tuned (and does make the bike tunable for a wider range of rider weights) through the addition of inexpensive volume spacers in the rear shock to firm up the compression a little, so I have added 5 spacers.

Trev will be putting the bike through it’s paces through a Scottish winter.
Trev will be putting the bike through it’s paces through a Scottish winter.

Whyte are bang on the numbers with the G-160’s handling, for a race bike it has excellent balance, but it does need a lot of speed before it really starts to sing. The ultra short stem and wide bars allow you to charge into crazy direct lines without thinking and the 65-degree head angle keeps everything under control should your confidence override your survival instinct. I am looking forward to racing this bike through a busy 2016 season and am keen to see how the “lifetime warrantied” bearings hold up to a tough winter.”

You can follow the G-160 on our long term timeline.
You can follow the G-160 on our long term timeline.

“After 160km it’s still very early days but I have been very impressed with G-160 and am looking forward to seeing how it rides over different terrain with a little more compression in the rear shock. We will bring a full review of the G-160 at 1000km”

For more information check out the Whyte website

To follow our long term experiences on this bike and many others head over to the long term test timeline.

Words: Trev Worsey Photos: Trev Worsey and Catherine Smith


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