As the winter closes in we can almost hear the cries of despair from our bike sheds. This is the season of broken bearings, worn drivetrains and rusty chains. This is the season where simple is king and complex means expensive bills. The aggressive Whyte 909 is built for this time of year, a demented hardtail that loves winter grime. It was time to boot it down some trails.

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Specification of the Whyte 909

A good hardtail is a joy to ride, a bad hardtail is as much fun as taking a hammer to your knees. Without suspension to hide poor angles, geometry is king, and a good fork is essential. The Whyte 909 comes with a Boost 110 mm Fox Float Performance 34 fork with 130 mm of travel, which uses the new GRIP 3 position damper. We have been impressed with the GRIP3 damper, offering good support with a smooth initial stroke that does not get out of shape on repeated fast hits. The 909 is dripping with neat features that helped Whyte establish their formidable reputation of building bikes that work well in tough climates (the UK).

The 6061 Aluminium frame is very well finished and we like the 12 x 148 mm Boost rear end which future proofs wheel choice. We love the incredibly neat integrated seat post clamp that is both very functional and stylish. Common sense continues with a seatpost seal that stops the seat tube filling up with roost and grime, and thankfully a standard bottom bracket is fitted rather than the truly horrible press fit options. Internal cable routing is simplified with the BBX bottom braket, avoiding hours of swearing with an easy to access panel.

The integrated seat clamp keeps the lines neat and tidy, and works without fault.
The integrated seat clamp keeps the lines neat and tidy, and works without fault.

Well chosen components reinforce the ‘bring it on’ character, a tried and tested Shimano XT M8000 1×11 drivetrain with 11-46 cassette and RaceFace Turbine 32T chainring offers enough range for all but the most harrowing of climbs. Shimano also look after the brakes with their new M8000 which have proven reliable and powerful. With the 180/160 mm rotors, power and modulation are superb for when you need to throw down the anchor.

Wheels are important on a hardtail as they deal with a lot more force, and the tough WTB STs i29 rims offer a 29 mm wide internal profile that gives the WTB Trail Boss and Riddler tyres an aggressive form. We love that Whyte have fitted a dependable and easy to service Hope PRO4 hub on the rear, as the stainless bearings have proven themselves for generations in the mud and grime of the UK. The freehub also buzzes and screams with a demented howl on the descents, letting the dog walkers know you are coming.

The 760 mm wide Whyte aluminium bar is comfortable and works well with the 50 mm stem. Clean and uncluttered.
The 760 mm wide Whyte aluminium bar is comfortable and works well with the 50 mm stem. Clean and uncluttered.
The Fox Float 34 Performance fork uses the more affordable Grip3 damper but does not skimp on performance. Support and control are delivered with confidence.
The Fox Float 34 Performance fork uses the more affordable Grip3 damper but does not skimp on performance. Support and control are delivered with confidence.
The 1x11 Shimano M8000 XT  / Raceface drivetrain is perfect for year round riding, minimal maintenance and plenty of range.
The 1×11 Shimano M8000 XT / Raceface drivetrain is perfect for year round riding, minimal maintenance and plenty of range.

A do-it-all hardtail with rugged intentions needs a confidence inspiring cockpit, and we approve of the 760 mm bar and 50 mm stem (40 mm in the Small and Medium frames), For £2150 it’s a rugged and reliable build that should take some abuse.

The Whyte 909 at a glance

Fork: Fox Float Performance 34 130 mm GRIP Damper.
Brakes: Shimano XT M8000 180 mm / 160 mm Rotors
Drivetrain: Shimano XT M8000 11-46 11 Speed
Seatpost: KS CRUXi Dropper Post with Southpaw 125 mm drop
Stem: Whyte Gravity Stem 40 mm S/M, 50 mm L/XL
Handlebar: Whyte Custom 760 mm low rise
Wheels: WTB STs i29 Rims with TCS and Hope PRO4 hub.
Tyres: WTB Trail Boss Light High Grip 27.5 X 2.4” / WTB Riddler TCS light Fast Rolling 27.5” X 2.4”
Weight: 12.6 kg
Price: £ 2150

Geometry of the Whyte 909

Size S M L XL
Headtube angle 66,5° 66,5° 66,5° 66,5°
Seat tube angle 73° 73° 73° 73°
Top tube length 618.7 mm 637.5 mm 655.1 mm 673.9 mm
Reach 431 mm 447 mm 459 mm 75 mm
Head tube length 110 mm 120 mm 140 mm 150 mm
Stack 613 mm 623 mm 641 mm 650 mm
Chainstay length 425 mm 425 mm 425 mm 425 mm
Wheelbase 1138.8 mm 1168.8 mm 1178.8 mm 1203.8 mm

Riding the Whyte 909

Hardtails live and die by their geometry numbers, and it’s great to see that Whyte have brought their 909 bang up to speed with a thoroughly progressive geometry. The angles are very well balanced, spacious without being barge like, slack without being a chopper, with a generous 459 mm reach in the size Large and tight 425 mm chainstays. Being a hardtail the 73° seat angle is fixed and puts the rider in an efficient position over the pedals for good power delivery. The 641 mm stack is tall and riders who like to really push the front wheel hard into turns will look to slam the stem as low as possible.

The 909 rewards hard riding, the faster you go the more it sings.
The 909 rewards hard riding, the faster you go the more it sings.

We were impressed with the 909’s confidence inspiring riding position, the balanced geometry and slackish 66.5° head angle gives you plenty of room to get behind the bars, pushing through roots and off drops with ease. It’s an easy bike to exploit and had us winding it up to full speed on hard trails within just a few minutes of introduction. The wide and slack front end allow you to slide and drift the rear with total ease, perfect for the sort of ‘good-times’ riding that hardtails encourage. Steering is precise and visceral, snapping from line to line with ease while the Fox Float 34 Performance fork does a good job of fending off the hard hits.

Steeper than it looks! On one of the steepest trails of the Tweed Valley the 909 was in it’s element, confident and burly.
Steeper than it looks! On one of the steepest trails of the Tweed Valley the 909 was in it’s element, confident and burly.

On the trail we loved the laterally stiff Boost rear end which tracked well through turns and was easy to rail through berms, it’s no gentle mile muncher though, it’s stiff and aggressive. The components were well chosen and the Shimano XT M8000 brakes were very impressive, especially the smaller rear 160 mm rotor which improved modulation and delivered maximum feedback from the rear tyre. Speaking of tyres, we approved of the substantial mud clearance, again showing Whyte’s dedication to producing real world bikes. Those who liked their bars slammed will not like the tall headest cap which limits adjustability.

The balanced geometry of the Whyte 909 allows you to ride very aggressively with total confidence.
The balanced geometry of the Whyte 909 allows you to ride very aggressively with total confidence.

The 909 is a great bike, reminding us of just how fast you can ride on a proper, sorted hardtail. Beginner and intermediate riders will find it a confidence building bike with very composed handling and enough reserves to compliment poor line choices. Advanced riders will find the 909 a raw and aggressive trail missile, a bike that would be just a happy putting in fast laps of a local trail centre as rocking up to the start line of an enduro race.

Conclusion

Offering a great ride and composed handling the Whyte 909 brings a smile to the face of any level of rider. The aggressive stance encourages you to pedal like an animal and it takes on the daftest lines with total confidence. For those looking to smash out ride after ride without the complexity and expense of a full suspension bike, it’s faultless.

For more information, you can check out the Whyte website.


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