Review: Whyte Elyte 150 Works - 'One of the Best Handling E-Bikes'

Mar 11, 2024
by Seb Stott  
The niche of "SL" e-bikes continues to grow in popularity, and it's easy to see why. They offer a ride feel that's very similar to a regular mountain bike on the descents while still providing a boost on the way up. New lightweight motors from Fazua, TQ, and Brose have driven this trend, but now Bosch has thrown its hat in the ring with their new SX motor, which claims 600 Watts of peak power while weighing just 2 kg. Impressive numbers.

Whyte have taken full advantage of this with their Elyte. By building the whole frame out of carbon fiber, a material they haven't used for a few years, Whyte claim the lightest model weighs as little as 16.4kg (36.1 lb). That's pretty impressive for a bike with up to 600 W of power and a 400 Wh battery.
Whyte Elyte 150 Details

• Full-carbon frame
• Wheel size: 29" front & rear
• Travel: 142mm rear /150mm front
• Bosch SX motor, 55 Nm, 600W peak
• 400 Wh battery (+ 250 Wh range extender)
• Head tube angle: 64-64.6°
• Reach: 435, 460, 485, 510mm
• Chainstay: 450mm
• Weight: 19.5 kg / 43 lb (actual, XL)
• 4-year frame warranty, lifetime warranty on bearings
• Pricing: £9,999 (includes range extender)
whytebikes.com


The Elyte is available in two main flavors: the Elyte 140 and 150. Confusingly, the name refers to the fork travel, so the former has a 140 mm fork and 135 mm of rear travel, while the latter has 150 mm up front and 142 mm at the rear. Both use the same frame, just different forks and shocks. The 140 probably exists to show off the most impressive headline weight, with light-duty parts and a hefty price tag. The 150 makes the most sense thanks to the extra travel, more robust components and lower price, so that's what we've tested.






bigquotesThe Elyte is one of the best-handling e-bikes out there. It's stable on the steeps, maneuverable through tight turns and doesn't mind being picked up over obstacles and chucked about on the trail. Seb Stott




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Frame Details


The Elyte is designed and built around the Bosch SX motor. It provides a modest 55 Nm of torque, but if you spin your legs fast enough it boasts a 600 W peak power output, which is up there with "full-power" motors like Shimano's EP801. Torque is the rotational force the motor applies to the chainring, while power is the torque multiplied by the rotational speed (cadence). It's the power that dictates how fast you can ride up a hill, not the torque. So, to get so much power with relatively little torque, you have to spin quite fast. You won't get anywhere near the peak power unless you use a higher cadence than most riders are used to. Cleverly, Whyte have specced stubby 155 mm cranks in all sizes, which naturally result in a higher cadence as well as extra ground clearance.

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A 400 Wh internal battery sits inside the enclosed downtube and isn't designed to be removed in a hurry. A 250Wh Bosch Powermore range extender is included with the top-spec model (tested) and can be fitted to the bottle bosses nearest the motor, giving a total of 650 Wh of energy, putting it in line with many full-power e-bikes. The range extender weighs 1.5 kg, bringing the total weight to 21 kg. When riding, the range extender and main battery drain simultaneously and maintain a similar percentage, so you can't drop off the range extender once it's spent leaving you with a full main battery. The long, straight downtube means a second bottle can be fitted in front of the range extender. Whyte say a 450 ml Fidlock bottle will fit in sizes M-XL, but I was able to fit a regular 750 ml bottle in my Xl test bike. If you're planning to exert yourself more than the motor, you can mount two bottles instead.

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There's an integrated sealed seat collar.
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Not a flip-chip per se, but there's an offset bushing in the shock eyelet to adjust the geometry.

The electronic derailleur is powered by its own AXS battery rather than a wire from the main battery. AXS derailleurs powered by the main battery make sense in theory; proponents say there's a reserve in the main battery for a few hundred shifts after the motor "dies". However, Whyte say they decided to have a separate battery for the derailleur because this reserve doesn't always work, leaving you suddenly without power or gears. And with a bike like this, you could keep riding for a long time without assistance so long as the gears work. The downside is you'll need to charge the derailleur battery every few rides.

The frame features cable ports for "traditional" internal cable routing, but the headset has room to run the cables through the headset if you prefer - I can recommend a good psychiatrist if that's you. There's plenty of rubberized frame protection plus an aluminum skid plate under the motor, which gets some use thanks to the low-hanging motor position, which is designed to keep the center of gravity as low as possible. The unidirectional carbon frame is category-four rated, which loosely means it's designed for enduro-style riding but not bike parks. It's only tested for forks up to 150 mm, so you can't fit anything longer without voiding the warranty.



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Suspension Design

A classic Horst-link layout with a clevis-driven shock is familiar from other Whyte bikes. This time, the shock eyelet contains offset bushing hardware that can adjust the bottom bracket height by 8 mm and the head angle by half a degree. It's probably a simpler and lighter solution compared to a dedicated flip chip, and there is the option to install regular hardware to get the geometry in the middle.

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Anti-squat, shown in a 50-tooth sprocket.
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Leverage

Anti-squat, which determines how firm and efficient the suspension feels under power, is pretty average for an e-bike, with around 100% at sag. That should mean minimal pedal bob without the suspension becoming unresponsive when pedalling hard. The leverage curve is moderately progressive throughout, so it should be supple at the start of the stroke and supportive towards the end. Whyte say it plays nicely with coil shocks.



Whyte E-Lyte

Geometry & Sizing


Whyte have always favoured low bottom bracket heights and the Elyte is no exception. I measured the BB on my test bike at 335 mm off the ground in the high setting and 326 mm in the low. Even for a short-travel bike, that's very low indeed. The 155 mm crank arms will give up to 15 mm more pedalling clearance than "standard" 170 mm arms. My measurements also come out slacker than claimed, with a head angle of 64 or 63.5-degrees depending on the setting, and an effective seat angle measuring 76.1 or 75.6-degrees at my pedalling height. It's normal for bikes to measure up slightly differently from the geometry chart, which is why I take these measurements.




Specifications
Release Date 2024
Price $12663
Travel 142 mm
Rear Shock Fox Float X Factory EVOL, lockout, 210mmx50mm
Fork Fox 36 Factory, Grip2, 150 mm
Headset FSA No. 69/56/SRS
Cassette SRAM XS 1295, T-Type, 10-52T,
Crankarms Hope E-Bike Cranks, 155mm length, 36T chainring
Chainguide Integrated top guide
Bottom Bracket Bosch Performance Line SX, 55 Nm
Pedals N/A
Rear Derailleur SRAM XO T-Type AXS, 12 speed
Chain SRAM XO T-Type, 12 speed
Front Derailleur N/A
Shifter Pods SRAM AXS Pod, right, MMX
Handlebar Race Face Next R Carbon, 20mm rise, 35mm bore, 800mm width
Stem Whyte Trail, 32mm length
Grips Whyte Enduro lock-on
Brakes Hope Tech4 V4, 200 mm floating rotors
Hubs Hope Pro 5, six bolt, 32h rear, 28h front
Spokes DT Swiss New Champion 2.0mm, brass nipples
Rim Whyte TeXtreme carbon Trail rims
Tires Maxxis Minion DHF, EXO TR MaxxGripp 29in x 2.5in front; Maxxis Dissector, EXO+ TR MaxxTerra 29in x 2.4in, rear
Seat Fizik Terra Aidon, 145mm wide
Seatpost Whyte drop.it II Adjust, 30.9mm (S/M 140-170mm travel; L/XL 170-200mm travel), MMX Paddle remote lever


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Test Bike Setup
I found the suspension easy to set up on the Elyte, sticking with 30% sag, compression generally open and rebound just on the faster side of halfway. The Fox 36 Grip 2 is familiar to me, so I set it to 95 psi with compression and rebound both a few clicks from fully open.

I did find the bar height way too low on my Xl test bike, so I soon swapped out the 20 mm rise handlebar for a 35 mm rise OneUp handlebar along with a 40 mm stem and ODI grips. This made it much easier to move the bike around and feel comfortable riding hard.

Tire pressures hovered around 22-23 psi front and 26-27 psi rear.

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Seb Stott
Location: Tweed Valley, Scotland
Age: 31
Height: 6'3" / 191cm
Inseam: 37" / 93cm
Weight: 187 lbs / 85 kg, kitted


Testing Info

Testing took place in the Tweed Valley, Scotland, at Glentress, Cademuir and Innerleithen. The Whyte felt at home on all but the most bike-parky features of Innerleithen's Matador trail, but was in its element on the tight, steep tech of the Golfy.

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Climbing

The Bosch SX motor likes to spin fast, so you do find yourself consciously increasing the cadence to get the most support. The 155 mm cranks make it easier to do this, as shorter cranks lend themselves to higher RPM due to the smaller pedal circle circumference. If you pedal fast, there is plenty of power available when zipping up steep fire roads, even enough to keep up with full-power bikes at a push.

But on technical climbs, the SX motor has noticeably less oomph when the cadence drops, making it hard to regain momentum when you lose it. When the trail kicks up in a crux move and speeds plummet, leaving you struggling to turn the cranks over, the motor seems to stall, and provides no assistance until the cadence builds to a certain level, which is less than ideal. Also, the seat angle is a little too slack with the flip chip in the high setting and even slacker in the low position (which I preferred for descending). This makes it harder to maintain a good weight distribution on steep climbs. Despite the short cranks, pedal strikes were occasionally an issue in the low mode. Throw in the Dissector rear tire and the Elyte isn't the best for clearing technical climbs.

On the other hand, the moderate weight and fast-rolling tires make it impressively efficient. I managed around 1,000 m of climbing from the 400 Wh battery with maximum assistance in winter conditions, or around 1,600 m with the range extender. Even with the motor off, it's surprisingly easy to keep up with regular bikes until the gradient gets to the point where the 36-tooth chainring becomes limiting.

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Descending

On the first ride with the stock low-rise bar, I felt like a passenger. I found it hard to push the front tire down into holes to maintain grip and to lift it up and over obstacles. Swapping to a higher bar made all the difference. Despite the longish chainstays, I found it remarkably easy to lift the front wheel and bunnyhop over roots or fallen trees, while also being able to maintain consistent pressure on the front tire through turns. One of my local trails has a knee-high boulder on a moderate climb, which I find very hard to get enough speed to clear on an unassisted bike, and impossible to get over on a 25 kg full-fat ebike. The Whyte hit a sweet spot with plenty of power to build speed, without feeling stuck to the ground, allowing me to clear this familiar obstacle easier than any other bike I've tested. The point is, the Elyte has comparable peak power to a full-fat e-bike while being almost as easy to manual and hop as a regular enduro bike (just not with the stock handlebar).

I started testing in the high setting which is how the bike ships. In this setting, the bike is far from high or steep, but on occasion, I did find the steering less predictable than I'd like when entering sharp, complicated turns. I was reluctant to try the low setting because of the already low bottom bracket and relatively slack seat tube, but I'm glad I did. This took the handling to another level on the steeps. The lower bottom bracket and slacker head angle make it easier to chuck it into awkward turns and carve around them with confidence. I did scrape the frame's skid plate on one awkward rock step, but the short cranks mean this setting isn't ridiculous in terms of ground clearance. The downside of the low setting is mostly on the climbs and mostly in the seat angle, but the grin-inducing stability and "chuckability" on steep downhill tech are worth it in my view. Whyte's lead engineer told me he runs a neutral bushing for in-between geometry, which might be a good compromise for all-round riding.

The suspension is remarkably supple on small and medium bumps, fluttering over the chatter amazingly well for the suspension travel. This is perhaps due to the shock tune, which Whyte say has minimal preload on the compression valving and a linear rebound tune. It does lose ground to longer-travel bikes on big hits and drops, where the limits of the suspension travel can be felt. It's a shame that the frame is not officially rated to take a 160 mm fork because that could deliver a slacker head angle without the bottom bracket being quite so low (perhaps in with a neutral shock bushing) while also giving a little more cushioning in the front.

Nevertheless, the Elyte is one of the best-handling e-bikes out there. It's stable on the steeps, maneuverable through tight turns and doesn't mind being picked up over obstacles and chucked about on the trail.



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What's the Best Value?

The Fox suspension and Hope brakes were some of the key components of the Works model, so it's hard to recommend downgrading to the SRAM-equipped RSX model with its inline shock and Code Bronze brakes. It may be 20% cheaper, but the RSX model doesn't include a Range extender (and you're going to want one of those if you're the type of person who enjoys fun).

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Whyte Elyte 150 Works (£9,999)
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Scott Voltage eRide 900 Tuned (£10,099)

How Does It Compare?


The Bosch CX motor might be in the same SL category as the TQ’s HPR50 found on the [PI=https://www.pinkbike.com/news/first-ride-scott-voltage-the-electric-genius.html]Scott Volatge[/PI], but they are very different to ride. Although the Bosch lacks low-cadence torque, it’s way more powerful, to the extent that swapping to the Scott feels a bit like going back to a regular mountain bike. The Scott’s smaller battery means the range is similar if not slightly less, but on my scales, it’s only 0.25 kg lighter.

The Voltage has a better climbing position for technical climbs, but on the descents, I preferred the Whyte. With its lower BB, shorter cranks, shorter stem and slacker head tube, it felt more intuitive and confident on steep and technical trails. The extra travel on the Scott is handy when things get gnarly, but I think the Whyte’s rear suspension and shock tune are better judged, with similar suppleness and more predictable support. Despite generally preferring longer-travel e-bikes, I'd much rather have the Whyte.



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Technical Report

Hope Tech 4 V4 brakes: I’ve put a lot of miles on two sets Hope’s most powerful stoppers, and they are a big improvement over the Tech 3s. There’s plenty of power and an intuitively linear lever feel that makes it easier to judge braking force on slippery descents. But both sets had a lever feel/free-stroke that changed slightly over the test period, going from ultra-sharp to having a little too much free-stroke for my liking even with the adjuster wound fully in. They're still solid brakes, but I’m not blown away by the Tech 4s as some journalists are - I don’t think they’re as solid and consistent as a Hayes Dominion or a SRAM Code with sintered pads and a HS2 rotor.

155 mm cranks: These should be standard on electric bikes.

SRAM Transmission: I’m not convinced Transmission is necessary or worth the premium on a mechanical bike, but on an eMTB the decisive shifting is appreciated. It didn’t skip a beat throughout testing - except when I forgot to charge it.

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Pros

+ Confident yet agile handling especially on steep and tight descents
+ Impressive suspension performance
+ Bosch SX motor gives powerful support and range with the included extender
+ Fits a water bottle and a range extender


Cons

- Not the best for steep and technical climbs
- Stock cockpit is too low for the XL size
- It's ten grand


Pinkbike's Take

bigquotesThe Whyte Elyte is the best-handling eMTB I’ve ridden. The geometry adjustment and short cranks make it possible to experiment with geometry that I would previously have considered too low, and it pays dividends on steep and twisty terrain. It’s relatively easy to pop a quick manual or hustle through flatter sections too. The Bosch SX motor offers impressive power and range compared to other SL e-bikes, but don’t expect to get up the trickiest sections as easily as full-power eMTBs.

If you want to quickly dispense with climbs rather than tackling the most technical way up, and then have maximum fun on the way back down, this could be the bike for you.
Seb Stott





Author Info:
seb-stott avatar

Member since Dec 29, 2014
297 articles

110 Comments
  • 78 2
 "Is it good?"
"Yeah, it's alwhyte."
  • 3 0
 Top, middle, or bottom?
  • 1 0
 @fielonator: what is a hot spot not?
  • 7 0
 What ever happened to their F1 team?
  • 46 0
 I cant tell if e-bikes are getting skinnier or if normal bikes are getting fatter
  • 8 0
 Maybe they are going to reach a singularity in the next decade, and become one in the same. I sure hope not though!
  • 3 0
 Guess they realized there is no point in making the tubes slim and saving a couple of grams in exchange for the structural integrity.
  • 5 0
 is this like when you were a kid chocolate bars seemed so much bigger and now they seem so much smaller?
  • 2 1
 @Compositepro: probably. Also still remember e-bikes as 80lbs behemoths
  • 8 0
 @Compositepro: it’s called shrinkflation: keep same price, shrink amount of product, improve corporate profits. Consumers lose, CEO’s win, yay!
  • 7 4
 Skinnier bikes for fatter people very likely.
  • 10 0
 They're making regular bikes heavier so Ebikes don't seem so heavy by comparison
  • 1 0
 I think this one looks quite good.
  • 29 4
 Not knocking this bike specifically, but if I spend £10k on an e-bike, I would expect that the electronic shifting is charged through the main battery and not a separate system that one can forget to charge.
As much as I like the theoretical modularity of bikes, that just seems like a basic amount of integration that should be there at that pricepoint..
  • 47 0
 One should have one's assistant deal with such matters.
  • 5 19
flag onawalk (Mar 11, 2024 at 15:04) (Below Threshold)
 Oh my, the entitlement is real here. Along with the 7 upvoters Absolute muffin stumps
  • 6 0
 But what if the motor battery dies and you gotta pedal without shifting?
  • 2 1
 @onawalk: please explain how this is "entitlement" as commonly used... Or are you just throwing out trendy words? Unless you're suggesting that for 18 grand post tax Canuck bucks one should be entitled to some basic connectivity throughout an electronic consumer product? (you're not)...Why at this price point a light, or at the very least a port for one isnt included is also mind boggling.
  • 10 0
 AXS derailleurs powered by the main battery make sense in theory. Proponents say there's a reserve in the main battery for a few hundred shifts after the motor "dies". However, Whyte say they decided to have a separate battery for the derailleur because this reserve doesn't always work, leaving you suddenly without power or gears. And with a bike like this, you could genuinely keep riding for a long time without assistance so long as the gears work.
  • 3 0
 @devinkalt: Does not seem too hard to integrate some logic that keeps enough juice in the battery to keep the shifting operational (Pinions MGU will do 1000 shifts after the battery is "empty"). Shifting takes very little energy compared to the motor.
Edit: Initially written before @seb-stott 's comment. That sucks that the reserve sometimes does not work. If I was a customer, I'd still prefer the convenience of charging everything through one battery and having to remember to turn the motor off at a small amount of battery to guarantee some spare power for the gears. But at least that explains their reasoning.
  • 5 0
 @seb-stott: Hear me out - motor battery trickle charges derailleur battery so it's always near full charge. Motor dies - no problem, derailleur is at 100 %.

Did I mention am an engineer?
  • 1 6
flag onawalk (Mar 12, 2024 at 7:21) (Below Threshold)
 @lostlunchbox: anyone that starts out a comment like "for x amount of monies I expect to see this random thing that I feel is the most important random thing" They feel "entitled" to have their thing, and thats pretty silly isnt it?
We live in a world of plenty, vast opportunity, and a wealth of choice. If this thing doesnt have all the bells and whistles you find important, its because the engineers/designers prioritized other things. You get that part right?
Like Whyte might not have all the resources that Spesh, or Trek might have, so in lieu of whatever connectivity gadget it is that the OP believes "should" be included at the price, they have done something else, like paid for R&D, or etc...
  • 3 0
 @onawalk: Most people seem to read comments formulated like mine as stating my own expectations/priorities and inviting discussion about them. Maybe it's you that is not getting it, because you seem to be in the minority that thinks that my comment is somehow "entitlement".
Everyone is perfectly aware that brands arrive at their product through their own set of priorities and that other options exist, I don't think we should need to write that down everytime..
  • 1 2
 @finnspin: Not sure Id judge PB points as indicating if im in the minority or not, but you do you brah.
The PB comment section is a perfect example of people thinking their "opinion" is the right one, and all others are to be disregarded.
I also dont for a second believe "most" people have a great understanding of anything regarding the bike industry, if they did, well we wouldnt see the comments that we do.
There is a wild sense of entitlement that manufacturers should be designing/building/ marketing things that individuals "believe" they want, and get pretty uppity (similar to your comment) when they dont.

The differences in the things that are created are what affords us to have the choice we do, I'm always baffled when people demand that those choices are limited.....

Seb provided a pretty clear explanation as to why they chose differently to your opinion, and once you had an explanation youre fine with it. The idea that you needed to have that before you softened is an example of that entitlement.
  • 3 0
 @onawalk: I absolutely agree with the comment I responded to, I was joking. For 10k I'd want a self lubing chain and solar powered rocket boosters as well. For clarity this is also a joke.
  • 1 0
 Right, it’s stupid to have multiple batteries.
All e-bike batteries have a reserve to power a headlight... or accessory !!
  • 1 0
 @devinkalt: The derailleur goes on the lowest speed?
  • 1 1
 @fielonator: appreciate it, you got my props long time ago
  • 23 5
 As an e-bike side note, I'd love to see more lightweight motor, long travel, coil-over shock equipped, burly type bikes, for a winch to the top then hit the proper DH sections not on a 25kg lard hauler.
  • 10 1
 Like the Transition Relay PNW?
  • 6 16
flag Bunabe (Mar 11, 2024 at 8:52) (Below Threshold)
 There is no point because if you want a bike that doesn't pedal at all then you can only put a full power motor on it which is going to be a 23kg bike. If you put a light motor on it it's going to be a pain to pedal so it makes no sense.
  • 1 0
 @stravaismyracecourse: yes, exactly! More of those!
  • 4 0
 @Bunabe: Kenevo SL enters the chat
  • 1 0
 I have what you're looking for in my buysell Wink
  • 4 0
 Give it another 5 years or so more years of development and I think they'll get there. I'll start considering when they have: full power integrated motor & gearbox with a belt drive, dual crown fork, dropper post & about 20-21 Kilos/45ish lbs.
  • 2 0
 @gtill9000: and £4k pls
  • 1 0
 Hmm, there was supposed to be a "less/smaller than" symbol in front of that £4k. I guess that doesn't work on PB.
  • 1 0
 Agreed. If Whyte made a long-travel version I'd be well up for testing it.
  • 2 0
 @Snowsed341: When Specialized revise this with a motor/battery that competes with the likes of this, the Kenevo SL will be incredible! (It's already great)
  • 3 0
 @2d-cutout: I agree, i honestly don't need more power just more range. I can see how more would want more power.
  • 1 0
 @Snowsed341: Kenevo SL doesn't enter chat because it's not a burly bike like the guy was talking about. And doesn't have battery capacity. And doesn't have a powerful motor...
  • 1 0
 @gtill9000: You are never going to have a dual crown fork on a bike trying to be save the most weight possible.
  • 2 0
 @Bunabe: since when is 170mm rear upto 180mm front not a burly bike. The frame is downhill certed.

As someone that owns a Kenevo SL yes you have to pedal to go up but i would hardly call it hard work. You need more than 27 miles of range? and that's without the range extender.

Honestly you are talking out of your rear.
  • 11 1
 I live in the Square edged rocky desert of Phoenix, Arizona and I can tell you, while I’m sure this is a great bike, for purely practical reasons, I can’t get a bike with a downtube that is forward and below the bottom bracket. It gets ripped to shreds during the first ride. This goes for Canyons as well.
  • 7 0
 I must say, I live somewhere with lots of big, jagged rocks, but I never understood why Pivot's BB heights were so tall until I rode around Phoenix. Your trails are definitely an edge case.
  • 4 0
 Need skid plates for ebikes.
  • 1 0
 @DaneL: Yea I ran my firebird 29 (mk1) with 27.5 wheels to get the bb the right height for my steep loamy trails
  • 2 0
 @BermSkid72: This a million times. I’ve ruined several chains on my ebike because it’s unprotected.

One chain broke a few minutes after lightly tagging it on a rock step (probably pried an outer plate loose). I’m just pedaling along wondering, what’s that faint “ticking” noise? Then bam, chain breaks and rips my derailleur clean off.

Moral of the story, don’t ignore ticking noises, and e-bikes need bash guards too.
  • 5 0
 @seb-stott can you put a number on cadence to get full power? No review on any bosh sx motor equipped bike has pinned that down, which makes me suspicious that it's unusably high for technical climbing. Are we talking over 100rpm?
  • 16 0
 104 RPM

So Power(W) = Torque(Nm) x Angular Velocity(Rad/s)

600W = 55 Nm x (RPM x 2π / 60)
RPM = 600 x 60 / (55 x 2π)

or this
eicac.co.uk/power-rpm-and-torque-calculator
  • 3 0
 @schwarzrot: thanks for the physics lesson! Though it is disappointing to see the need for a cadence that high.
  • 1 0
 @dirtbaggraeme: you simply cant get that kind of power, with that low of torque, without revving to the moon. There is no replacement for displacement
  • 3 0
 @onawalk: also, if this is the case why a 36t ring?
  • 4 0
 @seb-stott Have you ridden a Fazua system? If so, please compare the SX to the Fazua? From what I've read the Fazua after recent firmware updates seems to be better than the TQ system on both power and efficiency so from what I've read I'd call it the current SL leader. New Specialized SL unit seems good too overall if you dig their Geo on the Levo SL.
  • 4 0
 I've the TQ motor on my SL, and a mate has the Fazua. His is 2x more efficient m, and definitely more supportive
  • 3 0
 @The-Reverend: it's about time someone started asking questions about the TQ HPR"50"...
  • 3 0
 @Tambo: the TQ is underpowered but at least it’s reliable. Fazua have been riddled with warranty issues.
  • 5 2
 Every person I know who rode a Whyte said they were a mechanical disaster and it's always put me off. Bad frame flex and pivot bearings seem to last only a handful of rides and the warranty on them is fairly pointless when labour and logistics aren't included. Hopefully they have improved
  • 2 0
 Your not wrong about the bearings. They were made of cheese back in 2017. I briefly owned a T-130S and sold it after 7 months due to replacing the bearings 3 times.
  • 1 0
 I've owned a 2020 Whyte S-150crs v2 (carbon) for about 4 years now. I've always haven't got along with it super well. I do like it, but something always seems off at high speeds and now that you mention it, maybe it's bad frame flex....how would bad frame flex feel anyway?

The bearings have been pretty good for me so far, but I think they use newer bearings than back in the day. Lifetime free replacement on pivot bearings too (although only tried that once so far).
  • 1 0
 @captainclunkz: Are they non-standard sizes?
  • 3 1
 Mmmm, I had plenty of miles out my E-160S and it was fault-free, though it did like to snack on its bearings. It was so heavy it had its own orbiting moons, but fantastic for going fast.
  • 1 0
 Bizarre. My 2019 S-150 has been ridden hard for 5 years all over NorCal and PNW and still has original bearings.
  • 4 0
 @captainclunkz: wouldn’t you just put better quality bearings in the second time?
  • 2 0
 @jase111171: it isn't the quality of bearings that is the problem. It's the design of the frame. They use tiny bearings with a flexy frame, so the bearings don't stand a chance
  • 3 0
 General question for the pink-e-bike experts: are any/all of the bikes that support range extenders like mentioned above, smart to the point that they’ll use the extra battery’s capacity before the main battery? (Or configurable in some way to achieve that). Like if you fit the range extender, ride to the trail head, and then remove it for some lighter weight laps - has just the range extender been depleted up to that point, or total system power? Might be all a moot point in reality, but in theory could be beneficial in some scenarios right?
  • 3 0
 I don't have an extender, but Ive read the spesh tuning app allows for that on their bikes.
  • 3 0
 Can’t speak for anything other than mine, but yes the Mondraker Neat does exactly this. It depletes the range extender first and charges it after the main battery too. It’s a TQ50.
  • 3 0
 My Orbea Rise (2021 M20) does exactly this: depletes the range extender first, then the main battery. I believe that the Spesh Kenevo/Levo SL bikes can be configured to do either (deplete range extender first, then main, or deplete both at same time) but don't quote me on that! One useful feature they do have (SLs) is when the range extender is fitted and draining first, the guys see 150%. On my Orbea, I only ever see 100% max, no matter whether with the extender or not (although there are 4 LEDs on the extender to give an idea of remaining juice).
The one thing I wish all eMTBs had was a standard charging port. Now that would be progress! USB-C anyone?? (joke!)
  • 3 0
 See, I don’t get this,

“ Whyte's lead engineer told me he runs a neutral bushing for in-between geometry, which might be a good compromise for all-round riding.”

But it doesn’t sound like a neutral bushing is shipped with the bike, which is odd, more so if the guy that designs the bike finds that the best compromise?
  • 4 2
 Gonna have to disagree with you on the extender Seb, i regularly go out with friends on full power eebs, and I have a Rise H, it’s quite common for my mate and I to end up with the same percentage of battery left after a ride and he has a Bosch with a 750Wh battery.
  • 2 0
 Another Ebike with chainstay size only for Peaty and other guys this tall. So thanks a lot, same as for Scott Voltage Razz

I realy don't understand, why producers puts such long chainstays to medium power bikes... there is no Turbo, or Boost mode for super steep climbing. And none of them are long travel, super enduro bike, where such long rear end would be usefull.
  • 3 1
 Not to knock on the reviews but when Seb says „one of the best handling ebikes out there“ how many similar bikes from other industry-leading companies out there are included in that comparison?
  • 4 0
 I'm quite sure he's ridden more e-bike's than the average person.
  • 2 0
 Posting leverage curves is great and all, but all that can be learned from that graph is that it starts at some number greater than 3 and ends at some number between 3 and 2.5.
  • 3 1
 We need to get some general sized people doing bike reviews. Testing an XL is the wrong end of the pile. Get a medium/large and someone in that 5'10 range to do some testing. Everybody that tests an Xl wants the bars higher.
  • 3 0
 Historically, most of Pinkbikes reviewers have been right in that average height range (Levy/Kaz/Matt Beer are all around 5'10" - 5'11"). Henry is 6'.

Dario and Seb are 6'3" though.

Its nice to have some representation for the taller folk, as many times bikes are "designed primarily" for the M/L size range. The XL's can sometimes ride quite a bit differently, and its nice to have someone who can bikes in those sizes.

But I agree, it can be "annoying" when you find a review of a bike you like, but in a size that was wildly different than what you're interested in. On the flip side though, I don't really think its realistic for them to have to test each bike in multiple sizes.

Often I look for reviews from other sites/people in that situation, to see if what I can glean from their reviews.
  • 5 2
 How come weight is always mentioned on a bike with a motor! But rarely mentioned when you review an enduro bike. Surely that is more relevant??
  • 2 1
 Have you ever watched someone try to lift an ebike onto their truckbed?
  • 4 1
 So that currently converts to over $17 000 Canadian. If I see it for 75 percent off I'll consider it.
  • 1 0
 smaller and more silenced motors are the future..these huge 700+w batteries and more powerful motors actually are becoming "something else", a different form of mountain "biking"
  • 2 1
 It needs a flip chip and not offset bushings. From my experience offset bushings wear out a lot quicker than standard bushings.
  • 2 0
 Considering there are some pretty impressive bike deals out there right now, why would a person buy this for 10k?
  • 5 4
 I dont understand who these short travel ebikes are for. trail riding on an ebike sucks, IMO theyre for self shuttling DH trails
  • 3 2
 100% agree. I don't see why you would ever opt for a short travel eBike when long-er travel eBikes are a no extra cost option.

Been riding eBikes since 2016 and had 4 eMtbs in that time. Always gone for the 170+mm travel option and can't see why I wouldn't
  • 3 0
 My Levo was 150/160 travel and it suited the trails I was riding perfectly. I would say the shorter geo is for people just wanting to get more laps in a shorter time window or go further and deeper into the backcountry that don't have either the legs for it or maybe short on time and don't have 4-6 hours for a big long ride. But ya, long travel e-bikes are perfect for self shuttling DH trails.
  • 3 0
 @IllestT: When you are 50+, not doing steep blacks but gentle blacks and reds (because you don't want to break yourself) 170mm+ bikes are dull. My 150mm handles pretty much everything I ever want it too and is fun almost everywhere, bike park, trail centre, adventuring. Different people want different things. This bike looks awesome to me.
  • 4 1
 @bsweb: I call total bullshit on the 170mm+ travel bikes = dull statement...
  • 2 0
 I like big bikes. But small travel is lighter and easier.
  • 1 0
 If you have help why not give it more travel? Just because it's lighter weight??
IMHO bike like the Kenevo SL still make so much more sense.
  • 1 2
 "This $12663 e-mtb that that looks exactly the same as 30 million other bikes with nothing special or innovative about it whatsoever is definitely the best handling e-mtb ever made".. ("is that right yeah did I say it right? Cool where's my money"...)
  • 2 1
 Well overpriced, especially considering that the motor has an annoying rattle going downhill.
  • 1 0
 @captainclunkz

I think it is an offset busing in the shock linkage (shape it link) like specialized use, you just flip it.
  • 2 0
 I'm just here for the pricing comments. As you were...
  • 1 0
 Too bad they couldn’t keep making their old linkage bike and made it e-link-age.
  • 1 0
 Would love to pick one up in the UK but not for 9.4k€ for the entry Level spec ....
  • 2 0
 @seb-stott: I wish you would have compared it to Forestals Syrion.
  • 2 0
 I'm glad its £10000
  • 2 0
 did you mean "I'm glad its £10000" or I'm glad its only £10000
  • 9 0
 @Compositepro: Glad it's £10k – so I don't have to worry about wanting one.
  • 2 1
 450mm chainstays? Tight turns? What
  • 1 0
 go ride a banshee…
  • 1 0
 Ready to eat all the stones down there
  • 2 0
 Lost me at £9,999
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