Issue #033, Review - May 10, 2018

Whyte T-130 S review

Since we reviewed the Whyte T-130 S in Scotland eight months ago, nothing has changed apart from Whyte Bikes’ step to finally open up their distribution in Germany. Reason enough to include the T-130 S in this group test.

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: Good times guaranteed! 7 trail bikes under € 3,000 in Review

Whyte T-130 S review — **Whyte** T-130 S | 140/140 mm (front/rear) | 14.20 kg | € 2,999

The Whyte T-130 S is stylish in every detail, right down to color-coordinated components. But it’s not just aesthetically dialled: there’s also almost nothing to criticize when it comes to the components. The 130 mm travel on this 27.5″ bike is provided by a RockShox Revelation RC fork and a Monarch shock. The SRAM GX drivetrain offers all the gear range you’ll ever need, and shifting is silky smooth and very precise.

Whyte relies on WTB Vigilante tires to provide grip on the front, with a faster rolling Trail Boss at the rear – a good combination! The cockpit comes from Whyte themselves. The stem is pleasantly short at 40 mm, but the bars could be slightly wider: 760 mm is too narrow for some riders. The SRAM Level TL brakes, unfortunately, lack power and reliability but upgrading to larger rotors could help. The integrated seat clamp gives the frame an elegant look. The dropouts, on the other hand, look a little cheap.

Das Whyte weckt das Kind in dir! Ein echtes Spaßbike!

Ascending, the Whyte is no rocket. This is certainly due in part to the rolling resistance of the tires, but it isn’t helped by the bobbing of the rear end and the slack seat tube angle. When setting the shock to Trail mode, the performance improves, but the bike can’t keep up with the best in the test field. The Whyte’s moment of glory comes when you start to descend: particularly on trails where it’s all about carrying and generating a lot of speed by pumping the bike through rollers, dips and berms. The suspension is very firm, which means that the bike provides a lot of feedback and doesn’t sag excessively through compressions. It constantly encourages you to pop off ledges and is very balanced in the air. Thanks to the low bottom bracket (20 mm BB drop) and long front triangle (467 mm Reach in L) you sit in the bike rather than on it, giving you a lot of grip in off-camber sections. The Whyte blasts through corners thanks to its short chainstays and loves to zig-zag its way playfully down the trail. Its handling is very direct, holding lines with surgical precision. If the terrain becomes rough and demanding, however, the bike requires an active riding style and a lot of strength to stay on course. It doesn’t get nervous, but with its progressive suspension, it will let you know when you make a mistake.

Whyte T-130 S in detail

Fork RockShox Revelation RC 130 mm
Rear shock RockShox Mnarch RT 130 mm
Brakes SRAM Level TL 180/160 mm
Drivetrain SRAM GX Eagle
Seatpost RockShox Reverb Stealth 150 mm
Stem Whyte Gravity Stem 40 mm
Handlebar Whyte Custom 760 mm
Tires WTB Vigilante / WTB Trail Boss
Hubs Alloy, Double Sealed Cartridge Bearing
Rims WTB STP 129
Weight 14.20 kg
Price € 2,999

**Firm**
The rear end of the Whyte T130-S is on the firm side. This ensures fun on flowing trails but will cost you strength in rough terrain.

**Neat**
The integrated seat clamp neatens up the frame

**Unusual**
It’s not often you see WTB tyres part of standard spec – we can’t see why! The combination of a Vigilante on the front and a Trail Boss on the rear meant we were never short of grip.

**Overwhelmed**
The SRAM Level TL brakes paired with small rotors quickly reach their limit and offer insufficient stopping power – we’d recommend upgrading

Geometry of the Whyte T-130 S

Size	XS	S	M	L	XL
Top tube	572 mm	591 mm	611 mm	631 mm	650 mm
Head tube	100 mm	107 mm	115 mm	120 mm	130 mm
Head angle	67°	67°	67°	67°	67°
Seat angle	74°	73,7°	73.5°	73,3°	73,2°
Chainstay	420 mm	420 mm	420 mm	420 mm	420 mm
BB Drop	20 mm	20 mm	20 mm	20 mm	20 mm
Wheelbase	1117 mm	1137 mm	1157 mm	1177 mm	1197 mm
Reach	415 mm	432 mm	449 mm	467 mm	483 mm
Stack	576 mm	682 mm	689 mm	594 mm	603 mm

The Whyte T130 S is the perfect bike for active riders who want to turn every trail into a playground.

Upgrade tip: fit larger brake rotors or better brakes

Conculsion

The Whyte T130 S is the perfect bike for active riders who want to turn every trail into a playground. You can chuck it through corners and use every root as a lip to air off. But due to the firm rear end, it isn’t very comfortable, and there are better bikes for climbing.