The new 2024 Whyte E-Lyte

Whyte has finally released the details of the mild and lightweight E-Lyte. This bike was first seen on Eurobike this summer, so we already knew it would be a Bosch powered emtb. Watch my video or keep reading below.

Three times E-Lyte​

Years ago, Whyte aimed to create a 16 kg emtb. They soon decided they would be able to create this Super Light emtb, but it wouldn’t be worth it. Whyte didn’t want to make a short travel emtb with an even shorter dropper post and very lightweight tyres.

Whyte E-Lyte 140 Works - £10.999​

Still, 16.4 kg is close enough, and I’d call that a Super Light emtb. This range topping bike does of course have lighter components, but nothing silly light. It gets the SL version of the Sram XX AXS Transmission drivetrain, a Fox 34 Factory fork and the 800 g Goodyear Escape tyres. This is a 140 mm travel front and 135 mm rear 29er bike. It looks like a pretty capable trail bike and Whyte says it’s suited for both XC and proper trail riding.

Whyte E-Lyte 150 Works - £9.999​

If you prefer an enduro style bike, you’ll probably be more excited about the 150 mm travel versions. Whyte claims the 150 Works is about 2.8 kg heavier than the 140 Works, at 19.2 kg. This is a common weight for the more capable mild and lightweight emtbs. And it’s a very well specc’ed bike, I think.

The tyres have been bumped up to the heavier Maxxis EXO+ 29”. This bike too gets the Sram AXS Transmission wireless shifting, this time it’s the Sram X0. Suspension is the Fox 36 fork and Float X shock, both in the Factory version. This enduro-style bike has 150 mm travel up front and 142 mm travel at the back.

Whyte E-Lyte 150 RSX - £7.999​

The RSX model is usually found in the middle of the Whyte line-up. But on the E-Lyte, it’s the entry model. That doesn't mean it’s a cheap and poorly specc’ed bike. This bike is the most appealing to me. We still get great components and at 18.9 kg, it’s a tad lighter than the 150 Works.

The 150 mm front and 142 mm rear suspension is handled by the Rockshox Lyric and the Rockshox Deluxe. Both are the fine Select+ version. Whyte sticks with the wireless Sram AXS T-type drivetrain, this time it’s the GX version.

A different approach to headsets​

Who doesn’t love a clean cockpit with the cables running through the headset? Quite a few people it turns out, and Whyte has picked up on this. The frame also accepts cables routed outside of the headset and into the headtube. And speaking of cables, the frame accepts a cable for mechanical shifting too. So, who knows, we might see cheaper models with cable operated derailleurs in the future.

Geometry​

The E-Lyte 140 and 150 share the same frame, but they’re set up differently. The 140 sits taller, that translates to a higher bottom bracket plus a steeper head angle. The bottom bracket is dropped on the 150 model, but at 342 mm it's still relatively high for a Whyte.

The 64.6* head angle is slack for a 150 mm travel lightweight emtb. And you can go even slacker! “Shape.it Link V2” is the name of the adjustable geometry, it drops the bottom bracket by 8 mm to 334 mm. And the head angle ends up at 64*.

The Bosch Performance SX motor​

The strong yet lightweight Performance SX motor was launched this summer. And I got to ride the motor. In some ways it seems similar to other lightweigt emtb motors. It’s rated at 55 Nm and weighs about 2 kg. But the maximum motor power sets it apart. The motor can deliver good torque at cadences beyond 100 rpm. The result is a surprisingly high power output of 600 W max.


No-one expected it to outcompete the bigger and stronger 85 Nm+ motors. But at higher cadence, it really is competitive. And it does so while still offering decent power at low cadence, decent considering it’s a small motor. Check out my review of the motor for more details.

400 Wh + 250 Wh batteries​

The 400 Wh battery is fixed inside the E-Lyte downtube. But the optional 250 Wh range extender is of course easily detachable. The mount for the extender sits as low on the downtube as possible, which is good for weight distribution. And if you remove the extender battery and replace it with the included bottle cage, there’s room for a 0.75 L bottle. If you’re not ready to sacrifice the extra battery, there’s also room for a 0.4 L bottle on the top of the downtube.

My take​

Finally, we’re getting the Bosch Performance SX on more lightweight emtbs. Being a UK brand, Whyte pays extra attention to waterproofing and durability. And the geometry looks very sorted, I’m a sucker for lower BB height and I can’t wait to take this bike to the trails in the low setting.

Is this my dream bike? Yeah, possibly. My wallet dimensions are more suited to bikes with mechanical shifting though. Will there be a Whyte E-Lyte RS with a Shimano SLX level groupset? It’s not in the making, but who knows what the future holds.