Daaammmnnnn!!!! That's one expensive E-Hardtail!!!

[Neeko DeVinchi]

So I imagine we'll start seeing reviews on the new Whyte E-Hardtails in due course.

For those who are unaware, Whyte now have in their catalogue two new eebs. The Whyte E-504 & E-505.

Geometry seems good but this is Whyte we're talking about so we should expect nothing less.

E-505

[split] e-BIKE SPECIFIC SPECIFICATION DRIVE UNIT Performance CX 85Nm BATTERY CHARGER 2 Amp BATTERY 500Wh DISPLAY Purion SPECIFICATION COLOUR Matt Black Grey/Rose CASSETTE SRAM PG-1130, 11-42, 11 Speed FRAME 6061 Alloy, Hydro Formed T6 Aluminium, Multi Butted, Custom Drawn, Tapered Headtube...

whyte.bike

Personally, my Levo HT fulfills my E-Hardtail needs but as the title of the thread suggests, "it's some serious dollar they're asking for!'.

I'm curious to seeing the initial impression videos and testimonials (considering they're already out of stock ?).

 

[Beekeeper]

So I imagine we'll start seeing reviews on the new Whyte E-Hardtails in due course.

For those who are unaware, Whyte now have in their catalogue two new eebs. The Whyte E-504 & E-505.

Geometry seems good but this is Whyte we're talking about so we should expect nothing less.

E-505

[split] e-BIKE SPECIFIC SPECIFICATION DRIVE UNIT Performance CX 85Nm BATTERY CHARGER 2 Amp BATTERY 500Wh DISPLAY Purion SPECIFICATION COLOUR Matt Black Grey/Rose CASSETTE SRAM PG-1130, 11-42, 11 Speed FRAME 6061 Alloy, Hydro Formed T6 Aluminium, Multi Butted, Custom Drawn, Tapered Headtube...

whyte.bike

Personally, my Levo HT fulfills my E-Hardtail needs but as the title of the thread suggests, "it's some serious dollar they're asking for!'.

I'm curious to seeing the initial impression videos and testimonials (considering they're already out of stock ?).

View attachment 68182

View attachment 68183

And it’s not even a 625 battery. Wow that’s expensive for sure.

 

[Gary]

Pretty close to the geometry of the Vitus E-Sentier

 

[Neeko DeVinchi]

I

Pretty close to the geometry of the Vitus E-Sentier

I noticed that. 64° headtube angle with a 120mm fork.

 

[Gary]

TBF it's a 55lb hardtail.
Who cares what the head angle is? ??

 

[Jamze]

What interests me is they have what looks likes a battery door on the hardtails so they've ditched the low-slung battery and canted motor.

 

[Neeko DeVinchi]

Well done EMBN??

 

[fenwick458]

I really don't understand hardtail E-MTB's. it's long low and slack which implies they want you to tackle steep terrain, but it's not got rear suspension and is heavy. IMO you've got to be a pretty skilled biker to descent steep trails with extra e bike weight and no back suspension without trashing your back wheel or getting thrown off. and if you're that good, why have an E bike?
seems like they are targeting a very niche market
more likely it'll get ridden around cycle tracks by people who want a better range, and the stability of wide bars and bigger tyres you get with an MTB compared to road or gravel bike, in which case it being long low and slack is just pointless

 

[Gary]

I love normal hardtails so let me explain @fenwick458

Firstly. You don't need a long slack bike or rear suspension for steep terrain (a low BB height and low standover is nice tho).
Modern long slack bikes are a lot more stable at speed but they're less maneuverable in slower more technical terrain because of it.
Contrary to popular belief Rear suspension it's not just there for casing landings and drops to flat or seated comfort It also gives you tons more grip and also adds tons of stability over rough ground.
Also any decent hardtail rider will rarely trash rear wheels as they are able to lift, place and maneuver that rear smoothly trhough and over any terrain and probably won't be much slower than a full sus rider through low to medium speed technical sections (which most UK steep trails are).
Where E-Hardtails fail is that by adding 20lb around BB completely ruins all the best handling traits of a decent normal hartdail.and lengthening the wheelbase and slackening the head angle only makes them even less maneuverable and harder work to ride well in technical terrain.

Whether you're a good rider or not has absolutley nothing to do with whether or not you'd want an Ebike.
I've heard plenty good/fit riders say "I don't need an Ebike". Or "I'd consider an Ebike when I'm too old to ride a normal bike" Every one of those riders has missed the point entirely.

 

[Neeko DeVinchi]

I'd be curious to see whether Whyte will reveal the backstory behind the development of the E504 & E505. Just like what they did with the E150 v1 and E160 v2.
If they tested the bike without any E-Power and simply matched the system weigh in an effort to dial in the handling, I will gladly 'tip my hat off to them' ?

 

[Andyzim]

If someone like orbea released a 15kg hardtail with the ep8 RS motor and a 65 ish degree ht angle with a 150mm fork I'd be all over that for winter riding. It'd have to come in around £3k to £3.5k though to be value compared to my Rise so that just isn't happening.

 

[Beekeeper]

Is there actually space for 625 battery if you wanted to upgrade later on or carry a spare? I can’t see any mention of it.