Why no reviews of Whyte bikes by Rob?

[billium]

I understand he can't review every bike in the world but this is popular British brand that seems to have No reviews by Rob - which is quite surprising.
Anyone know why?

 

[Jackware]

@Rob Rides EMTB

 

[Hobo Mikey]

Look in the Whyte section plenty of peaple rate them.

 

[Mikerb]

I guess Whyte have not offered a bike for review by Rob which is their mistake and possibly due to their relative size as a brand and lack of experience, or maybe budget of their marketing folk. There are other reviews (Singletrack, MBR, Bikeradar etc) and they are all very positive with the only common "dislikes" being that the dropper at 150mm ( large) could be longer and the seat tube angle a bit steeper.
In the absence of a review by Rob, I will add mine!! .

I have the E160RSX in Orangle size large and full 29er. Apart from fitting my own preferred pedals ( Spank Spoon 110s), the only modification I have done, or felt necessary, is fitting higher rise Deity bars. I ride the bike with the flip chip in the high position so no problems with pedal strikes and the head angle at 64.8 in the high position is plenty slack enough.
I have covered nearly 500 miles on the bike now, mostly on forest trails that include some good gravity runs with drops and small/medium jumps and fast flowing berms.
It has taken me 3 iterations to arrive at a tune I like for the Fox 38s which is a lower air pressure and less rebound and compression than the Fox recommendations for my weight but it now performs really well.
I also have a 2020 Whyte E180 RS which I bought to go alongside my Levo Comp ( Gen2) for more enduro type riding and it is that bike that sold me on the quality and performance of Whyte Bikes. It has performed flawlessly for nearly 3 years. The E180 RS is a very capable Enduro bike but not the best for twisty singletrack or trail riding ..........my Levo was stolen..........so I went for the E160RSX.
Both bikes have essentially the same component specification............DT Swiss hybrid wheelset, CODE RSC brakes, Fox 38 forks, Fox X2 shock on the E180/Fox Float X on the E160 ( The E180 is 27.5 front and back). Assegai tyres on the E180, Assegai/ DHR11 on the E160. The spec is essentially what I would choose if I was building a bike from scratch!!
The E160 RSX has a solid downtube and an easilly removeable battery on the Bosch rail system, a system I prefer to cutaway downtubes which allways seem to have the potential for water and dust ingress and/or loose battery fitment.
No cabling through the headset on this bike either.
So...............on to how it rides. Amazing is the word that comes to mind. It climbs as well as it blasts downhill and is super fun on fast singletrack and berms etc seemingly always challenging me to go faster! I would rate it as very nearly as capable on gnarly and steep downhill as the E180 whilst at the same time being far more manoeuvrable and faster on singletrack and forest "tree slalom". To be honest, I really do not need the E180 anymore to cover all my riding but I would never sell it!!
Overall rating:

 

[JonnyManc]

I test rode the e160 S at Grizedale Forest yesterday, and while not as plush as the rsx, a super capable and confidence inspiring ride.

I'm not a gnarly descender (apologies for the old school terminology), more like a knackered middle aged noob, but it loves going fast...... Much to the determinant of my knees...... But it was excellent to the extent that I'm off to my lbs on Wednesday to thrash out a deal (hopefully an RSX, but the s will do )

 

[B1rdie]

Does it have the boost or superboost axle? And, does it make any difference?

 

[billium]

I guess Whyte have not offered a bike for review by Rob which is their mistake and possibly due to their relative size as a brand and lack of experience, or maybe budget of their marketing folk. There are other reviews (Singletrack, MBR, Bikeradar etc) and they are all very positive with the only common "dislikes" being that the dropper at 150mm ( large) could be longer and the seat tube angle a bit steeper.
In the absence of a review by Rob, I will add mine!! .

I have the E160RSX in Orangle size large and full 29er. ....

Thanks,
The E160 is top of my shortlist along with Canyon Strive, Orbea Wild and Levo comp - which is why I looked for a review by Rob.
Wrinkle is I really want a Mullet so the E160RSX but I am 5'6" and the small only comes in 27er - no Mullet. I could go Medium but not sure I should. I will try and find a dealer with small and medium so I can compare.

 

[samjlevy]

Thanks,
The E160 is top of my shortlist along with Canyon Strive, Orbea Wild and Levo comp - which is why I looked for a review by Rob.
Wrinkle is I really want a Mullet so the E160RSX but I am 5'6" and the small only comes in 27er - no Mullet. I could go Medium but not sure I should. I will try and find a dealer with small and medium so I can compare.

The RSX is 29er only.

You can mullet it with the Shape It Up link.

I’m 5’7” and the RSX is good for me.

If I was buying now I’d probably go for the Strive over the E160 to be honest. It’s lighter, has more travel, it’s slightly slacker, has a steeper seat tube angle, the Bosch integration is better and it’s a mullet.

 

[maynard]

Cos Whyte are too stingy to give Rob a free bike . When i get my Eeb company rolling, Rob's the first to get a bike . To make matters worse there both English !

 

[Rob Rides EMTB]

Cos Whyte are too stingy to give Rob a free bike . When i get my Eeb company rolling, Rob's the first to get a bike . To make matters worse there both English !

To make things clear I dont get free bikes. I purchase my bikes! Any demo / test bikes get returned to the brands

Will definitely be doing stuff with Whyte in the future

 

[Ark]

they are all very positive with the only common "dislikes" being that the dropper at 150mm ( large) could be longer and the seat tube angle a bit steeper.

You can just pull the dropper out the frame by an inch or so, no one should be bothered about aesthetics and slammed posts like on road bikes

Cos Whyte are too stingy to give Rob a free bike

why should they give him a free bike? they do demo days like every other company so if he wants to try one...

I've seen Whyte and Chris Akrigg on EMTB videos so they obviously care about the big channels

If I was buying now I’d probably go for the Strive over the E160 to be honest. It’s lighter, has more travel, it’s slightly slacker, has a steeper seat tube angle, the Bosch integration is better and it’s a mullet.

I suspect Whyte leave a gap on purpose for airflow around the motor, but if you pull the battery out after a few rides then 1/3 of the battery will probably have dust on it.
doesn't seem to get any moisture inside the frame from riding in the wet though

 

[samjlevy]

I suspect Whyte leave a gap on purpose for airflow around the motor, but if you pull the battery out after a few rides then 1/3 of the battery will probably have dust on it.
doesn't seem to get any moisture inside the frame from riding in the wet though

Sorry, I meant the integration is better with the Strive as they use the mini remote alongside the top tube mounted system controller rather than the remote that we get on the Whyte. I much prefer this over the Star ship enterprise remote on the E-160. Don't get me long, I love the bike, it's fantastic and I won't be selling it anytime soon, but between the two I'd go for the Strive if I had to choose now.

 

[Hobo Mikey]

To make things clear I dont get free bikes. I purchase my bikes! Any demo / test bikes get returned to the brands

Will definitely be doing stuff with Whyte in the future

Can you review the 180 RSX please Rob……then sell it to me second hand.

 

[billium]

The RSX is 29er only.

You can mullet it with the Shape It Up link.

I’m 5’7” and the RSX is good for me.

If I was buying now I’d probably go for the Strive over the E160 to be honest. It’s lighter, has more travel, it’s slightly slacker, has a steeper seat tube angle, the Bosch integration is better and it’s a mullet.

I was typing too late - I meant the MX.
I too am impressed by the Strive but MTBMonster has the Medium E160SMX on sale for£4670 - about £1100 less than the price of the base Canyon Strive and that is a pretty big difference.

 

[stiv674]

To make things clear I dont get free bikes. I purchase my bikes! Any demo / test bikes get returned to the brands

Will definitely be doing stuff with Whyte in the future

I've heard a rumour (from local Whyte dealer) that there's a lighter Whyte on the horizon...

They seem to be keen to get rid of current stock going by the current discounts.

 

[Zimmerframe]

I have to admit, I didn't like the Whytes at first.

I thought they looked like a bike factory and a blue whale had somehow had an uncomfortable moment together after too much fermented Krill.

When I was being more positive, I thought they'd been welded together using all the scrap bits of pipe recovered from Chernobyl.

As time has gone by, I've actually grown to like the look. They're far more interesting than all the other generic bikes.

I think Whyte were the first with the Gen4 in an angled configuration which resulted in a really light feeling bike when you rode it due to the battery being located low in the COG. (Centre of gravity incase anyones still lost in the world of Whale Procreation).

Add in the life time bearings, none dentistry pricing and they seem like a pretty good all round package.

 

[ashleydwsmith]

I love my e160s, only thing I’ve changed is the brakes to mt7’s and changed to Fortus 30’s. I feel so comfortable on it. And I did my first ever gap jumps

 

[Hobo Mikey]

I have to admit, I didn't like the Whytes at first.

I thought they looked like a bike factory and a blue whale had somehow had an uncomfortable moment together after too much fermented Krill.

When I was being more positive, I thought they'd been welded together using all the scrap bits of pipe recovered from Chernobyl.

As time has gone by, I've actually grown to like the look. They're far more interesting than all the other generic bikes.

I think Whyte were the first with the Gen4 in an angled configuration which resulted in a really light feeling bike when you rode it due to the battery being located low in the COG. (Centre of gravity incase anyones still lost in the world of Whale Procreation).

Add in the life time bearings, none dentistry pricing and they seem like a pretty good all round package.

I love Blue Whales.

 

[Plummet]

I tried to like them but I can't. They look horendious.

 

[Ark]

I tried to like them but I can't. They look horendious.

They look Great with a Rockbros bag, water bottle, pump and Mudguards

When your riding you don't see what your own bike looks like anyway so who cares.
I purposely wanted a bike that doesn't look like it cost 5k to all the hooded chavs who live near me

 

[davosaurusrex]

Also be good to see the latest Mondrakers reviewed

 

[Dax]

I like how Whyte engineer their bikes in the UK, so they have concepts like mud clearance rather than linkage clearance optimised for California. I just haven't ridden one that's been fun

 

[Gavalar]

I understand he can't review every bike in the world but this is popular British brand that seems to have No reviews by Rob - which is quite surprising.
Anyone know why?

Maybe it's because Rob is a professional and as such his talent and time come at a price, I remember a while ago Rob being very honest about why he hasn't reviewed a Santa Cruz bike, they didn't want to pay him, EMTB is a business and as such requires funding to bring us, subscribers, the fabulous content he provides.

 

[motocrossman1967]

Bought my large RS150 in 2020. Love it and the fact its not one of the more well known brands, even though I also ride a Giant (Trance one) MTB.
In my 50's now so I didn't want to follow the crowd and ride a Specialized Levo for that reason. Designed for UK conditions not California and doesn't stand out and attract unwanted attention from low life scum!

 

[JoshuaSharpe]

Maybe it's because Rob is a professional and as such his talent and time come at a price, I remember a while ago Rob being very honest about why he hasn't reviewed a Santa Cruz bike, they didn't want to pay him, EMTB is a business and as such requires funding to bring us, subscribers, the fabulous content he provides.

Professional is correct. The 'Rob rides eMTB' youtube channel (and this forum) is Robyn's job and his business. Despite his earlier protest, anyone that assumes Rob reviews these bikes for free is being a bit naive.

 

[Giox]

...

Add in the life time bearings, none dentistry pricing and they seem like a pretty good all round package.

Only if you are not in the whytebikes.de reserved area, which is most of continental Europe. They mark up Whyte bikes more than 20% for no understandable reason...

 

[Dax]

I thought they'd been welded together using all the scrap bits of pipe recovered from Chernobyl.

That’s how they ride too

 

[gooral]

Only if you are not in the whytebikes.de reserved area, which is most of continental Europe. They mark up Whyte bikes more than 20% for no understandable reason...
View attachment 115374

Well, there is a reason, it is called Brexit, out of EU, need to pay tax, thank all who voted for it

 

[Mikerb]

Well, there is a reason, it is called Brexit, out of EU, need to pay tax, thank all who voted for it

????? what he demonstrated a bove was that the same bikes are more than 20% cheaper in the UK than in the EU!! How is that anything to do with Brexit?? I have no idea what website was being quoted but it suggests either completely incorrect pricing or a big difference in VAT and/or import taxes being paid in Europe compared to the UK.

An EMTB comprises a frame made in Taiwan, components ( e.g Shimano or SRAM) manufactured largely in China etc etc, . The only aspect of value that pertains to the brand and its Country of origin is design and R and D................so what tax and what import duty is paid and where must be pretty complex. One thing that did change in Europe post Brexit ( albeit nothing to do with Brexit) was the introduction by the European Commission of compulsory VAT charging at point of sale for European businesses. The EU also introduced up to 48% import levy on Chinese aluminium..........dont know if that is a factor here.

 

[Giox]

????? what he demonstrated above was that the same bikes are more than 20% cheaper in the UK than in the EU!! How is that anything to do with Brexit?? I have no idea what website was being quoted but it suggests either completely incorrect pricing or a big difference in VAT and/or import taxes being paid in Europe compared to the UK.

An EMTB comprises a frame made in Taiwan, components ( e.g Shimano or SRAM) manufactured largely in China etc etc, . The only aspect of value that pertains to the brand and its Country of origin is design and R and D................so what tax and what import duty is paid and where must be pretty complex. One thing that did change in Europe post Brexit ( albeit nothing to do with Brexit) was the introduction by the European Commission of compulsory VAT charging at point of sale for European businesses. The EU also introduced up to 48% import levy on Chinese aluminium..........dont know if that is a factor here.

It's Whyte's EU distributor, whytebikes.de
I just found out that there is a 14% import tax for bikes if they aren't built in the UK for at least 70%,, which is basically impossible for most e-bikes with Shimano-SRAM-Bosch components.

Brexit and the bike industry: we ask UK brands, retailers and distributors how the new rules are affecting them

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But since most of these components come from Asia anyway they could just ship them from Asia to the EU distributor and assemble them there.
And even with the 14% duty the E-160 RS MX would cost 9700 EUR, not 10.400 (VAT is basically equivalent, you don't pay UK VAT but pay EU VAT)