Whyte MTB bikes have long been praised as some of the best bicycles 2024, particularly for UK trails and conditions. Aside from their award winning full suspension bikes they also manufacture incredible hardtail mountain bikes and that will be the focus of this blog today. We will look at what makes these hardtails great, a look at the models available and then a Q&A about the Whyte hardtail mountain bikes.
Contents and Quick Links
Read: Do I need a Hardtail or Full Suspension? - here we discuss the differences between hardtail and rear shock full suspension bikes.
Whyte MTB's are designed in the UK with UK trails in mind, whether you are cross country racing or looking to ride the most technical trails and build your skills on a hardtail mountain bike. The two models we will specifically be looking at in this article are the Whyte 529 and Whyte 629 - incredibly capable, robust and, most importantly, fun hardtail mountain bikes. But first, what, in general, makes these particular hardtails amazing?
What makes Whyte Hardtail mountain bikes Great?
1x Gearing
These hardtail mountain bikes have 'one-by' gearing meaning that there is a single cog on the front and between 10 and 12 speed at the back. There are numerous benefits to this set up including 1) having less chance of your chain coming off the front gears when shifting on rough terrain, 2) there is less wear on the chain and cassette as the bigger shifts that normally occur on 2x and 3x wear chains quicker and 3) it is simpler and frees your left hand for operating the dropper post and the brakes.
Having frames specific to 'one-by' gearing has some other interesting consequences also...
Handling
Thanks to the one-by drivetrain, there's no need for clearance for a second (and possibly a third) chainring. This has enabled Whyte to further reduce the length of their frames' already famously short chainstays by a further centimetre.
Shorter chainstays make the bike more agile and help create a more dynamic ride that you'll appreciate on every switchback and berm. Or as Whyte perfectly put it:
‘Because driving a barge is dull, we keep the back ends super short whatever the wheel size to guarantee the hop and pop agility you need to bring the trail alive.'
Clearance
As we mentioned above, Whyte MTB's are designed with UK trail centres and conditions in mind (but we should say that Whyte mountain bikes hold up incredibly well in other countries too). One of the characteristics of UK mountain bikers is that they will go out in the rain when the trails are muddy and wet. On bikes without suficient clearance, you can have the mud clogging between the wheels and the frame that can affect handling and efficiency. This is why a Whyte hardtail mountain bike will always have plenty of clearance so the mud does not clog up your wheels and tyres.
Whyte Hardtail mountain bike models
There are currently two Whyte hardtail mountain bike models available due to Whyte streamlining their range and these models are the Whyte 529 and the Whyte 629 trail hardtails - the 29 inch wheel range make for excellent cross country hardtails. We will have a look at the 529 and 629 in depth below.
Whyte 529
The great value 529 is a fast, lightweight and capable trail hardtail with award-winning handling that's incredible on singletrack, trail centre loops or epic all-day rides in the hills. Using the same perfect 10/10 MBR test-winning frame as Whyte's flagship 629 trail hardtail, the 529 delivers confidence-inspiring and capable handling so you can always ride your best, combined with low weight and smooth-rolling 29er wheels to cover ground quickly and efficiently.
The Whyte 529 comes with 120mm travel Rockshox Recon suspension fork for the perfect blend of uphill efficiency and downhill capability at trail centres, cross country routes or bikepacking rides. The 1x12 SRAM Eagle gearing gives a massive range with an 11-50 cassette and provides smooth and reliable shifting even on the roughest terrains. Tektro 4-pot brakes give confidence inspiring stopping power in all weathers. Another final spec item that most mountain bikers cannot do without is a dropper post - great for when the trail gets rowdy and you need to shift your weight on the bike without the inconvenience of having the saddle in the way.
Whyte 629
The Whyte 629 is the bigger sibling of the 529 above and is built on the same base with the frame being the same Alloy hydroformed T6 aluminium material but it is the spec that gets a significant upgrade with 120mm travel Rockshox 35 Gold suspension fork for predictable handling and braking due to the thick stanchions and plush internals. The 629 also gets an upgrade of gearing and brakes with SRAM NX Eagle 1x gearing with the huge range 11-50 cassette that gives smoother shifting, more robustness while also being lighter weight than the SX version that comes on the 529. The brakes on the 629 are the SRAM Guide T 4-pot brakes for sensitive, reliable and predictable braking on all terrains, in all weathers. Also supplied with a dropper post, in this case Whyte's own "drop-it" dropper.
Whyte Bikes FAQ's
Here are some of the top questions related to Whyte mountain bikes and the answers to each.
What makes Whyte hardtail mountain bikes ideal for UK trails?
There are a number of reasons that a Whyte hardtail mountain bike is ideal for UK trails and the first is the geometry - a shorter rear end makes these bikes incredibly nimble (yes, even the 29ers) but also stable to cater for all a UK trail can throw at it. Whether it's fast and flowy or tight and technical.
Another reason they are great for UK trails is the mud clearance - plenty of space between the tyres and frame to allow mud to flow through rather than get clogged up and finally, the choices of finishing kit but mainly the tyres are chosen to cater for wetter conditions to give maximum grip and stability.
What are the key features of Whyte's SCR frame technology?
SCR (Single Chainring) technology is what allows Whyte to shorten their chainstays which, in effect, shortens the wheelbase and gives Whyte bikes their unique sharp and nimble handling.
Why is a 1× drivetrain beneficial for mountain biking?
A 1x drivetrain is massively beneficial for mountain biking as this technology has allowed chainstays to be shortened to reduce the wheelbase and improve handling (discussed above). A 1x drivetrain also makes it almost impossible to lose your chain off the front cog as no big shifts at the front are required as this was the reason for most chain drops while on rough terrain and finall, a 1x results in less chain and cassette wear meaning you have to replace parts less often.
How does the geometry on mountain bikes affect ride quality?
Geometry is responsible for how the bike handles on certain terrain and each aspect of the geometry is thought out for the type of riding the bike is designed for. A slacker fork angle will likely be on a more downhill oriented bike with the sacrifice being climbing ability while a more upright fork will be on more cross country bikes where climbing efficiency is key. Another factor affecting handling is the wheel size - 29ers will naturally be a more stable bike while a 27.5 (650B) bike will be a bit livlier on technical trails.
What are the best Whyte hardtail models for beginners and why?
Any of the 29er models would be a great choice due to the stable nature of the handling which gives confidence to beginner mountain bikers as beginners are also unlikely to head straight for technical trails (but good on those that do!).
How often should I service my Whyte hardtail mountain bike?
Yes, we do get this question a lot but about all types of bikes. The answer is that it depends how you use the bike and how often you ride. For a full check up, we would advise every 6 months or so for those that use the bike a lot or a year for those that use their bike less often. It is also a good idea to get your suspension forks serviced every year.
What size Whyte bike should I choose based on my height?
We have handy Whyte size guides here but we always say; the bet way to know for sure your size is to pop in to your local Edinburgh Bicycle Store to sit on the bikes and get expert advice.
What accessories should I consider with my Whyte hardtail mountain bike?
There are some basics we would recommend with a hardtail mountain bike - these would be a mountain bike specific helmet that has more coverage to the back of the head, some decent pedals whether these are flat pedals with pins for grip on flat shoes or clip in pedals for better efficiency. Those are the basics but some padded shorts are always worth a buy as some saddles can be rather unforgiving.
Are Whyte hardtail mountain bikes good for both climbing and descending?
The answer to this will sound a bit wishy-washy but yes... to an extent. Traditionally, the more you prioritise climbing, the more you lose in terms of descending and vice versa. This is still the case in modern mountain biking so we would always treat this as a case-by-case basis with out customers. We would ascertain what you need the bike to do and recommend based on that. There will certainly be Whyte bikes that are excellent descenders, excellent all-rounders and excellent climbers.