Whyte MTB Bikes have long been known for producing outstanding quality full-suspension mountain bikes which offer supremely capable, fast and fun bikes. Our colleague James from our Newcastle branch is an very experienced and exceptionally skilled (we’ve seen the videos!) mountain biker and he puts Whyte’s reputation to the test when he tried the 2023 T-140 RS Whyte full suspension.
Contents and Quick Links
- Whyte T-140 Key Spec – A runthrough of the latest T-140 Spec
- T-140 Performance Review – James’s review of the 2023 T-140
- Geometry and Sizing – The geometry chart and size guide for Whyte full-sus MTB’s
- Benefits and Trade-Offs – The benefits of shorter travel bikes and the trade-offs involved
- Similar Options from Other Brands – Other options for shorter travel full-sus mountain bikes
- Frequently Asked Questions – The most commonly asked questions about the T-140 according to the internet
Whyte T-140 RS 29er Key Spec
- Model year tested 2023
Current 2025 Model Spec
- 140mm front and 135mm of rear suspension travel.
- Fox Float 34 Performance Elite 29in fork + custom-tuned Fox DPS – Performance Elite Evol LV shock
- SRAM GX Eagle 12 speed mechanical transmission (32T chainring x 11-52T cassette)
- 29in trail-smoothing wheels front and rear
- Can be converted to MX wheels (29er front, 27.5in rear) for a more gravity-focused ride
- Whyte custom saddle
- Price for 2025 version: £2499
- Sizes available: Medium, Large & Extra Large
-
Front: Maxxis Minion DHF TR 29″ x 2.5″ WT 60TPI, EXO Sidewall Protection, 3C Maxx Terra. Rear: Maxxis Dissector TR 29″ x 2.4″ WT 120TPI, EXO+ Sidewall Protection, 3C Maxx Terra
See the current Whyte T-140 RS here.
Whyte T-140 RS 2023 Performance Review
Over to James for his review…
I had the pleasure of taking the Whyte T140RS out on the trails after hearing and reading so much about it. The bike surprised me with its ability to grip and control the rougher terrain with being a mid-travel bike. A 140mm Fox 34 performance elite front fork and 135mm Fox Float DPS Performance Elite rear shock is usually a set up based more for the speed and flow not so much the rougher technical aspect but, I wasn’t expecting the capabilities it had, descending on more technical terrain.
The suspension set up gave it a solid platform to want to push that little bit harder. There are a lot of adjustments that can be made to the set up and to fine tune the ideal ride for you with the front fox 34 giving plenty of customisation. It has a high and low speed rebound and compression so I can well imagine the bike would perform even better when fully tuned and set up after a few rides in the saddle. The fork with 140mm of travel, felt so capable in some sticky rut situations, holding a large amount of speed and preventing brake adjustments which was quite favourable.
The 29 Wheel set up just seemed to skip over the top of most braking bumps and rougher aspects to keep the bike smoother and faster roll speed through the majority of trails. A wide rim internal from the Race Face rims gave it a burly feel and the Maxxis tyre combo just felt right with excellent grip on cornering and good roll speed. It felt strange cornering and not having the temptation to back off slightly before the entry, knowing the bike was able to muster up the traction to keep the grips out the dirt but, low enough to rail the corner.
It’s very efficient on the pedalling, with a Sram 12 speed set up it made the hills a breeze and the flats seem non-existent, a fast-rolling bike for sure. For myself I found the current set up a little large being 5’8-5’9 on a good day the medium was fast and stable but perhaps a small size would have been slightly better for me. So far Whyte supply Medium as their smallest size in the 29 spec. I personally would trim the bars a little with them being a 780mm wide. Other than that, the cockpit felt tough.
The current alloy frame feels slightly heavy for a mid-travel bike, but this gives it a reliable stiffness and a nice balanced control which allowed me to push through harsher terrain with more confidence and ascending and descending, the weight wasn’t noticeable riding at all. With a 4-year warranty provided by Whyte as well and lifetime bearing warranty it definitely feels a reliable option for taming the trails.
The Whyte T-140 RS comes with Shape.it link which can slacken the head angle by 0.7º and taking 8mm off the bb height. I kept it in its default position which is another adjustment this bike is capable of for the next time. This is a bike you can happily ride in a default position or if you’re a tinkerer like me there is a large number of adjustments that can be made to get this bike to be even more playful.
I rode the bike in the wet – the sloppy wet at that. The bike had weather sealed cable housing to prevent any excess water creating a small stream into the frame – a nice touch! The 4 piston brakes worked very well in the wet when required but, due to the extensive amount of grip and seemingly unrivalled balance at this travel level they weren’t often required.
Verdict
This is a bike not for comparison on a website or the shop floor, this is for taking it out to the trails and really experiencing it yourself. It is a bike that feels like it’s more capable than the spec sheet shows and provides a reassuringly large amount of confidence to push this harder than maybe you have done previously. A bike that has nailed the mid travel game for capable speed handling and fast uphill climbing. A comfortable riding position to be in for both ascending and descending. The bike is well equipped with Fox 34 and Fox float on the rear to get your grip on any terrain. A brilliant option for first time buyers or for those who are wanting to trade-off a little bit of travel for an extra handful of speed. A great bike for a weekend riding singletracks with a dodge down some more adventurous off-piste.
See all Whyte bikes
Whyte T140 Mountain bike geometry and sizing
Whyte Bike geometry
| FRAME SIZE | Small | Medium | Large | Extra Large |
| A – REACH (mm) | 430 | 455 | 483 | 510 |
| B – STACK (mm) | 621.4 | 633.2 | 646.8 | 658.5 |
| C – HEAD ANGLE (° degrees) | 65.3 (64.7) | 65.3 (64.7) | 65.3 (64.7) | 65.3 (64.7) |
| D – SEAT ANGLE (° degrees) | 76.4 | 76.2 | 76 | 75.8 |
| E – BB HEIGHT (mm) | 338 (330) | 338 (330) | 338 (330) | 338 (330) |
| F – WHEELBASE (mm) | 1184.7 | 1215.1 | 1249.5 | 1282 |
| G – REAR CENTRE (mm) | 435 | 435 | 435 | 435 |
| H – STANDOVER HEIGHT (mm) | 735 | 735 | 735 | 735 |
| I – SEAT TUBE LENGTH (mm) | 395 | 420 | 445 | 470 |
| J – HEAD TUBE LENGTH (mm) | 107 | 120 | 135 | 148 |
Whyte Full Suspension Size Guide
| Bike Size | Rider Height | |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 160 – 168cm | 5’3″ – 5’6″ |
| Medium | 168 – 178cm | 5’6″ – 5’10” |
| Large | 178 – 188cm | 5’10” – 6’2″ |
| Extra Large | 188 – 198cm | 6’2″ – 6’6″ |
Between sizes
If you are between sizes, you have the choice depending on the sort of handling you would like. If you size down, you will find the bike more manoeuvrable on technical trails. If you would prefer a longer and more stable bike than size up. This advice goes for most mountain bikes but please do ask us if you are unsure.
In a nutshell
- Size Down – for a more manoeuvrable bike – perfect for technical trails where the focus is on sharp handling.
- Size up – for a more planted, longer bike – perfect for flowing routes where faster straight-line speed is preferable
Benefits and Trade-offs
As with all bicycles, there will be benefits to particular bikes that lead to certain trade-offs. Below, we will look at the trade-offs to selecting a mid-travel trail bike.
Benefits of Shorter Travel
- Better climbing ability
- Lower Weight
- Better Manoeuvrability
Trade-off’s of Shorter Travel
- Reduced ability to deal with big hits on descents
- Less forgiving meaning line choice becomes much more important
- Shorter wheelbase can feel ‘twitchy’ on really rough terrain compare to an enduro bike
Similar Options from other Brands
If you are looking for shorter travel trail bikes then you have some great options available from brands such as Specialized, Merida, Liv and Giant. Here are some of the options
Specialized
Specialized Chisel MTB – £1999 – 120mm Front (Available in Red Sky and Pistachio)
Specialized Chisel Comp MTB – £2699 – 120mm Front (Available in Emerald Metallic)
Specialized Epic 8 Evo MTB – £3199 (reduced from £4499) – 120mm Front (Available in Sea Foam)
Merida
Merida one-Forty 400 MTB – £2250 – 150mm Front (Available in Halo Green)
Merida One-Forty 700 MTB – £3100 – 150mm Front (Available in Wild Honey)
Giant
Giant Anthem Advanced SL 2 MTB – £5299 – 120mm Front (Available in Marianna Blue)
Liv
Liv Pique Advanced SL 2 MTB – £4999 – 130mm Front (Available in Dreamy Blue)
Frequently Asked Questions
Let’s see what questions the internet throws up about the Whyte T-140.
What kind of riding is the Whyte T-140 made for?
The Whyte T-140 is the perfect bike for UK trail centres and cross country riding. It gives an excellent balance of brilliant climbing ability and downhill capability. If you are looking for the best of both worlds (climbing and descending) then the T-140 could be for you.
Is 140/135mm of travel enough for UK trails, or will it feel outgunned?
The T-140 will have enough travel for the majority of UK trails but may be at risk of the suspension ‘bottoming out’ on bigger jumps and rougher terrain. We believe that for most people, on most terrains, 140mm and 135mm of travel will be more than enough. If you have any doubts, please pop in to have a chat or give us a call.
How does it cope with UK rain, mud, and winter cycling?
When you are riding a mountain bike in muddy or snowy conditions, the main concern is that the mud and snow does not get clogged up in the wheels. The T-140 has ample clearance to allow mud and snow to be shed effectively.
Does it climb well, or is it a slog on long days?
The answer to the first part of this question also answers the second part. Is this bike a good climber? Yes. And because it is a good climber, it is very efficient over distance due to this climbing efficiency. The beauty of the T-140 is that it climbs really well but then has enough travel to handle most descents.
Is it heavy because it’s alloy, and will it feel slow?
Even in the alloy version, these bikes are really lightweight for that they are. They will only feel heavier when you compare them to the carbon equivalent. The same can be said for the speed – the alloy version is a fast bike but compared to carbon, the alloy version will be slightly slower.
Do I need to be good at suspension setup to enjoy this bike?
This one depends… if you are setting the suspension yourself then, yes, you need to know the principles of suspension set up and be able to do it properly. If you are letting us set up the suspension for you then no, you do not need any particular knowledge of setting up suspension. The only thing to be aware of is to have the pressures checked periodically to make sure the air levels are not getting too low.
If you have any questions, you can visit any of our stores to get expert advice and try bikes for size. Our shops are located in…