2024 Whyte

ELyte 150 Works

Die britische MTB-Marke Whyte verpasst seinem Light E-MTB Elyte den dicken Bosch-Motor Performance Line CX, aber einen schmalen Akku. Perfekt für Trail-Spaß?!

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Given its overall agility, the reserves and reassuring feeling when pushing the Whyte ELyte EVO Stag Works hard are impressive.

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It’s no secret that Whyte’s full power e-bikes are built solid, and as a result, they typically weigh over 25kg. So when the ELyte 150 launched  a year ago, the goal for Whyte was to produce an enduro rated SL e-bike that weighed under 20kg. – Short of time? Click here to skip to the verdict – The ELyte platform is designed around the Bosch SX system with 55Nm torque and 600 watts peak power, and it’s Whyte’s first carbon e-bike. For reference, the top-end ELyte Works bike that I tested last year weighed 19.7kg. But can the more affordable RSX build that I’m testing here also make the cut in our bumper 8-bike SL E-Bike of the Year shoot-out? In short, yes. And at 19.92kg it’s not actually that much heavier than the flagship model, especially given that it costs two grand less. Granted, you don’t get the 250Wh Powermore range extender included with the bike, but the real question here is, does the ELyte RSX deliver a similar ride quality to the Works build? But before I answer that, let’s take a look at the details. Frame and geometry The reason for the insignificant weight difference between the two ELyte models is simple. Both bikes use the exact same full carbon frame and Bosch SX motor with the 400Wh battery hidden inside the down tube. So the higher specification on the Works build just makes marginal gains on the scale, albeit with a substantial drain on your wallet. I should also point out that the ELyte 150 RSX is one kilo heavier than claimed. Granted, Whyte states the claimed weight for a size M bike on its website, and I’m testing the size L here, but even so, there must be some other trickery going on, like no bottle cage, sealant etc. to get the claimed weight that low. Or it could just be a typo. Either way, the sleek carbon ELyte frame rolls on 29in wheels and comes in four sizes, small to XL. And while Whyte has been known for its progressive sizing and geometry in the past, everyone else has caught up and now the numbers on the Whyte are simply the norm. So the 63.9º head angle and 470mm reach, in the low geometry setting, don’t standout on a size L e-bike in 2024. To give high and low geometry settings, Whyte uses a Shape.it Link shock extender with an asymmetric insert in the shock eyelet. The bike comes stock in the high position, but I much prefer the lower setting as it allowed me to get my weight back more easily with those lengthy 453mm chainstays. And by lengthy I’m talking 19mm longer than the Norco Fluid VLT and 21mm longer than the Specialized Turbo Levo SL that are also in this SL group test. The longer rear end is a direct result of the bike being designed around 29in wheels. Don’t want to run full 29in? Well you can also convert the …Continue reading »

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