2023 Whyte

909 X

Now, you are probably thinking, £3.5k for a hardtail and the frame isn’t steel or carbon? Well, we thought the exact same thing when the 909 X arrived and even joked that maybe the X was shorthand for eXpensive. (It’s not, by the way). But the main question is, is it’s performance worth the price, and does it rank among the best hardtail mountain bikes we’ve tested? Need to know: Bridgeless stays offers stacks of mud clearance, even with the high-volume 2.8in Plus rear tyre SRAM’s wireless GX AXS drivestrain, means one less cable to contend with The maximum height of Whyte’s Drip.it 150mm post can be adjusted down in 10mm increments to 120mm With 130mm travel, the RockShox Pike Ultimate fork maintains more stable geometry So what exactly does that kinda money get you from the brand that’s synonymous with great british hardtails? In short, you get a seriously cool bike. Obviously, at this price, the specification is top-notch, and includes a 130mm travel RockShox Pike Ultimate fork and wireless SRAM GX AXS drivetrain, but it’s actually the 909 X’s alloy frame that’s the standout feature here. And it’s the exact same frame Whyte uses on all three models in the 900 series Enduro range. So if £3.5k is too much for you to swallow, you could pick up the 901 for £1,850. But enough about money, let’s take a closer look at the frame. Features like the bridgeless stays and sealed Get-a-grip seat collar make the 909 X winter friendly while the curved stays out back make it joint friendly. Yes, the bendy profile of the stays provide a modicum of extra clearance for the high volume 27.5in Plus tyres that the 900 series Enduro hardtails roll on, but the real advantage of the more convoluted approach is that it makes for physically longer stays, not a longer rear end. This in turn makes them easier to flex, and stays that are easier to flex provide a more compliant frame. Combine the high quality frame with the high volume 2.8in Plus size Maxxis tyres, and the Whyte 909 X offers unparalleled levels of comfort, grip and control. Now, we’re not talking full suspension levels here, as it’s only the difference between a 2.4in tyre and a 2.8in, which translates to a couple of psi lower pressure in the bigger tyre. But it is a noticeable improvement and it’s really appreciable in rougher trails. It’s also the key reason why we’d like to see more MX hardails at all price points, as fatter rear tyres have real world advantages on hardtails. Suspension Shorter travel forks have obvious advantages on hardtails too, namely that they help limit dramatic swings in geometry, and better match the lack of travel on the rear. So the 130mm RockShox Pike Ultimate is the great choice. And the Ultimate version is packed with features, like bleed ports on the back of the lower legs that make it easy to purge any air that’s been sucked …Continue reading »

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