Last Wednesday we popped down to sunny Oxfordshire to see the new 2011 Whytes and Marins.
Whyte
Above, an entry-level Whyte in all its hydroformed loveliness, the 805. £899.00 gets you Shimano SLX Shifting and Hayes Stroker brakes .
The 809 gets the the same frame, but goes up to 2×10 with Sram X7 Elixir brakes and Rockshox Recons. £1199.00
Nice little finishing details…
The 901 is a kind of ruff & tuff hardcore(ish) hardtail. £1149.00 gets you Recons x7 and Elixirs.
White 19 Trail. £1995.00 Interchangable drop outs, Fox 15QR thru axle forks and upgraded groupset.
XO kit here, or you can run it singlespeed or, heaven forbid, probably a hub gear box should you choose, all possible with the interchangeable drop outs.
The 19 in Steel, £1499.00- OEM Only Fox ALPS fork which come with an open oil bath design, should be a very low maintenance UK friendly bike.
Whyte TI £3495.00 XTR – XT and FSA finishing kit.
19C Race bikes – starting at £1999.00 – these come with a slacker head angle compared to most race bikes of 70 degrees, with BB30 and 2×10 across the range with 100mm forks.
Whyte 146 Works. Twenty five pounds and a 150 (146)mm travel bike! Loads of interesting stuff going on here .
First of all they’ve got half a pound off the frame for this year which is not an inconsiderable weight loss, secondly is the ability to mix and match new “standards ” that are appearing on the bikes this year whether it’s bottom bracket, brake mount, axle length and fit or headsets.
All good stuff. Geometry wise there’s a 66 degree headangle and low BB combined with a decent length cockpit which makes for a very UK/European take on this type of All Mountain/Enduro bike, rather than some of the more tall and steep designs we’ve been seeing from the States.
Now interchangeability – you can run 35 mm quick release, 142mm Shimano/Syntace style thru axle or Maxle back end with the modular drop outs. The threads for the brake to attach to the mount use trunnion nuts (they’re those things that hold your Ikea flat pack beds together inside the frame ) so if in a bout of over excitement you strip a thread, you just replace the nut not the whole dropout.
New vaguely curved seatstay/chainstays – to help with calf clearance and also stiffen up the frame in the process.
Interchangable BB’s. Pressfit BB30 shell with built in ISCG mount on the right. If you want to run a older style crank combo another sleeve can be fitted so it’ll run Shimano or Raceface style BB Crank sets.
“He said trunnion nut! LOL”
T 120 – 120m Version of the Whyte in aluminum with specific to Whyte 120mm Reba tapered steered Maxle forks (Rockshox aren’t making them for anyone else). Much of the interchangeability from the 146 passes down to this bike.
Marin
There’s a clear family resemblance going on between Whyte and Marin – but there’s also a definite difference in the feel of the two brands.
First up is the Riftzone, part of their XC range of full suspension bikes – 100mm each end using its Quad Link design – the front link has gone from a “H” Shape to a “Y” Shape linkage to improve leg clearance and this is throughout the range. The Rift Zones cost between £1599.00 to £2499.00
The classic Mount Vision. From its original single pivot “RonHills and a beard” Polaris-conquering goliath of the late 90’s to its current design as a 140mm all mountain monster – 67.5 degree headangle – lower BB… it’s quite the modern Mary. Prices range from£1849.00 to £2999.00
Attack Trail remains the same for this year frame-wise but you get more kit for your hard earned pound – Marin has this as your Mega-Avalanche, playbike kind of thing. Two models priced at £2499.00 for the 6.8 or £3399.00 for the 6.9
I politely listened as the benefits of the big wheel was eulogised about by the one American at the show but if you want a big wheeler Marin has one for you, weighing just 1100 grams for the frame. It’s preferred carbon construction technique makes for a stiffer frame than other methods as the carbon is formed over solid molds- so less glue and more carbon as you can crush more air out of the frame. Aesthetically with a lot of other brands this year the 29ers are looking more complete and not as gangly as previous year’s models.
Neat chainstay mounted disc mount. Price to be confirmed.
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Whyte obviously pay their graphic designer more money than Marin.
Those Whytes are looking exceptionally well sorted.
Nice, and bet you will be able to see them at this years Marin Dusk til Dawn on October 2/3rd
The Whyes look good.
Twenty five pounds for that Whyte 146 Works is an absolute flippin bargain. I’m buying two…
25lbs for a 160mm bike – stunning !
I’ve been dreaming of this 146 ever since I was told about it. Can’t wait to get mine in. Sorry, I meant OUR demo bike.
Come on Matt a bit more enthusiasim please. I saw the bikes recently and the Mount Visions looked amazing value (espesially compared to the other big brands), and they rode amazing. The new/re-newed T120 was also a real show stopper along with the 146 which I thought is the first 160mm bike to be truly “all mountain” with loads of inovation and that weight of 25lb’s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The base 146 is only 26lb and £3k, i’d say a light year ahead of the much hyped Cannondale Jekyll
I spotted one of the new 901s the other day and it looked superb. Even had Matchmaker clamps on!
One question though, Marin and Whyte are both distributed by ATB Sales. Does it not seem like they’re really pumping their efforts in to Whyte? Are they moving away from Marin?
I find them both boring. Sorted? Possibly, but boring to look at.
That 146 is the absolute cats. Had I not just bought a new Wolf Ridge in the last four weeks, I’d be putting down a deposit on the 146 as soon as possible…
It’s cheaper than an S Works Enduro too…
It’s called a 146 because, running the same back end design as the Marin Attack Trail it has 146mm travel, not 160mm.
I’d still well have one though.
The 146 looks ace but more bike than I’d ever need. I am however having some rather naughty thoughts about the T120.
I’ve got one of the 2010 901’s and the description of the 2011 model here is close to my experience – not the hardest kid in the yard but it can take a fair
few knocks and is pretty versatile. Front end is a bit skittish though you adapt to it.
that seat ckamp/union flag details is nice, other wise same ugly bikes with different graphics, probably ride excellently but i wouldn’t want to be seen on one
Like said above the 146 has 146mm of travel, not 160, so while lightish, it’s not that exceptional.
“Those Whytes are looking exceptionally well sorted.”
I concur, I think that 805 will be on plenty of C2W schemes
The Whyte hardtails look sweet. (Apart from the xc race one.)
Edited Gents- I had a lot of notes and having 146- written next to number regarding headangles etc….. Well it all get a bit confusing ;]
What happened to the Marin Attack Trail 4x bike?
They showed it on the Gadget Show in 2009, but that was it!
Anybody know if this is going to be released?
nice offerings from Whyte in the hardtail department
however the Marin’s make me gag somewhat and conjure up images of Volvos and Ronhills at afan
but … but … my Ikea bed fell apart when the trunnion nuts stripped their way out of the chipboard. those dropouts aren’t made of chipboard are they? Good!!
those whytes look lovely.
Is there any info on weights for the Rift Zone around? Being deeply unfashionable it looks like the perfect match for me. All the travel I’ll ever need but a relatively slack head angle and a longish top tube for the size which I like.
like the 146 and the steel 19 looks very tempting
That 146 is the first Whyte I’ve ever had the hots for. Just looks FAST.
Agree with legin,
you can’t beat steel, for sex appeal..
but what’s that Ispy..
oooh TI..