We saw lots of nice new bikes over on the Whyte Bikes stand at the 2018 Cycle Show yesterday including the all-new Whyte S120, updated T130 and updated G170, but what took us by complete surprise is this, the Whyte T120 kids bike.
The T120 is so new to the Whyte range that they didn’t have a confirmed RRP for the bike, but did say that they’re hoping to sell the mini full-susser for around £1600 once it hits stores.
What makes the T120 so interesting is that this is the first time that Whyte has released a child-specific full-suspension platform. The previous Whyte T130 SX, which many parents bought for children, was a super small adult bike but the T120 has been developed from the tyres up for kids in mind.
Rolling on 26in wheels means that the T120 has an impressively low stand-over height allowing younger riders to climb on board a proper bike sooner, and although this 120mm travel bike is aimed at kids, it comes fully equipped with high-performance kit.
The suspension is handled by a RockShox RockShox Deluxe RT3 rear shock with lockout, while the front wheel is held in place by a Suntour Raidon air fork with all the adjustments that you would expect to on a see ‘real’ mountain bike including compression and rebound controls.
Shimano handles the 1×10 drivetrain using a Deore rear mech and shifter, mated to a Whyte branded MPX10 chainset. We were also impressed to see a set of 4 pot brakes from Tektro as standard on the T120 too.
The frame itself actually uses the previous Whyte suspension linkage system that was fitted to the current/previous T130 so we know the T120 should provide an engaging and playful ride just what any young rider is sure to be looking for. Cable routing is all internal for neatness, and there are also provisions in the frame to fit a stealth dropper post too, however, a standard QR post comes on the bike out of the box.
If the T120 with it’s 26in wheels is too small for your future downhill champion then you’ll be happy to know that the updated alloy Whyte T130 will still be available XS sizing too. Let us know what you think of this little ripper in the comments section below.
We’ll have more news from the Whyte booth and the 2018 Cycle Show later today, so keep posted.
Comments (5)
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26 inch wheels. TWENTY SIX !!!
Yeay.
An outlet for all the spare tyres hung up in the garage.
This would be far more interesting with horizontal dropouts and a concentric BB pivot.
My Dartmoor Shine is getting a bit long in the tooth…
I appreciate it is hard to do with an ‘adult’ size wheel and suspension forks, but kids mountain bikes always have incredibly high bars, with the riders sat bolt upright with no weight on the front using the handlebars like a flat steering wheel. This seems to result in really sketchy cornering and lackluster climbing ability; although it does help immensely with wheelying a heavy bike. Can anyone with good kids who who was riding ‘proper’ mtb as a kid help me out?
Isla is riding an Islabikes Creig 26 at the moment, and it has a proper riding position. She can get low over the top tube, and head over the stem. She thrashes it down red route rocks and roots with confidence. It was a bit sit up and beg when she first got on, but fits perfectly now.
I think the trick is to get a bike where they are not right at the bottom of the size range. I’d like to try these out, against an Xs 130 as well.
any weights or geo/frame specs?