If you're after a bike with more stability then you'd be better off looking at a Bronson or a Hightower, or something with more travel and a longer chainstay to be honest.
Looks like Large vs XL (in low) is 476 vs 496, wheelbase being 31mm longer. You say you're a tyres on ground rider, the extra reach and wheelbase could work really well for you, if it is a lil too long, shorter stem, diff bars and headset spacers could help bring it back in.
I'm 186 and went from an old large of 465 to a newer XL of 511 and really like it.
I'm 6ft 3 and just went from 515 reach back down to 480. I found the longer bike was great on easier, straighter trails, but if I wasn't paying enough attention to body position it was easy to not weight the front enough and loose grip. It also felt a bit too stuck to ground on all but the fastest trails.
It looks like your whyte is pretty much the same reach as a large 5010 - which I'd say is right for your height too, but there's 10mm more chainstay and about 50mm more wheelbase on the the 5010. Those 2 values alone will make it feel more stable than the Whyte. The XL is around 85mm longer in wheelbase than the Whyte, How much more stability do you want?
It's really down to personal preference and riding style to a degree though - you might love the XL, but my experience is that you can go too far and loose other traits that you value too.
@jamesy01 I am 5ft11 and ride a large after riding a large whyte t130, my friend is 6ft 3 he rides an xl, he is longer in the arms that you.
The large is still a very stretched out bike. where are you based?
I'm 6'0.5", have a large 5010 v4
I feel it fits, but I havent tried the XL.
However I'd say I prefer playfulness over stability. (I think a jib is a type of sail and can't hold a wheelie if my life depended on it; so I'm not some cool kid, so playful in the sense of tight woodland trails rather than tricks)
@jamesy01 I am the same height as you and I used to have the same Whyte in the same size!!!
I brought a XL Bronson. It was too big and I sold it. The reach was far too long, felt like riding... A gate.Â
Brough an L instead much, much better.Â
Thanks for all the input, looks like a large will be the best bet as a lot of my riding is between the trees in the local woods and I have a habit of unweighting the front.
Now...time to go looking for the spare change down the back of the sofa!
