WHYTE T-140 RS

£4,099 29in whytebikes.com | Worth the wait and with input from a local hero, Whyte's new 29er goes straight to the top

- Guy Kesteven

NEED TO KNOW

• New 29in version of Whyte’s popular T-140 trail bike
• Frame travel is 135mm, all models run 140mm forks, hence the name
• Whole ride feels absolutely spot on straight away with a tenacious yet flowing trail connection
• At 15.3kg (33.7lb) it at the heavy end for trail riding
• Three sizes only – no XS or S sizes in 29in

 Whyte’s new T-140 RS 29er plugs a very obvious mid-travel, big-wheel hole in the UK brand’s line-up. And it does so with an outstandingly sorted, ‘favourite from the first ride’ feel, especially if you’re really into technical trail riding.

If you’re wondering where this bike has been, it’s not because Whyte was late to the 29er party. Au contraire. Its original T-129 was a genuine game changer when it was introduced a decade ago and the S-120 was arguably ahead of the down-country curve.

Yes, a faster rolling, bigger-wheel version of Whyte’s multi-mbr test winning T-130 and T-140 trail bikes has definitely been missing for a while though. And with the brand largely caught up in corporate cost saving exercises, ahead of a sale that went through last year, the project got delayed. Covid wasn’t the best time to develop a new bike either.

But it’s finally here and while the alloy front end looks similar to existing Whyte frames, it’s all new. The most obvious difference is the sleeker, straight top tube and external seat collar. The back end shares dropouts with the T-160, but again it’s new; the T-140 sporting a bridgeless seatstay design to keep the chainstay length well under 440mm.