Components

There’s a full SRAM arsenal with the 1×12 X0 Eagle drivetrain and X0 carbon crank (using a threaded bottom bracket) giving climbing ability along with good chain retention and transmission silence in all conditions. The four piston Guide RSC stoppers, a Dirt favourite, keep the reliability when you need to slow the old girl up. A RockShox Reverb stealth dropper with the new 1x lever gives a clean look and improved ergonomics.

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Some carbon goodies are on show from RaceFace with the SixC 800mm handlebar, along with the all-new Whyte carbon rims. These are a 30mm wide hookless design with a 28 hole configuration and spin on Hope Pro4 hubs. They also have the very trick decals that match the bike’s aesthetics.

Suspension and chassis

More RockShox on show here with a pair of 170mm Lyrik RCT3 forks that have been a high performing component for the past few years and a Dirt 100 pick. At the rear there is a metric RockShox Super Deluxe Debonair RT3 damper giving the same travel as the front at 170mm.

Whyte’s Quad 4 suspension platform is something that has been refined over the past few years and with the G-170 some extra progression has been built in to give extra support when needed in the tough conditions.

Shape and fit

The size large frame is once again bang on for riders around and just above the six foot mark. The reach numbers of 478.8mm give some good indication of this and matched with the 820mm bar there really is plenty of room.

The 65° head angle some may think is a bit on the steep side for a long travel bike like this but the G-170 held its own and gave a super-nimble feel when in the tight stuff.

Feeling

Before getting the Whyte on the hill is was apparent that this was a bike built with going fast downhill in mind. With a bottom bracket height of 329mm this really is a super low set up even with the stock 2.4” Maxxis rubber fitted. Silent, easy speed is one way to describe the G-170, hitting some very demanding tracks at a fair pace. Not once did I question whether the bike would cope; it just eats the obstacles up.

‘With a good feeling of balance when in the air this Whyte shapes up to be a real “all round” contender’

The rear stays’ aluminium construction seem to contribute some flex to the picture in this often full-carbon world. The wider rear construction (a single chainring specific frame with a 148mm Boost rear hub spacing) also gives the option of running some high volume rubber with no worry of clearance so there’s some future-proofing on the go here.