Unless it’s built with fancy materials, the ‘trail hardtail’ is one that’s often relegated to the entry-level or budget-friendly category. However, Whyte has aimed to turn that idea on its head with the new Secta R. Using all of the same mod-cons as the already established Secta platform, the R build brings its performance and price to a more accessible £899.
If you know your Whyte hardtails, you’ll know that they’re far from the towpath-hunting rigs that are commonly associated with bikes at this price. They’re aggressively shaped and primed for UK trail riding. And that’s exactly the case with the Secta.
Just like the rest of the Secta range, the Secta R revolves around a 6061 T6 aluminium frame and uses Whyte’s Total Geometry Concept, which promises a balanced ride and heaps of composure across terrain common in modern trail mountain biking. That means a large frame benefits from a 470mm reach and a 76.5-degree seat tube angle, where all sizes use a slack 63.5-degree head angle and a 443.4mm chainstay length. The bike then rolls on a pair of 29in hoops.
With the Secta R, Whyte has brought all of that to a more affordable package, thanks to a host of spec changes to suit. So the bike runs Suntour’s XCR 34 fork with 130mm of travel, and there’s a TransX dropper post providing up to 200mm of drop on L and XL frame sizes.
Shifting is provided by Shimano and its CUES 1×9 drivetrain, and the bike slows down thanks to a pair of dual-piston Tektro brakes mated to 180mm rotors at both ends. Traction is then provided thanks to a pair of Maxxis tyres.
If you’re looking for a performance-focused first step into mountain biking, or an affordable, minimal-maintenance winter hardtail, the Whyte Secta R will set you back £899.
