Specialized coined ‘Electric Rally’, now Whyte has brought ‘Hard Country’ to bring a little more confusion to the mix. Though it reckons that its two new Karve e-MTB models live up to that new genre’s name, as it says that it’s a significant leap in e-MTB performance. But today’s not just about electricity-assisted e-mountain bikes, as the brand has also unveiled two new regular mountain bikes, for those who like to go up a hill under nothing but their own steam. Let’s have a chat about the Karve, Syphon, and Sythe.
Before we dive into what makes each bike exciting, they all benefit from a bunch of the same features. Namely, they all use Whyte’s latest version of the Quad-Link suspension kinematics. That means that the bikes utilise a four-bar linkage that the brand says, “works efficiently and rides exceptionally”.
The bikes also follow Whyte’s Total Geometry concept. So each size gets its own front triangle, shaped exactly for that size. Of course, this is nothing too far from the norm, but the concept also addresses the rear triangles. Those geometries are then adjustable via the Shape.It Link, and the bikes can be converted to run mixed or full 29in wheelsets.
As expected of Whyte, the bikes are backed by lifetime frame and pivot-bearing warranties, and they have straight seat tubes to allow for the full insertion of long travel dropper posts. Anyway, onto those bikes.
Hard Country is a thing now… for the Karve, at least
So, the Karve exists already, kind of, but in the guise of the big travelled Karve Evo that was released when all of the other Avinox bikes were unveiled, on the day that shall not be named.
I’ll admit, I don’t really know what Whyte’s getting at with Hard Country, but let’s roll with it. The Karve is a new Avinox M2S-equipped e-mountain bike that’s built for enduro, “but not as we know it”, says Whyte. To touch on that motor, it’s capable of outputting up to 1,300W of peak power and 150Nm of torque. It’s then combined with an 800Wh battery.
The bike itself then rocks 160mm of suspension at both ends, and as standard, it comes with a pair of 29-inch wheels. It’s then available with a full carbon frame, or another model with a carbon front triangle and alloy rear.
Built as a do-it-all enduro e-MTB, the Karve features a very lengthy 494mm reach on a large frame, a 78.3-degree seat tube angle, a 63.4-degree head angle in its slackest setting and a 455mm chainstay.
The £5,650 Karve RS benefits from a RockShox Lyrik Select fork, a Super Deluxe shock, along with SRAM’s Eagle 70 shifting, SRAM Maven Base brakes, and a Maxxis Assegai tyre up front, combined with a DHR II at the rear. These are seated to Whyte rims. The £7,799 Karve RSX then ups the game with Fox Factory suspension in the form of a 36 fork and Float X shock. SRAM GX T-Type provides the shifting whereas SRAM Maven Silver brakes slow the bike down. Rolling on DT Swiss H1900 rims, it gets the same tyre specification.
The Sythe and Syphon mark an evolution of the beloved T-Series
For years now, Whyte’s T-Series of bikes, including the T-160, T-140, and T-130, have been receiving praise from the industry and riders alike, but now, the curtains have dropped. However, it’s being replaced with the Sythe and Syphon.
The Syphon takes the place of the T-140 as it dons 135mm of rear travel, combined with 140mm up front. This one runs a set of 29in wheels as standard, and that’s all bolted to a hydroformed aluminium frame.
It’s geometry looks pretty spot on for a trail bike, with a large frame donning a 485mm reach and all sizes rocking a 64.4-degree head angle in its slackest setting, a 73-degree actual seat tube angle (on a large) and a 445mm chainstay.
There is only one Syphon model available at the moment, with the bike receiving a RockShox Bike Base fork, a RockShox Deluxe Select R shock, along with Shimano Deore 12-speed shifting, TRP EVO Comp brakes and Whyte Trail rims. This bike rolls on Schwalbe Albert Trail Radial tyres and will set you back £2,199.
The Sythe takes a similar platform but boosts the suspension travel to 160mm at the rear and 170mm up front for a bit of gravity-loving. It runs a hydroformed alloy frame, like the Syphon, and gets all of the same features. However, this bike comes with a mixed wheel size as standard.
As the Sythe is built to be a more aggressive ripper, it gets a more aggressive geometry. A large frame comes with a 482mm reach but there’s a super slack 63.2-degree head angle in its slackest setting. There’s then a 77.5-degree seat tube angle and a 449mm chainstay.
There are two Sythe models on the market, with the Sythe S getting a Marzocchi Bomber Z1 fork and Bomber Air shock. There’s a Shimano Deore 12-speed drivetrain and TRP Comp Evo brakes. The WTB ST Tough rims are then home to Schwalbe’s Machic Mary Radial tyres. The Sythe RS then ups the ante with a RockShox Lyrik Ultimate fork, a Super Deluxe Ultimate shock, SRAM GX 12-speed shifting, another set of TRP EVO brakes, and the same tyre and rim spec as the Sythe S.
These bikes will set you back £2,199 and £3,199 respectively.
