Excellent spec and upgraded frame for Whyte’s top trail bike
The top bike in Whyte’s T-130 trio gets a significantly upgraded frame and fork for a more aggressive and capable ride that’s still all-day UK friendly.
The frame
While a lot of brands offer single-ring transmissions on some of their bikes, Whyte are one of only a handful who’ve introduced single-ring specific frames to maximise the potential structural advantages. With no front mech and the associated cable routing and inner chainrings to worry about, the SCR version of the T-130 can be built using a symmetrical chainstay design that gives a 20 per cent wider main pivot stance. According to Whyte, this increases stiffness by 24 per cent compared to their flexier T-130 SX and T-130 S frames.
Whyte have always had a reputation for UK friendly bikes and that’s continued in the detailing here. The cross-brace free seatstays and big chainstay bridge give plenty of mud room out back and the internal ‘Intergrip’ seat clamp is a neat way to stop rear wheel spray seeping into the frame. It’s one of the few bikes still equipped with bolt holes for a Crudcatcher spray guard on the down tube too. The bearings are lifetime warrantied so replacements are free if they wear out and the internal control line ports are sealed with rubber grommets. The lack of XL and XS frame sizes is frustrating for bigger or smaller riders though.
The kit
As well as the stiffer frame, the extra 1070$ over the 4587$ T-130 S gets you a short-travel RockShox Pike fork with much stiffer steering and braking 35mm stanchions, rather than a 32mm stanchion Revelation. You also get SRAM’s single-ring specific, tough yet light and immaculately shifting 11-speed X1 transmission, turned by their S1400 hollow-armed cranks. The Guide RS brakes get a feel and power boosting Swinglink lever cam for extra control and the hydraulic remote for the internally routed Reverb Stealth dropper post syncs into the brake lever clamps for ultra-clean looks on the 750mm wide own-brand bar.
The 80mm Whyte stem (listed as 70mm) is significantly longer than the other set-ups here, which means a more conventional, cross-country style handling feel. The SRAM ROAM 40 wheels are also slightly narrow if you’re planning on fitting fatter tyres. They’re fine with the 2.25in Maxxis Ardents supplied though, and tubeless conversion is possible too. They’re also the lightest and fastest wheels on test by a long way, which adds easy speed. We swapped the front tyre for a grippier High Roller II to cope with winter trail conditions straight away though, so be prepared to do the same.
The ride
Limiting the T-130’s travel to 130mm (5.1in) adds advantages immediately because the simpler linkage arrangement makes it easier to set up the shock than on the longer-travel Whyte G-150. The sensitive DebonAir shock performance combines with the neutral chainstay-pivot based suspension for a smooth and well connected small-bump ride. You really have to be grunting the pedals round out of the saddle with the shock fully open to get a bad bounce going and the extra low-speed compression damping of the ‘pedal’ mode will kill that immediately.
Even with a chunkier front tyre fitted, the light wheels mean prompt acceleration out of corners or on crux sections of power climbs. Relatively low overall weight (13.31kg/29.34lb) makes it a lot less reliant on gravity for a good time than the Nukeproof and Mondraker too.
The longer stem and shorter rear end occasionally mean the Whyte’s front end strays off line when you’re really trying to hook it round tight turns. The weight balance makes it easy to lift the front and pop it over trouble though, and the T-130 Works SCR is an enjoyable bike to chuck around. While it’s not naturally as aggressive as the other bikes here, the excellent Pike fork and stiffer frame mean it can certainly handle itself if you go on the attack.
The progressive and planted rear suspension feel means you can really rail round corners and it’s great for pumping rolling trails too. You’ll need to run a lot of sag (nearly 40 per cent) to get full travel regularly though. Even then big hits can occasionally kick you forwards over the long stem and give you a fright. That meant the Whyte generally felt like it had the least rear travel on test, despite it actually having the longest shock stroke. If you want more suspension and more radical geometry, the 150mm (5.9in) travel Whyte G-150 is only slightly heavier, but for all-round technical trail speed the T-130 is just about spot on.
SO GOOD
- Impressive value, relatively light all-rounder spec
- Fast wheels and efcient suspension mean easy speed
- Pike fork is a big control bonus
NO GOOD
- Less big-hit capable than others on test
- Limited size options
BEEFY BACK END
The SCR frame uses a wider pivot base and symmetrical stays to add a claimed 24 per cent more stiffness to the T-130’s rear end
THE FULL PACKAGE
Whyte have raided the SRAM parts cupboard to give the Works an impressive value, weak link free kit spec
FORMIDABLE FORK
Even in 130mm travel format, the mighty RockShox Pike is a real confidence-boosting control bonus
WEIGHT 13.31kg (29.34lb)
FRAME Hydroformed 6061-T6 alloy, 130mm (5.1in) travel
SIZES S, M, L (tested)
FORK RockShox Pike RC, 130m (5.1in) travel
SHOCK RockShox Monarch RT3 DebonAir
HEADSET Cane Creek
WHEELS
Hubs: SRAM ROAM 40
Rims: SRAM ROAM 40
Spokes: SRAM ROAM 40
Wheel weight: 1.86 kg F, 2.23kg R (including tyres)
TYRES Maxxis Ardent TR EXO Protection 27.5x2.25in F, Maxxis Ardent Race TR EXO Protection 27.5x2.25in R
CRANKSET/BOTTOM BRACKET SRAM S1400/SRAM GXP Team
DERAILLEURS SRAM X1
SHIFTERS SRAM X1 (1x11)
CASSETTE/CHAIN SRAM XG-1180, 10-42t/SRAM PCX1
BRAkES SRAM Guide RS, 180/160mm
BAR/STEM/GRIPS Whyte riser, 750mm/Whyte Gravity, 80mm/Whyte lock-on
SADDLE/SEATPOST RockShox Reverb Stealth/Whyte