Within my budget I have decided there are 2 bikes I’m looking at,, both plus bikes and both are Large (I’m 6ft 2)
Whyte 901 2019 (130mm travel)
Sonder Transmitter 2021 (150mm travel)
I know the Whyte is longer and slightly slacker .5 degree. Iv ridden Whyte before albeit that was a G150. Iv never ridden a Sonder but heard great reviews.
I want a hardtail that’s great for everything, small jumps/drops, downhills and long days in the saddle.
After some pros and cons from experience please 😆
Just looking at the geometry charts the things that stand out to me are that reach vs seat tube height the Whyte is superior. Get a longer reach and longer dropper on the Whyte.
The stack on the Whyte is higher too - even with a shorter travel fork - they’ve put a nice tall head tube on it - lots of bikes have quite a short one.
Chainstays are a chunk longer on the Whyte - I think overall it’ll be a bit more stable and confidence inspiring on steep tech stuff. The Sonder might be a bit more playful. Both are decent bikes though - a friend has the sonder and for the frame only price it couldn’t be beaten at the time.
If you’re looking at the £1850 901 the gears are a bit weak on it and the fork isn’t amazing for the money tbh. Something like the Vitus Sentier smashes it for value. I think the Nukeproof Scout might be worth considering too.
The equivalently priced Transmitter (£1800) has a better spec with SLX 12 speed (much better than SX or NX sram) and Revelation forks (much sturdier than Recons and upgradeable to a Pike damper should you ever want to).
I’m a smidge over your height but not sure I’d want a large whyte - had a 2018 whyte 905 and thought it was spot on in XL. Bike shop agreed too - not sure the geometry has changed significantly since as they were quite forward thinking at the time? Similarly having ridden a mn XL transmitter in but sure I’d go down to a large.
I’ve ridden both bikes (or similar - 2018 905 and my brother had a transmitter).
Whyte was a bit easier to jump and to pop, transmitter was a great bike too though. They weren’t significantly different, whyte possibly a bit more all rounder. Are you going second hand I presume unless you’ve found some old new stock somewhere? In which case condition of the drivetrain / forks / wheels would make a bigger difference to me.
Last year we took a toal novice to Morzine with a Transmitter. He had a brilliant time and so did everyone else who tried the bike.
The Alpha wheels are lighter and stronger than the Nova wheelset i think.
Ian
I would be going XL, I'm 6:2ft too.
The transmitter is a brilliant bike 🙌🏻
I had never really heard of the Transmitter until i started looking at similar bikes to the Whyte.
I am going 2nd hand with the Whyte 901 being a 2019 and the Transmitter being a 2021, i can get something around the £500 mark
Don't overthink it, buy the one you like the look of most.
Whyte 901/5/9 are the best UK trail orientated hardtail bikes ever made. At the stage I'm struggling on my 2020 901, I have to get the Hightower CC out.
Sales on these at the moment are crazy. £999 for the 901. Or a bit more for the 905.
They are long so L is good for 6'2.
Ah you're looking at a 2019V1.
I would spend the extra for a new one.
I recall 2019/20 V2 changed geo.
I'm surprised you haven't considered a nukeproof scout. Mad prices on them right now.
My budget is dictating a fair bit so that’s why I’m having to go older :/ scout looks nice but haven’t looked into this much.
I think if it’s secondhand it depends on the condition of the bikes as much as anything. Look at both and see what the suspension fork is running like and the gears. Do they look well cared for / neglected etc. are the brakes in good shape - if Shimano have they got a wandering brake point etc.
If you could stretch to £600 this looks a good deal right now as long as your legs are long enough for the seat tube heights:
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/p/vitus-sentier-27-mountain-bike
The Ragley Marley is a similar spec for £720 but has a better reach vs seat tube ratio for me
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/p/ragley-marley-2-0-hardtail-bike-red
the transmitter is a mental bike
my custom build got me to attempt crazy stuff on it, it was so good that when I had the opportunity to buy a TI signal frame I did it without thinking twice.
I'd go Transmitter. I had a 905 and while it was great for trail centre downhills and rocky tech, it was a pig to ride all day or on anything flat. Every Transmitter I tried always felt a little more 'sprightly' on flatter and less technical terrain.