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Was surprised when I saw Whyte dropped the T129 from the line up for 2018, looks like a replacement is in the 2019 range and did see some images of a new G170 with a coil shock too. The S120 could be a big hit though, love my T130 but would love to give this a try, even liking the colour! 
Hi,
It is very interesting... I suspected a short travel bike was on the cards - seems to be the trend at the min (Yeti SB100 style!) Looking around (there aren't much details yet) but I have found that it looks like it will be an August release and will have Fox Step Cast 34's, Float DPS, GX Eagle...
I'm keen to know:
The 'S' suggests it is one of the 'Switch' models (like the S-150) so should be able to run 29" and 27.5+
I also wonder what other spec levels there will be for this?
Keeping an eye out for UK specs/prices/release dates...
Sod the 120 did you see the s170 🙂
Funnily enough I mailed them a few weeks back asking if an s130 could be on the horizon at any point, I got no reply but this answers, looks good
That's certainly something that could be a do it all bike in my world right there. Very very interesting.
Oooo... that’s lovely! 😍
Deffo one for the short (travel) list.
I spoke to someone from Whyte and despite the name, or letter 'S' it won't 'switch' to 27.5+ wheels though, just 29 flavour.
Very nice! Looks great. 130 or 140mm fork would be perfect.
Shame Whyte are still riding the model year bandwagon.
Yeah a 130mm fork would be perfect. I hope they've gone down a similar geometry line to the S150, steeper seat angle, a tad longer reach, shorter fork offset and 40mm stems on all sizes. The seat angle is a tiny niggle I have with the T130, I wish it was just a tad steeper. 73.5 is fine and with a 34/50 bottom gear with eagle it climbs very well, but 74.5/75ish could be even better. Be interested to see the other models, whether it will be as extensive as the T130 or whether we'll see one alloy model and two carbon ones as per the G170 and S150.
Speaking of the G170...
Be some good deals on remaining 2018 models now.
That G-170 is one ugly mother hunker
I quite like the G170 from a looks perspective, way too much bike for me and the riding I do but as an uplift/enduro/park bike it'd be a good choice. I was thinking my T130 would last me for a long time yet, it's 2 years old in August and to be honest there's absolutely nothing technically wrong with it... but having ridden a fair few short travel 29ers (Orange Stage 4. Yeti SB4.5 among others) I really want to try the S120 back to back with my T130!
That S120 does look rather nice! Linky to spec and price?
ooohh is that g-170 a 29er? Hard to tell in the photo and the resolution isn't enough to zoom in on the tyre markings
G170 looks like 27.5 still to me, the cassette looks bigger in comparison to the wheel compared to the S120. No details at all on the S120 yet other than what we can deduce from the picture. It’s a 34 SC fork so 120mm for sure and like other Whytes it’ll be 1x only. The spec on this C RS build looks similar to the C RS builds on the 2018 T130/S150/G170 so would guess price would be around £3800 if they stay in line with this years pricing, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see it closer to £4K with the exchange rates and year on year price increases. Can not wait to see what spec/colour/price a works version might be!
That G170 is 29". Looks much better proportioned with the big wheels to me.
Rechecked source of the image and by heck it is a 29er! That thing will be a monster!
That 170 is a dogs dinner in the looks department.
I think it looks pretty good. The colour scheme is ace, so nice to see something that isn't completely black or some shade of grey for a change and at least the frame itself looks a little different compared to the norm, no "looks like a session" going on there! That S120 is really growing on me for sure.
The main selling point for Whyte to me is the durability, back up and the fact they ride so damn well. I've ridden a host of them, going back 7/8 years to the 146/T120 through to the latest T130 & S150 and not one has ridden like a lemon. They just seem to know how to make a bike ride well, the spec is always pretty sound for the intended use and they are reasonable value, even compared to the direct buy brands.
Thanks Lawman.
I didn't think I wanted a new bike...
I'll just leave this here... I don't need a new bike but if this rides as good as it looks, someone is going to have to restrain my wallet!
It's a Salsa Spearfish?
In my excitement to post the picture, I have now come to the realisation that it likely uses Shimano hubs... If so, I'm out!
It’s a Salsa Spearfish?
Ermmmm in the sense that the S120's geometry was designed this century? Might look like a Salsa but it sure as hell ain't gonna ride like one (I.E, this one will actually (probably) be pretty good)
Lol I loved my Fish. I also love my t130.
Found a bit more info - £3,499 for the normal version, more for the slightly blinger one.
Now need someone to do a decent write up after ridig one (or to find a demo....)
Interesting they're only doing 2 models of the S120, I would have though they'd at least want to go down the route of at least 1 alloy model, just to keep the price in check and from what I've seen they sell far more alloy T130's than carbons, round me alloy T130's are every where, only seen a handful of carbon ones. I did hear mention of the T130 getting an update for 2019, the current model has been around since 2016 so is due one to keep the geometry/suspension in line with the newer bikes. Excited to see if it's true!
'Add to Basket'.... (but click & collect only)
Really like the look of these, I hope they do some cheaper models.
Well mine's ordered (S-120 CRS)... Scheduled delivery date has gone back to last week in September from Whyte, but of a delay in transit I believe.
What is it with these downtube/seat tube junctions? wonky donkey springs to mind. Does it offer any benefit, or just a case of we don't have to put a front mech in there so the design guys can go crazy?
It keeps the chainstays short and the BB where it should be. Seat Angles are so much steeper these days and to stop them handling like barges short chainstays etc are better. Great looking bike though and would be on my list if I was allowed to have one. Anyone got any ideas on weight?.
Respek to mboy for taking the plunge! Waiting for that first ride report...
Where did you order from? LBS?
Where did you order from? LBS?
I am the LBS! 😆
Joking aside, the moment I saw it it really piqued my interest. The little riding I've done this year has gone back to more XC/trail than the "winch & plummet" (I think is the new term) type of "Enduro" style riding I was doing more of the last couple of years. I had a T-129 a few years ago which was a great bike, hampered only by poor rear tyre clearance and a Fox CTD shock. Tyre clearance on the prototype S-120 I saw was more than adequate shall we say, and the new Fox stuff really is phenomenal stuff, even the Performance level!
Waiting for that first ride report…
You're 6 weeks off that I should think sadly!
Here’s the geometry chart pilfered from my LBS.
I’m XL and compared to my 2018 Enduro (29er, 160mm front & back) this is longer, slacker, and has a shorter back end. With that sort of space I’m surprised the seat tube isn’t steeper. Standover and BB are notably higher.
No stack, reach, front centre or other info was in the brochure / dealer manual thingy.
I’m not an armchair analyst and don’t claim to design bikes for a living but I was surprised at all of this for a short travel.
Singletracksurfer
I spoke to someone from Whyte and despite the name, or letter ‘S’ it won’t ‘switch’ to 27.5+ wheels though, just 29 flavour.
The deal blurb says it can be.
Cheers for posting the geometry. I've added it to the GG database.
Interested to know the reach but does look like very 'modern' geo.
Is it correct that the M has a shorter top tube (583) than the S (592)?
Anyone else managed to get a ride on one yet?
I demo'd one on Saturday. Strava times were impressive climbing equaling my best ever on a climb I use all the time, but didn't get any confidence on the way down a very wet trail as the Crossmark II on the rear didn't handle wet roots very well.
Been looking forward to riding it since it was announced and now very confused. Feedback from the previous day when it was dry was that everyone had absolutely loved it.
Keen to hear if anyone else has been on one.
I'm chomping at the bit to hear more about this.. It's right at the top of my list for a new marathon/GT7/ do it all bike that will allow me to reduce the number of bikes clogging up the house.
FYI, Mboy of this parish has a S120 demo bike at The Missing Link, Droitwich.
Friendly & knowledge chap. I've had a few Whytes from him.
I really liked the look of this bike initially and thought it could be the new one for me then I compared head angles and it seems a bit too slack for me and from my limited understanding not going to climb particularly well?
Any thoughts?
I have not ridden one, but the relatively steep seat angle should mean it'll climb really well - assuming the suspension is nice and efficient.
My main concern would be the short chainstays may limit the rider's ability to move about to find traction on climbs and give less stability on descents.
Have a look at the Orange Stage 4 if you want something steeper, I had a demo recently and it's a very fast XC/trail bike which is surprisingly light. I'd love one if it had the Whyte's head angle, ironically.
Thanks Chakaping that’s interesting I will take a look at the Stage 4 (I previously owned a Four RS).
Ive also looked at the Spark 910 (not RC) which looks a pretty trail friendly bike that’s capable at distance XC.
First climb at Glentress on the S120 was 11m26 vs 13m21/31 on the carbon S150 and T130. Never felt like I was going well at all as legs didn't feel at all warmed up. Equaled my best ever time up that hill and I'd say I was a lot fitter when I set that in 2013, very likely on a scandium Niner hardtail.
Judging by one climb on Strava my feeling was it is an incredibly quick climber even though it didn't feel it.
Interested to see what anyone else who has ridden one thinks, that wasn't a steep climb but the two minute gap really impressed me when I checked the times.
@stevemtb sounds like you were impressed with the S120 climbing which is good.does it feel lighter than the T130?
What was it about the decents that didn’t inspire confidence - tyre choice or more than that?
Going to try and get hold of one for a demo round here if I can.
@stevemtb sounds like you were impressed with the S120 climbing which is <span class="skimlinks-unlinked">good.does</span>it feel lighter than the T130?
What was it about the decents that didn’t inspire confidence – tyre choice or more than that?
Going to try and get hold of one for a demo round here if I can.
Weirdly I wasn't blown away with the climbing when I was on it. Certainly didn't feel slow but my legs were heavy as it was first climb of the day. But when I checked the times I was massively impressed with the speed it got up there considering I didn't feel on it.
Descents was 100% rear tyre, it had a Crossmark II on the back and it felt lethal on soaking wet roots. Checking reviews this is a pretty common view. Never had anything trying to step out over a root when flat out along a fast bit of trail until that did. I have no doubts with that tyre swapped out it would have been hugely competent, on a dry day though suspect that set up would have been setting my quickest times around most trails at Glentress up and down.
I really want to get back out on it again but they're not exactly common, the rep had only managed to grab a single medium for the demo day and he said it was a battle to even get his hands on that one before heading to Scotland.
I've got a T129 but an early, flexy double chain ring one. Decided I'm keeping that as my all day XC bike, so not getting a S120, and getting either a S150 or T130 as my go-to/fun/trail centre bike. Got a G160 for uplift days/steep stuff/Alps so really can't decide what fills the gap best. Riding the 160 on Sunday for the first time in a while to help make the decision.
Thanks @stevemtb (I don’t know how to do the post quote thing).
Interesting that you would chose the T130 over the S120, but as you’ve a T29 I can understand that.
I like the look of the S120 but would want to definitely swap out the brakes and probably the hubs and rims which is a bit of a pain on a £3.5k bike..... but that alone wouldn’t really put me off.
How tall are you and was the medium a good fit and did it feel light-ish?
Anyone spent long enough riding one of these yet to compare it to its competition?
Giving this a nudge; keen to hear some feedback on this bike
Rode a S120C RS a few weeks back on a demo day. Tyres had been changed for a mahoosive HRII on the front and the forekaster switched to the rear. Total overkill front tyre but it felt good. Felt like it needed some lighter tyres and wheels, felt a little porky to be honest. Given the cost involved, I wouldn't be in a hurry to replace my T130 with one. Would be keen to try the Works though as it felt like a bike with a lot of potential if it was lighter.