2018 Whyte 801 Granite

Whyte's 800 series consists of nippy aluminium hardtails, offering a sweet blend of fun, control and speed. Updated for 2018 the 800 series now has a dedicated single chainring (SCR) frame, with every 800 series bike now running an SCR groupset, for a plethora of benefits. Removing the front dérailleur and extra chainrings means that the chainstays can be symmetrical and therefore stronger and lighter, helping equalise weight distribution and improving rear end handling and responsiveness. The removal of excess components reduces weight on the right hand side of the bike and streamlines the design with less to maintain or potentially break. SCR drivetrains offer more than adequate gear ranges with the 801's cassette ranging from 11-42 teeth with a 30 tooth chainring at the front, for easy climbing and lively descent shredding.

The tweaks for SCR work in beautiful symbiosis with Whyte's highly regarded mountain bike geometry. Starting at the front with a slack 66.5 degree head angle and pushed out front wheel, the 800 series bikes are perfectly equipped to eat up the terrain and provide convincing stability; with a super compact rear end, aided by the SCR frame design, ensuring that snappy and reactive handling is not hindered by the long and relaxed front end. The 801 uses RockShox 30 Silver 120mm fork to enhance front end control and support, making it capable of gnarly trail work, but keeping it spritely enough for fast fun flowing runs.

British trail bikes face a range of climatic challenges and the 801 is ready for them. Benefiting from Whyte's BBX internal cable routing technology, cables are kept weather-proof and manageable. Similarly Whyte's “Get a Grip” seat post clamp protects against the elements whilst being easy to operate so you can re-position your seat post with ease. Tektro's Auriga disc brakes provide quality braking performance in all weather conditions, helping you master the trail all year round. Whyte's own hubs and rims are fitted with Maxxis front and rear specific tyres, rounding out the very capable 801 nicely. An excellent bike for beginners, or riders who want to step their game up, the 801 has every feature the quintessential modern British hardtail should for just £899.