Whyte 905

Author
Discussion

AndyWoodall

2,625 posts

259 months

Saturday 1st October 2016
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Bungleaio said:
Cheers guys. I'm really tempted with it but having not ridden a mountain bike for a long time I think I need a demo first. Unfortunately I can't make the demo day this weekend but I have signed up to the one Rutland cycles are doing at the beginning of November.

I will have a look at the 909s on eBay. These have a much better colour scheme in my eyes.
He he, only reason I didn't got for the 909 was the colour, too much grey going on there. smile

ArnageWRC

2,065 posts

159 months

Saturday 1st October 2016
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FD3Si said:
My friend has a 901, so same frame.

It's bloody brilliant. The geometry is some sort of voodoo, and it makes me sad that I spent so much on a full suss bike when his is arguably more fun in a large proportion of the riding I do.
It's very forgiving for an Ali hard tail, and comfortable for sitty down pedalling.
However, it absolutely comes alive when you get on it. It rails corners with so much stability, it's so confidence inspiring. And it's so comfortable in the air. Its an absolute thrasher of a bike when you push it. Brilliant, brilliant thing.
That's good to hear - as the 2017 901 is the one I'm after....

MrBarry123

6,027 posts

121 months

Saturday 1st October 2016
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Whilst not cheap, these are really good looking bikes - nice choice OP.

The geometry looks very practical too, nicely long and slack.

Minnsy

414 posts

267 months

Monday 3rd October 2016
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Also, there are a couple of 909's on Pink Bike... which look extremely good value....

Bungleaio

Original Poster:

6,331 posts

202 months

Monday 3rd October 2016
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Cheers mate but sadly for me they are both mediums, I need a large.

The 905 that sparked this thread has now been sold so it's not an option any more but the 2017 models are looking very tempting. I'm going to hold out for the demo day and go from there.

I appreciate everyones assistance. Don't worry this won't be one of those threads that never gets concluded I will put some pictures up when I do buy something.

AndyWoodall

2,625 posts

259 months

Monday 3rd October 2016
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Bungleaio said:
Cheers mate but sadly for me they are both mediums, I need a large.

The 905 that sparked this thread has now been sold so it's not an option any more but the 2017 models are looking very tempting. I'm going to hold out for the demo day and go from there.

I appreciate everyones assistance. Don't worry this won't be one of those threads that never gets concluded I will put some pictures up when I do buy something.
If it has to be a 2016 bike there are a few about, but you'd have to travel unless you are lucky!

https://www.cyclesurgery.com/p/whyte-905-rs-2016-Q...

The site says £1599 but they aren't, someone in the Brum store quoted me £1250.

Edit, sorry, large out of stock. Leisure lakes have stock in large though, not as big a discount but still good...

http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/10574/products/wh...

Bungleaio

Original Poster:

6,331 posts

202 months

Wednesday 9th November 2016
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To update this a bit further. I went to a demo day at the weekend run by Rutland cycles so I got chance to try a few bikes out. I tried a couple of full suss by Scott and cube as well as the whyte 901.

I'm glad I didn't get the bike that inspired this thread as I do need an xl frame. The 901 that I tired at the weekend was great so I'm thinking of getting a 905 mainly for the dropper post but after seeing the 1,5&9 all dirty I much prefered the 5. (yes I am a ponce that gets distracted by colour schemes) .

Following the event they have emailed offering 12% off any 2017 bike which is about £200 saving so something I want to ignore. However I can't see me using the bike more than a handful of times over the winter so I'm wondering if I should hold off until the spring?

The 12% is only valid until the end of November so the question is do I order now or wait until the spring to see what offers are available then?

Edited by Bungleaio on Wednesday 9th November 17:50

Audicab

481 posts

247 months

Wednesday 9th November 2016
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I was also at the demo day on Sunday, thought it was great.

Other than a £7k Canondale my favourite bikes were the Whytes, they certainly seem to have something right at the moment.

yellowjack

17,078 posts

166 months

Thursday 10th November 2016
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Bungleaio said:
...The 12% is only valid until the end of November so the question is do I order now or wait until the spring to see what offers are available then?
It's a fair saving.

But I'd only buy now if you'd have bought the bike at full price now. Don't be railroaded into a purchase by the offer of a discount. Especially if you're not likely to use the bike that much. You might well find something else before spring has sprung. But if your heart is set on the bike anyway, then yes, I'd go for it. There are times when you'll wish you'd pounced earlier if you had an eye on the 'right' bike in the right size and colour for you.

I certainly regret not buying an Orange hard-tail early this year when I had a chance. By the time I'd procrastinated over it and come to a decision, it was all sold out in my size. That story had a happy ending when a bargain Giant Anthem full suspension bike landed in my lap last minute, but yes, if you think you'll kick yourself if you miss out on this bike, then buy it.

Bungleaio

Original Poster:

6,331 posts

202 months

Thursday 10th November 2016
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Cheers guys. I would have bought at full price in the spring but given I can get £200 off now I'm really tempted to get it now. I don't think Whyte are a large volume manufacturer and I'm wanting an uncommon size so like you say I might miss out on getting one.

The sale bike that I saw a few weeks ago was 20% off so not a massive extra discount. Prices have risen recently too as they are now listed at £1700 rather than the £1500 that the 2016 model was.

Craikeybaby

10,411 posts

225 months

Thursday 10th November 2016
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Get it now!

Even if you won't do much local riding over the winter, you can take it to trail centres. I see you are in the midlands, Cannock seems to run well throughout the winter, if you want to meet up one Sunday, let me know.

FD3Si

857 posts

144 months

Thursday 10th November 2016
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Whytes don't tend to be discounted much. If you want it, buy it. The only other time you're likely to get that sort of discount is end of season, and even then they're still hard to find as Whyte don't do massive stocks.

AndyWoodall

2,625 posts

259 months

Thursday 10th November 2016
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If someone offered me that off I'd take the deal now, but then I ride mine every single day and it was very useful to me to get it right away.

Oh, edit to say...my earlier comment about the rear tyre being poor in slippy conditions is a massive understatement. Don't even bother riding it, either get the shop to bin the horrid thing or budget to replace it before you even turn a wheel. Now the weather has turned I now see how bad it really is, and its easily one of the worst tyres I've ever encountered. The fronts perfectly fine though, but I'll probably bin both and go for something excellent.

Edited by AndyWoodall on Thursday 10th November 12:53

yellowjack

17,078 posts

166 months

Friday 11th November 2016
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I was in East Street Cycles, Farnham, yesterday, shopping for bits to get my MTB running nice again.

They had a bunch of Whytes prominently displayed in the window. They all looked really good. I especially liked all of the ones I could least afford! But isn't that always the way?

I'd been considering one of Swinley Bike Hub's ex-hire fleet (603s I think) earlier this year (before my Billy-bargain Anthem fell in my lap) and even at the cheaper end of their range they look good. The only fly in the ointment that would put me off a Whyte if I got a new hard tail would be SRAM gearing. And the fact that Bird are local to me.

JE James and Winstanleys are both coming up at £1280-ish for the 2016 Whyte 905 at the moment. Not sure how that compares to the discounted 2017 bikes on offer?

jshell

11,006 posts

205 months

Friday 11th November 2016
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I really liked my Whyte 901.

Since upgrading all the SRAM/Avid shyte to Shimano (bar the forks) - I fecking LOVE my XL 901!

AndyWoodall

2,625 posts

259 months

Friday 11th November 2016
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jshell said:
I really liked my Whyte 901.

Since upgrading all the SRAM/Avid shyte to Shimano (bar the forks) - I fecking LOVE my XL 901!
Yeah I'm just waiting to clip the mech on something so I can have a bit of an excuse to bin the lot. The drivetrain is though, perfectly fine, it just feels cheap and nasty. I'm 900 miles in though and nothing that end has faltered so I guess I can't complain.

The brakes however are not SRAM's finest hour. They worked well at first but have really dropped off, also the lever feel is ghastly. Basic, non-series branched Shimano is far far superior.

Bungleaio

Original Poster:

6,331 posts

202 months

Friday 11th November 2016
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Sram are getting a bit of a bashing. I've only ever had shimano (I've got 105 on my diverge) so do you think I'll be disappointed with it?

yellowjack said:
JE James and Winstanleys are both coming up at £1280-ish for the 2016 Whyte 905 at the moment. Not sure how that compares to the discounted 2017 bikes on offer?
Cheers mate they only have small and medium available. I need and extra large.

Watchman

6,391 posts

245 months

Friday 11th November 2016
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Bought my 901 in 2011 and I've not even replaced the brake pads yet (although I will need to in the next few months). The SRAM gearing just works. It feels no worse than comparably-priced Shimano.

Apart from being a bit fanatical about chain cleanliness and lubrication, the only extraordinary work I've done to it is to bleed the brakes until they are totally spot on.

FD3Si

857 posts

144 months

Saturday 12th November 2016
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Best in mind the SRAM stuff you're basing is low end. Low end Shimano isn't that great either. Guides, for instance, are streets ahead. I really like my RSCs, I'd take them over XTs with their random bite point technology any day of the week.

AndyWoodall

2,625 posts

259 months

Saturday 12th November 2016
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Bungleaio said:
Sram are getting a bit of a bashing. I've only ever had shimano (I've got 105 on my diverge) so do you think I'll be disappointed with it?
Don't get me wrong, its fine (the brakes, while they work, don't feel a patch on a set of basic Deores though), it all works and appears to be wearing well. I just perceive the Shimano set ups to be superior. Theres nothing (bar that rear tyre) that I'd bin, its all a great package from the get go. I just wish it was the SLX 1x11, but you can't have everything.