Whyte E-Lyte 140 Review

Bosch is the major motor manufacturer in the EMTB world, alongside Shimano - and it's no surprise, as the SX shows. The Swabians from Bosch are sending their first light engine into the race with the SX. With 55 Nm torque, this unit places exactly in the middle between Fazua's Ride 6 and TQ's HPR 5. However, it delivers up to 6 watts of support, similar performance figures to the popular Bosch CX. The starting behavior remains progressive. The complete motor control is very $natural. In terms of installation space and sound, the small Bosch can't quite keep up with its competitors from the Light segment. The short range unfortunately limits the tour radius quite significantly.

Even nasty descents get smoothened by the good Fox chassis. The mid-range brakes from SRAM do their job but could be a bit firmer. The power of the two pistons setup with small 18 brake rotors is only average. A nice touch: The gear and components are on a very good level. When it comes to the geometry, Whyte does not go completely crazy. The head tube angle and reach values were chosen with care. The result: A balanced riding behaviour with a good combination of playfulness and straight-line stability. The low bottom bracket height will likely be a sticking point for trail riders, as it negatively affects handling. It's no use beating around the bush: the geometry of Whyte doesn't suit our taste. Competitors are closer to the cutting edge here. When I looked at the weight of the complete bike, my jaw actually dropped. With 16,4 kg, the E-Lyte 14 is a real lightweight.