{"id":56836,"date":"2023-11-16T11:00:45","date_gmt":"2023-11-16T10:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/?p=754057"},"modified":"2023-11-16T11:46:17","modified_gmt":"2023-11-16T10:46:17","slug":"bike-of-the-week-whyte-enters-the-world-of-lightweight-emtbs-with-e-lyte-150-works","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/cyclingplus\/rss_feed\/bike-of-the-week-whyte-enters-the-world-of-lightweight-emtbs-with-e-lyte-150-works\/","title":{"rendered":"Bike of the Week | Whyte enters the world of lightweight eMTBs with E-Lyte 150 Works"},"content":{"rendered":"

British brand\u2019s first carbon ebike delivers peak power of 600W <\/p>

By Nick Clark\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 16 November 2023 at 10:00 AM<\/p>

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Released today, the E-Lyte 150 Works is Whyte\u2019s first foray into the lightweight electric bike market and is joined by the E-Lyte 140 Works and E-Lyte 150 RSX in the brand\u2019s new range.<\/p>\n

As the name suggests, this top-of-the-range model features a 150mm fork and 142mm of rear-suspension travel.<\/p>\n

We spotted the E-Lyte platform earlier this year in camouflage guise at Eurobike<\/a>, so let\u2019s dig deep into the details of Whyte\u2019s first lightweight electric mountain bike<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Whyte\u2019s first carbon ebike<\/h2>\n
\"Whyte\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
The E-Lyte comes in a gloss olive colourway with matt carbon on the top tube and seatstays.<\/span><\/figcaption> Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The E-Lyte range is Whyte\u2019s first carbon fibre framed electric bike<\/a>, with the seatstays formed from a composite construction, while the linkage and chainstays are made from aluminium.<\/p>\n

Both the E-Lyte 140 and E-Lyte 150 models feature the same carbon frame, with only shock stroke length separating the bikes\u2019 suspension travel<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The brand says it has paid close attention to the E-Lyte\u2019s centre of gravity by packaging the electronic components into the frame as low as it can.<\/p>\n

\"Whyte\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
The PowerMore 250Wh range extender sits neatly in the front triangle.<\/span><\/figcaption> Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

This thinking extends to the PowerMore 250Wh range extender, which mounts low on the down tube and comes as standard with the Works models.<\/p>\n

\"Whyte\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
The Bosch Performance Line SX motor is encased in a plastic housing.<\/span><\/figcaption> Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Whyte has partnered with Bosch for the motor and battery, with the E-Lyte 150 Works using Bosch\u2019s new Performance Line SX electric bike motor<\/a>, which provides 55Nm of torque and 600W of peak power. The German brand\u2019s Compact PowerTube 400Wh battery is integrated into the down tube.<\/p>\n

The system incorporates four power settings including Tour+, which focuses on economic power usage, and e-MTB, which automatically adjusts to power levels.<\/p>\n

\"Whyte\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
The Bosch System Controller indicates power mode and battery level.<\/span><\/figcaption> Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

A Bosch System Controller is mounted in the top tube, paired with a Mini Remote on the handlebar that can be used for mode selection.<\/p>\n

\"DSC08606\"\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
This mount could also be used to store a spare tube or toolkit.<\/span><\/figcaption> Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

With an already busy front triangle, housing the rear shock and range extender, Whyte has managed to squeeze in a mount at the top of the down tube with enough space to fit a water bottle<\/a> \u2013 even on the small-sized frame.<\/p>\n

\"Whyte\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
This sump guard can be removed to gain access to the motor and battery.<\/span><\/figcaption> Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

On the underside of the down tube, a protector extends down to cover the motor, similar to a motorcycle sump guard. This is designed to fend off rock strikes and act as a skid plate on those not-so-rollable drop-offs.<\/p>\n

\"Whyte\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Whyte has gone through a rebranding, which can be seen in its new head badge.<\/span><\/figcaption> Nick Clark \/ Our Media<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Whyte seems to have heeded the call from Luddite bike journalists and home mechanics alike in giving the E-Lyte 150 Works internal cable routing<\/a> that enters the frame from the sides of the head tube.<\/p>\n

The bike also features a SRAM Universal Derailleur Hanger<\/a> on the rear dropout and ISCG-2 guide mounts should you wish to add a bash guard or chain guide.<\/p>\n

Whyte has kept British winters in mind and has given the bike a rubber gator on the seat tube collar to keep water and grit from entering the frame.<\/p>\n

What is Bike of the Week?<\/h3>\n

Every fortnight, we\u2019ll bring you a detailed first look at one of the latest bikes (or framesets) to arrive at BikeRadar HQ \u2013 from road to commuting, gravel to enduro, and anything in between.<\/p>\n

This is our chance to introduce the bike and everything that makes it unique before hitting the road or trails.<\/p>\n

Head to our\u00a0Bike of the Week hub<\/a> for previous editions.<\/p>\n

<\/p><\/div> <\/section>

Slack and steep<\/h2>\n

The E-Lyte 150 Works has very contemporary geometry, with a 64.6-degree head angle that\u2019s slack by trail bike<\/a> standards and a relatively steep seat tube angle of 77.2 degrees.<\/p>\n

The bike also features geometry adjust in the shock extender, which can slacken the head angle to 64 degrees and reduce the bottom bracket height from 342mm to 334mm.<\/p>\n

To adjust the geometry, you need to remove the shock mount bolt on the linkage and the shock extender then rotate a brass bushing 180 degrees.<\/p>\n

For reference, Canyon\u2019s similarly trail-orientated Spectral:ON<\/a> has a head angle of 65.5 degrees and a seat tube angle of 76.5 degrees.<\/p>\n

A steeper seat tube angle benefits climbing, because it positions your weight further forward over the cranks, reducing the feeling of looping out off the rear of the bike.<\/p>\n

Chainstay lengths are also comparatively long, with all-size frames said to measure 450mm.<\/p>\n

Whyte offers the E-Lyte 150 Works in four sizes: S, M, L and XL.<\/p>\n

<\/colgroup> \n
S<\/th>M<\/th>L<\/th>XL<\/th><\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Head angle <\/b> (degrees)<\/td>64<\/td>64<\/td>64<\/td>64<\/td> <\/tr>
Seat angle<\/b> (degrees)<\/td>77.5<\/td>77.3<\/td>77.1<\/td>76.9<\/td> <\/tr>
Top tube <\/b>(mm)<\/td>563<\/td>592<\/td>620<\/td>649<\/td> <\/tr>
BB height<\/b> (mm)<\/td>334<\/td>334<\/td>334<\/td>334<\/td> <\/tr>
Standover height<\/b> (mm)<\/td>741<\/td>741<\/td>741<\/td>741<\/td> <\/tr>
Wheelbase <\/b>(mm)<\/td>1,212<\/td>1,242<\/td>1,273<\/td>1,303<\/td> <\/tr>
Chainstay length <\/b>(mm)<\/td>450<\/td>450<\/td>450<\/td>450<\/td> <\/tr>
Seat post width <\/b>(mm)<\/td>30.9<\/td>30.9<\/td>30.9<\/td>30.9<\/td> <\/tr>
Head tube length <\/b>(mm)<\/td>114<\/td>127<\/td>140<\/td>152<\/td> <\/tr>
Seat tube length <\/b>(mm)<\/td>395<\/td>420<\/td>445<\/td>470<\/td> <\/tr> <\/tbody> <\/table>