Whyte's Gravity series bikes can flourish anywhere off-road, but they were definitely built with a few clear aims and uses in mind. At heart these bikes were designed for high performance Enduro riding on super aggressive courses, where a rider is tested most! Whether attacking crazy descents or tough and technical trails, the G-170 bikes works best at full tilt. The G-170 S is Whyte's entry level Gravity series bike, designed to make crushing gnarly runs accessible to everyone, with its RockShox suspension comprised of a Yari 170mm fork & Deluxe R metric rear shock encouraging you to attack at all available opportunities and helping you tackle the most daunting runs. Whyte's very own internally routed uppy-downy seatpost can be dropped at the push of a paddle to get your saddle well out of the way on downhill onslaughts.
Whyte have evolved and nuanced the geometry of the 2018 Gravity series bikes for even better stability, cornering control and traction than the already impressive 2017 series. When tackling a gnarly run at the sort of speeds the Gravity series bikes encourage, stability is key and sharp responsive handling is imperative. Building on Whyte's established mountain bike geometry of pushing the front out, lowering the frame's centre of gravity and keeping the rear compact for tight handling, the 2018 Gravity geometry takes things further. The new geometry lengthens the wheelbase further, slackening the head angle even more, culminating in a supremely stable bike that also handles better, as it positions the rider more neutrally on the bike and grants the front wheel more traction, meaning both cornering control and balance are enhanced all in one go. Further aiding precise handling, the Gravity series also combines very short stems and super-wide handlebars to allow you to keep the front wheel under control at all times. The G-170 S has a 40mm stem and a generous 780mm handlebar to help you keep the front end in check.
Excellent suspension and an innovative frame geometry is all well and good but ultimately a bikes wheels and tyres are what connect you to the trail. The G-170 S goes with WTB's tubeless compatible STp i29 rims and WTB's tubeless compatible Convict 27.5x2.5 front tyre and Riddler 27.5x2.4 rear tyre. These tyres are designed to provide a rider good traction, helping you make it to the top of those descents on tough Enduro rides and giving you confidence in your change of direction when hammering along descents and trails. The option to go tubeless is very rewarding with the Gravity series. Punctures are a tricky issue when tackling the toughest terrain and going tubeless will help to reduce this threat, whilst significantly improving grip and traction for overall improved performance.
Not relying solely on gravity to get going, all the bikes in the Gravity series are developed with single chain ring (SCR) groupsets. Whyte were a significant driving force in moving towards the SCR trend a few years ago and now the vast majority of their bikes use SCR groupsets. This is for a multitude of reasons. Developing frames specifically for SCR, chainstays can be designed symmetrically, making them both stronger and lighter than chainstays that are compromised by having to acommodate front mechs. The rear pivot span is also increased benefiting stiffness and power transfer. Losing the weight and complication of a front mech, suites the needs of a rough and ready Enduro bike, with less to break and less weight to carry around.
The G-170 S is fitted with a SRAM 1x11 groupset consisting of a GX mech and shifter and NX cassette and chain, providing a 30 tooth chainring and an 11-42 tooth cassette for a great range of gears, whether climbing to the top of the mountain or plummeting down it. To help you stop when said plummeting becomes a bit risqué, the G-170 S has 200mmF/180mmR hydraulic SRAM disc brakes, giving you great braking control and modulation to manage your speed. For anyone who wants to try their hand at really attacking some tough courses or giving an Enduro race a go, the G-170 S, gives you everything you need to do so and more. Whyte's geometry & weather-proofing measures combined with Rockshox suspension, WTB rims and tyres and SRAM gears mean you really can take the G-170 S pretty much anywhere to properly test yourself and have some fun!