Long Term Test: Whyte M109 C

With so much cool new product arriving on the market, it’s time that we have somewhere to test and display some of it. AMB have received a Whyte M109 C from Carbuta Australia, to build up as a Marathon/Trail/XC test bike. That’s a fairly broad range, right?

As noted by tester Adam Fernyhough the Whyte geometry is versatile. Agile yet stable, a stiff build that rides lightly – confidence inspiring. As the top XC/Trail dual suspension bike from Whyte, the M109 C is an upgrade from the typical M109 platform. Geometry and handling is the same, but front end stiffness is boosted, and weight dropped, by using a carbon fibre front triangle, and alloy links and swingarm.

From front to back it’s a smooth looking bike, the matte finish offset by the teal highlights. The medium frame size we have on hand has a really low tapered head tube, just 105mm high. The front derailleur runs internally along the top tube. The top tube is very low, allowing huge standover clearance, but only one bottle cage mount.

The down tube is massive, and square profiled. The rear brake hose and rear derailleur (running full length housing) can run internally or externally. It’s up to you. External can make routine maintenance easier, and internal offers a cleaner look. The bottom bracket is an alloy shell with BSA threads – so a standard bottom bracket setup. The smaller shell helps the designers achieve short 431mm chainstays, while still allowing mud clearance.

You have to remember this is a British brand (not hard if you can read and recognise a Union Jack when you see one), so mud clearance counts. But little details help in Australia too – like a seal on the seatpost to keep grit out of your frame.

The Fox CTD shock is manually operated, and controls the Quad Link suspenion. This is well proven by Whyte, offering 100mm of travel on sealed cartridge bearings that come with a lifetime warranty. Yes, a lifetime. Riders on the Northern Beaches of Sydney should rejoice!

The alloy rear end uses a 142×12 drop out, with replaceable hanger. The chain stays are asymmetrical, and the brake mount uses threaded plugs so even if you manage to strip a thread, it’s an easy fix.

Waterproofing on the seat clamp, why didn’t we think of that?

On the scales, the frame, shock and hardware add up to about 2.7kg. That’s not very light. But if this bike rides anything like the M109 S we tested last year, that’s not a problem. We’ll be building this bike over the coming weeks, so check back to see what parts make it on for the initial build.