Web Ref: 16644
Web Ref: 16237
GIANT TALON 2 £749
WHYTE 529 29ER £799
PROVEN UK TRAIL CENTRE MTB GETS 27.5” MAKEOVER
SAME PROVEN HYDROFORMED FRAME AS 4-FIGURE WHYTES
With its RockShox XC30 fork, Shimano hydraulic disc brakes and its Deore/SLX 3x10 gearing, the Talon 2 is this year’s standout Giant hardtail. With its sloping top tube for maximum clearance, and its slack 70˚ head angle for confident downhilling, the Talon has always been an exceptional UK trail centre hardtail. This year’s shift from 26” to 27.5x2.25” Schwalbe Rapid Rob tyres delivers even more speed potential matched with stable handling.
The Whyte 529 XC/Trail hardtail is built on the same custom drawn hydroformed 6061 alloy frame as you would enjoy if you laid down £1,500 for a Whyte 729. What’s more, this frame is built with the same geometry (68.5˚ head tube and 73˚ seat tube) that helped make the 2-grand Whyte 29C carbon hardtail a bike that has been so widely acclaimed for its superb balance.
Sizes: S-XL. Colour: Aluminium. Weight:13.9kg.
Sizes: S-L. Colour: Matt Granite/Burnt Orange. Weight:13.7kg.
Web Ref: 16334
Web Ref: 16126
SPECIALIZED ROCKHOPPER COMP £850
WHYTE T-129 S 29ER £2,099
PROVEN TO MAXIMISE FUN ON THE TRAILS
WHATMOUNTAINBIKE MAGAZINE’S BIKE OF THE YEAR 2013
If the Specialized Hardrock is the proven entry-level MTB, the Rockhopper is Specialized’s ‘getting serious’ trail bike where, for instance, SunTour forks make way for RockShox XC28s. Its 22/36 chainset and 11x36 cogs deliver a massive range of gears in a simple 2x10 format. The fully butted frame’s livelier feel is perceptible, thanks in part to its short chainstays, while its longer wheelbase makes the most of this 29er’s extra stability.
The Whyte T129S earned its Trail Bike of the Year award because WMB’s testers agreed it was the most fun to ride of all the bikes they reviewed in 2013. Their conclusion: ‘Silent in action, stealth in appearance and blisteringly fast, the T-129 S is the most accomplished suspension bike the company has produced to date.’ Apart from a couple of tweaks (lighter frame, better tyres and wider bars) it remains unchanged for 2014.
Sizes: S-XXL. Colour: Charcoal/Black/Cyan. Weight:13.6kg
Sizes: S-L. Colour: Matt Granite. Weight: 14kg
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