The "SL" e-bike niche is steadily gaining popularity, and it's clear why. These bikes deliver a ride experience akin to a traditional mountain bike on descents, yet they provide an assist on climbs. This trend has been propelled by new lightweight motors from Fazua, TQ, and Brose. Now, Bosch has entered the scene with their new SX motor, boasting 600 Watts of peak power while weighing only 2 kg. Impressive figures.
Whyte have taken full advantage of this with their Elyte. By building the whole frame out of carbon fibre, a material they haven't used for a few years, Whyte claim the lightest model weighs as little as 16.4kg (36.1 lb). That's pretty impressive for a bike with up to 600 W of power and a 400 Wh battery.
Whyte Elyte 150 Details
• Full-carbon frame
• Wheel size: 29" front & rear
• Travel: 142mm rear /150mm front
• Bosch SX motor, 55 Nm, 600W peak
• 400 Wh battery (+ 250 Wh range extender)
• Head tube angle: 64-64.6°
• Reach: 435, 460, 485, 510mm
• Chainstay: 450mm
• Weight: 19.5 kg / 43 lb (actual, XL)
• 4-year frame warranty, lifetime warranty on bearings
• Pricing: £9,999 (includes range extender)
Frame Details
The Elyte is crafted around the Bosch SX motor, offering a moderate 55 Nm of torque. However, by pedaling rapidly, it can achieve a peak power output of 600 W, comparable to "full-power" motors like Shimano's EP801. Torque refers to the rotational force the motor applies to the chainring, while power is the product of torque and rotational speed (cadence). It's the power that determines your uphill speed, not the torque. Therefore, achieving such high power with relatively low torque requires a fast pedaling rate. You won't reach the peak power without using a higher cadence than most riders are accustomed to. Wisely, Whyte has equipped all sizes with short 155 mm cranks, naturally leading to a higher cadence and increased ground clearance.
The enclosed downtube houses a 400 Wh internal battery, which isn't meant for quick removal. The top-spec model (tested) includes a 250 Wh Bosch Powermore range extender that can be attached to the bottle bosses near the motor, providing a total of 650 Wh of energy, comparable to many full-power e-bikes. The range extender weighs 1.5 kg, making the total weight 21 kg. During use, both the range extender and the main battery deplete simultaneously, maintaining a similar percentage, so you can't detach the range extender once depleted and still have a full main battery. The long, straight downtube allows for a second bottle to be placed in front of the range extender. Whyte states that a 450 ml Fidlock bottle fits sizes M-XL, but I managed to fit a regular 750 ml bottle on my XL test bike. If you plan to exert more effort than the motor, you can mount two bottles instead.
The Bosch SX motor is designed to operate at high speeds, prompting you to deliberately increase your cadence for optimal support. The 155 mm cranks facilitate this, as their shorter length naturally allows for higher RPMs due to the reduced pedal circle circumference. When pedaling rapidly, there's ample power to tackle steep fire roads, even enough to match the pace of full-power bikes with some effort.
However, on technical climbs, the SX motor noticeably lacks power when the cadence decreases, making it difficult to regain momentum once lost. When the trail steepens at a challenging section and speeds drop, causing you to struggle with pedaling, the motor appears to stall and doesn't provide assistance until the cadence increases to a certain level, which is not ideal. Additionally, the seat angle is slightly too slack with the flip chip in the high setting and even slacker in the low position (which I preferred for descending). This makes it more challenging to maintain proper weight distribution on steep climbs. Despite the short cranks, pedal strikes occasionally occurred in the low mode. Combined with the Dissector rear tire, the Elyte isn't optimal for conquering technical climbs.
Conversely, its moderate weight and quick-rolling tires contribute to its remarkable efficiency. I achieved approximately 1,000 meters of climbing using the 400 Wh battery with maximum assistance in winter conditions, or roughly 1,600 meters with the range extender. Even without the motor, keeping up with regular bikes is surprisingly easy until the incline becomes too steep, making the 36-tooth chainring a limitation.
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