Whyte E-160 RS electric bike review

The ride quality even when the motor isn’t in use is impressive. Yes, it’s heavy by comparison to a non-assisted mountain bike, but once the wheels are turning the only discernable difference is in the corners. I found myself wrestling with it a little bit but that’s likely due to the sizing. 

One thing to remember with a full-suspension electric mountain bike is that you sacrifice some agility for the added power. It can be quite noticeable on some trails but on others, I flowed quite well with the bike. It’s extremely planted, and the 27.5” wheels handled everything I threw at it well.

The Maxxis tyres (Assegai 2.5” on the front and Minion DHR 2.4” on the rear) handled everything from deep mud to loose gravel and rocks, while the Fox suspension soaked up everything without being lazy. Rock gardens became a fear of the past, and I even took some drop-offs in my stride.

The battery also deserves praise, lasting two trips to Gisburn with plenty of range to spare. SRAM GX Eagle is tried and tested and I found shifting to be crisp, although the brakes (SRAM Code R) did suffer from a little fading after a couple of longer descents. Finally, and this is perhaps a personal indulgence, there is space on the frame for a bottle cage – albeit a side opening one, but it’s worth appreciating if you don’t want to use hydration bladders. 

Forest of Bowland Gravel epic: what’s it like to do a sportive on an e-bike?

This is a fantastic electric mountain bike and although yes, it is a lot of money, it’s on par with some of its rivals from Trek, Moustache and Specialized. After a couple of hours on the bike, I would arrive back at the car park with a smile and nicely tired muscles, compared to my ride buddy who looked like he’d finished three stages of the Cape Epic.

That’s not to say you don’t work up a sweat or that the bike requires any effort to ride – it does, (nobody can escape the burning quads of 20 berms one after another) but by saving you energy on the climbs, it allows you to focus on your technical abilities and descending skills, as well as leaving you with a big smile on your face. If you’re looking for something as comfortable on all-day epics on natural terrain as it is at bike parks and trail centres, the Whyte E-160 RS has you covered.