Good to know - Thanks for the info - Don't forget to report back with a ride report - As you said they are hard to get a proper test ride and selling like hot cakes. - Good luck.
I loved my Focus and it was a trail bike, the 160 is completely different and is a full on all mountain bike. You just point it and say I'm going that way.
Zebs - Very stiff, combined with the wide bars it gives you great control and the front end is really stiff and planted on the rocky downhills.
You only get pressure and rebound settings, although they feel OK more work to do to see how plush I can get them to feel.
You only get 2 spacers, which for me makes the riding position a little low, just enough room to add one more and I've got the bars at the highest point. Feels good but a pity you don't have more to play with, I understand the design so , young guys won't have an issue, I can see why they are this way so you get some weight on the front end, being 60 with dodgy back I prefer a more upright position.
Frame - As you expect from a Whyte its very stiff and works well, at 5' 10" the large seems the way to go so the cockpit does not feel cramped.
Its a great ride and seems really well made and sorted.
Brakes - Very powerful with good modulation, they squeal like pigs when wet but soon dry out, you have to watch the power on a tarmac decent and its easy to lock the rear, they do the job well and no upgrades required.
Motor - I know a lot has been made of the power increase, I've not ridden this type before. At this point I'd say its the only weak point of the bike.....
Yes it delivers lots of power, which is not an issues if you are riding not technical stuff, however the weak point is how it delivers the power.
When you need to go slow and apply it gently over technical elements you can't, its feels like a bull in a china shop, alway on and in a rush, it makes it very hard to apply power as you need it. The worrying element is you can apply a slight amount of pressure and the motor will carry on running for a second or two.
I actually fell off on a muddy technical section, applied a bit of pressure and stoped peddling, motor carried on for two second and bounced me over two bumps which through me off the bike. Would not stop me buying one but power delivery is something that need sorting.
Overall a fantastic bike currently being let down by the poor power delivery of the newly updated motor.
Cheers Phil
Motor Update - Today I rode non technical in eco and tour, anything technical I rode in embt but took time to ride slowly and really understand how the power responded to pedal input. Must improved no issues and got good control from it, just need to understand if you give it pressure it will respond so you have to be gentle if you don't want a power surge.
Learning curve , I'm sure I will adjust and it will be a ten out of ten.