Whyte 529 review | Budget Mountain Bike of the Year contender

The Whyte 529 is a versatile hardtail that boasts 29in wheels, a 120mm RockShox Recon RL Solo Air fork and a premium hydroformed 6061 T6 aluminium frame with internal cable routing.

With the bike costing only £1,250, it’s great to see a KS 900i dropper seatpost provided.

Back-to-back testing showcased the 529's prowess in navigating diverse trails, instilling confidence with its Maxxis Ardent tyres and low bottom bracket.

Amid stiff competition in our 2024 Budget Mountain Bike of the Year category, the Whyte 529 stood out, delivering a consistently fun experience.

Whyte 529 frame

Sharing the same robust 6061 T6 aluminium frame found in Whyte's premium 629 hardtail, its hydroformed tubes have a multi-butted design.

The frame incorporates a tapered head tube, internal cable routing and 12x148mm Boost dropouts.

The frame’s high-quality looks are emphasised with internally routed brake, gear and dropper cables that enter at the down tube, secured by chamfered rubber grommets.

The brake and gear cables exit in front of the bottom bracket through a removable plate.

For added convenience, the upper section of the down tube is equipped with a pair of bottle bosses.

Whyte 529 geometry

My size-small test bike has a long 610mm effective top tube length and tall 643mm stack.

A long 433mm reach, 1,185mm wheelbase and low 300mm bottom bracket height should all contribute to a planted, confidence-inspiring ride feel.

Long 450mm chainstays are present across the size range, even on the small bike.

Whyte 529 specifications

The Whyte 529’s spec stands out in this budget category. Fitted with a SRAM SX Eagle 12-speed drivetrain, it has a wide-ranging 11-50t cassette and 32T chainring.

A KS 900i dropper post, with size-specific travel (125mm for S, 150mm for M-XL) is also fitted, cementing Whyte’s commitment to performance.

Up front is a 120mm RockShox Recon RL Solo Air fork with adjustable rebound and an air spring so it can be tuned for rider weight.

The lightweight WTB rims are laced with DT Swiss spokes to alloy double-sealed bearing hubs, adding to the bike's appeal.

Fitted with Maxxis Ardent 29x2.4in EXO tyres, Tektro HD-M535 four-piston hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors and finished with Whyte-branded colour-coded cockpit components, it offers great value for money.

The 529 weighed in at 14.5kg (small) on our scales, without pedals.

Whyte 529 ride impressions

Showcasing a capable 120mm fork, a striking frame design and appealing paintwork, the Whyte 529 emerges as a promising contender alongside four other formidable hardtail mountain bikes vying for the coveted 2024 Bike of the Year title.

Enhanced by its swift tanwall tyres, the bike appears well-suited to navigating the diverse trails typical of a UK trail centre.

The setup of my size-small test bike presented a minor challenge due to its dimensions, specifically the long effective top tube of 610mm. However, achieving a comfortable position became feasible after fine-tuning the saddle and handlebar placement.

Even with the seatpost fully inserted into the deep, straight seat tube, the seat was too high with the post at maximum travel.

Swapping out the seat for a lower-profile version fixed this issue and might be something shorter riders will need to do to make full use of the dropper’s travel.

Whyte 529 climbing performance

The Whyte's distinctly stretched-out position emphasised the sense of being enveloped by the large-feeling frame – caused by the long effective top tube, tall stack and low bottom bracket. It took some getting used to.

This placed the handlebar higher and seat lower compared to the other bikes in the test, reducing the amount of power I could put through the pedals.

Adjusting the saddle forward effectively reduced the cockpit’s length, steepened the 74.5-degree seat angle and shortened the effective top tube’s measurement.

Reducing the amount I had to stretch between the bar and stem helped remedy some of the discomfort and power lost to compensating for its generous geometry.

At 14.5kg, the 529’s weight is average in its class. But the low rolling resistance of the lightweight Maxxis Ardent tyres helped keep speed high and climbing swift.

Despite the ride position needing careful setup work to perfect, the Whyte encouraged me to put in more effort while climbing; the reward of speed was immediately evident.

Still, on longer rides, the frame’s length took its toll, contributing to fatigue in the shoulders and back on climbs of 40 minutes or longer because of the stretched-out position.

The frame and tyres smoothed out rumbly terrain well, buffering the bumps from my hands and backside well. Only large, sharp-edged potholes jarred the ride, as they would on any hardtail.

A wise choice of lines on both climbs and descents was the best approach, but the 529 was most enjoyable to ride on smoother forest tracks and sculpted ascents.

Whyte 529 descending performance

When tackling tough terrain such as chunky rock gardens and root beds, the RockShox Recon provided adequate mid-travel support and suppleness over small trail chatter. It's an impressive performance for a budget-level fork.

With 30 per cent sag, I reliably reached full travel on the largest drops I felt comfortable sending on the red-graded trails.

Through high-speed bermed turns, the fork upheld the bike's front end well, enabling aggressive pressing for increased speed, aided by the fast-rolling Maxxis Ardent tyres.

Also excelling on natural off-piste trails, while not as grippy as an aggressive Minion DHF for instance, they dug into the ground well and navigated ruts and trail banks without breaking traction.

Despite the stretched-out seated climbing position, the Whyte 529 proved comfortable on the descents across a variety of trails.

The 433mm reach meant standing up on the pedals restored confidence and control, alleviating the discomfort of the seated position.

Enabling easy movement on the bike, it meant I had a relaxed stance when riding over wet roots and greasy sections.

Tabletop jumps on blue and red trails flowed naturally, with smooth setup and take-off from the lips.

It also handled the occasional hard landing, with the frame doing its best to insulate me from the worst reverberations.

Navigating the main lines in the bike park, the 529 remained stable over long series of braking bumps, staying on course, with proper body positioning compensating for the lack of rear suspension.

The 450mm chainstays, consistent across all sizes, made manual wheel lifting challenging on my small size, reducing agility for playful trail manoeuvres.

Upgrading components to reduce overall weight could improve this aspect, but it won’t alter the bike’s geometry.

As a first purchase for the novice mountain biker, the Whyte is a great choice for learning good rider ‘attack’ positioning and even progressing to easy enduro trails.

How does the Whyte 529 compare to the Giant Fathom 29 2?

The Whyte and Giant were strong contenders for our Budget Mountain Bike of the Year title, earning praise for their well-balanced geometry, descending capability and exceptional component quality.

Despite being quite large for small-size bikes, both can be adjusted to accommodate shorter riders, athough those who are 5ft 3in or below may find long rides on the Whyte less comfortable.

While the Whyte just pips the Giant for its nimble handling and being excellent for carving turns on smooth trail centres, the Giant’s frame feels more forgiving and its high-performing fork justifies the extra £150 cost.

Whyte 529 bottom line

The Whyte 529 is an enjoyable, fun-to-ride hardtail, offering descent-focused performance across blue, red and black trail-centre runs, as well as less demanding off-piste trails.

Its low bottom bracket height and slack head angle boost confidence, excelling especially in smooth berms and when executing quick changes of direction.

On the climbs, though, the long top tube stretches you out, potentially putting a cap on overall performance.