Re:
i like the Whyte bikes but i do have a few grumbles having built and worked on a few.
there's the usual sram v shimano argument, as they seem to do alternate models, personally i'm in the shimano camp. the GX 12 speed has not been the most reliable from experience, especially if ridden in the winter. but because of the alternate specs it can mean the price point you want has the group set you may not like forcing you to spend more or less than you want if your brand loyalties win out.
the matt finishes seem to have quite thin paint, and although i like the aesthetic of hidden cables through the down tube, out the down tube and back in and out of the chain stays they are a pain if being worked on, especially come pivot bearing removal time, both the gears and brakes will need removing which means bleeding the rear brake. just adds time to the whole job.
as i understand it the pivot bearing quality has dropped but they still offer free replacements to the original owner for life but see above comment regards fitting.
i like the ride though, slack head angles and long top tube and short stem is a good combination
one more thing, and this is small, i use an Exposure front light mounted on my stem, this stem fit kit doesn't fit their standard stem as the bolts are too far apart, which means having the lights mounted to one side of the stem on the bar, this messes with my OCD!
the back up from ATB Sales (the importer and owner of the brand) is usually pretty good
FYI, i don't sell them but i have several customers with them, so i see them once used, several of the hardtails and maybe 4 or 5 of the full suspension bikes.
4 years ago i was looking for a bike to go to NZ with for 6 months, it was between the T130 models and an Orange 5, i bought the 5.
2 years later i opened my own shop, 2 years after that i am an Orange dealer, take from that what you will!
