Whyte PRST-4

Dave B said:

I've just had a test ride on my mates PRST-1 and found it a great bike, so much better than my
Kona, so much of a difference I'm off to buy one.

Whooah there horsey. You've only tested one bike and you're comparing it to your old one. Have a
look around and try some others. Especially because the Whyte PRST4 has a proprietary fork. At least
have a look at the Marins which use the same rear end but have a 'normal' fork. For example, you can
get a '04 Mount Vision with Hope Minis, full XT and a Fox Float RLC fork for under 2100. I'd go for
that over the Whyte every time.

Quoted message said:

Any advice on whether the XT version is worth the extra over the Deore version and are the hope
mini's worth the extra, the bike I tried had XT side pulls and they stopped me without any
problem.

Hope Minis are worth the extra, and I'd be tempted to go with XT over Deore. Rim brakes may work ok
in the dry on tarmac, but for UK winters discs are a great investment.

Quoted message said:

Lastly any idea of who sells these at the best price, everyone has them for £2100 - seems like
price fixing to me.

Price fixing? Like everything, there's a manufacturer's recommended price and 2100 is probably it.

Quoted message said:

Whooah there horsey. You've only tested one bike and you're comparing it to your old one. Have a
look around and try some others. Especially because the Whyte PRST4 has a proprietary fork. At
least have a look at the Marins which use the same rear end but have a 'normal' fork. For example,
you can get a '04 Mount Vision with Hope Minis, full XT and a Fox Float RLC fork for under 2100.
I'd go for that over the Whyte every time.

What's the Whyte like? It seems to get rave reviews.

I've just been to the Whyte website. The front fork "developed by Jon Whyte" sounds similar to BMW's
telelever suspension (which has been around a while).

mecc.unipd.itTelelever.htmlOpen ↗

Quoted message said:

What's the Whyte like? It seems to get rave reviews.

I've just been to the Whyte website. The front fork "developed by Jon Whyte" sounds similar to
BMW's telelever suspension (which has been around a while).

mecc.unipd.itTelelever.htmlOpen ↗

That's very interesting, but wouldn't it be simpler and cheaper to just learn how to brake properly
(i.e.., move rearward proportionally to front brake forces)?

--
Slacker

Quoted message said:

That's very interesting, but wouldn't it be simpler and cheaper to just learn how to brake properly
(i.e.., move rearward proportionally to front brake forces)?

Probably.

AFAIK only BMW use it. I think it's partly a marketing tool, though some say it works very well. I
seem to remember a BMW mountainbike I sat on a few years ago also had a similar front fork.

Thanks for all the advise here.

I've ordered the PRST-4 XT with the hope minis and await delivery, in the meantime its back to bone
shaking rides on the Kona.

D

<ouch> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

That's very interesting, but wouldn't it be simpler and cheaper to just learn how to brake
properly (i.e.., move rearward proportionally to front brake forces)?

Probably.

AFAIK only BMW use it. I think it's partly a marketing tool, though some say it works very well. I
seem to remember a BMW mountainbike I sat on a few years ago also had a similar front fork

ouch said:

Quoted message said:

Whooah there horsey. You've only tested one bike and you're comparing it to your old one. Have a
look around and try some others. Especially because the Whyte PRST4 has a proprietary fork. At
least have a look at the Marins which use the same rear end but have a 'normal' fork. For example,
you can get a '04 Mount Vision with Hope Minis, full XT and a Fox Float RLC fork for under 2100.
I'd go for that over the Whyte every time.

What's the Whyte like? It seems to get rave reviews.

I've just been to the Whyte website. The front fork "developed by Jon Whyte" sounds similar to
BMW's telelever suspension (which has been around a while).

mecc.unipd.itTelelever.htmlOpen ↗

It is, and it may work well, but I'd still have my reservations.

The difference between the motorbike and mtb market is that all the components on a motorbike will
pretty much be made by that manufacturer. In mtb circles, parts are interchangeable and you have a
good choice. Having a proprietary fork puts you in an unfortunate position - if you don't like the
fork or it's properties, you're stuffed. If better fork technology emerges, you can't swap it over.
If it dies, you've got to go back to Whyte for a replacement. You'll have no choice in price and
performance, and you're well and truly [censored] if Whyte goes out of business.

Dave Black said:

Thanks for all the advise here.

I've ordered the PRST-4 XT with the hope minis and await delivery, in the meantime its back to
bone shaking rides on the Kona.

Fair enough. Enjoy your ride 🙂

<ouch> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Whooah there horsey. You've only tested one bike and you're comparing it to your old one. Have a
look around and try some others. Especially because the Whyte PRST4 has a proprietary fork. At
least have a look at the Marins which use the same rear end but have a 'normal' fork. For
example, you can get a '04 Mount Vision with Hope Minis, full XT and a Fox Float RLC fork for
under 2100. I'd go for that over the Whyte every time.

What's the Whyte like? It seems to get rave reviews.

Our LBS owner has one, and he's brought it on a few club rides. He loves it, others who've ridden it
hate it - seems to be the way with these. I didn't like the way the fork bushings 'looked', I have
my doubts about their longevity, but they are as yet unsubstantiated.

Quoted message said:

I've just been to the Whyte website. The front fork "developed by Jon Whyte" sounds similar to
BMW's telelever suspension (which has been around a while).

mecc.unipd.itTelelever.htmlOpen ↗

It does, doesn't it?

Shaun aRe

<snip snip>

Quoted message said:

Our LBS owner has one, and he's brought it on a few club rides. He loves it, others who've ridden
it hate it - seems to be the way with these. I didn't like the way the fork bushings 'looked', I
have my doubts about their longevity, but they are as yet unsubstantiated.

I think I would have similar fears to Bomba's concerns about the forks being so different. I've
never seen one in the flesh though and would love to try riding one.

This guy has a lot to say about them...

numplumz.frankencrank.comnumplumz.frankencrank.comOpen ↗

<ouch> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

<snip snip>

Quoted message said:

Our LBS owner has one, and he's brought it on a few club rides. He loves

it,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

others who've ridden it hate it - seems to be the way with these. I

didn't

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

like the way the fork bushings 'looked', I have my doubts about their longevity, but they are as
yet unsubstantiated.

I think I would have similar fears to Bomba's concerns about the forks being so different. I've
never seen one in the flesh though and would love to try riding one.

"Dave B" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

This guy has a lot to say about them...

numplumz.frankencrank.comnumplumz.frankencrank.comOpen ↗

OK, so, basically, good while they last, if you want that sort of thing. Heh.........

Shaun aRe

Quoted message said:

This guy has a lot to say about them...

numplumz.frankencrank.comnumplumz.frankencrank.comOpen ↗

Well I don't think I'd like to spend that much time or money fixing something 'new'.

What Bomba says about the forks is starting to make more sense. My memory of the 'Whyte' is from
those reviews a few years ago proclaiming it a mountainbiking revolution. I guess that didn't
quite happen.

His was a first draft though, can't fault the reviews though.

The Preston 4 will be well worth it - I hope.......

<ouch> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

This guy has a lot to say about them...

numplumz.frankencrank.comnumplumz.frankencrank.comOpen ↗

Well I don't think I'd like to spend that much time or money fixing something 'new'.

What Bomba says about the forks is starting to make more sense. My memory of the 'Whyte' is from
those reviews a few years ago proclaiming it a mountainbiking revolution. I guess that didn't
quite happen.