G-WAGONS NUKEPROOF GIGA VS WHYTE G-180
Who would have guessed, when Gary Fisher wheeled out those early 29er XC hardtails, that we’d end up here? Rolling around on 29er enduro bikes with 180mm-travel forks. Not us, that’s for sure.
Even 12 months ago, 180mm-travel 29er single-crown forks from RockShox and Fox were reserved for pros riding not-so-secret prototypes. Now they are standard issue. And while it’s actually e-bikes that are driving the demand for bigger, stronger products, two brands that have been quick to capitalise on the gains in stiffness and strength that the latest 38mm forks bring to traditional analogue bikes, are Whyte and Nukeproof.
Designed specifically around 180mm-travel forks, the top-of-the-range Nukeproof Giga 290 Carbon Factory and Whyte G-180 Works 29er are more G-wagon than monster truck. Best of all, you don’t need 100k just to get your hands on the base model. In fact, at £5,499.99 and £5,150 respectively, these flagship builds from Nukeproof and Whyte are very competitively priced. Not least because both are available through traditional bricks and mortar stores, so you’ll be able to kick the tyres and play with the controls before leaving the showroom.
The Whyte G-180 is the obvious evolutionary step for the G-170; a new 6061 alloy frame replacing the carbon option previously available on the Works build. For the Giga, Nukeproof takes its inspiration from the Dissent downhill rig, albeit with a
