I've just gone and shelved out for a PRST-4 Frameset which I picked up three days ago. Interested if there are any others out there who have bitten the bullet. Seems to ride over or through anything, that gets in the way. Heard lots about how the paintwork on the Whytes seems to be somewhat flimsy, also the frames are meant to be noisy any experience with others out there on this subject.
I have been a proud owner of a PRST-4 since november last year. I got it from Aire Valley Cycles in Keighley (and before I continue what a great bunch of guys they are there)
anyway
having ridden my prst4 through the worst of the winter weather i can say that it is a fantastic all day xc machine. The Plusses are many: amazing front end plushness and tracking.. yes it did take me a few rides to get used to it but now it feels 'right' ... and given that i have been riding in awful muddy conditions it makes telscopic forks seem highly labour intensive in that after a clean it needs little else doing...though i make sure the little rubber gaiter over the spherical bearing is cleaned out after a wet ride the rear end is fantastic and does exactly what it says on the tin, in that i set the shock up with about 10mm of sag and just got on with it. and it has been superb, tracks well doesnt appear to move too much when pedalling hard. personally i like jon whytes setup in that both the front and rear are super supple on small to medium hits but ramp up through the big stuff
the xt spec on my bike has been fine...so far my hope minis have been trouble free, and i was impressed that the carbon monkeylite riser was standard spec
cons
paint still appears thin so frame protectors are a must....especially on the plus fours where the gear/brake cable outers rub
slightly too high front end for me.....i am currently experimenting with zero degree stems, but maybe i am just picking...
this has been one of the best buys i have made, and now i see the whyte as superb xc bike which suits me perfectly for day long epics balancing comfort with speed. i cant wait for the summer oh and bring plenty of innertubes....i keep getting pinch flats as the whyte absorbs all the stuff thrown at it...leaving the tyres to act as the weakest link
Thanks Seif, for your thoughts its good to see taking into account your views and those of others on this and other web sites that the bike is as good as the hype describes...
I have managed to knock up a 150 miles over the last week a 130 of which were off road. It rides through and over stuff with ease, the ride setup is easy to change and compared to telescopic forks cleaning is a breeze.
I have got hold of a role of silver gaffa tape which is great for all those high wear areas, including padding those areas where cables rattle against the frame this has deadened the noise I was getting through the frame. I noted also that the Plus Fours can have a tendency to hit the lower wishbone so its worth putting some form of impact protection at that point to stop denting.
Other than that its a dream, smooth plush and infinitely confident, so far no pinch flats but I always tend to run quite high tyre pressures.
