At three kilos, the Whaka aluminium frame was not exactly a lightweight, so the carbon fibre diet came in handy. Otherwise, the product managers gave their All Mountain the new Boost standard, a significantly better cockpit and slightly grippier Schwalbe Fat Albert tyres. A glance at the data sheet reveals only minor changes apart from the new material. On our test in the Bavarian foothills of the Alps, however, we noticed a lot more.
As soon as you reach for the cockpit, the Whaka Carbon makes it clear that it is a force to be reckoned with downhill. The Spank handlebars are an impressive 760 millimetres long. The Scorpio handlebar mounted on the aluminium version with two centimetres less span would be wide enough, but the strong bend to the rear takes some getting used to even after a few kilometres. In addition - alongside a shorter stem and shorter reach - it reinforces the squat riding position on the discontinued model compared to its successor.
On the carbon counterpart, on the other hand, you sit in a pleasantly sporty position and the 70 millimetre stem fits in with the image of a harmonious all-mountain bike. In contrast to the other three pairs, the gearing on the Stevens fullys has not changed. Both models rely on Shimano's well-functioning 2x11 XT groupset and therefore have the widest gear spread in the entire test field. On some steep climbs, we thank the Hamburg-based company for this decision. The 2016 Whaka even has an XTR rear derailleur, but the difference is only noticeable in the weight, as the slightly cheaper XT derailleur on the successor to the throne works just as well. No experiments are made with the brakes either. In 2017, the brakes are still XT stoppers from Shimano and a 203 millimetre brake disc at the front.
On descents, the heavier aluminium bike behaves somewhat nervously, the suspension elements provide less feedback and don't harmonise so well, which our test bench also revealed in the lab. The discontinued model is more of a bike for leisurely tours than a fun machine for technical terrain. In contrast, its successor to the throne is completely different. With significantly more suspension travel at the rear, it hurtles downhill, still agile but much smoother, especially at higher speeds. The changes to the geometry and equipment are minimal, but make a significant difference. The new Fat Albert tyres are no revelation, but still offer a little more grip than the Nobby Nics. The suspension imbalances? Not a trace of it anymore.
In short, the carbon fibre version of the Whaka leaves its predecessor no chance - both uphill and downhill, the 2017 model is superior to its 2016 counterpart.
Conclusion Stefan Frey, BIKE test editor
It's amazing how the changes in detail have affected the overall concept. Not only does the material change, but the Whaka becomes a better bike across the board. The 1000 euros more you have to pay for it is really worth it.
Stevens Whaka 20 ES 2016
Stevens Whaka Carbon ES 2016
Stefan Frey
Editor
