ATB Sales have released this information to us before any other media in the world. The bike will be launched on the Whyte bike site tommorow, but for now, BIKEmagic scoops the world once again.

The Whyte SL-4.5 combines Jon Whyte’s Championship winning suspension system with cutting-edge materials technology to create the World’s first production full suspension bike frame made entirely from Magnesium alloy.

Until recently the technology required to extrude and weld Magnesium was a closely guarded military secret but this technology is now becoming commercially available. Working closely with the scientists that have been developing high-tech Magnesium alloys for military and space applications, Jon Whyte has redesigned his award winning suspension system to take best advantage of the fabulous properties that Magnesium offers.

Apart from its incredible weight advantage, (it is 35% lighter than Aluminium) Magnesium has fantastic damping properties, which create a bike with silky smooth riding characteristics.

The SL-4.5 is made from a radical new material, but the innovation has not stopped there. Also featured on the SL-4.5 is a new swingarm design that incorporates the BIG GRIPPER dropout system.

The SL-4.5 frameset is wonderfully light, weighing in at just 4.5lb (excluding shock). In the XT spec. the SL-4.5 will be in the 24lb range. But unlike most ultra-light aluminium alloy frames, the SL-4.5 is super stiff thanks to the combination of oversize magnesium tubes, new swingarm design and special dropouts.