Privateer 161 Gen 2 on Test – Full Send Instead of Cruise Control

Forget finesse – the Privateer 161 Gen 2 is built tough and thrives when the going gets rough. With its 29” wheels, aluminum frame, and € 4,489 price tag, the British enduro bruiser positions itself as an affordable entry into the world of full-suspension mountain bikes. We put it to the test to find out what it’s really capable of – and how it stacks up against its predecessor.

Privateer gave their enduro bike, the 161, a thorough update – and it’s not just a cosmetic facelift. With 170 mm of travel up front and – surprise, surprise – 161 mm at the rear, it’s built to handle everything from race days to weekend laps at the bike park. What hasn’t changed is its DNA: a rugged aluminum frame, externally routed cables, and a price that brings a welcome glimmer of hope in inflationary times.

For € 4,489, you’ll get a fully-built bike directly from Privateer. Prefer to wrench on your own setup? You can get a frameset complete with the previous-generation FOX FLOAT X2 shock for a fair € 2,179. While that’s a touch more expensive than its predecessor, the Privateer 161 Gen 2 remains a serious bargain in the world of progressive enduro bikes.

The only drawback? At 18.05 kg in size P2, it’s nothing short of a bicep-curl machine – and the heaviest enduro bike we’ve tested in quite some time.

The Privateer 161 Gen 2 in Detail – What’s New?

The new Privateer 161 Gen 2 relies on a sharper, more aggressive design language than its predecessor. The distinctive kink in the top and down tube might divide opinion, while a more radical cross brace between the seat and top tube give the chassis a bolder silhouette. The Privateer logo has been moved subtly to the underside of the down tube. When it comes to adjustability, Privateer’s engineers clearly let loose on the new 161 – but more on that later.

Build quality has clearly taken a step forward, too. The chunky welds are a little more refined this time around. Still, paired with the external cable routing and oversized industrial bearings, the message remains clear: this bike is built to be robust and easy to maintain. If you’re looking to turn heads outside the pub, this still isn’t the bike for you. But that’s not what the 161 wants to achieve anyway. According to Privateer, it’s designed to take a beating on rough trails – without you getting one from your local workshop.

The design is just as wrencher-friendly as ever: the externally routed cables are neatly clamped and guided neatly into the main frame triangle – making tasks like swapping the brake quick and hassle-free. And it’s not just the tidy cable routing that keeps things quiet on the trail; the generously sized chainstay protector at the rear does its part too.

The main frame triangle has mounting points for both a bottle cage and a tool mount. What you won’t find, however, is an integrated storage compartment in the downtube, which is becoming increasingly more popular on modern bikes – though that’s a bigger challenge to implement on an aluminum frame. So you’ll have to stow away your rain jacket and snacks in a hip pack.

The Spec of our Privateer 161 Gen 2

Privateers 161 Gen 2 is only available in a single spec option. It comes equipped with a FOX Performance Elite air suspension. The older FOX X2 shock – which isn’t exactly known for its long-term durability – forgoes the fancy Kashima coating, as does the fork. That said, both suspension components still deliver excellent performance on the trail, and offer a wide range of adjustability. The FOX Performance Elite fork generates 170 mm of travel, and relies on the previous-generation GRIP2 damper, which stands out with great adjustability and solid trail performance – even if the newer GRIP X2 cartridge takes things up a notch, as shown in our recent fork comparison test.

Shifting is taken care of by a mechanical SRAM GX drivetrain, which performs flawlessly and delivers crisp gear changes. One important detail: the frame of the Privateer 161 Gen 2 isn’t compatible with SRAM’s UDH standard. Instead, the rear derailleur is mounted to a conventional mech-hanger, which was developed specifically for this frame – a conscious design choice, according to the manufacturer, aimed at improving adjustability. However, this makes sourcing spares significantly harder, so you should always carry a spare hanger for you 161. If it breaks, don’t expect to find a replacement in any bike shop. On top of that, most modern derailleurs are now optimized for the UDH standard, meaning they may not perform at their best when used with non-standard hangers.

Our test bike comes equipped with Hayes Dominion A4 brakes – the winner in our recent brake comparison test – paired with 203 mm rotors front and rear. However, the production bike comes standard with a smaller 180 mm rotor at the rear, which doesn’t quite suit the bike’s intended use and should be upgraded straight away.

The 161 rolls on a HUNT Enduro Wide V2 aluminum wheelset and MAXXIS tires, with an ASSEGAI in the soft MaxxGrip compound and EXO+ casing up front, and a Minion DHR II MaxxTerra in the harder MaxxTerra and robust Doubledown casing at the rear – setup that ensures plenty of traction. The rubber compounds are well chosen, though we’d prefer a more robust Doubledown casing up front too, especially on a bike built for hard enduro abuse.

The OneUp V3 dropper post offers 180 mm of travel and can be fully inserted in the seat tube of our test bike in size P2. That said, it’s relatively short compared to what many modern enduro bikes offer, and a longer-travel dropper would definitely be better. The cockpit consists of 800 mm Race Face Turbine handlebars and a 40 mm Race Face Aeffect stem – a functional, no-nonsense setup that fits the bike’s character well.

All in all, the spec of the Privateer 161 is pretty solid. To keep the price down, the British manufacturer relies on slightly older components – like the suspension and drivetrain – but these still deliver an excellent performance on the trail. Despite the relatively fragile EXO+ casing up front, the 161 tips the scales at a hefty 18.05 kg, which makes it a real bruiser.

When it comes to the rear end, the second-generation of the Privateer 161 features a newly developed, one-piece forged rocker link. According to the manufacturer, the revised Horst-link rear suspension is based on their new “Aligned Linearly Progressive” platform (A.L.P.), which is designed to ensure a consistent, predictable leverage curve: lots of grip off the top, reduced rider fatigue, and a coil-like response even with an air shock.

Privateer claim that the linear progression translates into better control through the mid-stroke, while the more progressive leverage ratio toward the end of the travel provides additional bottom-out resistance. But does the suspension really perform as promised out on the trail? That’s something we put to the test.

Full send instead of cruise control: if you crave even more reserves, Privateer say you can swap the stock 60 mm stroke shock for one with a 65 mm version, which bumps rear travel up to a whopping 174 mm.

Combined with the frame’s dual-crown fork approval – which allows you to run up to 200 mm of travel up front – you can turn the Privateer 161 Gen 2 into a full-blown bike park machine.

Tuning-Tip:
– Upgrade the front tire to the tougher Doubledown casing.
– Upgrade the rear brake rotor to at least 200 mm for better heat resistance on long descents.

The Geometry of the Privateer 161

The Privateer 161 is available in four sizes (P1–P4), offering a suitable choice for riders between 1.60 m and 1.95 m tall. The smallest P1 frame rolls out of the factory on a mullet wheel setup with a smaller 27.5″ wheel at the rear, while sizes P2 through P4 are full 29ers. The 161 Gen 2 stays true to the uncompromising nature of its predecessor: with a steep 80° seat angle, a slack 64° head angle, and a reach of 470 mm in size P2, the core geometry numbers remain largely unchanged. The 20 mm reach increments – with one exception of 25 mm between P3 and P4 – are sensibly spaced, and starting from P2, the chainstays grow by 5 mm with each frame size. This brings us to the biggest geometry update on the 161: the flip chips.

The first is positioned at the transition between the seat stay and the one-piece forged rocker, and allows you to swap between a 29” and 27.5″ rear wheel. According to Privateer, the smaller rear wheel ensures a more agile character and increases freedom of movement. Needless to say, swapping to a smaller rear wheel has a significant impact on the bike’s geometry – bottom bracket drop decreases to just 12 mm, while chainstay length shortens by 3 mm. The head and seat angles change too, as does the wheelbase, all of which noticeably affect the bike’s handling. The result is not just a smaller rear wheel, but a range of altered dimensions – with no way to maintain consistent geometry across wheel configurations, as some other brands allow.

The second flip chip is also placed on the seat stay and allows you to change the chainstay length to a long setting – by exactly 10 mm. It’s worth noting that this also affects the suspension kinematics, as the leverage ratio increases noticeably. To switch settings, all you need to do is rotate the brake mount. Both flip chip adjustments can be made easily with a 5 and 6 mm Allen key.

Size	P1	P2	P3	P4
Reach	450 mm	470 mm	490 mm	515 mm
Stack	630 mm	639 mm	652 mm	670 mm
Chainstay Length	443 mm / 453 mm	443 mm / 453 mm	448 mm / 458 mm	453 mm / 463 mm
BB Drop	12 mm	12 mm	12 mm	12 mm
Seat Tube	390 mm	410 mm	440 mm	470 mm
Head Angle	64°	64°	64°	64°
Seat Angle	77°	77°	77°	77°
Horizontal Top Tube	562 mm	584 mm	607 mm	637 mm
Head Tube	100 mm	110 mm	125 mm	145 mm
Wheelbase	1231 mm / 1241 mm	1256 mm / 1266 mm	1287 mm / 1297 mm	1326 mm / 1336 mm

The Privateer 161 on the Trail – Built to Send, Not to Stroll!

Just a few pedal strokes in, it becomes clear: the Privateer 161 Gen 2 wasn’t built to set records uphill. The pedalling position is comfortable, but the steep seat angle combined with the low bottom bracket gives an unusual pedaling feel, as you’re pushing down from quite high above the cranks. While the bike climbs pleasantly well – especially on steep fire roads – it’s not one you’ll want to sprint uphill. On the plus side, the rear suspension remains calm and composed at all times without bobbing noticeably, so there’s no need to reach for the climb switch.

When gravity takes over, the Privateer 161 really comes to life – for real! The low, central riding position combined with the plush suspension and high front end inspires confidence from the get go, especially in steep terrain. The deeply integrated stance creates a reassuring sense of control, particularly for riders tackling rough, near-vertical trails for the first time. While the reach on our test bike in size P2 is relatively compact at 470 mm, that actually benefits the handling: the bike responds intuitively to rider input, steers precisely, and remains predictable even in technical sections. The 161 isn’t the most playful enduro bike out there, but it’s impressively composed and capable.

The rear suspension is noticeably sensitive off the top, generating tons of traction early in the stroke. When compressing, the shock ramps up nicely, and we never managed to bottom it out. This progressive character boosts confidence, though it does come at the cost of some liveliness. On flowing trails, the suspension can feel a little sluggish. If you like to pump through rollers and berms, you’ll notice that the suspension sucks up a fair bit of energy. With a more active riding style, there’s still enough pop to boost off roots or to clear small gaps, but that’s not where this bike truly shines.

Where it really feels at home is in steep, chunky terrain. The considerable overall system weight keeps the bike glued to the ground, generating loads of traction. The brakes deliver powerful, controlled deceleration, encouraging you to keep your hands off the levers for a few more seconds. And when it comes to jumps, the 161 is stable and composed at all times.

The rear end is pleasantly stiff – even for heavier riders around 95 kg, the chassis remains torsionally stable through berms. And the best part: the Privateer runs impressively quiet – no rattling, no clunking, nothing – nice!

Things get particularly interesting when it comes to geometry adjustments. In the standard flip chip setting, the Privateer feels more agile through tight, slow sections. Switch to the long setting and the 161 taps into its big-mountain DNA – offering more composure and confidence at speed, though at the expense of playfulness.

There are still a few downsides. In the hardest gears, the chain brushes lightly against the chainstay protector, and in the long chainstay setting, the chain length is noticeably tight. This has a direct impact on shifting performance – which is a bit of a shame.

Who should take a closer look at the Privateer 161?

The Privateer 161 Gen 2 is made for riders who want a reliable, forgiving enduro bike – especially when things get rowdy downhill. The sensitive suspension inspires confidence without ever feeling vague or overly-plush. Beginners in particular will appreciate the intuitive handling and well-balanced geometry.

That said, experienced riders will also get their money’s worth – especially those who prefer to plow through the rough stuff rather than play with the trail. If you like charging full speed through rock gardens and value reserves over agility, the 161 will be a loyal companion with plenty of potential.

It’s less suited to highly active riders with a playful style. If you’re constantly pumping, pushing, and working the terrain, you’ll notice that the suspension tends to absorb a lot of energy without giving much back.

Conclusion about the Privateer 161 Gen 2

The Privateer 161 Gen 2 is a gravity-focused alloy bruiser with plenty of reserves and a rugged build. The new flip chips add welcome adjustability, including a mullet option and longer chainstays – though these changes also impact the bike’s geometry. The fact that the chain rubs against the chainstay protector is a letdown, and climbing is more of a means to an end with the 161. Still, the bike impresses with its mechanic-friendly design and, more importantly, with a progressive suspension platform and intuitive handling out on the trail.

For more information, visit the Privateer Bikes website.

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Words: Lars Engmann, Robin Ulbrich Photos: Robin Schmitt