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Today’s Deals2024 Privateer
161
A 27.5″ / 29″ aluminum frame full suspension enduro bike with upper mid-range components.
Manufacturer Price
$4,989| Frame | Aluminum |
|---|---|
| Suspension | Full, 161 / 170mm |
| Fork | Fox Performance Elite Float 38 |
| Shock | Fox Float X2 Performance Elite |
| Wheels | 27.5″ / 29″ Aluminum |
| Drivetrain | 1 × 12 |
| Groupset | XT, SLX |
| Brakes | Hayes Dominion A4 Hydraulic Disc |
| Seatpost | Dropper |
Summary
The Privateer 161 is a highly capable enduro bike praised for its predictable suspension, excellent traction, and impact handling. It offers a balanced ride with dialed geometry and practical features for maintenance. Despite its weight and some mechanical noises, it excels in technical terrain and climbing efficiency.
Predictable and intuitive suspension feel
Great traction and impact handling
Dialed geometry gives a balanced ride
Practical do-it-yourself mechanic features
Excellent for big sends and gnarly terrain
Significant price increase from the previous version
Heavy weight (40 lbs)
Not the quietest bike with some mechanical noises
Hunt Enduro V2 wheels are too flexy for hard cornering
No UDH hanger
It’s so easy to just ride this bike down things, over things, through things.
BIKE MagazineThe ease of riding at pace gave me the confidence to attack trails, safe in the knowledge that the 161 Gen 2 would make sense of rock gardens and rutted root sections when riding got hectic.
Bike PerfectHow does an 18.2 kg bike climb? Not nearly as bad as you might think.Pinkbike
Feedback?
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Aug 2025 · Ron Koch
The new Privateer 161 builds on rider feedback with updated suspension, versatile geometry, and a durable build for enduro racing and bike park laps.
May 2025 · Lars Engmann, Robin Ulbrich
We tested the Privateer 161 Gen 2 for you – and didn’t just hammer it down the trails of Finale Ligure. Want to know how it performs on the trail?
Easy maintenance thanks to the external cable routing and oversized industrial bearings
Impressive downhill potential with plenty of reserves
Inspires tons of confidence on the trail
Heavy overall weight
Not UDH-compatible
Spec doesn’t quite match the bike’s aggressive character
Apr 2025 · Ross Demain
The Privateer 161 (Gen 2) has great geometry, a decent build kit, external routing (yes!) and rides very, very impressively.
Great geometry
Decent build kit
External routing
Good value for money
User-friendly features
Easy maintenance and repair
Compelling collection for the money
Great platform for pedalling
Plenty of support for climbing
Impressive descender
Natural, neutral, predictable geometry
Confidence-inspiring on jumps and drops
Calm and composed on steep and fast trails
Top end suspension
Under £3k
Heel rub
Suspension stuttery at slow speeds
No raw option like the Gen1
Tyres are rather overkill
180mm travel dropper is underkill
Higher rise bars on larger sizes and shorter stems all round would be nice
Jul 2024 · Graham Cottingham
I subjected the Privateer 161 Gen 2 enduro bike to almost a month of seriously tough riding in British Columbia to find out if this affordable enduro racer is the perfect blend of performance and durability
Composed traction-rich suspension
Excellent spec and value for money
Dialed geometry gives a balanced ride
Practical do-it-yourself mechanic features
Hunt Enduro V2 wheels are too flexy for hard cornering
No UDH hanger
Availability
Bring back a raw alloy finish
Jun 2024
Privateer’s new enduro bike puts function over fashion, and feels practical and purposeful.
Feb 2024 · Seb Stott
Another party trick is that it's compatible with dual crown forks up to 200 mm travel, and rear travel can be extended to 175 mm with a longer-stroke shock. .
Jan 2023 · Robert Johnston
The Privateer 161 still ranks highly in the enduro scene thanks to its purposeful suspension kinematics and nicely balanced geometry.
Great value
Balanced geometry
Suspension performance
Not quite as nicely finished as some
Seat tube angle may be too steep
Jan 2022
Privateer’s ethos has always been rider-focused, providing an offering that is race-ready and doesn’t break the bank. The 161 is a full race bike designed to be fast, reliable and accessible to all (notwithstanding COVID’s effects on the global supply chain).
| Frame | 6061-T6 Aluminium. 161mm Travel. |
|---|---|
| Fork | Fox 38 Performance Elite, 44mm offset, 170mm travel Travel: 170mm Spring Type: Air |
| Shock | Fox Float X2 Performance Elite, Custom Tuned, 205 x 60. Travel: 161mm |
| Headset | FSA ZS44/ZS56 fully sealed cartridge bearings |
| Stem | RaceFace Aeffect R. 40mm. 35mm Clamp. |
| Handlebar | RaceFace Turbine. 800x20. 35mm Clamp |
| Saddle | Privateer Cro-Mo rail |
| Seatpost | OneUp 1.6mm P1 = 150mm, P2-P4 = 180mm Type: Dropper |
| Grips | ProPalm, soft compound lock-on grip |
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano SLX, 12 Speed |
|---|---|
| Crank | Shimano SLX 170mm, 32t |
| Shifters | Shimano XT |
| Cassette | Shimano SLX, 12 Speed, 10-51t |
| Chain | KMC X12 |
| Brakes | Hayes Dominion A4 4 piston brake Type: Hayes Dominion A4 Hydraulic Disc |
| Rims | HUNT Enduro Wide V2, 33mm Front/31mm Rear internal, 6069-T6 Rim. PSR Triple Butted spokes. |
|---|---|
| Tires | Front: Maxxis Assegai 29x2.5", MaxxGrip, Doubledown/TR, Rear: Maxxis Minion DHRII 29"x 2.4", 3C/DH/TR, MaxxGrip |
| Disc Rotors | 203mm front and 180mm rear |
First added November 18
Last updated October 18