The Privateer 161 is red hot, melting our servers when we posted up our first review of the pre-production frame. If you are looking for a weekend racer to move up the pack a little, or to scare your mates on the descents, then the Privateer 161 could be right up your street. But, is it too race focussed?

The 15.9 kg Privateer 161 features 161 mm of rear travel, a low-slung Horst link suspension system, 29” wheels and very on-trend geometry. It’s a champion of simplicity and no-frills performance. The € 3,299 bike doesn’t hold back on its spec, getting the essentials, most importantly the brakes, suspension and tires, bang on. Suspension is taken care of by the outstanding, burly 170 mm RockShox Lyrik Ultimate fork with the RC2.1 damper and at the rear, a RockShox Super Deluxe Ultimate shock controls 160 mm travel. The brakes are powerful, albeit lacking in modulation Magura MT5s for fierce braking power. Privateers will love the rugged reliability of the 12-speed Shimano XT shifter and SLX drivetrain. The bike rolls on 33 mm internal width Hunt Enduro Wide wheels (Hunt is Privateer’s sister brand) shod with aggressive Michelin Wild Enduro tires. Finishing kit is all branded, with a RaceFace 35 mm Atlas bar and 40 mm Aeffect stem, while a 170 mm One-Up Components V2 dropper finishes the build.

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