Bike Check: Chloe Taylor’s custom Privateer 161
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Bike Check: Chloe Taylor’s custom Privateer 161

May 17, 2020

Chloe Taylor switches to the Privateer 161 for 2020 and has just completed this race-spec build ready to take on the EWS (whenever that might happen).

Check out the full build below plus excellent photos by Martha Gill.

I received my Privateer 161 just after we went into lockdown in the UK and boy has it brought some joy! I’ve finally got to put the bike to some proper trails since our measures have changed and I was super stoked with how the bike handled with its progressive geometry. I love what the guys at privateer stand for, literally designing race-ready bikes on an affordable budget.  

Chloe Taylor
Bike Check: Chloe Taylor's custom Privateer 161
  • Rider: Chloe Taylor
  • Age: 21
  • Local Trails: Peak District
  • Instagram: chloetaylor_84
  • Sponsors: HUNT wheels, Privateer Bikes, POC, BikeTrack.com, UK Underfloor Heating, Shimano UK, Fabric, PNW Components, Burgtec, Peaty’s, Five.  

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Bike Check: Chloe Taylor's custom Privateer 161
The Privateer 161 packs 161mm of travel and comes stock with a RockShox SuperDeluxe Ultimate rear shock for £1489 for the frame only or £2989 for a complete bike built up with some really quality kit. Chloe is on a P1 size frame with a 445mm, and a 64 degree head angle.
Bike Check: Chloe Taylor's custom Privateer 161
Chloe looks super stoked on her new ride // Photo Credit Martha Gill
  • Frame: Privateer 161 P1 Frame
  • Wheels: HUNT All-Mountain Carbon 29in Front – 27.5 Rear
  • Brakes: Shimano XTR 4 – Piston
  • Rotors: Shimano XT Ice-Tech Rotors (203mm Front / 180mm Rear)
  • Shifter: XTR 12 Speed
  • Crankset: XTR 1 x 12 Speed (170mm)
  • Chainring: XTR 30T
  • Rear mech: Shimano XTR Medium Cage
  • Cassette: Shimano XTR 12 speed 10-45
  • Chain: Shimano XTR
  • Rear Shock: RockShox SuperDeluxe Ultimate Air
  • Fork: RockShox Lyrik 160mm
  • Stem: Burgtec Enduro Mk2 35mm
  • Bar: Brugtec Ride Wide Carbon Enduro Bars
  • Dropper Post: PNW Bachelor with Loam Lever
  • Grips: Fabric FunGuy
  • Saddle: Fabric Line-S Pro Flat 142mm
  • Pedals: Crankbrothers DH Mallet
Bike Check: Chloe Taylor's custom Privateer 161
The Privateer 161 takes the long travel and modern geometry of enduro bikes and brings it all down to a price that is much more affordable, but it’s still up to the challenge of an EWS stage and once the world is back to normal Chloe plans on showing us what the 161 can do! // Photo Credit Martha Gill
  • Bike Check: Chloe Taylor's custom Privateer 161
    Photo Credit Martha Gill
  • Bike Check: Chloe Taylor's custom Privateer 161
    Photo Credit Martha Gill
Burgtec handles the cockpit on Chloe’s bike with an Enduro MK2 35mm alloy stem and matching 35mm diameter Ride Wide Carbon Enduro bar cut down to 750mm.
Bike Check: Chloe Taylor's custom Privateer 161
CrankBrothers Mallet DH pedals. // Photo Credit Martha Gill
  • Bike Check: Chloe Taylor's custom Privateer 161
    Photo Credit Martha Gill
  • Bike Check: Chloe Taylor's custom Privateer 161
    Photo Credit Martha Gill
Bike Check: Chloe Taylor's custom Privateer 161
Hunt is one of Chloe’s main sponsors and for this build she is running a pair of Hunt All-Mountain Carbon hoops. Chloe has chosen to go for a mullet with this build and runs a 29er up front and 27.5in wheel on the rear. // Photo Credit Martha Gill
Bike Check: Chloe Taylor's custom Privateer 161
  • Bike Check: Chloe Taylor's custom Privateer 161
    Photo Credit Martha Gill
  • Bike Check: Chloe Taylor's custom Privateer 161
    Photo Credit Martha Gill
Shiny new, top of the range Shimano XTR handles the stop and go duties on this 161. A pair of Shimano XTR 4 piston calipers hook up on a 180mm XT rear and 203mm front rotor for powerful and reliable Enduro World Stage braking. The 1 x 12 drivetrain is also from the silky smooth XTR sable.
Bike Check: Chloe Taylor's custom Privateer 161
Fabric’s comfy saddle provides a place to perch between stages or while wheeling across YouTube. // Photo Credit Martha Gill
Bike Check: Chloe Taylor's custom Privateer 161
Fabric are on hand for another important contact point. FunGuy grips have a supple ribbed design and a single lock-on ring making them extra comfy. // Photo Credit Martha Gill
  • Bike Check: Chloe Taylor's custom Privateer 161
    Photo Credit Martha Gill
  • Bike Check: Chloe Taylor's custom Privateer 161
    Photo Credit Martha Gill
10 – 45 cassette isn’t the biggest, but if you’re fit enough then you don’t need a 51. A custom Gowaan Girls MudHugger keeps the mud and dust down while schralping turns.
Bike Check: Chloe Taylor's custom Privateer 161
Bike Check: Chloe Taylor's custom Privateer 161
“I’d been wanting to test the mullet set up since seeing so many top riders do so well on them. I was really excited when the opportunity came up with Privateer. I really believe the 29er is better for racing but being a shorter rider I’ve struggled with tyre buzz. Also, I love the playfulness of the 27.5 rear wheel. So I think the mullet set up is going to be perfect for me. Business in the front, party in the back! “
Bike Check: Chloe Taylor's custom Privateer 161
Ready to race!

Andi is a gadget guru and mountain biker who has lived and ridden bikes in China and Spain before settling down in the Peak District to become Singletrack's social media expert. He is definitely more big travel fun than XC sufferer but his bike collection does include some rare hardtails - He's a collector and curator as well as a rider. Theory and practice in perfect balance with his inner chi, or something. As well as living life based on what he last read in a fortune cookie Andi likes nothing better than riding big travel bikes.

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9 thoughts on “Bike Check: Chloe Taylor’s custom Privateer 161”

  1. Nice one Chloe, bike looks great. Mine is on order. Interesting with the mullet though, as Privateer state on their website not dot it. Still, rules are there to be broken I guess. Have a great season, when it it starts!

  8. Interesting point about the 10-45 rear cassette and something I’ve wondered about, Shimano are marketing the 10-45 cassette as being used with 2x drivetrain set ups but I suspect the 10-45 is attractive (esp for racers) as the rear mech doesn’t need the long cage that you need for 10-51 so less chance of rock strikes etc.

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