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The Privateer 161 (Gen 2) has great geometry, a decent build kit, external routing (yes!) and rides very, very impressively.
The Gen 1 looked pretty decent. This one, well, erm, yeah....
I've warmed to the looks. Maybe in a world of absolutely gopping ebikes, this call for eye bleach actually looks reasonable now. Plus if you get tired of the looks, attach a rope to it and it'll double up as an anchor for a ship.
It’s still progressive but in much more of linear-ish way. And it still needs careful setting up (more later).
This seems to downplay that its one of the most progressive bikes going, and the careful setting up seems to be as a result of that rather than a design intent
Sorry, I just can’t get over the weight and the hump. I really liked the Gen 1 and the 141 though.
Seems like it's way better suited to a coil shock, PB did a review of the 141 and seemed to prefer it with a coil and the prototype bikes I spotted in the Alps and Canada in 2023 were coil equipped. Beyond the faff of selling different springs for different rider weights it seems odd that there isn't a coil shock equipped option for sale.
It's grown on me somewhat but still dislike that hump, like the idea of the mullet option though and they are great value for money. In no rush to chop in my 4 year old gen 1 141 yet though.
Any more words on the heel rub that is mentioned as a con? Where does it happen, do you feel your heels catching when you ride etc?
Is heel rub a problem?
I get it on pretty much any bike I ride due to my feet position being slightly toe out.
Is heel rub a problem?
from the Pinkbike Staff Rides article it seems to be, but they also mention that the production frames now have protection to help*
*protect the frame, whilst therefore making it more likely to rub in the first place