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After three years of development, 500,000m of descent, an Ard Rock triumph, plenty of rumours, and a few spy photos, Privateer finally introduces the Gen 2 range.
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By ben_haworth
Get the full story here:
https://singletrackmag.com/2024/02/privateer-bikes-finally-launch-gen-2-range-and-pre-sales/
Comes with a free crane to help you lift it onto the car or over a gate. 40lb for a bike is simply not acceptable imho.
Sadly feels like a swing and a miss. Geometry looks absolutely bang on for me, but the heft and being hugely progressive are not.
Still feel that no UDH might be a mistake too, but that could be fixable with a change of seat stay down the road.
Also pretty sure it’s more ugly than my outgoing Whyte G160, and that’s saying something
40lb for a full sus? Is that right? I thought we'd left 40lb non-e full sussers back in 1998?
Yeah 40.1lb for the one Pinkbike have. That's an XL with Fox 38s, DH casing rear tyre and Doubledown front.
38.3lbs with lighter wheels and Exo+ casings if they work for you
So many marketing cliché’s in that press release. Jeez…
Yeah 40.1lb for the one Pinkbike have
Just skim read the review. Thats one heavy and ugly looking thing...
Much prefer the Airdrop edit
https://www.airdropbikes.com/collections/frames/products/edit-mx-frame-rockshox-sdlx-coil-ultimate
im curious as to how this single sided hardware works? as you cant get a tool to things like the shock bolts unless you go from the other side?
Sod that.... 40lb.... That's crazy.
My old Strive has bulked out to 13,5kg and is robust enough.
I was waiting for Privateer to release this before deciding between the Bird Aeris and this. The top tube alone makes the decision for me (Gen 1 Santa Cruz Nomad?), then the weight, then the aesthetics of the linkage, then the top tube again. Plus you can only change travel with a different shock, rather than a linkage swap.
Off to call Bird!
as other say... what a missed opportunity. Geo does look pretty good. But lack of UDH and a few other bits... its a no from me.
Why don't you test ride the thing before griping about weight? I'm sure most people riding it could do with losing 5 or 6 lbs themselves...
Why don’t you test ride the thing before griping about weight?
Because its gopping as well.
I always thought the old 141 just looked... purposeful. Not sure why they had to hit this one with the ugly stick.
Unless there is some other benefit to a kink in the top tube.
I was waiting for Privateer to release this before deciding between the Bird Aeris and this.
The Aeris 9? It's still a bit of a lump and best suited to winch-and-plummet riding, but I'm sure mine's comfortably under 40lbs (with a coil shock and Zeb).
Yes, Aeris 9. Not expecting it to be feather weight (my Aether 9 build is burly with coil shock and Z1 coils) but at least it won't offend my eyes and I can just swap the link for bigger days out/foreign trips rather than having to buy a whole other shock.
Plus if I get it in raw the Finance Committee at home might not tell the difference between old and new!
I'm sure someone somewhere will like it, but that is a gopping obese monstrosity of a thing and needs to taken out to a field by a vet with a shotgun and put out of its misery
Yeah, just watched the YouTube video wondering if this might challenge my lust for the Edit MX. I was too distracted by the top tube to actually pay attention to what was being said.
Yes, Aeris 9. Not expecting it to be feather weight (my Aether 9 build is burly with coil shock and Z1 coils) but at least it won’t offend my eyes and I can just swap the link for bigger days out/foreign trips rather than having to buy a whole other shock.
I had a couple of weeks in the Alps on mine last year and I never felt the need to fit the 180mm linkage TBH, it rides great with 160mm rear/180mm front and takes the hits really well. It was in its element out there, more so than most of my UK riding.
Oh, erm, well that's, erm - well frickin' ugly!!!!!
The previous one was decent looking.
What's with the bent top tube crap - are they trying to look like a bad imitation of Mondraker - or was it designed to look like it's hit a brick wall???
Aren’t all full suspension bikes ugly? 😉
proper stack numbers! Slowly brands are getting it.
chakapingFree Member
Yes, Aeris 9. Not expecting it to be feather weight (my Aether 9 build is burly with coil shock and Z1 coils) but at least it won’t offend my eyes and I can just swap the link for bigger days out/foreign trips rather than having to buy a whole other shock.
I had a couple of weeks in the Alps on mine last year and I never felt the need to fit the 180mm linkage TBH, it rides great with 160mm rear/180mm front and takes the hits really well. It was in its element out there, more so than most of my UK riding.
That's good to hear, thanks. I'm heading to Whistler in the summer so the flexibility might be nice. Part of me wants to keep the Aether 9 and take that as it's perfect for most of my riding. But new things..
Ive seen far worse looking bikes and im sure the will sell loads ... Just not this way, after my limited experience of the gen1 which was heavier than a mk1 Landy even with gucci carbon wheels and stuff . It never felt like a good bike. A little cheaply put together and the weight .. did I mention the weight ...... Ive never ever wanted a Lakes hike a bike fun day to end I bet that frame was stripped quicker than a facebook bag head on chuck day .
@Icj
Looked at the RAAW Madonna ? v2.2 on offer and v3 first batch still available
Aren't a lot of enduro bikes quite heavy these days? Polygon in this vid is over 42lb
https://www.pinkbike.com/news/enduro-world-cup-bike-weigh-in-courtesy-of-edbull-media-house.html
Its the +3000ft rides (which is only 13 miles or so where I ride), that you appreciate a lighter build. People say you wont notice the difference, but its the cumulative effort involved in dragging a heavy bike around that will change your mind. The weight of a bike has always been fairly high up on my list of bike attributes.
I love my Gen1 141 and have been patiently waiting for the Gen2 161, but it’s way too heavy no raw option and absolutely gopping looking, I’m really disappointed and a bit peed of the Raw Madonna 2.2 sale frame isn’t in my size now.
I’ve seen a few prototype Gen2 bikes in raw and they didn’t looks as ugly as the production bikes, not sure if it’s the paint or the press bike in an odd size, I appreciate that part of the weight comes from proper gravity tires but +40 is ridiculous.
rootes1
Full Member
proper stack numbers! Slowly brands are getting
One of the things they got right, but then again at the other end you’ve got a whopping amount of progression in the suspension. Reckon I’d need to find a way to put a tru-tune in shock to ever get anywhere near full travel
Its the +3000ft rides (which is only 13 miles or so where I ride), that you appreciate a lighter build. People say you wont notice the difference, but its the cumulative effort involved in dragging a heavy bike around that will change your mind. The weight of a bike has always been fairly high up on my list of bike attributes.
Yeah, as much as condescending journos and bike designers tell us "weight doesn't matter", it bloody well does when you're carrying it up a mountain or just pedalling it all day.
I'm sure this is fine for enduro smashing, but it's not gonna be a great all-rounder for a lot of us.
My old steel frame Keewee DH bike is sub 40lbs with full fat DH tyres. Ok it's 26" but . . . .
Is this really progress?
Not enough top tubes for you?
🤣
Look, ive got and owned some odd and ugly bikes, ellesworth, mavericks, trek 69ers, jones space frames etc....
But those new privateer bikes make donald trump touching himself with his tiny hands look attractive
Is this really progress?
Yes. Because those old Keewee DH bikes were crap even when they were new and this is a versatile bike that can do a bit of anything.
40lb!?
Crikey,only a couple of pounds lighter than my ebike, and that has proper gravity tyres on it too.
Is the frame filled with lead?
Crucially, no mention of how many d’s of traction it has. That’s the number we want to learn.
Total cluster **** of bad ideas. WTF were they thinking.
Sure it'll ride well and has more adjustability than the gen1, Not as nice looking though for sure, The weights never bothered me I regularly do 3000ft+ rides round the calder valley on my 141, it doesn't feel heavy on the move IMO
That's a top tube only a mother could love
Think we’d all appreciate a higher stack height but there’s got to be a better way than bending the top and down tube to achieve it. And all that progression, gonna have to run some serious spring rate in the fork to try and balance it out
I was eagerly awaiting this as the 141 is/was on my shortlist for first full suss in a long time. Def would need to see in the flesh now as the the pictures are a bit gopping. I thought the gen 1 was a good looking bike but these urgh. People seem to love Ibis, Niners and Pivots though so it probs won't matter.
I’m sure most people riding it could do with losing 5 or 6 lbs themselves…
Really hope you’re not part of their marketing team 😂
Are the bends in the tubes not for practical reasons? Downtube has to allow clearance for the wheel then the top tube follows suit to maintain space for a bottle inside the triangle? I certainly appreciate being able to fit a bottle cage and one of those tool/tube things.
A reasonable question… but they don’t seem to have gained much over the gen1 which was already good for bottle space. Yes it looks like everyone now has room for a wee enduro bag though.
The bendy tubes would probably have gotten an easier ride if they hadn’t also increased the weight, price and progression curve so much
As a reminder:
I listened to the Blister podcast with the designer and the bike sounded awesome, he was really across all the detail.
Didn't expect it to get such a hostile reception, and I don't think the pinkbike review with the XL frame looking so awkward has helped. The medium ones look much more acceptable IMO.
Still too heavy for my requirements though.
Perhaps I’m looking at them more favourably because I have an E161 and think it is very well designed if a little rough and ready in some areas. Mind you, I got the E161 on that double discount deal which made it a similar price to the new 161
I think they look great, purposeful and great stance. Would happily buy one!
It seems that they’ve designed something that can be the ultimate privateer enduro race bike and also a bike park / uplift machine. So much geometry adjustment, a frame built to last rather than built down to a weight, progression to suit really gnarly riders on coils or big volume air shocks. Strong enough to take 200mm dual crown forks. Top tube bent to fit a bigger bottle.
Frame weight is a weird thing because once you’re on a bike it’s very hard to detect. If anything, heavier frames (assuming all else is equal) feel better on rougher trails, which is part of the reason for enduro racers strapping all their tools/water to the frames nowadays. Heavy wheels and tyres do feel different (most prefer lighter) and draggy tyres feel bad when pedalling to everyone (but we accept a certain compromise for grip/damping downhill).
I’m not fast enough or have gnarly enough local trails for the 161 but I hope those who suit it buy it because I bet it’s great, despite the looks!
It might not be the prettiest bike but I don't think it's the ugliest either. I'd happily prioritise function over looks. It looks like you could fit a big bottle, small frame bag and strap a tube in the front triangle which I doubt would be the case without the kinks in the top and down tubes.
I listened to the Blister podcast with the designer and the bike sounded awesome, he was really across all the detail.
Haven't listened to the podcast but the original wasn't designed in house - Redburn Design did it. Sounds like they did it in house this time hence the different design direction.
I'm normally on the side of function over form but the aesthetics are a step backwards.
I loved the Gen 1 161, it looked good, rode well and was easy to service. It also wasn’t 40lb! The new one is ugly, hopefully rides well and weighs the same as a mid weight ebike.
40lb, and then you need to add the weight of water bottle, tools, tubes and other random stuff.
Anyone seen a frame weight? Be interested to know as I've had XL bikes with very similar travel, geo and parts...but 7-8lbs lighter. Maybe there's a lb difference in tyres and shock. 40lbs is crackers. Can see why riders are choosing e-bikes if this is the way things are going.
Interesting Privateer is getting so much negativity for the top tube. I agree, but don't remember seeing others like Canyon or Niner taking such a beating in comments.
4.6kg
If it's 4.6kg without the shock, that would explain the bike being over 40lbs.
Got to begrudgingly admire them for going all in on the "weight doesn't matter" thing.
Is it basically a modern freeride bike, in terms of it's ideal use case?
The 161 is sure built sturdy, if I were looking it would definitely be at the 141 but I’ve no idea how much different that is. I’ve always thought Privateer come up with some very solid build kits too, with my only reservation being the wheels.
What the dickens is “forward thinking geometry” ?
Something Mondraker came up with several years ago…
Friend has a Mk1 161 in raw, bit weighty but rides well. This MK2 misses the mark completely.
One manipulation of the top tube later: https://www.pinkbike.com/photo/26239039
Sadly doesn’t help the other issues
I looked at this press release on my mobile and wondered why they'd shot dark coloured bikes against a dark background with low lighting. Now I've had a chance to look at them on the desktop, I can see why.
As someone has posted above, even if it was heavy, the mk1s were great looking bikes - like longer, slacker Turner Burners which is a good thing!
I'm kind of repeating myself, but I can't get my head around them presumably being aware of the previous bike's reputation for being really good but a bit chonky - and then having a meeting and agreeing "let's make the next one even heavier but not so good looking".
Think we’d all appreciate a higher stack height but there’s got to be a better way than bending the top and down tube to achieve it.
RAAW manage it with straight tubes and achieving higher stacks heights.
@andybrad Hi sorry for the late reply on this. Our single-sided hardware uses just a single bolt head to tighten or remove each pivot bolt. So, rather than needing a second tool to hold a bolt still and prevent it from spinning, you can access and maintain bolts from just one side with a single tool. Hope that clears this up.
@sv It's Great to hear your thoughts on Gen 2; we're stoked about it, too!