Is this the best motorsport-inspired mountain bike? Andi Sykes' Alfa Romeo Privateer 161 Gen 2
Motorsports and MTB collide once again with this Privateer 161 getting an Alfa-themed paint job and motorsport-inspired componentry
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[Photography courtesy of Andi Sykes]
Motorsport and mountain biking seem to be a duo that fall hand in hand fairly often, with bikes like Mondraker's Gulf-themed NEAT and brands like Ohlins and HEL joining the party. Andi Sykes is yet another to combine the two with his freshly painted, Alfa Romeo-themed Privateer 161, dripping with kit from motorsport brands.
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If anyone knows Andi, The Rider Firm's very own Alfa Romeo coinesseur and car enthusiast, you'll know that he's constantly at car meets, picking up strange cars, and well, loving Alfa Romeos. As a man in charge of all things Privateer, he smashed both his love for the Italian car brand and mountain biking together, and the result is pretty spectacular.
2025 privateer alfa romeo top tube.jpg, by Liam Mercer
To put the two together, he joined forces with Stu at Blackcat Custom Paint, who just so happened to have some leftover Rosso Miro paint, which struck the match that started the fire.
As for the bike itself, yes it's a Privateer 161 Gen 2 adorned with an Alfa-inspired colourway, but located on the seat tube are clever nods to both more motorsport brands, and The Rider Firm's, such as Hunt, Proven, and ALP (the name of the bike's suspension design) designed to mimic sporting logos.
2025 privateer alfa romeo seat stay.jpg, by Liam Mercer
Of course, the bike's not just about its paint job, as HEL, a brand known for its motorcycle brakes, has provided its new and hotly talked about Advocate four-piston brakes. These are complete with braided brake lines.
2025 privateer alfa romeo hel.jpg, by Liam Mercer
Goodyear, another brand with a history steeped in cars and racing, has also helped out, bringing its MTF and MTR tyres to the mix. They're wrapped around a pair of Hunt's Proven Carbon Enduro H_Core wheels, which have been developed with help from the brand's EDR-racing athletes.
2025 privateer alfa romeo fork.jpg, by Liam Mercer
Moving towards the cockpit and there's a slew of Production Privee componentry, another brand with a shared love of cars. The stem features go faster stripes that line up with those on the handlebar, and the grips match the tread found on Dunlop's CR65 vintage race tyre.
2025 privateer alfa romeo rear.jpg, by Liam Mercer
The bike's then driven by a Shimano Cues drivetrain, chosen for its budget-friendly performance, and it's combined with Rimpact's Chain Damper.
Last but not least, there's a pair of Pembree's flat pedals and a brown SDG saddle that's been picked in reference to the brown leather interior of Andi's Alfa Romeo 156 GTA.
Believe it or not, but Andi plans to ride this bike as normal. If it were me, it would be hung up on display.
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