"It eats up everything in it's path"
- Matt Beer, PinkBike
"A 170mm sled for the rough side of riding."
Throwdown
We build bikes around how and where we ride. The new Throwdown takes that approach to the bigger, rougher end of the spectrum.
170mm
170mm
MX: 29/27.5"
Aluminum
3 Year Warranty
Introducing
Throwdown
Throwdown
Deep Dive
Builds & Specs
- Fork // Rock Shox™ ZEB Select+ 170mm, 15x110mm, 44mm, 0/4 Tokens
- Shock // Rock Shox™ Vivid Ultimate 205x65mm, R55C37 Tune, 2 Tokens
- Stem // Chromag HiFi BSX 35mm Black
- Bar // Chromag OSX35 25mm rise Black
- Headset // Cane Creek 40
- Crankset // SRAM™ Eagle 90 Crank Transmission 165mm, 30t
- Brakes // SRAM™ Maven Bronze
- Rotors // SRAM™ Centerline 2.0 200mm
- Shifter // SRAM™ Eagle 90 Transmission
- Cassette // SRAM™ Eagle 90 Transmission
- Chain // SRAM™ GX Eagle 90 12 Speed T-Type
- Derailleur // SRAM™ Eagle 90 Transmission
- BB // DUB 73mm Threaded
- Wheels // Chromag BA30v2 / R6
- Tires // Maxxis DHF 2.5/DHR 2.4 Double Down
- Seatpost // OneUp V3 - S 150mm; M 180mm; M/L 210mm; L 210mm; XL 240mm
- Saddle // Chromag Trailmaster Black
- Grips // Chromag Format Black
- Pedals // -
Build options are subject to availability and liable to change without notice.
- Fork // Rock Shox™ Boxxer Select 190mm, 20x110mm, 48mm, 0/6 Tokens
- Shock // Rock Shox™ Vivid Ultimate 205x65mm, R55C37 Tune, 2 Tokens
- Stem // Chromag HiFi BSX 35mm Black
- Bar // Chromag OSX35 25mm Rise, Black
- Headset // Cane Creek 40
- Crankset // SRAM™ Descendant 165mm, 34t
- Brakes // SRAM™ Maven Bronze
- Rotors // SRAM™ Centerline 2.0 200mm
- Shifter // GX DH X-Actuation
- Cassette // SRAM™ PG 720 Cassette, 11-25t
- Chain // SRAM™ PC 1110 Chain, 11 speed
- Derailleur // SRAM™ GX DH 1x7 Speed
- BB // DUB 73mm Threaded
- Wheels // Chromag BA30v2 / R6
- Tires // Maxxis Assagai 2.5/DHR 2.4 DH Casing - Maxx Grip
- Seatpost // Chromag Bassix 300mm
- Saddle // Chromag Trailmaster DT Black
- Grips // Chromag Format Black
- Pedals // -
Build options are subject to availability and liable to change without notice.
• Frame Construction // 6066 Aluminum
• Rear Travel // 170mm
• Wheel Size // MX: 29” / 27.5"
• Rear Axle // 180mm, M12 X 1.00mm - Boost 148 (Included)
• BB Type // BSA 73mm Threaded
• Headset // 44-56mm
• Linkage // Rocker Driven Horst Linkage
• Shock Size // 205 x 65mm Trunnion
• Lower Shock Hardware // 20 x 8mm
• Hanger // SRAM™ UDH™
• Recommended Fork Offset // 44mm
• Recommended Fork Travel // 170mm
• Seatpost Size // 31.6mm
• Seatclamp Size // 35mm
• Bottle Cage Mount // Yup!
• Gear Mount // Yup!
• ISCG Mount // Yup!
• Brake Mount // 180mm Post
• Frame Weight // M/L 9.9lbs (With shock, axle, hanger, CS protector)
• Origin // Taiwan
The Throwdown
MATERIALS
The Throwdown is our first all-aluminium adult bike (we have made several versions of the Minor Threat). We chose a more conventional construction for this model based on the needs of its target rider.
Aluminium doesn't rust like steel, so it handles scratches and the general abuse of bike parks and shuttle laps well. It also allows the use of larger tube diameters to increase stiffness without adding a weight penalty or becoming as dent-prone as thin-wall steel tubes of similar size.
The rocker is made from forged aluminium because it offers a strong strength-to-weight ratio and can be machined efficiently.
key features
The Throwdown is the culmination of decades of bicycle design, both hardtails and full-susers.
Your bike is special. The head tube badge is the finishing touch so we’ve always made a point of taking the time to do something interesting with it. Our head tube badges have changed over the years and are an indication of the time each bike was made.
Whether it’s a cast bronze, or polished stainless steel, water cut aluminum or a 3D CNC carving, each one represents our commitment to detail.
Like all our products, the Throwdown was designed with durability and serviceability in mind. The main pivot uses an expanding collet axle system, designed to avoid over-preload and over-constraint of bearings. This results in a main pivot that spins smoother, for longer.
All pivots spin on bearings that are well-sealed, long-lasting, and commonly available through most local bike shops or as kits on our website. The pivot hardware is machined from high-strength 7075 aluminum, and the custom-drawn tubing is made from 6066.
Frames are assembled with plenty of grease, and each one is checked over by one of our mechanics before leaving Chromag HQ.
We're talking chasing threads, facing BB shells and honing seat tubes, to make sure everything fits together perfectly.
Simple and intuitive.
With no hidden hardware, sliders, or concentric multi-link pivots, every pivot can be accessed, bolt-checked, and worked on without taking the whole bike apart. The brake line is also external for the entire length.
All pivot bores are machined after the frame is welded. This ensures the kinematic points are precisely located rather than influenced by fabrication tolerances.
Machining the bores after fabrication results in a more accurate and coplanar bearing location, with better bearing life and smoother linkage operation.
Suspension designed, tuned and honed in the Sea to Sky.
suspension kinematics
The Throwdown is designed for predictable, consistent performance across varied terrain, with suspension kinematics that keep the wheels active to maintain traction.
Its anti-squat is tuned slightly higher than the Lowdown, allowing the bike to climb efficiently while absorbing chunky features and keeping the rear wheel planted. Anti-rise values are similarly active, keeping the suspension engaged under braking to preserve grip and consistent response.
The leverage curve is linearly progressive, providing balanced small-bump compliance, mid-stroke support, and bottom-out resistance, making the suspension feel controlled, predictable, and capable of using its full travel efficiently. Overall, the geometry and suspension design give riders a confident, planted, and responsive ride.
In English: Anti-squat is approximately 108% at sag height. This will give a supportive platform but still allow some suspension activity aiding traction.
The amount of anti-squat reduces consistently over the full travel. As such the Throwdown will pedal and behave in a consistent way throughout its travel.
In English: We designed the leverage curve to be both consistent and progressive which equates to a predictable ride both in terms of travel used and suspension damping.
There is 30% progression over the full travel which strikes a great balance of useable suspension travel, small bump compliance, mid stroke support and bottom out resistance. The kinematic is designed to work well with both air and coil shocks.
In English: The anti-rise is consistent throughout the travel, with only a 6% variation across the travel range.
This means that the bike will behave as predictably as possible on the brakes regardless of the size and speed of the impact.
The Throwdown is on the more active side of supported, allowing it to be reactive to both the riders inputs and the ground underneath it.
The perfect balance of stability, agility, and fun.
geometry
The Throwdown geometry puts it in the modern gravity bracket. A slack head angle (63.5°) gives confidence to the front end. The relatively steep seat tube angle (78°) promotes a central position when seated, helping maintain traction and a feeling of being within the wheelbase.
Short seat tubes allow riders to choose a bike based on their preferred reach without worrying that seat height or standover will be limiting factors. Medium-short chainstays (438 mm S–ML, 442 mm L and XL) and a medium-low bottom bracket (−22 mm) balance straight-line stability while keeping the bike agile, allowing for quick reactions and strong cornering.
The overall geometry aims to strike a balance between playfulness and quick reactions while retaining stability and composure when things get rough. Everything is a compromise, and this setup works well across a wide range of riders and trails. The more you put into the bike, the more it gives back.
| Frame Size | STypical Rider Height: 155cm - 168cm | MTypical Rider Height: 163cm - 175cm | M/LTypical Rider Height: 170cm - 185cm | LTypical Rider Height: 180cm - 193cm | XLTypical Rider Height: 188cm - 200cm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 624 | 633 | 642 | 651 | 651 | |
| 445 | 465 | 485 | 505 | 525 | |
| 576 | 599 | 621 | 643 | 663 | |
| 105 | 105 | 115 | 125 | 125 | |
| 1224 | 1249 | 1273 | 1304 | 1324 | |
| 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | |
| 344 | 344 | 344 | 344 | 344 | |
| 686 | 716 | 745 | 774 | 804 | |
| 435 | 435 | 435 | 442 | 442 | |
| 350 | 380 | 410 | 440 | 470 | |
| 200 | 230 | 260 | 290 | 320 | |
| 63.5° | |||||
| 78° | |||||
| MX: 29.0/27.5" | |||||
* Max. post insertion based on Rockshox Reverb.
THIS IS AN APPROXIMATE GUIDE, SOME PEOPLE HAVE LONGER LEGS THAN OTHERS!
Sizing
If you're between sizes, it's a good idea to try to ride them both, either by hopping on a demo or stealing from a close friend. If that isn't an option, examine reach, stack and ETT numbers on your current bike and compare. If in any doubt, please get in touch and we'd be happy to chat about it with you.
You could also check out the review section, to see how this bike fits other people.
Throw down on the Throwdown.
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Questions?
Buying a bike is a big deal.
Don't hesitate to reach out with any and all questions!
Worldwide shipping
We ship bikes anywhere in the world with competitive rates from UPS and FedEx. Alternatively you can pickup right here at Chromag HQ.
Service Guide
Need more info on suspension setup, service and spare parts?
Warranty
All of our bikes are backed by our 3 year warranty.
After that, we still have your back with our crash replacement program.
FAQ's
No, there is not enough clearance for a 29" rear wheel.
The fork comes with 0 tokens installed and the shock comes with 2.
Yes, there is clearance for the larger diameter of a coil and the leverage curve will work well with one. However, we have no current plans to run a model with a coil as standard.
The tune we recommend is R55C37 (linear rebound, medium compression) this is the same for both air and coil SRAM shocks. This is then a 205x65mm Trunnion with 20x8 hardware at the eyelet end.
For spring rates, we recommend using the TF Tuned spring calculator: tftuned.com/spring-calculator.
No. This means fitting a shock that has a longer eye to eye or stroke to get more travel out of a frame. The shock used is the longest stroke in this length.
The travel could be reduced if desired by running a shorter stroke
The Throwdown will fit most tires up to 2.5” wide with plenty of mud clearance. Note that most tires do not measure exactly as stated by the manufacturer, and tires from one manufacturer vary greatly to the next.
Yup! The Throwdown has an ISCG mount.
The collet axle alleviates pull up at the main pivot making the joint more stable to losing
preload, the suspension action smoother and more consistent and improving bearing life.
All bearings are surrounded, where possible, by large flat surfaces making removal and refitting far easier. There is access to the outer race of all bearings so if a bearing inner race comes out leaving the outer behind it is still possible to remove the outer with simple tools. See exploded diagrams in the tech pack for more info.
If you’re not comfortable removing/installing your own bearings, we strongly recommend bringing your bike to a local bike shop. It’s possible to damage your bike beyond repair if you improperly remove/install your bearings. Such damage would not be covered under our warranty policy.
We have tested the Throwdown to EFBE DH standards and with a dual crown fork. We plan to sell a "park build" with a dual crown fork. A 190mm Boxxer is our recommendation.
If you would like to know how different fork configurations affect geometry, please get in touch.
The Throwdown uses a boost rear end (148mm). As such, the chain line should reflect this, typically 51-54mm or a 3mm offset on the chain ring if running SRAM.
With a 52mm chainline (SRAM boost standard), the Throwdown can fit up to a 34-tooth chainring.
For context, most of us at HQ are running a 30t, with a 10/52 cassette (and it is bloody steep around here!).
When compared like-to-like with a full 29er (ex Lowdown), the gearing will feel slightly easier due to the smaller rear wheel.
Download the tech pack here for all the juicy details, or head to trailhead.rockshox.com.
Maximum post insertion is given in the geo chart. The number states how deep a straight tube can be inserted into the frame. We are ever so slightly conservative on this number to avoid someone working out to the nearest millimetre then being disappointed. The port height is low enough that the cable/hose shouldn’t ever be a limiting factor in post height. All dropper manufacturers give good diagrams to help work out the length.
You can also check out this guide to help you figure it out.
Not much! You can read in depth about it here, but in short:
• Inflate tires to desired pressure. (Sealant is already installed)
• Install front brake rotor, tightening bolts to 6.2Nm.
• Grease headset bearings, install fork and handlebar, positioning the headset spacers above or below the stem according to rider fit.
• Align handlebar stem, preload headset and tighten stem pinch bolts to 8Nm.
• Install front wheel, tighten axle.
• Grease pedal threads and install pedals using pedal washers supplied.
• Adjust brake levers, shifter, saddle position and height for personal preference.
• Set up suspension.
• Bed-in brakes. (Roll down a gentle gradient dragging one brake at a time. Avoid locking them up.)
• Go ride!
Note: If you had to Google "Nm", or you don't know which way to install your rotors, you should probably get a qualified mechanic to build your bike!
• Chain length adjusted.
• Gears adjusted.
• Brakes set up and bled.
• Handlebar tightened to 6Nm.
• Grips tight on handlebar.
• Crankset tight, bottom bracket tight/adjusted.
• Saddle and seatpost tight.
• Seatpost greased *make sure to re-grease every 6 months!
• Tire sealant installed.
• Cassette tight.
