Curve DownRock First Look - An Australian Take on the Modern Aggressive [Titanium] Hardtail

Curve is based in Melbourne Australia, and the Downrock is their most aggressive hardtail. On paper it looks just about perfect. Today we take a first look at this modern ti hardtail to learn more and to make a few assumptions about how it'll ride. Learn more about the bike here: bit.ly/3w196BG
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[@edzeppelin933]

A shout out to Australia on Hardtail Party!! Would love to have you come down and ride some of our trails one day. A lot are similar to what you ride - hot, dry and rocky.

[@edzeppelin933]

@@janeblogs324 you clearly don't venture inland much. Lots of people riding in really dry areas across the country.

[@scottmcpeek4132]

Clean build for an intriguing-looking, do-everything style of bike! Those black 5Dev cranks are calling my name.

[@hardtailparty]

I normally opt for the raw ones, but the black ones just look so right on this bike.

[@scottmcpeek4132]

@@hardtailparty agreed. Black plays super-well with that matte-like finish of the frame.

[@isaaclavoie]

Thats a sexy build (feels weird to say that, but here we are.) Weird to have such light, narrow wheels on their aggressive bike - hope that works out. Love seeing these lesser known builders.

[@hardtailparty]

Who noticed the grease spot on my nose? Building bikes can get messy. Sounds like I need to check the mirror more when filming. :)

[@zombywoof9914]

Haha, not me. Frame is too beautiful to be looking at anything else.

[@hardtailparty]

@@zombywoof9914 excellent, that's what I was counting on.

[@Nozes..]

Don't worry,Steve. We're here to look at the bikes 😄

[@nathanbrooks6423]

Great review mate as always, respect from Australia 🇦🇺

[@wesleywermuth9545]

Can’t wait for the ride review!

[@juansanchez-tr1dq]

Black cranks was the way to go!

[@5DEV]

Such a beautiful build. Simple and clean.

[@hardtailparty]

Indeed. Those cranks really set it off.

[@notree666]

Beautiful welds. Can't wait for the ride review.

[@sixate]

Excited for the ride review on this. Been hoping you'd get one of these.

[@danwalker2110]

So glad you’ve gotten around to looking at one of these!

[@cycling_plurality]

Holy cow that is an incredible frame and build. It must be amazing to get to build and ride such exotic and sexy bikes. I LOVE that they make an XM size!!! I wish more companies would do that. Can't wait to see the ride vid.

[@baddriversofcolga]

I definitely like the contrast of the black cranks. Such a nice looking bike.

[@slimdog72]

Its a nice nood to the Australians with the upside down wall outlets. Thanks for the great content as always.

[@GokkunGuru]

Go black on the cranks. Those are really sick cranks. I think they came out with purple lately and a soon to be released kashima chainring.

[@lonewanderer2287]

Stoked for your ride.

[@matthewbenedetti490]

I’ve actually found the bead blasted part of the frame to be pretty durable after about a year of use. I’ve had a few scuffs that pretty much just buffed out. I wasn’t wild about the down tube cable routing at first either but honestly it’s basically been a non issue since building the bike up. I agree that the ideal cable routing was a little hard to figure out at first, especially because Aussie’s run their brakes moto style, but it looks like you sent yours up underneath pretty much the same way I did. I love mine so definitely excited to see the final verdict!

[@hardtailparty]

I'm lad to hear you love yours so much. It sure is a looker!

[@danielhartwig3150]

Wow, one of the best looking bikes you had on your bike stand. Can't wait for the ride review.

[@Whitewater11]

That thing is a beauty! Too nice for my greasy mitts but a stunner for sure!

[@Michael-pm1tq]

Very interested to see your final review of this bike/frame because I live in Melbourne and it's more accessible to me compared to most of the other higher end bikes featured on the channel.

[@davidh7414]

Norco supplies frame routing documentation for US or UK style cables. Its on their website for the Fluid and Torren HT

[@jeffreydzialo]

Looks slick! Can't wait for the ride review.

[@ThunderStruckMTB]

Wow... those welds! I could not agree with you more regarding the cable routing. Every single frame manufacture needs to put the cables under the top tube with no exceptions... and all external of course. Just like my 2019 Chameleon. Still, what a sweet bike. (probably because it looks like my Chameleon!)

[@ericpmoss]

Well, not for cross bikes, and I’m not sure about it for hike-a-bike with anything else. For everything else… especially with these straight line to the rear, definitely. Kink is great, but not in cables. :)

[@seasonedsurfer23]

I recently went from 2.6 to 2.3 tires, and you nailed the difference in feel perfectly. I wish the ground control came in the grid trail casing though. I really like the tread pattern but prefer a beefier casing out back.

[@wesleywermuth9545]

Beautiful bike!!! Love your channel Steve!

[@JJMilk]

Black cranks for sure!! 🤩

[@jtownsc]

Oh boy! She looks nice. Can't wait to watch the review

[@Biking_with_Akiva]

Great looking bike awesome video looking forward to the next one

[@MikeOnaBike]

This is my dream frame. Only thing I don’t like is the cable management. Hate tying to clean dirt out of the cables. Wish it went along the top tube.

[@brendanford4850]

Noice build Steve silver cranks for me. The black doesn't pop all of the lovely machining like silver would. IMO for what it is worth. Can't wait for the next installment.

[@ericsn6158]

Handsome frame and build. That's my kind of setup -Ti raw finish with blacked/stealth components. Being at 167cm, in between sizes, I reckon size M be a bit big for me?? And can mixed sized wheels be possible? Excellent first look! Thanks for sharing. 👍👍

[@davidh7414]

Looked at their geo cart on their website - nice short seat tubes! plenty of space for a long dropper post. This would be my dream bike if I could afford it.

[@derekstangle6521]

I just got a set of the 5dev cranks in raw finish based on your review vs the eewings. They look absolutely sick!

[@hardtailparty]

Stoked for you to get em, they're great.

[@svenodsvik569]

You´re reviewing those specal brands thats so special. this could be my favorite. The only question is the material grade. There is an Italian qote thats realy stands. "A proper beautiful design always works". Thank you.

[@jasonlewis6914]

I love titanium. Wish I could afford titanium build. I just got a new niner air 9 aluminum hardtail super nice bike and very light for a 29in.

[@William.N]

Love it when the geometer comes out! Can you put the advertised/published geo numbers on screen when you are measuring or do you think that might be problematic since your measurements might be different from the published numbers for various reasons?

[@hardtailparty]

It adds about an hour of editing work, and I was already behind schedule on this one, so i pushed to get this video out asap. I'd like to do that more when I get time. Also, sometimes companies update their geo charts after I publish a video, so i try to refrain from publishing too much of their info, because i can't go back to edit it. I know people want to skip ahead to the chart in my vid, but i don't always have the bandwidth to do that. Thanks for the suggestion though.

[@William.N]

@@hardtailparty Totally makes sense. Great video and I'm looking forward to the ride review!

[@GokkunGuru]

Your components spec are fire man. Really like your taste in parts!

[@AdrenalineIsLife]

I'm loving that build! Not a fan of the downtube routing but not the end of the world. Either way, can't wait to see the ride review!

[@elishalev1921]

Hey Steve, greetings from lsrael. im a big fan! I've got exactly the same frame for almost a year now and loving it. It corners like no other bike i've ever ridden and i find it very easy to lift the front wheel up in to the air. However i think the frame is a little bit on the harsh side, but i can't tell for sure since i have no other hardtail to compare with. Can't wait to hear your word about it. BTW i believe that the dropper hosing should go underneath the BB and then into the seat tube so it doesnt bend that much. Thanks a lot Steve your awesome.

[@TheNationalTrails]

Thinking the stem is a spacer or two high. But, then again, if that seattube angle is legit at 76-ish+.... Yeah! Yeah, that will fly! Good choice on tire width. Will be interesting to see if there are pinch flat issues or not. Black cranks with Absolute Black chainring is quite nice.

[@kenetics1344]

The black cranks offset really well and match the other black components. Which casing of the ground control tires do you use? I'm running a butcher/eliminator combo but might try throwing the eliminator up front with a purgatory or ground control in the rear.

[@hardtailparty]

That ground control in the rear is super special.

[@thomaskuhn6541]

Love that they offer a size XM for guys like me who are usually between M and L, also love the high stack at 650mm. Definitely black for me on the cranks.

[@JohnM-p5r]

This one is a beauty bikes just keep getting better and better are they going to make a aluminum or steel version of this frame I really like the Geo numbers

[@hardtailparty]

Probably not, all their bikes are ti.

[@qualm43]

finally a budget-friendly hardtail!

[@stevencole7331]

Yep 2.3 is my go to tire and works great on 25mn rim . I like the minions . Dhf front and dhr back . In my high desert land we have a lot of loose gravely rock . The minions ack like a paddle on a paddle boat through the loose rocks . They also hold the corners really good through that same rock . Also they have the same affect with sand . The more narrow the tire is the more it digs In as you suggested . So much money being made with MTB bikes today . Not sure who is making more . The frame builders ,component manufactured or companies doing complete bike builds . I might lean to the component guys . Great first look and build . Be interesting to see how it performs on the trail .

[@HmmmKuchen]

Hi Steve, Rose Bikes based in Germany released a completely new Hardtail Trailbike, where in the past they only had the XC hardtail available. As we do not see bikes and your insights on European based bikes (besides UK bikes) as often, it would be cool if you could take a look at the Rose Bonero and maybe share your thoughts on it. Since it is still pretty fresh out of the gates, there is still a great availability for them and I personally feel like they put together quiet a nice bike. If you do not have time or occupied with other projects don´t mind my request and continue to bring us your awesome content. Much love from Austria.

[@hardtailparty]

That's up to rose. I'd love to feature it if they want to get in touch.

[@trailtalkmtb6603]

So nice! But so expensive, even down here in Australia. Would definitely be my frame of choice if I could afford it

[@fulldonkeymode8837]

Since this is probably built in in Taiwan/China, it's ironic that there's a saying about this type of pricing "They don't sell for three years, but when they sell, they make enough to not sell for another three years" ahahahhaha

[@hardtailparty]

It's actually pretty reasonable compared to other ti frames.

[@Jinedan]

I love it for the single reason that it has straight tubes. For some bizarre reason I can’t stand bikes with curved tubes.

[@jadoningalls1205]

Looks aren’t everything, but holy guacamole- that’s a beautiful build

[@melodyfrench9576]

Intresting question, would you choose a stiff Ti frame such as this over the ragley mmbop aluminium?

[@jt_mtb1]

Black cranks and also im like you like eliminator at front and ground control back

[@slide_drexler]

The black 5 Dev crankset will look better IMO.

[@sandy_knight]

I agree with your thoughts on routing cables under the downtube but in terms of manufacturers "recommended" cable routing, that would vary depending on which way around you like your brakes. In the UK and Oz we run the front brake on the right so if Curve recommended cable routing it might not work so well for the North American market..

[@hardtailparty]

They could recommend both ways. Clearly they had a specific routing in mind when they designed it. It wouldn't be much more difficult to include a UK and oz brake setup

[@sandy_knight]

@@hardtailparty Yeah, I guess so.

[@rickelliott7653]

Beautiful bike before and after the build. I agree about the welding coming out of Taiwan and China. The welds on my Why Wayward are flawless and I’m pretty critical of craftsmanship. Keep up the videos coming.

[@GokkunGuru]

Where is Why welded/manufactured? Very nice bikes indeed.

[@rickelliott7653]

@@GokkunGuru Why Cycles is out of Colorado but all the welding is done by hand in a small shop in China. I’d buy another one without hesitation.

[@hikingthemountains7062]

A little expensive for my taste, but great review. Always enjoy them... Thanks!

[@dubblearr7622]

Dang man. I want one

[@GokkunGuru]

Great looking frame. Does titanium flex more than aluminum? I have 2 bikes - one aluminum, one carbon. It's night and day how much stiffer the carbon one is especially at the bottom bracket shell.

[@hardtailparty]

It depends. I try not to make too many blanket statements about frame materials, since the material is just one aspect of many that go into how a frame rides. Tubing thickness, size, and shape, etc. have as much of an impact as material.

[@mr.steebs5070]

Great looking HT, I'm sure it will ride to expectations. Are there advantages to the oval front sprocket?

[@hardtailparty]

Yes, i have a video about oval chainrings.

[@brianmoriarty4699]

black cranks. Get that contrast

[@ADVtheMISSIONARY]

this will be interesting, it's a very expensive HT in AUD but buy once cry once :D . So Steve.....What happened to the Trials bike :P

[@honje1]

Please review Nicolai Argon..

[@billbelgum9770]

So if a guy wanted to build this bike with the components as tested, what would be the cost?

[@mellissanash7517]

It's a sweet looking bike. Will you ever do a bike check of all the bikes you actually own? What do you think of 2.3/2.4 back with a 2.6 front?

[@hardtailparty]

I own a lot of frames but i don't have enough parts for them all to be built up at once. I have to keep taking my personal bikes apart to build up review bikes.

[@mellissanash7517]

@@hardtailparty oh totally understandable. If we have extra parts we don't use can we donate them to you? Don't have a co-op in my area anymore.

[@hardtailparty]

@@mellissanash7517 sure!

[@devinbyrnes8058]

That bottom bracket drop seems extreme. Pedal strike city? We will find out. Flow trails are not a thing I have locally, so pedal clearance is a big deal to me.

[@hardtailparty]

Most modern 29ers are around 60mm these days, so this is lower than most, but not by a ton. I'll let you know if it feels too low. I don't have flow here either.. See the stif squatch for a SUPER LOW BB

[@matthewbenedetti490]

With 170 cranks I’ve had no more pedal strikes than on any other bike. However I’ve definitely caught the bottom bracket a handful of times going over any rocks that are triangular enough at the peak. It’s not a huge issue, but definitely something to keep in the back of my mind when I come across a feature like that.

[@mattfinch3895]

I like it.

[@MikeOnaBike]

You should put the roost components on the bike - tribute to the Aussie Ti companies.

[@hardtailparty]

I felt it might be tacky to put a competitor's part on a video meant to showcase the curve.

[@MikeOnaBike]

@@hardtailparty probably a good call. Are you getting a Nero in to test at some stage?

[@cfoxley1]

YES!!!

[@Paulklampeeps]

Black crank arms then raw chainrings

[@GokkunGuru]

Do you need adaptors to fit DUB cranks into the T47 BB?

[@hardtailparty]

No, you just need the right T47 bb. T47 is the shell size. So you order the BB that has the T47 shell, with the spindle diameter you need. T47 bbs come in 30mm spindle, 29 spindle (DUB), and 24mm spindle (shimano)

[@ShadLife]

Black all day long!

[@slowwerthensnot]

Raw!

[@technation7769]

nice

[@buddystix]

Sick !

[@burningatthetrailhead]

Raw

[@dan2782]

aggressive and titanium is always my kink. badly my bankaccount is disagreeing with me.

[@busterwolfok]

Anyone know how to order the frame direct from China? These guys are charging 5000AUD for just the frame they don't even make.

[@hardtailparty]

99% of bike companies arent welding the frames themselves. They're sending it off to a factory to build. Rather than trying to rip off the company that designed this bike and designed it, consider supporting the company that made it happen. If it's out of your budget, find a different bike to buy, or start your own bike company doing the same. Besides, the factories are loyal to their clients, they won't sell these frames out from under Curve. Stealing someone elses work to save money isn't ok. This type of attitude They designed it, ordered

[@benbiker9381]

black

[@ericpmoss]

For me, silver all the way. Black is the easy laugh in a comedy set, but says nothing else.

[@hardtailparty]

Normally I feel the same way. I thought it works well here.

[@matyi94]

You know the guy is right when he's talking about bikes with an oil spot on his nose.

[@lindonandlisa8114]

It's nice that deter Australian company but if you really nice it was made in Australia just like when things are nice american-owned but not made in the USA

[@hardtailparty]

I'm betting the price would be double or triple if made in Australia. That'd be a tough business model