Been riding this bike for about two seasons now... what a weapon. It basically eats whatever I've thrown at it. Its just point and shoot. Thing climbs pretty well and downhill its an absolute menace. Very stable and predictable. Jump it off the roof to flat, it doesn't care at all. I would be stoked to see a mullet rocker link available for it like the reazon and lowdown but thats my only gripe for sure. amazing bike. 5 of 5 stars.

I have been on Deviate for a long time, Mondraker before that, I made a decision what ever I did next would be a metal bike no more carbon.
My first ride felt slow, but it was not it was fast, faster than I have ever been. I love this bike, I am a total convert.

Been jumping from bike to bike for a long time. Every bike is fantastic in its own way but finding something that fits your specific riding style in most conditions can be a little hard. I’m not sure if this bike will out perform other bikes on the market but for my riding in my area this is perfect. Most of my rides are long climbs with technical descents. I don’t do big drops or jumps just want a bike that can handle a long day in the saddle and still be fun on the decent. From green runs all the way to the occasional black. I’m 6 foot 3 and opted for the size large. Suited me as I’m more legs than torso. I’m really happy I took a chance on this bike.

After riding the Darco for about 8 months it’s time to give it 5 stars! The thing that stands out the most is how stable the bike is at high speeds. The extra weight of the frame makes it well planted. It just eats it up! Way more than any other small travel bike I’ve been on. The steel front triangle gives it nice compliance and extra grip when things get rough. I run 25% sag up front and 30% in the rear. Rides like a dream. Fun Swiss army of a knife bike. Ready for battle. Can’t wait to throw a leg over it tomorrow

I just picked up a M/L Darco frame on a bit of an impulse, If you can call thinking about this for 2 years an impulse. I stripped down my size L Primer to build up this bike, and am currently running a 170mm Zeb fork.

I am a lanky 5’11 (180cm) and as such am in between frame sides. I opted for the M/L with the 490 reach based on how the bikes I have been riding for the last decade for. Off the top, with a 170mm fork, this bike does not feel as long as the number suggest. Three rides in and I am sure I could be on a size L, and probably wondering if I could have fit an M/L. That may change once I get a 150mm fork.

This bike rips. The trails around here are fast and steep with some light chunder, open corners and a decent about of doubles and jumps thrown in.

The rear suspension is very predictable and feel like way more the 120cm. It climbs well if not snappy feeling. on the downs it tracks over rough terrain and is super confident in the steeps.

This bike gives me updated Process 111 vibes. which is exactly what I was wanting.

I am usually a hard fit to a bike, and I really appreciate the M/L sizing option that Chromag has in their lineup. Out of the box and built up my first ride on it blew me away. This bike is extremely smooth and stable, and once I got the suspensions settings dialed in it rode like a dream. I am really impressed at how well it climbs, definitely an all around great trail bike, and nothing but smiles from me. Most of my other bikes are steel as well so it fits right in with the feel of the others and I really felt at home. My only issue out of the box was the saddle, but those are such a personal fit choice and not every saddle fits everyone the same. Easy fix for anyone.

The downside... I've only ridden it a few times due to weather/trail conditions here and work travel, but that is all about to change.

I Love this Bike! It’s very comfortable to ride. I’m 6’ and chose a large size as I like lots of reach and paired it with a FU50 bars for more upright riding. Uphill it pedals really good. Very little to no bob and felt like a solid pedal platform to me. Downhill it was stable and playful. This bike is the real deal and the build is solid enough for hard trail riding all day. Great job by the Chromag crew with this full suspension bike. I love me a steel frame too. Last forever! Dark Olive will turn some heads too. Silver Dagga pedals to go with it and I’m stoked. Go and get one now!

Just do it. If you have ridden and enjoyed the Stylus and or Rootdown, treat yourself to the evolution. You deserve it and you will understand it and nothing will stand in your way.

Been a full year on this bike and still can't believe how good it is! I have not found any terrain it can't handle...up or down. It pedals very efficiently, holds it line through technical climbs, and is active when needed. As for descending, I feel more comfortable/confident on the steeps than pretty much any other bike I have ridden. I have my fork set to 160mm for reference. It amazes me how smooth it is over janky descents...as others have said, the 120mm travel feels like so much more. From long cross country loops to steep and techy descents, I reach for my Darco (much to the dismay of my Primer!) I am 5'11 and the M/L is perfect. Did I mention it is definitely a head turner as well...always get a "nice bike" or a question about it when out on the trails. Keep up the amazing work Chromag crew!

This is my first suspension I’ve ever owned since I started riding around ‘97. Man, time flies. I was a bit hesitant to get a Darco or Lowdown because of the weight. But one of my good riding buddies threw his Transition Sentinel in a scale and it weighed 36 lbs. Seeing that a reputable carbon FS weighed that much I pulled the trigger on a Darco the next week. 🤣 I’ve ridden it about a dozen times and the thing I’m most impressed with is how stable the bike is at high speeds. Not on flow trails, but janky Sea to Sky corridor trails. It’s been a hoot so far. Really looking forward to seeing how it is once I REALLY learn how to ride a full squish. Lastly, a bit of a chuckle. A few of the chromag staff said, “doesn’t it feel soo much safer than your hardtail?!” I replied “absolutely not, I’m going wayyyyy faster and taking wayyyy more risks!!” Fast is fun folks. Do yourself a favor ;)

I'm 176cm tall, so I chose the ML size, and as the Chromag size chart recommends, I'm glad I chose this size. I didn't mind the reach, which is generally considered long. Rather, I now understand why this reach is necessary. The Darco has excellent stability on steep downhills. Compared to other bikes in the downcountry category, the speed range increases even more. I highly recommend the Darco to those who want to blast down steep downhills. What's more, the Darco is also good at climbing.

I've had this bike for 6 months. After the first ride I was tempted to do a review but thought I should wait because I was sure it was new bike bias that made me love the way this bike rode. After 6 months and many rides I have to say this is without question my favorite bike that I have owned. When people ask me why I love it I have a hard time explaining what makes it so great. It is so much more than its numbers. 150mm front and 120mm back and yet this is a hard charging aggressive trail slayer. It is not at all held back by the 120mm travel. I have my sag set at around 30-35% and absolutely love this bike. It allows you to feel the trail and be aware of your lines without making you suffer when rider error tests its limits. It is a quiet bike and I didn't think that mattered until I had a quiet bike. It is awesome. The bike is solid, nothing dainty about this bike. It is built to last. The weight is not a concern. If you are xc racing this is not the bike. If you love riding all sorts of trails from black diamonds to all day epics I cannot imagine a better bike. It is planted, solid and climbs very well. The solid feel inspires confidence and once you have your sag and settings dialed in this bike will not let you down. It is super fun and as I get a little older the bike serves as the perfect tool for continuing to remind me why I ride and what I love about biking. This bike is remarkably capable and if you have to have just one bike get the Darco.

For years, I've been the guy in my gang on a hardtail. But when I read about the Darco, it was a matter of time. A hardtailer's suspension bike? Rides like a Chromag? Stable in the slabs and easy to flick around? Tried and true Horst Link suspension, engineered to be easy to maintain? Hello!

When it came I was so stoked - it looks great, it's not remotely heavy for its intended use, and the kit is so dialed.

The ride delivered on the promise. It climbs and descends better than my Rootdown - which is saying something! The rear wheel tracks over and through places it might have gotten hung up, and the tire stays planted where it might have skipped. That makes sense - it's a suspension bike - but it still loves to pop off little bumps and wheelie drop off ledges... all the stuff I worried would be harder just isn't. And I'm loving the confidence to carry more speed into the spicy bits. But I'm a long way from finding the bike's limits!

I used to rent bikes on trips to Moab with the boys. Those trails are easier on the body on a big 160mm enduro bike - and I had a ton of fun on them. But some were hard work on the climbs, and others only woke up when the trail was 10/10. The Darco is more fun on more terrain, and still has chops for the spicy stuff!

I am loving the Darco on my local trails around Ottawa. Lots of rock, roots, more tech than flow (though more and more of both these days!). And I think I'm done renting 'big' bikes on trips. Now I'll be bringing the Darco.

The Darco has impressed me, and I love it. This is the best bike I have ever ridden. The geo is aggressive - climbs like a goat. I find that I am able to climb steep techy puzzles that usually I can't make on previous bikes. The slack ht angle make it feel like a DH bike when rolling into steep slabs and techy steep terrain. The 120mm rear suspension feels like a lot more - I prefer riding my Darco to my 160mm bike as its easier to maneuver and can handle the gnar. I run 30% sag and I have yet to find the bottom (I don't do huge drops, but I do launch some old man jumps and drops). This is not a small travel bike - This Bike is it!

Initially hearing that Chromag was coming out with a full sus bike I was stoked because everything they make is awesome! I was skeptical however about how smooth the transition from years of hardtail only fanatics to its more plush cousin would be.
After 10 minutes on this bike my skepticism turned to optimism. I quickly realized there was a lot that this freedom machine could tackle including plowing through my very questionable line choice with ease. The 150mm up front gives you the confidence to handle some of the Sea to Skys gnarliest terrain and although it only has 120 in the back it more than makes up for it by the way it rides, never once feeling that I wished I had more.
I was thoroughly impressed with this bikes playfulness as well as its stability through rough terrain. Weight was not a noticeable factor at all.
If you like to party on the trails 10/10 would buy this bike.

I have been owning mainstream full suspension bikes now for a good chunk of years, and when I saw Chromag introducing their own take on a bike with rear suspension I was anxious to give it a try.

Initially I wasn't sure what to expect... was this going to feel heavy or perhaps not have enough travel compared to what Ia have been riding for the past many years...

Any of my reservations about the bike were blown away after just one ride on the bike - I haven't felt this kind of playfulness and response in a bike in a long time and despite the "shorter" travel (150/120), I have still not found the need for more.
Everything from pedalling, handling, body position to bunny hops, side hits and jumps, this bike handles like a champ.

My previous bikes have been long suspension and been more of a "point and shoot" approach, but the Darco has given me back the feel of actually riding a bike and feel more in tune with the trail I'm riding. Thank you for producing yet another bomber of a bike, Chromag!

Early on, I heard one of the engineers say that the Darco would be the perfect bike for a hardtailer transitioning towards full suspension. So I tried one of the first locally made samples.
It took me a while to get the most out of the new ride. I kept hitting my pedals and had to remember to preload. The second locally made sample held up pretty well. Then sometime in mid summer I received another. This Taiwanese one was pretty much what to expect from production. I haven’t had an issue since and am still riding this version.
The Darco rides as promised. Its low centre of gravity and balanced length yearns to go faster no matter the terrain, up or down. The rear travel is perfectly suited for mashing through flat bumpy terrain. It's slight enough to allow for surgical precision on the techest of climbs. That 120mm of travel is impressively plush on downhills. The fact that it’s designed to be paired with a substantialy longer travel fork makes this bike a proficient descender. I run the suspension as soft as I can get away with. Unlike the fork, the shock never gives any clear indication of bottoming out, so I run the sag at a heavy 30%.

The Darco’s call for speed can be ignored and still behave nicely when going out for a spin with the kids or checking out a new trail. However, when you answer that call and are ripping through the forest, it sure is comforting to look down at those familiar steel tubes.

I’ve been waiting for Chromag to come out with this bike for a few years, heard a few details early on and was super keen. Got a call asking if I was interested and as I was doing the BCBR this bike was perfect for my riding style.
Geometry is spot on for any trail bike but at 120mm travel it is spot on, though being an XL it is very long. It has been absolutely bombproof for the 8 months that I’ve had it and during the BCBR it was flawless. During the race the bike was kind of a super model as it got a lot of attention, leave it in a rack next to other bikes and it got noticed.

I have been a Chromag fanatic since I was in college. I first bought a used Rootdown on Pinkbike back in 2014. I have since owned a handful of their other hardtails and most recently was lucky enough to be one of the first people in the US to get my hands on a Darco. Don't let this bike's 120mm back end fool you. I was immediately blown away by the capability of this bike. To top it off it also has excellent pedaling manners and a damp, planted feel to it. It might not be for you if you're someone who cares about the weight of their bike, but if you care about craftsmanship and ride quality, this could be the bike for you.