We chose Silver Star Resort as the venue to showcase this new bike due to do the overload of bad ass corners that unfold before riders as they unload from the Comet 6 Pack Express and descend back towards the mid mountain village. Between those perfectly sculpted corners you’ll find raw natural trail that is looking to get shredded on and that is what we’re here to capture.
Check out Curtis as he walks us through the changes to the all new 2011 Demo :
The 2011 Demo is a whole new beast from its 2010 brother, and we were able to catch up with Jason Chamberlain and Brandon Sloan of Specialized Bicycles to get the full low down on just what all changed and how it will effect us, the end users.
Check out all details and changes below :
-Unlike the 2010 model, you can once again adjust the geos on the 2011 offering. BB height can be raised by 10mm and the head tube angle can be steepened by half a degree by changing a small insert on the rear shock eyelet.
-The frame now uses a "shock extension" or "bearing adapter". The shock is totally stock, but we slide on a Y shaped piece. This allows us to put the shock pivot in a location that was formerly not possible — right next to the tire. This allowed us to tune the leverage ratio the way we wanted. Plus the shock rides on ball bearings, not the Fox DU bushing. Something most all of our bikes do now. Shock Extensions will be available for most popular shocks.
-Head Tube length is now 112mm (was 120 on the 2010 Demo), the shorter head tube accommodates smaller riders and the new style of low, low front ends.
-A new forged, patented head tube process allows us to weld the top and down tube all the way at the ends of the head tube, this gives you the most strength and a very short head tube.
-Geometry is unchanged from the 2010 model, with simply an additional size added being Extra Small. View Geometry Chart here.
-Seat tube lengths are as follows — Extra Small = 15.5”, Small = 16.0, Medium = 16.5 and Large = 18.0”
-Rear axle is 150x12mm (was 135×10 in the past) and yet you’ll experience better heel clearance on the new 2011 frame due to the hydro-formed stays.
-Most of the tubes are now hydro-formed as this give us more flexibility in the shapes of the tubes and you can add strength or clearance where needed – as seen in the new 150mm wide rear stays.
-Bottom Bracket is 83mm, but uses the new Press Fit Standard (BB30). Expect to see DH crank manufacturers making 83mm BB30 cranks in the near future. They will be lighter and stronger than current offerings. In this first year you’ll find threaded adapters to run standard crank and BB set up until crank manufacturers get caught up on the BB30 set ups.
-Upper link is now 3 pieces – 7075 sides with a magnesium center bridge.
-3/4 of a pound lighter than the 2010 Demo 8 frame
-Out of the box weight for a complete 2011 Demo 8 should be in the 36lb range.
-New frame is slightly more progressive in its spring rate curve over the 2010 model
-Specialized has hidden all the external forging pockets to help eliminate areas in which mud can collect. Typically you’ll see mechanics using Moto Foam or little sponges in all pockets where mud would typically pack up and collect. This is no longer needed on the new frame. Sam and Brendan’s mechanic Jacy stated that at Maribor (the muddiest race ever), that the new Demo shed mud much better than its predecessor.
-All aspects of the new frame have been pushed to be as compact as possible, very narrow and also very low and tight. Even the rear derailleur hanger has been pushed inboard to the minimum Shimano / SRAM spec.
-Sam and Brendan both rode 2 generations of this new bike, prior to the one you see today. We’ve done a lot of secret R&D testing in which Curtis Keene was heavily involved with. All the riders absolutely love the new bike. Things they’ve keyed in upon are how it feels more plush and controls the bottoming more precisely, while feeling lower and lighter – corners stronger due to the weight being shifted downwards. Riders also stated that they were no longer hitting their heels on the stays.
-Release date and pricing to be announced at a later date.
Huge thanks to Jason Chamberlain and Brandon Sloan of Specialized Bicycles on bringing everyone here at Pinkbike up to speed on the new bike !
Thanks to Ian Galbraith and the trail crew at Silver Star Mountain Resort for the kick ass trail network and the amazing lodging at the Snowbird Lodge.
Curtis was gonna talk more about the 2011 Demo 8, but we all figured that actions speak louder than words :
