Now before I post any pictures here, I must warn you. Continuing to read into this article may make your pocket burn and increase your lust into the Specialized Demo.
I got a Facebook message yesterday from a friend of mine who works at the local bike shop in Exeter, The Bike Shed. He told me he’d just taken delivery of the only S-Works Demo in Europe specifically for display purposes, and asked if I’d like to go in and take a look. Obviously I wanted to, so in I popped camera in hand.
This thing is absolutely beautiful. There’s only going to be 10 of them produced for consumer sale, and if you want one (you probably won’t be able to get one) it’ll set you back around £7.5k
For that price, you get pretty much, the same bike that Sam, Troy and Mitch have been using this year.
You get a set of Blackbox Boxxers, DT Swiss Wheels, Renthal Bars and Stem, SDG Seat and Post, Code Calipers hosed up to X.O Levers and more.
I can quite honestly say it’s the best looking bike I’ve ever laid eyes on!
This one is a Medium. It weighs in at a smidgen over 36.5lbs. Not exactly XC light, but the parts on it mean that you wouldn’t really want it to be.
Specialized have been super savvy with the development of this bike.
When they took on Sam Hill and Brendan Fairclough back in 2009, many people were doubtful at Specialized commitment to building a race specific Downhill bike.
First came the original Demo, with a few geo tweaks, but near enough the same shape as its Freeride predecessors.
Next up was the current crop of Aluminium Demos. A lower standover and completely re-designed geometry saw it fly out of the shops and at the end of last year at the World Champs we were teased with what lay ahead with the Carbon Demo 8.
This year, Sam and Troy have been testing and developing the Carbon Demo, along with Curtis Keene and a few select others, and it’s finally being pumped into the shops.
One thing I know they’ve tried to be extra specific with is how quiet the bike is. I’ve definitely noticed this year at the World Cups that Sams bike is always dead silent. It sounds great on video, all you can hear is tyres on dirt. Maybe that’s why John Lawlors videos always sound so good without music.
The bike that you will be able to buy will be really quite different to the S-Works one, but that’s reflected in the price.
I’m really impressed with the £4000 price tag on the consumer Carbon Demo. Specialized could have quite easily added £500+ on the top, making it in line with the Carbon V-10, and Lapierre, but decided to keep it affordable. Something which Specialized have always been good at.
For the £4000 price tag, you’ll get a Boxxer RC, Fox Van RC4, Custom Avid Elixir 5s, X.9 10 speed gearing, matched up with Gamut and Specialized own brand parts.
Not exactly top of range in terms of componentry, but the price tag means you’ll have some spare cash left over to swap out the parts you see necessary.
We’re working on getting a carbon Demo in for our tame racing rider ‘The Squid’ to have a wobble on, so watch out for that within the next few issues of the mag.
Release date for the consumer 2013 Demos is a little unknown, but my guess would be the same sort of time as their road range which arrives in early December.
Thanks again to Tone at Bikesheduk.com for letting me have the first glimpse at this beauty!
-Tim
If you liked this post why not check out these?
- Wideopenmag at Fort William – Sam Hill’s custom Specialized Demo
- One Industries – Rachel Atherton
- The latest from MRP – Carbon G2 and 1.X
Cracking work Shakey!
And if you want to see it….it’s on display at the South West Champs at Gawton this weekend!!!
huge thanks to wideopen for the write-up, and to riders and every one else who supported the shed at the south west champs.
the weekend was a great success and we hope to see you at the winter series .
Too vulnerable, because it’s too complicated.