Specialized Demo 11 - What do you want to know about it?

I'd want justification for why the frame is $3600 more than a V-10 in CAD, while a crankset retails for well under 500. It looks like a stunning bike, but that pricing really is well beyond the norm. 15k Canadian with alloy rims and 350 hubs. I would like to hear from Specialized what they believe they are bringing to the market to explain that. 

The previous (conventional drivetrain) version seemed to be working for Bruni and Finn, but Jordan mentioned he wasn't as comfortable on it and the new one suits his riding style better, where he doesn't load up the bike as aggressively as Bruni and Finn. What attributes did the design team improve to make it better for Jordan without unsettling what worked for the other riders? Finn seemed to take a while to get comfortable on the new bike, seemingly preferring the older design initially. 

• I'd be interested to know what lead them down the path to the drive system they ended up with.  Was the suspension design and resulting packaging the chicken or the egg.  
• Related to the first question, did they work their way into the idler placement bit by bit with minor refinements or were they targeting a specific location and then some of the other ideas fell into line as solutions from there (like the cog on the crank spindle).  Also related, was this the core or one of the core ideas of the design of the new demo or was it something that they worked into as they iterated.  
• It would be interesting to know at what point they started folding other brands or partners into the conversation.  What was the first moment that they realized that they wanted to do something with this design and bike that would require collaboration.
• Related to the cost, can they give any insight into what the organizational decision looked like to develop and bring something to market that had a cost prohibitive price tag and may not be a revenue generator.  (for context, I view what they have done here to be something that might be easier to sell in a smaller corporate environment then a large one, maybe I'm wrong and that's off base).  Certainly however, one has to assume that it was one thing to do this and have a bespoke race bike, and another thing entirely to decide to bring it to market, no matter how small the production runs would be.  
• Did they learn anything in the process of this project that was un-expected or that was not intuitive?  Were there any failures in design, application or testing that dictated significant changes in direction?  

I want to see you get it properly full of mud, Les Gets 2024 style… and then clean it. 

1. Did specialized experiment with longer rear ends and taller stacks before settling on this geometry? Or is it based on Loic and Finn's apparent preference for shorter reach and chain stay and lower stack (that obviously works very well for them) and they just stuck to that?
2. Was more travel (i.e. 220mm like commencal) considered and/or tried during prototype testing?

165mm cranks is a bold move in 2026. Specialized has 160mm available aftermarket, why not go with something shorter? XX DH goes down to 150mm.

How does a service, time wise, compare to a traditional drivetrain, and will you need special tools? How expensive are the replacement parts for the specialized Specialized drivetrain components? How difficult is it to clean that system out and lube it? 

Not so much questions but more of comments... Maybe one question. I have the previous Demo, The "Van Halen" bike as it's known in the North East and Vital Bike of the day back almost 2 years ago. I have some connections with Specialized since I'm in the industry. Why should I spend LOOT on this new bike Vs. throwing on a Sidekick hub (cheap next month) And some trick stuff into my gold Fox 40? Also, I have owned a few, But never been a fan of carbon DH bikes. One wrong move in a rock garden..It get's expensive real quick. It made me think more about speed in rock gardens. Now with these new prices..It WOULD make me think even MORE. Saw the new bike in the Mountain Creek lift line Thursday..With a Non Racer. Dude was chill..But still did not make me drool over it everything considered. was the same reaction with a BUNCH of friends. Sell me on this Specialized..Please give me a excuse! IF Yeti does go into production with there DH bike and it even $1000 cheaper for a frame...See ya.

Will we see a new Enduro?

Why did they use a spring loaded chain tensioner instead of one that just slides and bolts in place? It seems like the wear on the internal chains would be negligible enough to justify this - is that the case or was there another reason? 

Just here to say I love the VH paint job! 
I have a custom painted VH frame as well

• Ask them WTF were they thinking building out that Auburn spot having the team build this bike then recall everyone to MH, saying they have no money then charging 7k for a frame. The pricing seems like a miss but maybe they're trying to recoup. I suspect that they were told to build something as high end as possible. I also suspect they lost some key people to their relocation scheme. Trippin over dollars to pick up pennies. 
• How did it feel to be taken down by a run of the mill crab bike.
• Echo questions on chainstay/stack 
• Find out if they will be releasing Radial Canni and hillbilly 

1. How does it compare to segment leaders V10 and Supreme V5.  What riders would benefit?
2. What were the kinematic goals and targeted outputs.
3. How much effort was put into lateral compliance.

What are the stock anti rise figures? I have heard Loic is picky with those numbers and I'm curious if his kinematic preferences are what ended up on the stock frame?

can't just drop that you have a VH frame but not have a bike check of it...

https://www.vitalmtb.com/community/pappas717/vh-dh-bike-its-5150-time

My question is why is it so complicated mechanically and with all the electronic suspension. Frameworks doesn’t seem to need all that extra stuff on it. 

I don’t have any questions but would like you to bring up the café Roubaix situation and make them uncomfortable thanks. 

¿ When is the Kenevo version coming out, because that MSRP with no motor is no bueno.

was this the best way to get wheel path and kinematics of a mid/high pivot ? I guess Pivot's system is patented .. 

nah the other guy

Pivot Phoenix is using a Dave Weagle’s design, he is prolific at suspension patents.  If you look at his comments on the Orion 6 design for the RMU, he is claiming its the best way.

How come they didn't design this bike around a Genie shock?

How long into the future will spare parts be available for the Highgear system? Is that SRAM's responsibility, or Specialized's? 

Just thought of some more to add to my previous thoughts..I would think Highgear is SRAM only? So NO Shimano option. And what is the equivalent front gearing..36 tooth or 38 tooth? Can it be changed without upsetting anything else on the bike? Does it have cable ports for non AXS? I really feel like this system is boxing people into a proprietary hole..

The bike comes stock with a 24T chainring (the external one). They offer a 26T aftermarket. Good question on the equivalent gearing for these.

I had the opportunity to spin the cranks on a new Demo 11 that was in stock at my LBS (shoutout to InCycle in Pasadena), and there was a CRAZY amount of stiction or drag in the cranks/chains/freehub/somewhere when I did a backspin on the cranks.

My questions are: Does that drag get better over time, as seals and/or chains break in? And has Specialized quantified how much drag the HighGear system produces, in terms of watts lost to drag at various inout power or RPM levels?

Yeah, that was my bad. I should have put a pic with it! Was hesitant cuz not Spesh but appreciate the follow up. I still need to write up a bike check on here. In the meantime, here’s a pic of it from high country season. 

It’s had some parts changes over the years and more coming at it soon. This is about where it’s at currently (now has HR3s F/R) . Love this thing. It’s everything it shouldn’t be. And everything I want it to be. Overbuilt Tallboy V4