First Look: Specialized Demo 11 - From Proto to Production  11

Here is the thing that stands out most about Specialized's new Demo 11. They built a prototype that won races. They identified what needed to change, and they were willing to redesign the whole thing before bringing it to market. A lot of times, the bike-design train is moving, and you can't stop it, even if things should change. Specialized took the time to redesign their whole prototype 2 years into the project, make a whole new prototype with a different layout, confirmed it, and went to production shortly after. That’s rare, and I appreciate their willingness to take the time to get the bike right before going to production. 

Highlights

• 200mm of travel front and rear
• Mixed wheels only
• FACT 11 carbon frame
• OBB (over bottom bracket) linkage design
• HighGear drivetrain system 
• 62.5° head tube angle
• Adjustable front center (+/- 6mm) and bottom bracket height 
• Size-specific rear centers (435, 445, 455m)
• Sizes: S3, S4, S5 
• Weight: S-Works - 19.03 kg (41 lb, 15.3 oz) | S-Works Frameset: 5.79 kg (12 lb, 12.2 oz)
• MSRP: Demo 11 S-Works - $11,000 | Demo 11 S-Works Frameset - $6,500

Frame and Stiffness

We really liked the previous low pivot Specialized prototype when we rode it in the downhill shootout this summer. It was the fastest bike of the test. It was also the smoothest downhill bike that I have ridden in terms of its ability to reduce chatter and eye-bobble due to how they tuned the compliance of the frame with their “stiffeners.” 

Since that iteration, they redesigned the layout to remove the low-hanging link that was prone to hitting stuff and moved to a mid-pivot layout with the OBB linkage. The mid pivot also further takes the edge off of hits, which I don’t think it needed, but it’s still a welcome change, as it allows for a more consistent rear center length through the travel, which only increases cornering consistency… so it can’t hurt. 

Looking at the production frame versus the prototype Jason and I rode in Whistler, it appears to be a stiffer chassis, based on the tube sizes getting larger, especially in the BB area of the frame. I’m curious to see how this new bike rides compared to that prototype, since we thoroughly enjoyed the smooth feel of the proto.

The rear triangle is designed with large chainstays paired with smaller seatstays. The proto we rode reused the seatstays from the Enduro frame, and it almost looks like that could still be the case for this new production frame – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. What this means in practice is that the rear end has some "roll" when it flexes rather than "wag," keeping the tire contact patch pointed straight so there is no unwanted two-wheel steer when the bike is loaded up in corners. Roll lets the rear wheel comply to the terrain you’re riding over, still being able to move out of the way of jarring bumps, but it moves out of the way of those bumps in a way that keeps the rear tire contact patch pointed straight ahead. Wag is when the rear wheel steers independently of the front wheel, which can introduce undesirable two-wheel steering. The Demo has the good kind of flex.

On top of that, Specialized says the shock loads the chainstay in a way that, as the suspension compresses, the frame straightens rather than twists. The more you load it, the more aligned everything gets. It still takes me a second to think about this every time I hear it, but I think it makes sense. The racers seem to feel it, and when we rode the proto, it was weird how the bike was both comfortable and precise when plowing into holes and corners, so there’s something special going on, and this must be it. Neat.

HighGear Drivetrain

The HighGear system gives you +30mm of clearance over a traditional drivetrain. No more bashing chainrings on rocks. This is a neat improvement, especially if you are trying to keep a BB low. I have bent plenty of expensive bashguards in my day, and this sort of eliminates that whole problem.

What's neat about the HighGear is that you don't have to deal with the complications of a normal idler sprocket design. Idlers have gotten better, but things can get weird when you add them to a bike. That little idler sprocket has to manage high chain forces while straightening the chain as it comes off the cassette and guides it onto the chainring. Add in mud, and you start to see significant wear and noise on both the idler sprocket and the chain itself. Not a huge deal on a downhill bike, but it's more stuff that adds noise, needs to be replaced, and needs to be taken care of. You also need a lot of chain-guiding devices to ensure the chain can never come off the idler sprocket or the chainring.

Specialized skipped all of that with the HighGear. There is no idler sprocket to wear out, just the HighGear chainring, which is sized so that it acts closer to a normal chainring in its operation than a small idler sprocket. It'll simply work better for wear and in bad conditions. All of this combined gets you the benefits of a mid-ish pivot axle path without the downsides of an idler, less chain growth on the underside to wear out your derailleur clutch, more ground clearance, and you're not going to smash your chainring in a race run.

BB Height and Geometry Adjustability

Bottom bracket adjustment is such a useful feature on a DH bike. Demo 11 gives you a high setting of 355mm and a low setting of 348mm. My approach to BB height is to go as low as I can until I start hitting stuff, then raise it just enough not to hit stuff. The two positions provided should accommodate riders like myself or those who prefer a higher ride height.

On the previous prototype, the lower linkage hung below the BB. Some people saw that and said, “It looks like you might hit that on rocks.” Seems like their instincts were correct. The link looked like it was going to be a little too low and every now and then hit rocks. It was probably fine most of the time but even if you hit that link a few times a season, that adds up, and things break. They made the right call and solved that problem by using the OBB linkage in this production version. 

Reach-adjust headset cups give you 6mm of reach tuning on top of everything else. Between the BB adjust and the reach adjust, there is a lot of setup tunability here.

Size Specific Chainstays and the Mid Pivot Effect

The Demo sports size-specific chainstay lengths across S3, S4, and S5 at 435mm, 445mm, and 455mm, respectively. Races will really appreciate this. 

The chainstay lengths might look a little short on paper, but remember this is a mid-pivot bike. The rear center grows as the suspension compresses. If you are sagging 50mm into the rear travel, that is roughly 10mm of rear center growth. So effectively add 10mm to the chainstay lengths you see on the geo table, and the numbers look pretty good.

Leverage Curve

The leverage curve has a hook to it. This means it will not be the most supple off the top of the stroke, but that is not always your priority. This leverage will give you a bike that does not wallow, pumps really well, and feels efficient.

The Open Downtube

The downtube is open. For a design perspective, I get that if you put a sleek cover on it, the linkage would hit as the suspension actuates. For a cover to clear the linkage, it would have to be pretty large and might look a bit odd. Plus, mud may get trapped there if it gets in from the top of the bike. So they just went with no cover. Nice and simple. I am sure you will see people fashioning their own cover here because it makes them uncomfortable, but I think it’s neat. Mud may get in, but it can also get out. I’m sure this will stir up some conversation, so I’m excited to see what people think in the comments. 

Build Kits

A lot of energy was invested in the new Demo. It’s a proven race bike with some very unique technical details. However, it's tough not to wonder if Specialized lost the plot when it comes to price. For those actively pursuing World Cups and looking for marginal gains, it’s a pretty sure bet that the Demo will provide an advantage. If this is you, odds are you are going to be on a team, or supported by a shop, and not spending retail to ride the Demo. Everyone else hitting regional or local races, it seems aggressive to blow so much budget on a bike when there are competitive options that cost much less. I’m curious what others think, but that’s my take as a past privateer racer. - Schroeder

This bike is a full redesign of the race-winning prototype. Specialized moved from a low pivot to mid pivot with the OBB linkage and gave more ground clearance than other race bikes. If the frames stiffness/compliance is similar to the prototype Jason and I rode this past summer, it should be a very confidence-inspiring bike with a smooth ride. BB and reach are both adjustable. Size-specific chainstays are nice, and the numbers are longer than they look on paper because the rear center grows with sag. The leverage curve has a hook so expect a bike that pumps and carries speed. The open downtube looks unique, and if mud gets into it, it should also fall out. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this bike on the top step of the podium this season multiple times. I can’t wait to swing a leg over the bike later this year! 

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