Good luck finding a better high-performance downhill bike than this value-packed rig. With 200mm of front and rear travel, a custom Fox Van RC shock, and a RockShox RC fork, this machine is one well-thought-out downhill setup.
Strengths: Amazing build, light, pops off everything, pedals brilliantly, impressive stock pedals and tyres.
Weaknesses: Stock wheels and stem, not everyone wants to spend time setting up the double barrel (they should though, because its worth it!)
Bottom Line:
Amazing value for money when you look at the components, manages to get air off things like roots, pedals through the rough with ease, corners like its on rails, inspires huge amounts of confidence, really light weight (37.14ish), simply one of the most fun bikes you can own! Absolutely loving it!!
Submitted by
freerider33
a Downhiller
from Kodak,TN-USA
Date Reviewed: April 30, 2011
Strengths: No flex in linkage or bike.No brake jack.Beefy all around.Sit's low.
Weaknesses: Shock takes a bit longer to adjust because you have to take the upper link loose.About 3 more minutes is all & that's if your super slow.
Bottom Line:
Best dh bike i have had.Nothing to complain about.Pivots & bearings are all still smooth,quiet & have no play.Jumps solid.Brakes into rough corners great.Plus pedals nice without bobbing,alot better than my single pivot Bullit.A brand new Demo frame would cost a alot but you can used ones that work the same for less.
Similar Products Used: Bullit.YetiDH9.V10.GiantATXDH.Yeti ASX.
Bike Setup: Boxxer World Cup.Hayes 8"hydros.E13 guide.Truvativ ISIS Hussefelt 170mm cranks.Hadley hubs.
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Submitted by
Pirata!
a Downhiller
from GYN,GOIÁS,BRAZIL
Date Reviewed: February 5, 2010
Strengths: When I ride this bike, i make love with!She is beautiful,strong with low center of gravity and can eat big bumps,holes and you can drop safe! everything is possible with it.PERFECT
Weaknesses: Difficult to set up the rear shock
Bottom Line:
Low center of gravity,you fill safe to do big jumps, HEAVIDUTY BIKE
Submitted by
Mot Srednas
a Downhiller
from Norhtern Beaches, Sydney, Austraila
Date Reviewed: July 1, 2009
Strengths: Much better coming from a Single pivot freeride bike. Everything works awesome. FSR technology jumps amazing and DH's really well.
Weaknesses: Paint chips off BB and downtube really easy.
Otherwise no complaints.
Bottom Line:
Great bike to start DH racing and continue on. Sam Hill uses them so why doesn't everyone else. Jumps heaps freely.
Improved design for 2010 mine is 2007 so we shall see.
Good luck with the buy.
Bike Setup: DHX 5.0. Boxxer Race. Codes mag. 729, dee-max and singletrack rims for different occasions. Sunline stem with Deity Bars. Odi. LG1 09. SLX cranks. X9 Shifting. Sram Cassette. etc.
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Submitted by
tlema21
a Downhiller
from Lausanne Switzerland
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2009
Strengths: -Stock Components
-Looks
-It's a Specialized
Weaknesses: None again it's a Specialized; best bikes out there!!
Bottom Line:
This is my dream bike, maybe one of the only bike that are actually ready-to-ride thanks to all the stocks components.
I had to change the coil of the boxxer fork because I needed a harder coil, but the bottom line is that it's like the best bike I have ever ridden.
Strengths: Strong Frame, Awesome Components. UNBREAKABLE. Can Take Anything you throw at it without complaint, looks cooler than ice-cream.
Weaknesses: No real, weaknesses other than the obvious trying to get up hills because of weight and suspension, but its for downhill, so who cares?!
Bottom Line:
Get one if you have the chance, you will not regret it unless you are an XC rider :P. Its Awesome. Even though I was lucky and got it cheap, i think its worth paying alot more for.
Submitted by
09 DEMO 8/1
a Downhiller
from cody, wyoming
Date Reviewed: October 25, 2008
Strengths: The Demo8 1 bike is a great all round downhiller. The Elixer R brake is a capable downhill brake. DHX 4.0, I think the Boxxer Race it also a nice downhill fork for the price. DT Swiss rims FSR what else is their to say.
Weaknesses: Box.Race, 680mm Specialized handle bars are way short, Pedal are way thick, 2.35 tires (on the 8/1)
Bottom Line:
Great bike, Recommend it to anyone getting serious about racing or riding. Not for first time trial rider. My only concern is, will the Boxxer Race internals be able to deal with a 200lb rider the whole season.
Bike Setup: Demo8 frame, DT Swiss rims w/Specialized hubs,Gumut chain tentioner/bash guard, Spec.DH Race 2.5 tire, Box. Race, Elixer R Brakes, King Earl Handle bar 720mm.
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Submitted by
jaybeedub
a Downhiller
from santa clara, CA
Date Reviewed: July 26, 2008
Strengths: Really not bad for the setup and price, there's just a lot that needs to be upgraded. It's better to upgrade it when you buy it, because I'm sure that it'll screw you over if you don't.
Weaknesses: LINKAGE BEARINGS!! Needs to have a chainguide stock, brakes (the lines on the 9's blew out too easy, upgraded to goodridge braded lines), Boxxer Race blew out after 2 months (needed new bushings, scratched the crap outa my stanchions because of bad bushings, seals didn't seal, rebound adjustment broke, oil leaked out of rebound cartridge(from allen key hole on bottom of lower), hubs were toast after a month, along with the BB, the XT rear derailleur's shifting was inconsistent and needed constant tuning,not to mention it chewed the crap out of the cable.
Bottom Line:
Not bad for the price, but there's better out there, unless you are willing to put the extra cash in upgrades.
Strengths: The 2007 model recieve many improvements: reduce weigth, shorted in the rear, better geometry, low gravity. The cockpit is fine, enough room to change the body position. Have a natural aptitude to jump, with a little force to rise the bars cross the obstacles. I don´t try in big jumps but I suppose it do really well because in air your position automatically set backward (you not get nose down, a danger in almost any drops). Railing corners in fantastic form. Great, very great stability at high speed. Excellent aceleration.
Weaknesses: In some cases, i. e. those rock gardens plenty with mid size rocks (more suitable for a trial bike) the low center of gravity can do one of the pedals take a hit. The stability at high speed mean a less agility at low speed (but every dh bike do the same). This is must due to the big distance between wheels and the relaxed angles.
Bottom Line:
Every bike have its own philosophy when is made. The Demo 8's is a bike like a tank can cross with saffety in almost any surface (i.m.o), capable of race, jump, and, more important, fun. This bike push up your skill, make 'u feel secure. Is a pure DH bike with the original spirit of mtb in mind. She's like speed. Buy and don't look back
Similar Products Used: Kona Stinky,Specialized Big Hit, Sta. Cruz VP, so on...
Bike Setup: boxxer race, truvativ husselfet cranks, hayes 9 brakes, fox 5.0 shock
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Submitted by
Rob Aspinall
a Downhiller
from Calgary
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2007
Strengths: Grate frame.good design
Weaknesses: linkedge crap,could have doen much beter.foxshock 450 2.80 on a downhill come on,oh yeah and my own add on fox 4 40's that cant be bottomed out,lets just say mine have been apart twice now,wish it came with a raceface crank set,stock not so good that was the first thing to go,
Bottom Line:
good bike,if you ride hard up grade first,save the hardake,gunna keep killin it lol
Bike Setup: demo 8 with the fox 4 40s,sram x-o,double track 24' with a 3.0 on the back wow,juicy 7 all round.blackspire sprockets
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Submitted by
chris labrecque
a Downhiller
from hoodriver,oregon.us
Date Reviewed: April 25, 2007
Strengths: All in all the bike is solid.
Weaknesses: The only thing I don't like is trying to put air in the rear shock they made it impossible to reach.
Bottom Line:
I would buy this bike again. For the price you get a solid bike that you really don't have to do much to. You can huck this thing off a hill and it will probly still be in one peice great buy.
