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Average Rating
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4.5/5
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# of Reviews
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26
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MSRP
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$ 3800.00
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Weight
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More Products from Specialized
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Description:
- SPV position-sensitive damping
- Rock Shox Boxxer Race fork
- Specialized Stout hubs
- Dual-compound aramid bead tire
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Submitted by
fernando
a
from españa
Date Reviewed: January 27, 2008 | | Favoriate Trail: | almost everything going down | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | 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. | | 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 | | 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 | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob Aspinall
a Downhiller
from Calgary
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | still hunting | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$5500.00 | | Purchased At: | Bow Cycle | | 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, | | Similar Products Used: | the list go's on and on | | 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 | | Bottom Line: | good bike,if you ride hard up grade first,save the hardake,gunna keep killin it lol | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chris labrecque
a Downhiller
from hoodriver,oregon.us
Date Reviewed: April 25, 2007 | | Favoriate Trail: | fallscity | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Purchased At: | rivercity | | 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. | | Similar Products Used: | Bighit,gemini,sgs pro | | Bike Setup: | swaped the fork to a fox40 and put a ethirteen chain guide on other than that stock | | 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. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
brett neighbors
a Downhiller
from novato, cali usa
Date Reviewed: December 21, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | temelpa | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2800.00 | | Purchased At: | yard sale | | Strengths: | its a stong frame its even better at going slow due to wieght | | Weaknesses: | heavy not responsive knocks the wind out of u when u try to go fast down a rough trail. longest wheelbase | | Similar Products Used: | tank | | Bike Setup: | demo 8 | | Bottom Line: | bike is heavy and none responsive horriable race bike can go straight very well. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt Connors
a Downhiller
from Bozeman, MT U.S.A.
Date Reviewed: December 1, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | History/Cottonwood | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2600.00 | | Purchased At: | Specialized. Team Rider | | Strengths: | Low center of gravity, super burley frame, Balance is centered very well, wants to go really fast due to the center of gravity, Stable as can be while cornering, in rock gardens, jumping, and landing. | | Weaknesses: | I can't get rid of a bushing noise. No biggy. I't will also make you do things you wouldn't have before. (SCARY) | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Stab Primo, Cannondale Gemmini DH, Specialized Big Hit | | Bike Setup: | 06 Demo 8 II 888RCX2, Rocco rear, Race Face Diablous s, Hope Mono 6TI brakes, Hadley hubs with mavic729 hoops, Xtr drive train, soon to be sram, Mallet M pedals, ALL THE GOODS | | Bottom Line: | In my forth downhill season at Big Sky, and as many bikes, I have found the best (one of the top three) Downhill bikes there are. I've demoed and riden most everything. This is the most stable bike out there. Low center of gravity is what makes it so stable. The weight distrabution on the frame is what gives it the low center of gravity. Jumps like a cat and lands like a tank. In my opinion the 8 is better than the 9, It is three to six pounds lighter, which makes a huge differance in racing. Throw a double ring on it and you have got a freeride machine. I would like to experament with a single crown, I't will be sweet. Get one if you can not many used ones oare avaliable, no one wants to sell theirs'. Finally some of the best riders in the world are on the 8. Steve Romanuik, Bearcloth. Strait, Hunter, etc... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt
a Downhiller
from Burlignton CT
Date Reviewed: October 25, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$3000.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikers edge | | Strengths: | Frame, and everytihing | | Weaknesses: | Dont like the hayes 9s, fork isent as bad as people say it is,obviously crosscounrty is not its thing, but it works... kinda.
Like everyo ne else the lingage as about 2mm of play... not bad at all. | | Similar Products Used: | 223, moorwood, | | Bike Setup: | e.13 jucy 7 | | Bottom Line: | Kicks ass, Bombproof frame fsr, no brake jack. Really nice ride overall my favorite dh bike so far. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Fraser
a Downhiller
from New Zealand
Date Reviewed: October 17, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Black panther,methven,nz | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | So far it's held up fairly well........ | | Weaknesses: | Rock shox boxxer race,1st the rebound just dissapeared, they have pathetic little plastic washer that regulates the oil flow etc,this is waht breaks and u have to buy a whole new rebound shaft etc to replace this. I then smashed the lower left leg in 2,these things are paper thin.And just two days ago they started to go "clunk clunk" again, it was little plastic washer again, the 1 i payed $180 for, destroyed it again!! So ditch the boxxers and get ANYTHING else!!
I also had an annoying rattle that i thought was in the in the shock mount, but the bottom pivot point was infact the problem.just needed tightening.
the bike is long, so does make it slow in corners/berms, but in turn makes it super stable at faster speeds.
Also feels real solid in the rear end, no matter how soft i run the rear shock.
| | Similar Products Used: | lots!! | | Bike Setup: | Put an e13 chain guide on it.works a treat. changed the tyres to intense, havent been getting pinch flats anymore.
Getting new forks!!
| | Bottom Line: | Love the bike, just hate the forks!! GO ride methven new zealand!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Curt MacNeill
a Downhiller
from Jackson Hole, Wy
Date Reviewed: October 7, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | A-Line | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2600.00 | | Strengths: | Everything. This bike is the ultimate freeride machine. You have massive standover height which makes jumping really fun and it also corners really well. Not to mention you can run it over with an 18 wheeler and nothing would happened to it. Well, maybe so but you get the point. | | Weaknesses: | Lots of people have problems with a small amount of play on the lower shock bolt. I have replaced the bushing about 5 times and no matter how much you tighten it, it will come loose and you will get an annoying rattling sound. I have heard that this is only problematic with 2004 and 2005 models. I called Specialized and the problem can apparently be fixed with a special shim kit, which basically puts a thin washer on each side of the schock bolt. I just ordered them through a Specialized dealer, hopefully they solve the problem. Other than that the bike is perfect. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Stab Primo, Haro X3, Masters of the Universe Tricycle when I was 3 | | Bike Setup: | Demo 8, 888RC, Blackspire Chain Guide, Swinger 4 way rear, Nokian Gazzaloddi tires | | Bottom Line: | If anyone bashes this bike, they simply don't know what they are talking about. If you are going to be doing ladder drops, massive gap jumps, rocky trails; this bikes kills it. No other bike has this massive of a standover height which makes jumping and doing tricks really easy. Buy it now!!! And No, I don't work for Specialized.... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hucky
a Downhiller
from North Shore
Date Reviewed: September 4, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$3800.00 | | Strengths: | Smooth Plush | | Weaknesses: | Too long a wheel base. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is it. I have yet to ride something that even comes close to how smooth and easy she rides.
The rear hub is junk. I have gone thru 2 all ready.
All in all don't regret it for a second. Best off the shelf ride you will find.
Happy Trails | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
shaun
a Downhiller
from olyphant, pennsylvania , USA
Date Reviewed: June 30, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | bmw | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | cedar bicycle | | Strengths: | anything and everything i hit every drop i could find and only bottomed out on one flat landing, the rear shock moves very smoothly and the bike is just and all around sickass downhill bike | | Weaknesses: | none what so ever | | Similar Products Used: | gt lobo | | Bike Setup: | completely stock | | Bottom Line: | the perfect downhill bike so smooth to ride handles beautifully and weight is good and distributed perfectly | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Buxton Anthony
a Weekend Warrior
from Brisbane,QLD,Australia
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Castle Hill | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$4390.00 | | Purchased At: | NRG cycles (QLD) | | Strengths: | The bike is great so far,it realy feels like you are in control. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Stock, but looing to change the forks to 888 rc2x. | | Bottom Line: | The bike is awesome,You should buy one.(ENOUGH SAID) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
thizzman
a Cross Country Rider
from thizzlamica
Date Reviewed: April 20, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | 18st | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | 4-20 | | Strengths: | i did a 8inch drop to the flat in a river it was so cool i did a triple back flip and landed. | | Weaknesses: | during the night i wanted to go on a ride but its black so i could not find the bike. | | Similar Products Used: | my unicycle that is black | | Bike Setup: | mz comps demax .000001 road tire a carbon fiber shock. | | Bottom Line: | i thizz harder. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kyle Hellpap
a Downhiller
from Carver, MA, USA
Date Reviewed: April 11, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Pine Hills | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$3150.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Barn Racing | | Strengths: | Everything on this bike is unbreakable from the 888 to the welds on the frame!!! The demo 8 is simply perfect! | | Weaknesses: | NONE! | | Similar Products Used: | Enduro SX Trail, P2, Hardrock, Bullit, VP-Free | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for Odi Lock-Ons | | Bottom Line: | The bottom line is if you buy this bike you wont be disapointed. It can handle anything you throw at from downhill racing to the local free ride park it will perform outstandin. Its very predictable and when it comes to pedaling if your suspension is dialed in there is barely any pedal bob!! ITS CRAZY!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeffro
a
from Alberta
Date Reviewed: March 22, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Dirt Merchant | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$4300.00 | | Purchased At: | Revolution Cycle-Edmonton | | Strengths: | 2005-Well rounded bike, good for jumps/ladders/drops/gaps and versatile enough to try your luck at racing downhill. Adjustable geometry, I had it at the slack setting the whole time I rode it. Corners and rails really well, really plush travel, feels bottomless and will make you a better rider, or at least feel like a better one. Good spec for the price, some things are worth upgrading but for the price stock its great. Its an even better priced bike with the spec you get in 2006. If you want a big travel bike for shuttling/lift access riding, or shorter pedals; it does everything really really well. | | Weaknesses: | As far as the bike itself the only complaint I had was the play in the bolt at one of the shock mounts, no matter how much you tightened it, it was still a touch loose. Its more than liveable though...It would've been a good idea to spec the bike with a chain guide, Specialized addressed this in 2006, it comes with a blackspire guide. I had heard about some frame breakage in a few certain areas, mine ended up breaking in one of the areas close by the shock linkage area, but Specialized is great for warranty, it is being replaced. The stock Boxxer race fork wasn't to my liking so I upgraded(888RC) when I bought the bike. | | Similar Products Used: | 05 BigHit w/ 66RC | | Bike Setup: | 888RC upgrade, the rest of the bike was stock other than having to replace tires and rear deraileurs during a season of riding at Whistler | | Bottom Line: | Absolutely great bike, my absolute favorite and top of my list if I was living at a major resort like i did last summer. Specialized has spec'd the bike better and lowered the price so I'd highly recomend the Demo 8 or 8 Pro if you had the extra money to upgrade. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dwain patterson
a
from canada bc
Date Reviewed: February 27, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | powers | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$5100.00 | | Purchased At: | freedom bikeshop | | Strengths: | this bike is the s**t the frame is industructable the bike is greatit is smooth and flush it corners well and for a bike thet is 44 pounds it is extremley fast and agile and if your a FR or DH you will love this bike it is a wonder off big stuff. | | Weaknesses: | none yet | | Similar Products Used: | spec big hit | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | this is an awsom bike for the the price is is good ofr hucking of going fast get a demo | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jay mc
a Downhiller
from wales
Date Reviewed: February 25, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | the triples,the tail (local tracks) | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | sumit cycles | | Strengths: | the frame is perfect in every way cornering is amazing u can get it down so far to the ground and mantain traction but its always nice to get those tires sliding.the saddle is in the right place when it comes to no handers over road gaps,it gives so much confidens to try new things.the components when i first got it i wernt sure if they would hold up but there all runing smooth and the wheels are still strait(suprising). | | Weaknesses: | to damn nice every rock that hits it is like a knife in the heart ;( (and its not heavy at all)im riding a medium and im 6ft and weigh 135 pounds and im not very strong. | | Bike Setup: | stock but i have had the boxxers tf tuned now there soooo smooth. | | Bottom Line: | damn nice bike handles anything get one.and who cares about price its worth it, | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Nate Rudolph
a Downhiller
from GJT, Colorado
Date Reviewed: February 5, 2006 | | Favoriate Trail: | Flying Monkeys, Virgen UT | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Lakeside bike shop AZ | | Strengths: | Every thing. The only down side was the Rock Shox Race was kind of soft for going big, but it is a good entry level race fork. If you have the money go for the Pro model. They have better specs and you get a Fox 40 (Sick Fork). | | Weaknesses: | Bottom shock mount haslittle play in the 65 degree setting. But other than this bike is built strong.
| | Similar Products Used: | Banshee Scream (they screwed my boy over) Iron Horse SGS (HA) Rocky Mountain RMX | | Bike Setup: | new "888" fork, all the rest is stock | | Bottom Line: | This bike can do it all, from racing to going big. If you are a big boy or girl and you are known for braking stuff, look no further. I am 6 foot 4 inc. and weigh in at 245 Lbs. I like to race and go big, and I have yet to break this bike. Specialized did there home work and got it right on the money with this bike. Plus they have a lifetime warranty that they back up. I know some guys that cracked their frames and they got new frames with no hassle. If you want a great bike that will last you more than one race season get this bike. If all you want to do is go big or go home, get a Demo 9.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Downhiller
from SoCal
Date Reviewed: November 26, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Rocky=good | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | Used | | Strengths: | Stiff, light, fast, durable, and did I say fast? The frame is burly and stiff. | | Weaknesses: | The Swinger rear shock doesn't match the performance of the bike, and the BoXXer is a little lacking. I could see upgrading to a DHX in the rear and a BoXXer WC/40/888 in the future. Doesn't include chainguide. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized BigHit, Iron Horse 7point5, Specialized Enduro | | Bike Setup: | BoXXer Ride, Ryno Lite XL/XT R Zoke F Wheels, MRP, Thomson Stem and post, light seat, road derailleur and cassette | | Bottom Line: | If you want a fast, low, lean bike this is the one. Even if it isn't quite as light as some other DH race bikes out there, it just motors over everything. The difference between this and an IH 7point5 is HUGE! This bike is ultra-plush and allows you to go uber-fast in corners and rocks. I race, I don't FR, so I don't know how it takes 3 MPH cliff drops. When you're pinning it, though, this bike rails, slides, and goes in a straight line like no other. Even if some of the parts aren't up to the frame in terms of quality, as a whole, this bike kicks ass! The frame is more than worthy of upgrades. You know you want one, so buy it already! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark
a Downhiller
from Ojai, Ca, USA
Date Reviewed: October 12, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | used | | Strengths: | The frame is super stiff, no flex here. The Boxxer works pretty well but I can see upgrading to a 40 or 888 to better suit the stiffness of the frame itself. The cranks are dead reliable and you can't go wrong with an XT/LX setup. For racing and serious DH a chainguide would be nice, too. For a stock bike @ 3500, though, the frame is amazing and worthy of upgrades. This bike turns gnarly trails into a straight line. On some local trails I was pedalling and using no brakes through sections I usually drag my brakes through and the bike still felt really composed. Even at the steep head angle it's incredibley stable at speed. This is one of the best DH bikes on the market right now and I would recommend it! | | Weaknesses: | The rims aren't too beefy and the stock tires don't work too well in sketchy loose stuff. The stem is too short and a tank. All these things are pretty minor and the first thing to look for in a bike is the frame. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized BigHit, Specialized S-works Enduro, Weyless S-7, Iron Horse 7point5 | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for: Boxxer ride, Thompson stem, King HS, Tires, chainguide system (MRP), Rear mech, chain, cassette, seat, grips, tubes | | Bottom Line: | This bike is super stable and confidence inspiring. It's really plush and the FSR pedals well through rocks. The low center of gravity makes it corner like its on rails and the spec is pretty damn good for the money, especially considering the schweet frame. Awesome for both DH and FR, but more oriented towards DH (Boxxer, ect.) I would buy it if you're looking for a solid, reliable DH bike that'll take some abuse. However, it's pretty heavy so lighter riders and those who want to ride up hills should be warned. For the intended use it's awesome, though. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
cK
a Downhiller
from State College Pa. / North Jersey
Date Reviewed: October 5, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Duryea Downhill Course, Reading PA. | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | ...after beating on this riding urban, freeriding, and racing it - the frame is straight as an arrow... some gouges in the chainstays from boulders, scratches on the downtube from rocks, but other than that, it's fine. I'm an AM class DH'er, but I'm pushing it up every time I ride, so I've accidentally cased more than a few landings, and bailed while sliding off line on a course. All the welds are fine - no apparent twisting of the box tubing, and all the pivots are tight and without play. | | Weaknesses: | The hardware that came with the Manitou shock. It comes stock with a Swinger 4-way, and no matter how much you tighten the bolt that mounts the shock to the frame/downtube section, there is play and rattle... Took the shock out of the frame along with the bolt, removed the spacers(round metal sleeves that go over the ends of the shock pin on either side of the eyelet) inserted the bolt into the eyelet pin (hollow metal tube that goes through the eyelet) and noticed almost .5mm of gap between the inside of the pin and the outer surface of the bolt. So the bolt isn't shifting inside the mounting holes in the frame, the shock ITSELF is shifting around on the mounting bolt. If you wedge your index finger between the tip of the shock and the frame, you can feel this movement.
Gonna upgrade to a DHX 5.0 for 06' | | Similar Products Used: | Spesh BigHit, Karpiel Disco, Old V-10 | | Bike Setup: | Marz 888RC / Go-Ride Low Rider Crowns / R.F. Diabolus stem / Chris King No-Threadset / SDG FR I-Beam / Answer Pro-Taper handlebars / ODI Ruffian Lock-On / SRAM X-9 shifter / Hayes Mag HD wtih GRC "shorty" levers / Single Track rims / Hadley front and DT Hugi rear hub / Maxxis tubes / Maxxis Minion and High Rollers / SRAM X.0 med. cage deraileur / Swinger 4-way with Ti spring / Holzfeller cranks / Giga Pipe DH BB / Custom MRP System 3 / 38T Blackspire Mono-Veloce chainring / Shimano Ultegra 12-25 cassette / Ringle flats or Shimano M424 pedals / Goodridge brake lines and fittings | | Bottom Line: | A bit heavy for hardcore DH racing, but with a different fork, cranks, and some other stuff - it can be built within the 40 to 41lbs. range.
Superior welds and quality construction.
You never have to worry about denting it, you never have to worry about breaking it.
Bombproof. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan Hodgson
a Downhiller
from Bristol, England
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Any big hill !!! | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$4800.00 | | Strengths: | Super strong frame, I've got it in pearl white, looks much more bling than the black! Feels solid when pounding down a track or off a jump and makes you feel like you can do anything. Great looking tubing and oversizing every where but the bike is still light enough to chuck around. | | Weaknesses: | YOU ARE JOKING? WEAKNESS???
Only that it gives you too much confidence!!
Uprate that body armour now! | | Similar Products Used: | Demo 9. Similar bike but more weight and travel than i needed. | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | THE DEMO'S ARE AWESOME!!
If you are looking at downhilling and want a bike that handles well under you, while sucking up everything that you can throw at it, GET YOURSELF ONE OF THESE BIKES!
I cannot stress just how happy i am with my bike. No regrets at all. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave
a Downhiller
from minneapolis
Date Reviewed: May 24, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | commando (CO) | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | Erik's Bike Shop | | Strengths: | FRAME FRAME FRAME! THE STABILITY THE FRAME OFFERS A RIDER WHEN POUNDING DOWN A HILL OR THROWING ONESELF OFF A WALL IS UNSURPASSABLE. ALSO, FOR A 44 POUND BIKE IT SURE PEDALS GREAT, THE REAR SUSPENSION WITH SPV IS EXTRA BENEFIT YOU DON'T TYPICALY FIND IN A BIKE LIKE THIS. | | Weaknesses: | NONE SO FAR.... | | Similar Products Used: | 2003 SPECIALIZED BIT HIT | | Bike Setup: | STOCK SO FAR | | Bottom Line: | A GREAT BIKE. I BOUGHT THE LARGE AND GLAD I DID, IT FEELS SMALLER THAN IT ACTUALLY IS...THE COCKPIT IS PRETTY SMALL. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Casey Cabbiness
a Downhiller
from canyon tx
Date Reviewed: April 24, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | high jumps | | Duration Product Used: | Tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: | frame built strong when your on it it feels like a horse big and strong | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | trek | | Bike Setup: | downhill freeride crosscountry u name it it will work | | Bottom Line: | demo 8 is fricken awsome | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stephanie Castonguay
a
from Mesa AZ
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | anything on South Mt. | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$3300.00 | | Strengths: | This bike is solidly built...I haven't been around DH bikes very long (started racing 3 months ago and came from an XC background), but the stiffness of the frame is unmatched compared to the other bikes I have had a chance to ride. This bike performs well during races, even though it's not super light-weight. While pedaling, there is very little bob. The bike is smooth when it needs to be, yet handles technical sections without talking back. | | Weaknesses: | It's not so much the products that are weak, but I am a small rider (5'4" and 140 lb), so the fork and rear shock were not compatible for me when the bike came stock. I've lightened one of the front springs and am changing the rear coil to a 350 instead of the 400. All that said, I'm strong and can handle a bike that size...it just needs a little tweaking.
Tires...rode up at Bootleg Canyon in Boulder City, NV and pinch flatted twice. The Spec tires can't really handle anything with sharp, jagged rocks. Switched them out for a pair of Kenda Nevegals. | | Similar Products Used: | Foes Mono, Intense, KHS Witchdoctor, Norco, Morewood Izimu | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for spring/coil change-out, Shimano SPD/platform pedal combo, and Kenda Nevegals | | Bottom Line: | This is the first DH bike I've ever owned and will likely be the last. It's a head turner and an attention-getter...expect people will want to ride it around when you show up to rides/races. I have no qualms about the design and workmanship that Specialized have put into this beefy, beautifully designed frame...they've obviously done their R&D on this one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew
a Downhiller
from Reno, Nevada, USA
Date Reviewed: February 15, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | Geiger Grade | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2500.00 | | Purchased At: | website | | Strengths: | Great frame and components. Shock once set up right is great, brakes are ok, might upgrade to the magnesiums. Quick and agile, great steering geometry. | | Weaknesses: | The fork is a little weak. I switched it out for a Marzocchi 888 RC. The 888 adds a little height but its still better than the Boxxer. | | Similar Products Used: | BigHit, VPFree | | Bike Setup: | Swinger 4-way, Marzocchi 888 rc fork, single front, 9 spd rear. Maxxis High Roller tires. | | Bottom Line: | A great bike for the money. The fork is weak, but that was easy to fix. Otherwise this bike has great value for someone starting out in the DH/FR aspect of riding. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
C.K.
a Downhiller
from N.J. / Pa. U.S.A.
Date Reviewed: January 26, 2005 | | Favoriate Trail: | DIABOLO Freeride Park | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | O.K. - so this is going to be a preliminary review since I just got my Demo 8 delivered to the shop a week ago and I haven't ridden it that much yet. I plan on swapping out some of the components that come standard on this model with some of my own...
-Quality build: Believe it or not this thing comes 90% built from the factory. The only thing the shop had to do was put on the handlebars, attach the control levers, shifters, and pedals, and maybe air up the tires. I'm told the box it came in was HUGE. The brakes are even pre-bled and installed.
-Parts: Unlike the picture on Spesh's website of the the black Demo 8, the one you get comes with a 200mm 2005 Rock Shox Boxxer Race...In the picture, from the looks of the lowers, they had an 04' Boxxer on it. (maybe a 200mm proto) It comes with Truvativ Holzfeller Cranks, Truvativ GigaPipe BB, Mavic EX325 Rims, Manitou Swinger 4-way, etc... All excellent choices for a build on a rig such as this. The Spesh Roller RS tires say 2.4" but they look more like 2.5's or even 2.6's.... Drivetrain is Shimano XT/LX and brakes are the new 2005 Hayes Nine w/ new El Camino V8 Rotors.
-Craftsmanship: The frame and it's fabrication are INSANE. | | Weaknesses: | -None yet... Will update at later time after some hard riding in a few months... Don't really see where any could be in the construction/fabrication.
-Weight may be a factor - we weighed the entire bike w/ the pedals it came with(super heavy).
Total Weight: ~44.7 lbs. (This was done on a shop scale, used for UPS shipping)
This isn't bad for a bike intended for DH raacing, and by swapping out certain components with lighter ones and maybe going tubeless, I've projected a calculated race weight of around 40 lbs. Not bad, considering Colin Bailey's 03' Turner DHR with custom thin-wall tubing weighed 39 lbs. | | Similar Products Used: | Spesh Big Hit, Santa Cruz V-10, Karpiel Disco Volante | | Bike Setup: | Will update later with new swapped parts. | | Bottom Line: | Solid. Great build, excellent craftsmanship for a bike that isn't coming from a small company hand-made, and looks to have TONS of potential. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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