REVIEW: New Specialized Demo 29 Downhill Bike

The Specialized Demo 29 is officially available to all. Fast man Brian Buell heads to Port Angeles to break things down and evaluate the brand new bike from a seasoned racer&point of view. Demo 29 Highlights - 29-inch wheels - M5 alloy frame - 200mm (7.9-inches) front and rear travel - Öhlins DH 29 Twin-Tube air fork with an adjustable third chamber, 20x110mm thru-axle, and 58mm offset - Updated FSR suspension design - Trunnion mount 225x75mm Öhlins TTX coil shock - More rearward axle path than the previous Demo - 70% increase in anti-rise - 300% increase in anti-squat - More progressive leverage curve - Lower center of gravity - Oversized pivot cartridge bearings with sealed bolt heads - Rear shock guard - Downtube guard - Full internal cable routing with option for full external brake - BSA threaded bottom bracket with ISCG05 chain guide mounts - Boost 12x148mm rear axle - Sizes: S2, S3, S4 - Actual Weight: 37.3-pounds (16.9kg, size S3 without pedals) - $6,500 USD Race model (tested), $5,000 Expert model, and $2,500 frame kit with Öhlins shock The Demo 8 27.5 will live on as an alloy-only base model. Video by John Reynolds, Brian Buell and Brandon Turman