| approx. 19 kg (Manufacturer’s specification) in size S4 | € 12,499 | Manufacturer’s website
That a new Demo was coming was never in doubt. Five years is a long time in downhill, however, and Specialized have used every one of them. Rather than updating the previous model, they have rebuilt the Demo 11 from the ground up, reaching deep into their engineering toolkit to arrive at a series of unconventional solutions targeting three outcomes: more composure, more control and more speed. On the World Cup circuit under Loïc Bruni, the Demo 11 has already offered compelling evidence that the ambition is more than marketing.
As far as setup goes, the Demo 11 is uncompromisingly race-focused. Specialized stuck with a mullet wheel configuration combined with a generous 200 mm of travel front and rear. The price also makes it clear which league this bike plays in. The complete build costs €12,499 and comes equipped with the new RockShox Ultimate suspension, SRAM MAVEN Ultimate brakes (220/200 mm f/r rotors) and the new SRAM XX DH AXS drivetrain. If that price tag still doesn’t make you flinch, you can also opt for the frameset alone for €7,499. What exactly you get for that is explained below.
The New Specialized Demo 11 In Detail
HighGear vs Pedal Kickback
Where to start with the tech on this bike is a fair question. The HighGear system, developed in collaboration with SRAM, sits at the heart of it: a drivetrain layout that creates around 30 mm of additional ground clearance while decoupling the chainring position from the crank axle. The result is a chainring that sits higher in the frame and better shielded from trail debris. More significant still is what this freedom of positioning unlocks for the suspension engineer: anti-squat, chain growth and their associated influences on the rear end can all be tuned with a precision the conventional layout simply does not allow. Fewer unwanted drivetrain inputs, substantially reduced pedal kickback.
On the subject of pedal kickback: this occurs when chain length changes as the suspension compresses, creating tension on the cranks and causing the pedals to snap back. On the Specialized Demo 11, the HighGear system routes power via an intermediate jackshaft, and the position of the drive ring is the crucial factor. Chain length above the chainstay stays constant no matter how deep the bike sits in its travel, allowing the suspension to work freely without the chain pulling against it. Drivetrain and rear end are largely decoupled as a result. Specialized claim pedal kickback is almost completely eliminated, keeping the bike calmer, better on line and faster over rough sections.
OBB Suspension System For Better Tracking
For the the rear end, Specialized took another unconventional approach with what they call the OBB system, short for Over Bottom Bracket. This refers to how the rear triangle drives the shock and how forces are transmitted during compression. The big advantage is that race engineers can freely tune the suspension’s key characteristics. These include how the rear wheel moves through its travel, the suspension’s leverage rate and braking influences. On many bikes, these factors interact and force compromises. The OBB system is designed to avoid exactly that. As a result, the suspension remains active under braking, responds sensitively to impacts and maintains predictable behaviour at high speed.
On the Demo 11, the shock is driven via the chainstays and is effectively pulled rather than pushed between the main pivot and the rear axle. Specialized see a clear benefit here. When a load is pulled, it naturally tracks more steadily. A good analogy is a handcart. When you pull it, it tends to follow in a straight, stable line behind you. According to the same principle, the Demo 11 is designed to stay more composed under load and keep the rear wheel tracking cleanly even through hard hits.
On paper, this amounts to a serious package of tech, and at World Cup level it appears to be working: the Specialized Gravity Team have the results to suggest the engineers got it right. With a full support crew and a perfectly dialled setup, a great deal falls into place. The more interesting question is how the Demo 11 rides for those without a mechanic at the finish line, and that is exactly what we will be addressing in a full review soon.
For more info, visit specialized.com
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Words: Robin Ulbrich Photos: Specialized