Demo Alloy released by Specialized

Last year, Specialized sent the downhill world into a spin when they released the single-sided Carbon Demo. With uts revolutionary construction, S3 geometry, and completely new FSR layout it pushed Specialized a long way forward in the downhill racing arms race, and was a big part in having their riders on World Cup podiums. Now, Specialized have launched the Demo Alloy, with the same killer formula, only now, it’s aluminium. And cheaper.

 Although the carbon model was released first, Specialized claim they knew that they would have to create an aluminium version too. But the engineering behind a singled-sided frame out of aluminium, however, was no small task. The Demo Alloy has all of the amazing performance benefits of the carbon version, like internally routed cables, new FSR layout, and it’s still fully customisable for the riders with no new standards. 

More important than the features is that it has the geometry and handling riders have come to expect from the Demo & Specialized. The S3 geometry was introduced last year, and it takes all of the sizing questions out of buying a bike. Now, you can buy the size you want based on how you want to ride — see below:

·         All sizes have low stand over and seat tube heights. Short & Medium sizes share head tube heights, as do Long & Extra-Longs.

·         Each size has its own reach measurement, making them truly unique sizes.

·         Most importantly, they all have low BBs (343mm), slack head angles (63.5°), and short rear ends (430mm chain stays).

Our resident gravity bike tester, Lachlan McKillop, had a look over the bikes and was quick with his feedback. 

“After spending a full season working on the S-works carbon bikes I can honestly say these are one of the most thought out downhill bikes on the market. From working on them mechanically to actually riding the carbon version these bikes are a work or art, designed with the rider and mechanic in mind (this is pretty rare). The only obvious downside is for most of us meer mortals the carbon bikes were quite expensive, this new alloy alternative looks like it is set to deliver performance to rider’s of all levels. We usually find carbon bikes are evolutions of an already popular alloy version, it will be very interesting to see how the aluminium will change the ride quality of the carbon version.”

Read Lachlan’s review of the Specialized Enduro Evo.

BUT WHEN CAN I RIDE A DEMO ALLOY?

These bikes will not only be offered as complete bikes, but also as framesets. These bikes and frames will be available from the beginning of March in Specialized dealers.

Pricing is set below, and shows the real savings that producing in alloy can have.