Specialized in conjunction with RedBull have released preliminary details of the completely-redesigned S-Works Demo.
Gone is the dual seatstay linkage in favor of a simpler, lighter, design that places a premium on keeping the weight low and centered. The full carbon frame is designed around 27.5in wheels and has 200mm of suspension travel via a custom Öhlins rear shock.
This weekend, Specialized racers Aaron Gwin and Troy Brosnan will put the new Demo to the test at the Mont Sainte Anne World Cup. “I've been on the bike for about a month now," said Gwin, about the redesigned bike he and Brosnan will be racing.
Gwin and Brosnan first got a chance to throw a leg over the new 27.5in downhill rig immediately following the 2014 USA Cycling Gravity MTB National Championships in Angel Fire, New Mexico, and found it to be a familiar, but faster Demo.
"The thing I noticed right away was just how fast it was," said Gwin, "It’s a really playful bike, but it’s a race bike through and through." Gwin believes this bike "reacts quicker than any bike he's ridden before."
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New most striking feature of the new carbon frame is the single-sided seat tube structure. A design feature intended to make it easier for world cup mechanics to service the rear shock
"The switch was really easy," said Gwin of the ability to service the shock. "It's something non-racers might not have to deal with very often, but anyone who races seriously knows how often you need to service, set up and remove your shocks.”
Specialized did its best to mask the true lines of the new Demo while testing
Frame geometry, weight, pricing and availability have yet to be released. Stay tuned for more information.
