$4900
42 pounds
8.1-inch rear wheel travel
Specialized, (877) 808-8154
Maxi test: January 2006

Highlights: The Demo 8 is a trimmed-down version of the 9, with eight inches of travel instead of nine. The 8 has a lower bottom-bracket, and a lighter frame was achieved by using a longer downtube and less forging around the bottom bracket. The Demo 8 has 135-millimeter rear wheel spacing to fit standard dropout wheelsets and hubs. This is a bike built for downhill racing (the nine is for double black-diamond trails).

Best quote: "Although the Demo 8 frame has a tangled and complicated appearance, with tubing seemingly flowing in all directions, it delivers refined finesse in the air. Blasting berms and railing corners is made simple with the Demo 8's low center of gravity and standover height."

Bottom line: The Demo 8 has a unique ability to combine characteristics of two custom downhill designs into one all-inclusive package. The Demo 8 plows through gnarly terrain with the ease of a Foes Mono DH, yet is as nimble as the maneuverable Turner DHR.