Curtis Keene's Specialized Demo 8 - Sea Otter Day 2

by Tyler Maine
Apr 16, 2011 at 0:03




Curtis and his Demo 8 - what makes his bike so much more special than yours? The prototype 135 x 12mm rear end for starters. On that 135mm rear end you'll find a 9-20 tooth spread 7 speed cassette<br><br><span style='font-size:19px'>The details on Keene's Demo:</span<br><br>- 135 x 12mm rear hub spacing<br>- 7 speed cassette<br>- 9-20 T gearing spread<br>- wider width between flanges than current 150mm results in a zero dish rear wheel<br>- Slimmer rear triangle over current 150mm rear end<br>- RockShox Keronite WC BoXXer<br>- Prototype Specialized Butcher DH tires<br>- Prototype Specialized rim<br>- AngleSet at negative 1 degree (63 degree HA)<br>- Weight: 36.1lbs
Curtis and his Demo 8 - what makes his bike so much more special than yours? The prototype 135 x 12mm rear end for starters. On that 135mm rear end you'll find a 9-20 tooth spread 7 speed cassette

The details on Keene's Demo:
- 135 x 12mm rear hub spacing
- 7 speed cassette
- 9-20 T gearing spread
- wider width between flanges than current 150mm results in a zero dish rear wheel
- Slimmer rear triangle over current 150mm rear end
- RockShox Keronite WC BoXXer
- Prototype Specialized Butcher DH tires
- Prototype Specialized rim
- AngleSet at negative 1 degree (63 degree HA)
- Weight: 36.1lbs
A little Rock Shox Keronite WC Boxxer love up front along with a whole gamut of SRAM and Chromag parts and maybe a couple Prototype Specialized Butcher DH tires along with some proto rims thrown in for good measure help too.
A little Rock Shox Keronite WC Boxxer love up front along with a whole gamut of SRAM and Chromag parts and maybe a couple Prototype Specialized Butcher DH tires along with some proto rims thrown in for good measure help too.
The team is running prototype 12x135mm rear ends. The width between the rear hub's spoke flanges is actually wider than the current 150mm spaced hubs thanks to the 7 speed cog set requiring less space than current 9/10 speed options.
The team is running prototype 12x135mm rear ends. The width between the rear hub's spoke flanges is actually wider than the current 150mm spaced hubs thanks to the 7 speed cog set requiring less space than current 9/10 speed options.
Getting your names and flag on your bikes means you are playing in the big time!
Getting your names and flag on your bikes means you are playing in the big time!

Only select Specialized athletes have access to the new prototype 135x12mm rear ends and Curtis is one of those riders. I know that some of you are already throwing up your arms and going "Why would they look at going back to 135mm rear spacing when they just got to 150mm spacing?". With the advancements in DH gear technology and the development of the 9 tooth rear cog, Specialized riders have looked at the 7 speed rear cog set as a viable option that gives their bikes more clearance thought tight sections of trail.

Curtis and his team mate Brad Benedict of the Specialized Gravity USA team are hanging it all out at this weekend's Sea Otter DH - best of luck guys!
Must Read This Week

49 Comments

  • + 14
flag ninjatarian (Apr 16, 2011 at 1:44)
 I am loving the small ring up front. You might be able to eliminate the bash all together being that high up saving even more weight yet.
  • + 7
flag pperini (Apr 16, 2011 at 2:56)
 dont get it..spesh always made the demo with 135mm hubs..mine for example is one of those..then they went 150mm for 2011, and now the pros ride again 135mm...come on engineers..settle down....
  • + 5
flag dougies (Apr 16, 2011 at 8:44)
 nothing wrong with trying different options, and im pressuming this is about more than the rear axle width
  • - 9
flag sniperbob02 (Apr 16, 2011 at 9:19) (Below Threshold) show comment
 they atleast need the 12mm true axel cuz without true axel the rim can come off and is way less stiff
  • + 4
flag baca262 (Apr 16, 2011 at 10:23)
 they went to 150mm because of zero dish and now they have a 135mm with zero dish which is lighter and may even be stiffer.
  • + 2
flag bikeaddict123 (Apr 16, 2011 at 10:27)
 yeah but he says the reason is to have "more clearance through tight trails" with a 15mm difference that's 3/4 of a cm on either side of the bike! plus your bars, shoes and body stick out way more. i'd defs prefer it if they stuck to one standard
  • + 10
flag sniperbob02 (Apr 16, 2011 at 10:34)
 lol like anyone will the the difference between 135 and 150 on the trail lol like if someone will stop and say f*ck I cant go down that trail I too wide :O Rolleyes
  • + 1
flag z-man (Apr 16, 2011 at 11:32)
 Its sea ottar, people run odd setups that you wouldnt see at many other races.
  • + 4
flag willsoffe (Apr 16, 2011 at 11:43)
 bikeaddict123, I disagree: If my rear mech or rear disc rotor clears a rock instead of smashing into it, I'd call that a good thing.
  • + 1
flag bunkey (Apr 16, 2011 at 17:41)
 +1
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  • + 6
flag dugglesthemuddled (Apr 16, 2011 at 2:03)
 135mm makes sense with only the 7 speeds, you will get a better average chainline. I fail to see how it being slimmer by 7.5mm on each side is gonna help with clipping rocks though, considering your back foot cranks and pedal sit right in front of it.
  • + 6
flag wasea04 (Apr 16, 2011 at 3:22)
 It's pretty hilarious really, "150mm is the best thing to happen to a dh bike, wait no, we've decided that a 135mm rear is better after making all of you buy fancy new hubs. " Big Grin
  • + 3
flag pperini (Apr 16, 2011 at 3:25)
 2 words: market, money.
  • - 3
flag NorthEasternDH (Apr 16, 2011 at 5:30)
 they need it though, the bike industry is struggling
  • + 2
flag wrc21 (Apr 16, 2011 at 5:38)
 Yeah, another load of crap coming from specialized. Only them can hype so much a change on rear axle overall width.
  • + 1
flag amht4life (Apr 16, 2011 at 7:28)
 The problem is that there are so many different combinations of things that could be done for drivetrain setup. I don't want to bash the bike industry because that's a very though business to be in, but it can be very frustrating from a consumer's standpoint. It's highly unlikely that there will ever be a de facto standard for DH drivetrains, but it could be worse: http://sheldonbrown.com/nanodrive/index.html
  • + 3
flag bikeaddict123 (Apr 16, 2011 at 10:31)
 "The Nanodrive MTB system sticks with 9 sprockets in back, 3 in front, because extensive research has proven that this as many as the human brain is capable of comprehending, and not everybody can even do that many." hahaha
  • + 2
flag willsoffe (Apr 16, 2011 at 11:44)
 This new standard is good.

If my rear mech or rear disc rotor clears a rock instead of smashing into it, I'd call that a good thing.

7 speed is also good. 9/10 is overkill.

Zero dish is good.
  • + 1
flag bomberdave (Apr 16, 2011 at 15:01)
 If you think this is a bad example of the bike industry strugglling, low down from tyepay (i dont remember how to spell it lol) is that spec will have NO 26" hardtails in the mid to high level xc/trail hardtails, just at entry level and the jumpers. time for an upgrade!
[Reply]
  • + 6
flag KennyKillsIt (Apr 16, 2011 at 1:40)
 Those tires have some seriously sexy meat!
Fooock, I want some of that chunder!
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag jclnv (Apr 16, 2011 at 10:29)
 Hopefully the 12x135mm hub and 9T 7spd DT hub makes production. Makes way more sense than stupid 150mm hubs and 11spd cassettes. Looks like the new rear triangle works perfect with existing Demo front triangles. Hopefully they will be available aftermarket.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag CrashPanda (Apr 16, 2011 at 4:15)
 Well... at least they got the zero dish wheel right :-) After a couple of seasons on otherwise identical 150 rears, other with CK hub and other with Hope (which creates zero dish too), there's a thing to be said on benefits of that, if you are (un)fortunate enough to take build and care of your own wheels too.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag agolden (Apr 16, 2011 at 6:54)
 I think it is awesome that specialized is innovating like this.
Everyone is confused about the switch in axle lengths but they are just prototyping things as specialized normally does throughout the season. Sam Hills bike will always be just a little bit different than the production anyways
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag foghorn1 (Apr 16, 2011 at 5:19)
 I like the switch to 7 speed very much, but am thinking that the 9 tooth system may wear chains, bearings, and cogs faster. The closer you put the leverage to the centre of the axles, the higher the tension. More tension = more wear. This is fine for sponsored riders, but for ordinary folk who have to buy gear, I'm not sure about it.
  • + 1
flag dingus (Apr 27, 2011 at 10:56)
 I'm sure pros will replace their drivetrains much more frequently than ordinary folk.
[Reply]
  • + 3
flag Varaxis (Apr 16, 2011 at 2:10)
 So ordering name/flag stickers from Victory Circle Graphics is a big deal now?

I only clicked on this article cause I was going WTF when I saw 12/13mm rear end.
  • + 1
flag MooMoo2323 (Apr 16, 2011 at 8:38)
 PROOF READ!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag sniperbob02 (Apr 16, 2011 at 9:23)
 Im still sold to the 12*150 rear end witch is was stiffer than the 10*135 and still stiffer than 12*135. I would do 12*135 for dual slalom and slopstyle, 12*142 for fr and 12*150 for dh
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag luckynmbr13 (Apr 16, 2011 at 8:52)
 its nice to see him running a small cog set because ive always had one and people make fun of me for it... but it makes sense, why do you need easy gears on a dh bike??...
  • + 1
flag foghorn1 (May 2, 2011 at 5:37)
 Easy gears are good for getting to those secret handshake trails..
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Antron (Apr 16, 2011 at 2:12)
 So which is better, 135mm or 150mm?! Quit changing it!!
  • + 1
flag samnation (Apr 16, 2011 at 15:01)
 Actually 142 makes sense because then we could have 2 standards 142X12 and 130X10 done! over! kaput! if you have a superlight XC or road bike you run what is the current road standard and then you have the 142X12 its an even split between 135 and 150 and has the stiffness that is currently being desired by trail riders the world over.

I havent done the math but I also think that with a 142 you can run 6 or 7 gears with zero dish or you can run a 11-36 10 speed with dish..
  • + 1
flag samnation (Apr 16, 2011 at 16:04)
 The syntace 142 is stupid but a well thought redesigned 142 would be good
  • + 2
flag samnation (Apr 16, 2011 at 17:11)
 its how the 135 should have been from day one
  • + 2
flag Antron (Apr 17, 2011 at 4:50)
 But if this new 135mm is better because it's smaller and has a wider hub flange due to the 7 speed, couldn't you use that same concept and make it wider on a 150mm if wider is better. As long as it has a thru-axle, I don't really give a sh*t. I do like the convenience that the 142mm has to offer.
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag acadian Plus (Apr 16, 2011 at 3:11)
 what size frame?
  • + 1
flag themagicturtle (Apr 16, 2011 at 7:21)
 Looks like a large to me
  • + 1
flag brule Mod Plus (Apr 16, 2011 at 8:25)
 Large frame for Keene.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag connerkuhns Plus (Apr 27, 2011 at 16:42)
 Uh standard decendants will fit a 30t chainring?
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag benhallas96 (Apr 16, 2011 at 7:21)
 head angle looks so slack! Big Grin
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag tobster11 (Apr 16, 2011 at 1:59)
 i'd tap that !
That bike looks seriously quick!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag apiwat (May 7, 2012 at 0:18)
 Beautiful
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag shishka (Apr 16, 2011 at 9:29)
 butters
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag spokedwheelfreak (Apr 16, 2011 at 4:09)
 so does it mean that the front sprocket is only a 20t? nice and small
  • + 1
flag spudlord (Apr 16, 2011 at 4:18)
 nah its a 30t custom sprocket on custom cranks
  • + 1
flag Chamakazi (Apr 16, 2011 at 4:19)
 No, the front chainring is 30T, the cassette is 9-20T.
  • + 1
flag connerkuhns Plus (Apr 27, 2011 at 1:06)
 those cranks arn't custom, they are standard truvativ decendants
  • + 2
flag spudlord (Apr 27, 2011 at 14:00)
 ahh so how do you explain the 30t sproket Wink
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag hugslyh (Apr 16, 2011 at 15:06)
 niiiccee i want that
[Reply]

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