Just perusing MBUK and spotted the article on the bike in question. What would happen to your left leg if it got too close to the shock as it suddenly compressed on a bottom-out hit?

Most likely…….nothing at all.

I dunno. Having not seen the bike in question. What are you suggesting would happen?

Probably a lot less than if your leg got caught in a linkage.

interested to see how you would achieve the position

I’m sure somebody’d flog you a neoprene sleeve

I sometimes get tyre buzz on my calves from my bike, I think the coils on this shock might give you a nasty nip at the very least.

Yes, If you somehow contorted your leg fat into the coils then bottomed the shock out it may give a bit of a nip.

That would be the least of your worries though, as in order to achieve that feat you’d be in the midst of a massive crash, and a slightly sore patch of calf fat wouldn’t really be your primary concern.

I’d be more worried about the hot brake rotors, or the spikey chain ring the other side tbh.

Or the sharp pointy rocks flying by at speed…

loads of bikes don’t have anything between your leg and the shock. The Demo just looks a bit different (an more obvious) than the others

is there even enough piston travel to allow that any way?

If it’s got the right sized spring it shouldn’t be bottoming out by fully compressing the coil anyway.

As above, the coil doesn’t compress into a solid tube, there’s always space between them. You’re overthinking things

I can name a lot more bikes that have the shock exposed on both sides than ones where it is covered by the frame.

*remembers GT IT1, which has a constantly moving chain, due to the way it’s ‘gearbox’ worked….

Lovin’ this new demo especially with the öhlins shock which feels lurvely in the flesh.

How much has the Demo changed in all forms over the years 😮
Best one YET!

Plus op is frickin paranoid, jeez, if you have one then I suggest you ride the soddin kak out of it ya lucky git!

Just shave the inside of your left leg.

Nothing happens. Your leg never gets near enough. And if it did, I reckon there would be more pressing issues to be worried about.

I’m astounded Specialized haven’t worked out that their new bike chops your left leg off every time you hit a bump. That must have shown up in testing, surely?

How much has the Demo changed in all forms over the years
Best one YET!

Hold your horses, it’s not shabby, but it’s hardly revolutionary, this one just looks like a carbon version of the ~2006 SX Trail with half the seatube missing!

As for the original question, it’s no more exposed than for example a Trek Session? Or is the shock massively offset? I get tyre/chainstay bruises on my calf though, but I’m unlikely to ever buy one, the price is more of a design flaw, the frame is over 4x what I paid for my current bike!

Its a DH bike so you’d have leg armour on so your overthinking is rendered completed irrelevant.

Has anyone seen the otherside. I heard there was a massive exposed cog with sharp teeth running a metal chain!! Something needs to be done, before someone dies!

I dont think my love of symmetry could tolerate that design. Makes me itch….

bigyinn – Member

I dont think my love of symmetry could tolerate that design. Makes me itch….

*waits for pictures of his double-driveside bike (or adult balance bike)*

New Specialized Demo 8 – serious design flaw?

The answer is no. It’s perfect. Thanks for clearing that up.