Red Bull Rampage 2013: Norbs' Custom Demo 8

Oct 11, 2013 at 13:01
by Mike Levy  

Red Bull Rampage, Utah
Norb's Specialized Demo 8

WORDS Mike Levy
PHOTOS Paris Gore

The Coastal Crew's Kyle Norbraten, affectionately known as "Norbs" by many, threw down a run at last year's Red Bull Rampage that, in most people's minds, should have netted him a higher placing than the tenth spot awarded to him at the end of the day. And while the Canadian would obviously like to improve on that result, he is adamant that for him this unique event is about more than where he sits in the judges' eyes. "I am not that concerned about first place or last place," Norbs told us. "It's just putting down the line and riding that stuff." He'll be looking to do exactly that aboard his Specialized Demo 8 that has been assembled around a stock aluminum frame, although there are certainly a few components on the black and day-glo yellow rig that are about as far from stock as possible.
Norbs' Demo 8 details
• Aluminum Specialized Demo 8 frame
• Rear wheel travel: 200mm
• Wheel size: 26"
• RockShox BoXXer w/ Charger damper
• RockShox Vivid Air R2C shock
• Specialized Roval DH rims

bigquotesI'd like to put the whole run together; make down top to bottom. It's a little nerve racking with the line I've picked out but I feel that it suits my style. It has nice flow, big hits... trying to throw some tricks in there will be the hardest part, but it looks good and it's coming together. My goal is to make it down the mountain and get to that finish line in one piece! - Kyle Norbraten, Coastal Crew


Norbs Specialized Demo 8 at Red Bull Rampage. Photo by Paris Gore.


Suspension: Like a lot of riders at this year's Rampage event, Norbraten is running air suspension on both the front and back of his bike, a decision that would have turned heads just a few short years ago but one that is now considered normal. And while weight might be a good reason for a top racer to make such a choice, there are other reasons for a rider like Norbraten to employ an air sprung setup on his Demo 8, mainly adjustability and how an air spring ramps up inherently as the fork or shock runs deeper into its stroke. This quality can be tuned by way of adding volume spacers as required, thereby reducing the air volume of the chamber and adding even more ramp-up to the travel. Norbaten's BlackBox tuned Vivid Air R2C shock benefits from a stiffer compression tune as well, an upgrade required by the terrain that he is riding, and he also told us that he runs his suspension with a slightly slower rebound stroke for more control when landing large moves. Up front, he is one of the few Rampage competitors who have been given access to RockShox's Charger damper that has been installed in his air
sprung BoXXer. Being part of the BlackBox program also means that his machine is looked after by Shawn Cruikshanks (shown below bleeding the Charger damper out of Norbraten's fork), a man known as the 'Wizard' for his mechanical know how, and a longtime SRAM mechanic who is often tending to bikes belonging to some of the world's top racers.

Norbs Specialized Demo 8 at Red Bull Rampage. Photo by Paris Gore.

Components: We've seen a few Rampage competitors running SRAM's X-Sync chain rings on their bikes without any sort of chain guide, but Norbraten's rig employs a more traditional setup in the shape of an X0 chain guide from Truvativ, complete with a bolt-on guard to protect the 104 BCD X01 chain ring. A set of X0 carbon cranks and some Specialized Bennies pedals (complete with custom "Coastal Crew" graphics) round out his drivetrain. Four piston X0 Trail brakes from Avid are used to slow the bike down, and his Specialized tires are installed on a set of Roval DH rims.

Norbs Specialized Demo 8 at Red Bull Rampage. Photo by Paris Gore.


bigquotesI do not feel like anybody has really been as rewarded as much as they should be. - Kyle Norbraten, Coastal Crew


www.thecoastalcrew.com
www.specialized.com

Author Info:
mikelevy avatar

Member since Oct 18, 2005
2,032 articles

72 Comments
  • 359 7
 Dear Norbs, Please don't get robbed again, I cannot stand another year like the last, Sincerely. Pretty much everybody.
  • 153 3
 I've got the cops on speed dial in case a second robbery occurs
  • 34 13
 Doesn't everyone have the cops on speed dial anyways?
  • 11 30
flag ruckusrider74 (Oct 12, 2013 at 19:39) (Below Threshold)
 Agree'd and propped, although it's been a funny ride so far I have to admit. When doesn't a pinkbike post go by without the standard annual question.... One thing seems for certain, if "Norbrobbery" occurs again, with a bike like that, there shouldn't be much room for blame there....kind of like to see the fork/shock setup on a standard issue Demo I with the white/black/red scheme, I bet it'd be sick....

Good luck tomorrow Kyle! Ride safe!
  • 22 34
flag mfbeast12 (Oct 12, 2013 at 19:45) (Below Threshold)
 It's hilarious how much PB users affect the entire industry... Speesh made Norbs THE hottest bike at Rampage. SRAM and Specialized, two of the biggest bicycle-related corporations in the world, pulled out all the stops for Norbs simply because PB users determined his run should have gotten him a higher. place (I'm not saying I disagree- far from it, I'm simply observing)
Salute
  • 33 1
 Dude, even if he gets robbed, Norb's name will be around for centuries to come, like Achilles still around...
  • 1 0
 yeooww norbyyy!!
  • 2 21
flag booostin FL (Oct 12, 2013 at 20:51) (Below Threshold)
 was that a f*cking gun?
  • 9 10
 @mfbeast12: they didn't "pull out all the stops" because of PB users, it's just that Norbs is freakin awesome!!!! LOLOLOL what made you think it was PB users I have no idea but your definitely observing incorrectly on that one
  • 9 0
 its such a bright bike it should be hard to rob.
  • 18 7
 Don't say "lol". What are you a fifteen year old girl!!
  • 3 3
 @cbrider14 shit no mate, only in merica!
  • 2 0
 911, didn't everybody see his phone taped to his bike?
  • 6 0
 what happens if he gets first place? Will we say "Norbs stole it!"
  • 4 0
 This time he came armed!
  • 1 0
 equipped with anti-theft
  • 3 1
 Hahaha that is brilliant
  • 4 2
 Trailcrazy That is a Sick PIC.....
  • 4 1
 Sick pic! Glad I took it Wink
  • 21 3
 m.sdnhtahwuerfawiewohfalyubkvtjxexrxyjtuilom;ij;iohigifutdysetarQWE.....sorry I had to wipe off my keyboard that bike is so sexy
  • 14 0
 Standard Norbs got robbed comment....
  • 12 3
 Don't leave that bike alone, wouldn't be surprised if someone were to try and rob it
  • 11 1
 Who couldn't the DH bike stand on its own???

--> Because it's two tired!!! Razz
  • 17 1
 Why - didn't that make sense
  • 2 0
 WHY* ERMAGAWD sorry people, and to all you lovely 7 proppers, thanks for understanding Iphones are shit, the keyboards are shit, and norbs has a nice bike. PCE!! Smile
  • 5 0
 So in Zinks bike article everyone agree's that Sram and PB have some deal going to only feature Sram spec'd bikes, then when it's called out it gets negged X10. Not that I have anything against them, just over marketing tactics to push sales.
  • 11 3
 Vivid airs, vivid airs everywhere
  • 8 0
 kinda surprised that he isnt running a carbon frame
  • 8 0
 Seems like Spec won't let them. Too weak?
  • 1 0
 Ya cause berrecloth even said something about spesh not letting him ride one, but he didnt go into depth why he wasnt allowed to.... I wonder if there some sorta problem with the current carbon demo, maybe it is just too weak like u where saying Alex idk maybe.......im kinda curious to why tho!
  • 13 5
 OH HEY, another SRAM ad...
  • 3 1
 I so how is it an ad if you really can't buy anything that's on that bike? (As in it's all blackbox stuff)
  • 4 1
 I for one would like to call Bullsh*t on the whole "SRAM and PB advertising deal" thing. I visit PB 3 or 4 times a day (as I'm sure a lot of you guys do) and I'm just grateful that I get to see multiple angle photos of these bikes and get to read a bit of info about them and their riders. Internet theorists suck and bike porn rules !
  • 4 0
 I would be more impressed if when a certain part was interesting enough to mention in the artlcle that a photo of it was included. I will continue to imagine what the custom graphics on his pedals look like.
  • 9 4
 Whats the deal with that handgun in the smaller picture. Is Norbs bout to go do some robbing?
  • 8 8
 Naaa. Norbs is the one that gets robbed
  • 6 0
 preventative measures
  • 6 2
 Looks good but really all SRAM?
  • 1 0
 whats up with the fast and slow rebound markers on his linkage?
do all demo 8's have this?
just interested in how altering a bolt (not its position could increase/decrease the speed of a compression/rebound Smile
  • 1 0
 I think it's just there so the rider can see quickly which way to adjust the shock rebound without having to look at the tiny dial on the shock body.
  • 1 1
 just a theory, but i'm guessing because of the way shocks are mounted in the demo, they could just be there to remind you which way the rebound dial turns
  • 3 0
 @Trailcrazy2772 .. . . . . .
You deserve 100 likes for that!!
  • 4 0
 Yeah, but wouldn't it just have been easier to use reply?
  • 4 0
 Rob got Norbbed.
  • 1 0
 Beautiful bike but I prefer the colour scheme he had last time, m.pinkbike.com/photo/8748075
Maybe that's just me tho, good luck to Norbs!
  • 9 7
 SRAM to PB members: Are you buying our stuff yet?
  • 2 1
 How funny!
  • 3 2
 How true!
  • 3 0
 No Sram we can't. It's all BlackBox and for the top 1%.
  • 2 0
 what i want to know, is where he got that Vivid that fits in the demo?
  • 2 0
 whats with all the guns lately?
  • 2 1
 yeah. i guess i would take a bike like this too. seems kinda nice, and looks the business.
  • 1 0
 that Chromag emblem on the seat/downtube looks so sick. What an amazing bike....Get 'em Norbs!!!!
  • 2 1
 Ain't nobody gonna rob Norbs this year!!
  • 1 0
 So siiiiick norbanator!!!
  • 1 0
 I like the little turtle and rabbit on the linkage
  • 4 0
 it is actually a jackaloppe
  • 1 0
 ALU demo. Induuuressstiing.
  • 1 0
 sick bike! I hope he kills it tomorrow!
  • 1 0
 This year Norbs is going to do the robbing....
  • 1 0
 Norbs won't get robbed, he brought a gun this time. (Third pic)
  • 1 0
 go Norbs!
  • 1 0
 Win it Norbs!
  • 1 0
 Awesome bike norbs!
  • 1 0
 loving the color scheme
  • 1 0
 GO NORBS!!!!!!!!!
  • 5 7
 well i would hate to have a bike that nice...
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