jsyvanen

Mtblocos, I think I am done posting on this after this post. It is an empirical question, not a value or aesthetics question, and so the 'to each his own' is not really a viable answer here- the claim is either confirmed or dis-confirmed by evidence. Anyhow, did the demo introduce any new technology to DH that became an industry standard on account of the performance it facilitated? The answer seems to me to be an outstanding no, and, in fact, a regress solely on account of the following reason (leaving aside other parameters): The demo has an extraordinarily inefficient use of material in the swing arm assembly. It uses 3 chain stays, while achieving nothing more than what a traditional fsr with two chain stays (one to the shock actuator and the other to the lower pivot) achieves. This adds to the moving mass of the swing arm assembly, and reduces its ability to absorb input from the ground efficiently. There are bikes which achieve a better wheel path (more rearward) while at the same time having very little moving mass in the rear end. The answer to the popularity increase is not to be found in the merits of the platform.

mtblocos, even if it were true that it was 'popular' before, there is no denying that its popularity in the last 2 years has greatly risen for reasons completely unrelated to its merits as a DH platform... no? Care to expound on the standards the Demo set?

The thread above is the perfect example of how gullible and manipulable the DH market is. Some years ago I am willing to bet that the demo crowd above was on DW's other frame, the IH Sunday; and if not they, then many others. When some big guns took specialized on board as their frame sponsor, and before IH went out of business, much of the market moved Demo's. At this time did the demo suddenly improve drastically while the Sunday and others lagged? No. Now it looks as if the transfer is complete; a couple of talented riders have managed to recruit the masses to what is in fact a mediocre bike. The Demo is hardly a bike to die for on the merits of its platform; better axle path, shock actuation, weight, materials and same or better geometry can be found on other frames for equal or less money. But the following the frame generates would have you think otherwise. The fact that the market is so easily swayed by emotive, non-performance oriented marketing tactics reduces the incentive of big companies to orient resources towards technology and performance enhancements; yes, that is a fact about the political economy of the DH market, and yes, it does mean that the "fan boy" class of people, if big enough, will indeed slow down the technological development of DH bikes.