41-pound Demo 9 !!!???!!!

Lee-
I’ve seen mention of your Demo 9 that was in the low 40’s. Can you post some pictures of it and the parts spec?
What did you think of it?
Thanks
Scott

Crabapple Hits, Whistler

Hi Scott,

I ran a Demo 9 in 2004, my last dedicated downhill race season and definitely my best. The bike started as light as possible, but as the season progressed it got much heavier but more functional.

The details elude me now, but here are the key items in the original 41-pound build, executed expertly by Lars at Trail Head Cyclery.

Manitou X-Works Carbon fork. This seemed so cool: very light, SPV platform, blah, blah. I raced very well on this fork (1st at Sea Otter, 2nd at Big Bear), but I couldn’t get one to last more than a couple rides. When I was in Whistler I begged the Marzocchi guys to help me out, and I switched to a 888 RC. That fork was heavier and less technically advanced, but it was rock solid for a month in Whistler and several big races. I think it’s still rocking today, two owners later.

Hadley hubs with Mavic 823 rims and titanium spokes. Expensive! Ti spokes took 1/4 pound off each wheel. When they got loose, they snapped en masse, but as long as they were tight they were solid. They still are.

North Vancouver style

WTB 2.4 Moto Raptor Team FR tires. Dual compound, Kevlar bead, made tubeless. Light, pretty fast-rolling and pretty grippy. When racing started, I switched to 2.5″ Maxxis Minions/High Rollers with DH tubes. Heavier, but more effective for all-out DH.

Misc. Easton Carbon bars, Easton mag stem, Truvativ Holzfeller cranks, ODI Ruffian grips, SRAM X.9 shifter, X.0 rear derailleur, Thompson seat post, WTB Rocket V saddle, Hayes Mag 9 brakes. All rock solid.

I rode that bike at least 60 days in 2004. Halfway through the season, the Demo 9 weighed closer to 46 pounds — five pounds heavier than at Sea Otter, but I must say I was faster at the end of the year. Super-light/trick parts are fun to think about, but it’s all about the entire package: bike, skills, fitness and confidence.

BTW: My 2007 Demo 8 is under 39 pounds with honest DH parts.

Masters Worlds in Bromont, Quebec