Specialized Demo 8 II
The Specialized Demo 8 II is crafted to withstand the rigors of downhill mountain biking with its cold-forged aluminum frame and aggressive shocks. Featured in Bicycling.com's 2009 Gear Guide, the Demo 8 II sports a Fox DHX 5.0 shock with 8.2 inches of travel and a FOX 40 RC2 with 7.8 inches of travel. Noting the Demo's low center of gravity and excellent handling, Bicycling.com's reviewer said "the Demo 8 II is dripping with race worthiness." The Demo 8 II costs about $6,100, as of February 2010.
Norco Atomik
As one of Norco's least expensive entries in downhill riding, Norco's Atomik downhill bicycle is a solid option for downhillers who want quality without breaking the bank. Mountain Biking UK's Robin Weaver reviewed the Atomik, noting the quality and cohesion of its front (RockShox Boxxer Race) shock and rear ( Fox DHX 3) shock, saying that "both are initially supple, tracking the ground well and dealing with the small bumps superbly." The Norco Atomik costs about $3,150, as of February 2010.
Kona Stab Supreme
Kona's Stab Supreme downhill bike is another one of Bicycling.com's Gear Guide recommendations, and is a sensible choice for riders who like to fine-tune their bikes to specific preferences. Already a choice for downhillers with 8 inches of front and rear shock travel and Kona's D.O.P. E. brake dampening system, BikeRadar's Ron Koch was impressed by its adjustability, noting that the Stab Supreme's "shock-mounting options . . . allow chassis-angle and bottom-bracket-height adjustments without altering the performance of the bike's eight inches of travel." The Kona's price is about $5,499, as of February 2010.
Mongoose BootR
With its RockShox front and rear shocks and responsive frame geometry, the Mongoose BootR downhill mountain bike allows riders to maintain high speed without ever feeling out of control. In PinkBike.com's review, Mike Levy called that BootR "one of the best DH bikes that I've ridden" summed up his evaluation by saying that "everything about the bike manages to come together and the end result is a DH bike that does everything right." The BootR costs about $4,000, as of February 2010.
Corsair Crown
Recommended on Bicycling.com's 2009 Buyer's Guide, reviewer Ron Koch noted that the Corsair Crown is unique because of its optional secondary rear shock which "kicks in at the end of the bike's 9.5 inches of travel for added bottom-out control and a rearward wheel path." The secondary shock allows riders to fine-tune the amount of travel on smoother runs, the rear shocks can be set to 7 inches and for courses with more technical terrain, a quick adjustment bumps the Crown up to 9.5 inches of travel. The Crown costs about $2,599, as of February 2010.
