Quantcast

thoughts on 2012 demo 8 and 2013 trek 88

bullcrew

3 Dude Approved
Thinking about grabbing a play bike as I go through different stuff again....what are thoughts on these 2 frames... I haven't ridden either but have the chance to grab one or the other....

durability
handling
cornering
nasty rocks
jumping
maintenance

I have been reading thoughts on both but no real comparative towards these 2....

the demo has a vivid air so I'm not sure about curve and air shock etc.... Anything to look at or be concerned with......

Currently running a IBIS mojo HD and aside of nasty rock gardens being a bit above its head it flat out RIPS...

 

dhmike

Turbo Monkey
Dec 20, 2006
4,304
43
Boise Idaho
Welcome back bully ! I have a '13 demo 8 and I don't think there's a big difference from the '12. I have no complaints about the demo , it's a pretty fun bike for runs at idyllwild, etc and all of your request will be met . I ride a medium and could be on a large. I know you're Sasquatch height so a large might be a little to small for you. I have no experience with the air on a demo or the trek .
 

Carraig042

me 1st
Apr 5, 2011
732
353
East Tennessee
I feel as though the Demo is more of a race type bike and feels pretty good everywhere. I never was a huge fan of mine in the real rough rock gardens though. It tracked good, but it was just not smooth.

I have not had near as much time on a session, but in comparison they are more plow bike ish to me... That is until you break the chain stay.

Durability is definitely better with the Demo. Maintenance should be similar.

-Brett
 

bullcrew

3 Dude Approved
That's good to know. I Want to be able to slam a rock garden and if I make a bad line choice I'm not totally screwed...just lighten the grip and let it rip.

Play full is nice but chucking around in a rock pile although its relatively easy to unload and let it flop back there it would be nice to have it smoother.
The mojo hd does that lol its not a Dh bike and its easy to shift it last minute in a rock pile (not that that's what I use it for I don't but obstacles are there sometimes).

Riding them for me ahead of time isn't really an option on a Dh type run so I rely on input here and what I've read on other re views.


Dhmike good to see you still riding...when did you move to Boise.....

There's some good lines at tamarack' bogus basin, and some off the grid lines by Donnelly McCall area...big drops and nasty chutes....the bike park in eagle is always fun to go rip....the moto style jumps on the big line are a blast to practice whips and just go flow',,
 
Last edited:

Gary

"S" is for "neo-luddite"
Aug 27, 2002
7,536
5,470
UK
I have not had near as much time on a session, but in comparison they are more plow bike ish to me...
I've only ridden a session for one day but plow bike was exactly the opposite of what I thought of it. I thought it was really playful and dead easy jumping/picking up and throwing between lines.
weight might have played a big part in that feeling coming straight (litterally that day) off my old 42lb Sunday though.
 

DH Dad

Monkey
Jun 12, 2002
436
30
MA
I considered a 2-4 year old Demo or Session for a long while this summer but never found a good deal on a used frame. Most guys seem to want to sell them complete which was more than I wanted to spend and I had enough to build a 26r up. Finally gave up and opened my options up to any aluminum 8" travel frame built between 2012 and 2014 (2012 seems to be about the year most switched to "modern geo dh"). Ended up getting a 2013 Glory frame for $750 in good shape. Don't know too much about the Glory other than if the skies pissing on me and I'm riding down the steepest WC DH slope in existence I should be good;)

Initially I was being more picky but anything is going to be better than my 15 year old 6" RFX I've been riding forever. It was a great bike once but the steep 68 degree HA and rear susp that's better at 10' drops to flat than eating up chatter bumps at speed have gotten to the point where I'm really beat up after a day at Highland.

In looking at 26" DH bikes in this time period the only one I found reviews on as a true Plow bike was the Scott Gambler with it's 62 degree HA and real long WB. V10 in 10" mode also I guess but in 8.5" mode reports were that it was more park friendly. I would have loved to end up with either a Demo or a Session, don't think you can go wrong with either. Session FR seems kinda cool too with shorter stays.
 

bullcrew

3 Dude Approved
Yeah I came from canfields and love em... But mix it up and like to ride without being biased... I agree 2012 seems to be when several revamped geo... The demo has my curiosity as does the 88 been wanting to ride either for a while...

I have heard the tubes on 88 are thin and the demo 8 breaks shafts on shocks... lol or so the internet says...

Either would have a CCDB with CS for pedaling and have a 10sp rear set up and a wolf technologies 42 tooth ring back there...
 

William42

fork ways
Jul 31, 2007
3,908
634
I feel as though the Demo is more of a race type bike and feels pretty good everywhere. I never was a huge fan of mine in the real rough rock gardens though. It tracked good, but it was just not smooth.

I have not had near as much time on a session, but in comparison they are more plow bike ish to me... That is until you break the chain stay.

Durability is definitely better with the Demo. Maintenance should be similar.

-Brett
When you say that you haven't had near as much time on a session and you think its a plow ish bike, what I hear is "I've never ridden a session in my life but I want to be relevant to this conversation."

Sessions are plow bikes in the same way that that v10's are XC bikes. Yes, they can do it, but that's not what they're particularly good at. Being nimble and easy to maneuver is their strength, not straight lining rock gardens.

Also I've sure heard a lot about sessions breaking all the time, but never from their actual owners. I had mine (which was a first gen, and the most notorious for breaking of any model year) for three years before I sold it, and it's still going strong. In the time I owned it I went through 6 rims and I was going pretty fast big, and the opposite of smooth at the time.

They're both pretty legit bikes, you should buy both and report back on what you like more.
 

Carraig042

me 1st
Apr 5, 2011
732
353
East Tennessee
When you say that you haven't had near as much time on a session and you think its a plow ish bike, what I hear is "I've never ridden a session in my life but I want to be relevant to this conversation."

Sessions are plow bikes in the same way that that v10's are XC bikes. Yes, they can do it, but that's not what they're particularly good at. Being nimble and easy to maneuver is their strength, not straight lining rock gardens.

Also I've sure heard a lot about sessions breaking all the time, but never from their actual owners. I had mine (which was a first gen, and the most notorious for breaking of any model year) for three years before I sold it, and it's still going strong. In the time I owned it I went through 6 rims and I was going pretty fast big, and the opposite of smooth at the time.

They're both pretty legit bikes, you should buy both and report back on what you like more.
Both of my main riding buddies had a session and both broke the chain stays right at the welds up near the pivot and another buddy just broke his trek trail bike in the same place.

As far as what I conceived as plow bike ish is that it was much smoother in the real chunky sections, but still lively. I have not had more than a few runs on a session though. Everyone has their own opinions on how bikes feel and what they likelike. That is why there are so many different setups, etc.

I do not think you will go wrong with either though.

-Brett
 

Udi

RM Chief Ornithologist
Mar 14, 2005
4,915
1,200
Session rides better (particularly in rocks) but has durability issues. The demo8 holds up a lot better, so I'd probably choose that if I had to pick between these two. They both have nice geometry and both jump well in my experience.

Also I've sure heard a lot about sessions breaking all the time, but never from their actual owners.
I've seen similar to Carraig042 here, many Sessions broken at swingarm right on the weld, and a few Remedys that have done the exact same thing.

This is my buddy's one, he and his housemate have broken one each (different years):


I would avoid them due to the breakage issues. The only one here that hasn't required replacement swingarms is under a girl.
 

William42

fork ways
Jul 31, 2007
3,908
634
Yeah i've seen quite a few broken remedy's, and thats a different story. I wouldn't touch one of those used with no warranty that's for sure.

I don't doubt your experiences I guess, particularly after seeing so many broken Remedy's. Just from the people I knew at my local mountain, as well as owning one of my own, I never saw one and only heard about them breaking on the internet. Which, to be fair, is a pretty hard place to ride.
 

bullcrew

3 Dude Approved
Well opted for a 2014 trek session 8.
Going to make some changes ready have but more in the next week or 2.

Wasn't so much weight based...I hopped on both ripped around a little and just prefer the way the trek corners and dips....wheelset , fork (36 180 or avy cart; it's the bottom line boxxer), ccdb air cs for the pedal platform.

As it sits: descedent cranks, predator pedals twenty6, 34 tooth wide skinny ring, 10sp xsl ti chain, fox van, boxxer rc, tld grips, stock bars and stem, reverb dropper post, selle Italia saddle, xtr rear Der with shadow, RAD rear Der cage, xtr 11/36 cassette, 42 tooth rear cog wolf Industries, sun Ringle add wheels (stock), formula one brakes, schwalbe magic marys...






 
Last edited:

92SE-R

piston slapper
Feb 5, 2004
272
13
San Diego, CA
A dorado expert ridden once since it came back from manitou for annual rebuild. Thinking about putting single crown 180mm on front of demo
 

bullcrew

3 Dude Approved
purdy. but how's it ride?
LOL first trail time should be this weekend... As far as parking lot test it wheelies and manuals good..

So no idea, It handles a loaded corner on flat real well, very maneuverable and easy to manipulate.... Not super pedal friendly compared to my ibis I just got rid of... So Ill be looking for a ccdb CS air for it...

But it looks good sitting on my rack... Slammed at work so I haven't had ride time been over turned... If I can talk the wife into letting me stash it in the car next week Ill take it to Northern Idaho and Washington I can go rip the old trails and get a good feel on hero dirt...