04/22/2026
OBB Linkage: It’s an interesting system to watch in action, to say the least. Is it captivating? Yes. Is it needed? You be the judge.
Here’s what’s actually happening as the new Demo 11 cycles through its travel. Specialized went with an Over Bottom Bracket (OBB) linkage for this iteration. The goal behind all those moving parts is straightforward: isolate the braking forces from the suspension and kill pedal kickback.
By separating the linkage from the BB, the suspension is designed to stay active and track the ground, even when you’re grabbing a handful of brake through a blown-out section. Combine that with the HighGear drivetrain, and you get full suspension movement without it pulling at your pedals.
It’s a massive amount of engineering. But on the World Cup circuit, it seems to be doing exactly what it was built to do.
Drop your thoughts below—is this the future of downhill tech, or just over-engineered? 👇
Link in bio for the full spec list, or swing by the shop to get a hands-on look at it in the stand.
