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"A few weeks after unveiling its latest bikes in Monterey, California, Specialized traveled to Whistler to introduce the newest member to its gravity line, the Status. The model is positioned as an affordable alternative to the flagship Demo, and it replaces the Big Hit. But this is no watered-down DH bike. Instead, the Status is a wickedly fun bike that is easier to handle than the race-bred Demo.   That control comes from the Status’s well-thought-out geometry, which compared to the Demo is a little slacker, but not quite as low. The Status has a 64-degree head angle, which is a full degree more relaxed than the Demo’s 65-degree angle. The 1.5-inch headtube will also accommodate an Angleset, so riders could slacken it even further if they wish. The bottom bracket is half an inch higher than the Demo’s, but is still pretty low at 14 inches off the ground. The 2.75-inch shock stroke is a quarter inch shorter than the Demo’s, but travel is the same at 200mm. Finally, the Status frame is made of M4 aluminum instead of M5 allow used for the Demo, which Specialized says is 6 to 8 percent stronger.   The most apparent difference between the Status and Demo, however, is the price. While a new Demo will set you back at least $4,100 (the high-end model costs even more, with a price tag of $6,400), a Status can be hand for about half that. The Status 1 will cost $2,450 and come outfitted with a X-Fusion Vector R shock and 170mm-travel single-crown Vengeance fork. The Status two costs $3,100 and is built with a Fox Van RC shock and 200mm dual-crown RockShox Domain fork.     After a few runs to break in the brake pads and fork, the Status felt immediately comfortable on Whistler’s steep, feature-laden terrain. Handling seemed very neutral and the bike negotiated high-speed jump trails and tighter root-infested tracks equally well. The rear end doesn’t feel quite as stiff as the Demo, but I never noticed it wiggle or otherwise behave badly. The FSR suspension felt supple and controlled and the Domain fork offered a surprisingly smooth ride.   It had rained heavily a few days before we arrived in Whistler and the dirt was a mix of tacky loam and greasy mud. The Status handled predictably in both situations thanks to the superb dual-compound Butcher DH tires. The bike’s bars were equally well received. They have a comfortable bend and at 750mm wide, offer heaps of control and stability. Finally, the bike has a 135mm-wide rear end that accepts standard quick releases instead of thru-axle set-ups.   After putting the Status through a morning-long trail session, Specialized brought out a fleet of new Demo 8s to test. But I was having so much fun that I decided to keep riding the Status and push it in on some of Whistler’s best trails. Even on runs that seemed over my head, the bike soaked up drops and tracked around rapidly approaching corners.   One day riding is hardly enough testing to draw any real long-term conclusions about the bike, but it’s clear that Specialized has winner on its hands with the Status. Keep an eye out for a full review this fall."
<https://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/a20006288/affordable-performance/>