Submitted by
dangerous dan
a Cross Country Rider
from san mateo, ca
Date Reviewed: December 24, 2004
Strengths: Good looks, moderate weight, durable, well balanced, fun to ride! Climbs, turns, and descends well. Good for beginners to experts.
Weaknesses: Nothing major. Could use another inch of travel and more control out of the forks on fast and bumpy trails.
Bottom Line:
AWESOME bike - especially for the price i paid (bike was practically unridden). I'm no MTB pro, and have little experience on mtn. bikes, but have tons of experience on two wheels. I took to this bike like a duck to water. I ride the most technical and aggressive trails i can find and I LOVE this bike. I bought it as a cross trainer for motocross riding and roadracing, and have now gotten hooked on pedaling. I'm sure there are better bikes out there, but all in all, this bike does it all.
Bike Setup: Shimano Deore cranks, LX shifters, brakes, and derailleurs, Rock Shox SID forks, Fox Float R Shock, Cane Creek wheelset, Mythos XC tires.
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Submitted by
che campbell
a Cross Country Rider
from denholm
Date Reviewed: November 26, 2002
Strengths: Takes anything you throw at it. Great adjustability. Fast as a ferret down those hills and not too bad up them.
Weaknesses: Bought mine second. Think the bushings were already worn. Have upgraded rear suspension bushes to a bearing kit. What a difference. Plusher, with less play on rear wheel. Stuck a psylo on the front and hope minis. No-one can touch this bike.
Bottom Line:
Although I have had a lot of trouble with the bushings, I'll put this down to buying second hand. Cannot fault performance. This bike eats the trail and with a psylo on the front makes it an excellent free-rider. For an all rounder, look no further.
Strengths: Sweet color-sweet fork-sweet setup handles great on jumps and drops. Won't break too often but hey, it's cheap. Endos like none- other. Great for fast, sketchy, jumpy trails.
Weaknesses: I broke the frame within a coule of months of buying it from my friend. Got it warrentied and replaced for free! The bike has a skrewy geometry so you can't pull up so good. The balancing point for wheelies is hard to master. The brakes and wheels are bad and I just replaced them (well, my friend actually did).
Bottom Line:
Sweet on jumps and drops. What my friends do with 9" travel bikes, I do on my '99 DBR XR4. Great for endos and on trails. Not to bad as far as having to maintain.
Strengths: Lightweight, good suspension, great trail bike, good price, good component selection.
Weaknesses: Stock rims, handlebars, brakes.
Bottom Line:
Excellent all-around trail bike. Get rid of weak rims as soon as possible though. I originally bought it as a starter bike because of the low price, now I do everything with it. Buy it if you want a good all around trail bike. Might not be the absolute lightest, but it's not heavy. Be carefull if you want to put disc brakes on there is some problem with the rear end that require some adjustments.
Bike Setup: Formula B-4 Hydraulic disc brakes, Titec Hellbent Riser bars, Mavic X317 Disc rims w/XT disc hubs, new XT front derailleur (broke original by random rock hitting it).
Strengths: Supurb XC racing Platform. excellent trail bike too. great handling, climbs like a billygoat on meth, carves singletrack like a straight razor through butter.
Weaknesses: not one I can think of yet...
Bottom Line:
this frame set is the bomb-diggity. in it's stock configuration it was excellent, now with the upgrades... whoo boy. I set the bike up as my XC race bike I won't ride her on a daily basis anymore ( I have an X2 for that now, heavy bike- good for training. same frame tho) the bushings lasted for two years, the only reason why I replaced them is I work in a shop and I managed to aquire a set for free. the rear end had no play in it at all. I just felt like doing it for fun. the bushing kit should retail at around 40 bucks the key to making the bushings in the X links last is to MAKE ABSOULUTLEY SURE the piviots are Tourqued down to Manufactuer's Spec. if they leave the shop a little loose, the bushings'll die in no time. this is the responsability of the shop not Diamondback, (the rear shock is shipped seperate to the frame in the box) any negative review on the bushing life of these bikes is a reflection of the person that assembled the bike. bear in mind that Though I do work at a DBR dealer I bought this bike before I worked there. if you are looking at one of these in the 2000 model year, grab it- different spec than 1999, but still a sweet bike at a sweet price
Bike Setup: Full ESP, Race Face Next LP, Chris king HS, Magura HS33, Sinergy SPOX, LP bar. very very very light for a bike that has up to 41/2" of travel in the back, weighs 24 and change.
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Submitted by
Allan Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from NY NY USA
Date Reviewed: December 22, 2000
Strengths: lightness handling color nimbleness durability no p bob
Weaknesses: none so far
Bottom Line:
I did not like this bike at first, then after many rides ( and ability getting better ), I now love this thing, steers great, the rear lockout is sweet going uphill. Can scream downhill on single tracks. It takes alot of punishment. The Downhill bars and shorter stem make the large(20") frame very manageable....i am 6'1/2" and 215pds(yeah i am losing weight- was 235 when i bought it)... it is my first dualie and now i have more confidence than before. Thinking of putting discs on it.......but it is so much $$$$$$$$...... may wait and get a bike with them on already ......the price was right on this $1700msrp bike...and it won MBA mag "trail bike of the year in '99" ....so ....i learn about the bike capabilites each time i go out...2x/week...they have the '00 DBR XR-4 is $999 at Supergo now......diff part this year(read= cheaper). no Atac pedals, no lockout, no SID fronts....still it is a very goood buy.
Similar Products Used: Hard tails, Spec Enduro, GT dualies
Bike Setup: stock, tenacious D bars, toooth fairy ring protector,
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Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Boulder, CO
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2000
Strengths: Shocks, Frame, Stability, Control, Climbing, Hovercraft feature on downhill
Weaknesses: Factory wheels with the alloy nipples and lightgauge spokes snap on third ride, tires crappy, but who cares.
Bottom Line:
ANYBODY WHO SAYS THIS BIKE IS TOO HEAVY IS F***ING OUT OF THEIR MIND. SPEND THE MONEY YOU SAVE ON LIPOSUCTION, BECAUSE YOUR FAT ASS IS 90% OF THE WEIGHT.
This bike is perfect. It is hard to imagine anything better. It climbs like a bat out of hell, especially over the rocky streambeds and trails we ride. It goes downhill with awesome control and contact with the ground even when riding over baby heads at 30 mph. You absolutely can't go wrong unless you think spending thousands more to save half a percent of the total weight is worth it.
Us coloradans have no trouble riding up steeps, maybe its the thick air down at sea level that makes you west coasters such whiners.
Strengths: Good climber, Good handling, Good price, Light, Good parts
Weaknesses: Takes a bit to get used to the long frame, but works great when you adjust to it.
Bottom Line:
Great bike, much better than Cannondale or GT F/S design, light (especially after upgrades), very fast, best climber yet, best bang for the buck, picked mine up for $1090, and now is about 24 lbs. This bike just flat out hauls up and down hills. Great handling in the twistys. Ya the paint chips but who cares! No problems encountered yet.
Submitted by
Troy
a Cross Country Rider
from Houston, TX
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2000
Strengths: Components, shocks, overall weight, long tt makes for easy climbing, ability to tune exactly to rider needs, price, design allows for efficient pedaling
Weaknesses: decals are poorly applied, very low availability,
Bottom Line:
Great bike, very resonably priced, solid, no pogo effect even on strong sprints, very lite for a full suspension,real fast. If you can find one, buy it quickly. Best bargain one can find on this caliber of bike. Comes with great equipment. This is what some would refer to as a Dream Bike. If you are looking for a great all-around race readt sled, this is the one to buy.
Submitted by
jo black
a Cross Country Rider
from sedona az
Date Reviewed: March 7, 2000
Strengths: stout frame and rear triangle very solid square/rectangle bar construction like you find on custom jobs,fox float,long wheel base,long toptube
Weaknesses: sid,tires,radial laced front rim,pathetic grips,hoooorable flaky paint on rear triangle
Bottom Line:
tough litte freeride machine.@ 31 lbs a bit heavy for straight xc on packed dirt trails.the seat stay rear linkage gives an amazingly plush ride.more power loss than the horst link for example.bombs dh.terrific traction.sids a joke blew it after a few tame rides.fox float is perfect.have over 4000 + hard pounding rocky trail miles since may 99.need to use the long travel cause the short makes a ridiculous bb of 11.75".rear triangle exhibits no flex in turns. bushings are sloid low maintainance and precision made.jumps well.a little slow (turning) and heavy for straight xclite.70 degree head angle is just right for rugged xc/freeride.bike takes everything i can dish out.screams for more.long tt make it a stretch for short folks.the small is almost a medium.if your a medium to large guy who has power to spare and enjoys a safe comfortable ride over the nastest terrain, it'd be hard to find a better buy or ride.
Similar Products Used: fsr pro,extreme,prolfex 756
Bike Setup: stock the,5 " z1bam,r kujo on a 36 hole rlite,f tioga factory dh mavic 221,risers.angled stem,serfas duel density saddle
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Submitted by
dave elton
a Weekend Warrior
from vancouver Canada
Date Reviewed: January 21, 2000
Weaknesses: Those silly tires
Bottom Line:
I've ridden this bike now for about 5 or 6 months and this is my second review. I'm a very poor student who has no money and so this bike really hit the spot, and I am more than satisfied with the product. I would however like to make a comment upon the unsatisfying nature of the tires:
OKAY TIRES, YOU'VE WIPED ME OUT ONE TOO MANY TIMES. YOU INSIST ON GOING SO FAST, AND THEN YOU WIPE ME OUT ON THE CORNERS!!! *&!!!@@#% OUCH!. THE ONLY THING THAT I CAN THANK YOU FOR IS WEARING OUT SO FAST SO THAT I COULD REPLACE YOU. I'VE THRASHED THIS BIKE BECAUSE OF YOU, YOU BASTARDS!!
Now that I have found new tires, I must say that my riding is indeed pleasant. I take the corners with more confidence, and they are not wearing out instantly. DBR, find another tire to put on you bikes, those tires suck. The bike jamms, five chilies. I wish that there were ten chilies to choose from, I would give it a 9 1/2.
Submitted by
Gabe
a Cross-Country Rider
from Los Angeles
Date Reviewed: December 27, 1999
Strengths: Overall weight Long top tube Price
Weaknesses: Air shock Steep swithbacks Tire choices
Bottom Line:
This bike is very stable at high speeds. Climbs the steeps well & very comfortable on the drop-offs. The long top tube makes it harder on the steep switchbacks. The air shock isn't as smooth as a coil-over, but does save some valuable weight. Overall, in the last year, i've enjoyed it thoroughly, with no major complaints.
Submitted by
Stu
a Cross-Country Rider
from W. Orange, Nj
Date Reviewed: December 18, 1999
Strengths: Light weight! out of the box @ 26lb's for 16 hungh. Can't beat it
Weaknesses: I do find that on the rocky, rooty trails of N.J. where I ride, the pedals hit objects frequently. I find that I must over inflate the rear shock to compensate. I have also found that going from Shimano 636 pedals to the slightly smaller 545 pedals has eliminated most of this pedal drag I am experiencing
Bottom Line:
This bike and its suspension design is one of the best you can get for the money. If only the pedals would not hit the ground as frequently as I find they do,It would be the best all around bike, worthy of any upgrade.
Strengths: for the price, original componentry delicious.
Weaknesses: frame design, rear shock, headset.
Bottom Line:
while most of the components are among the industry's finer products, the frame looks like a compressed pretzel that adds one too many inches of unnecessary tube weight. a cane creek ad-10 rear shock would have been a better fit for the same cost if only diamondback had contracted with them. since the cost value of this range of compenentry is not unique, you can do better with frame weight and design with most other factors assumed equal.
Similar Products Used: specialized fsr, klein mantra, intense tracer
Bike Setup: oem
Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Gabe Haley
a Weekend Warrior
from Idaho Falls, ID
Date Reviewed: November 13, 1999
Strengths: every thing, the Fox rear shock, the Rock Shox SID, the climbing ability of this bike, it's ability to do anything any everything that you want it to, as long as you have everything set up right, 3 inch or 4.5 inch travel setting
Weaknesses: with the standard componentry of the bike, it's wheels, tires seat, grips, can't leave it alone outside anywhere, not even locked up, it's going to be stolen, the extreme weather changes that I experience here (hot to cold) overnight makes the air in the shock and fork expand and contract, there for, losing air
Bottom Line:
No, I'm not another bike shop posting this review. I love this bike. Yes, there are better out there, but nothing even comes close with the componentry and price. I love the adjustability of the travel, the climbing ability, when I have to go into a sprint, I reach down and lock it out, and the power seems three times what it was earlier. I took this into the local bike shop to get some air put in the shock (not the same one I bought it from) and within five minutes there was a group of ten workers around it. This was a Specialized and Trek shop and they started commenting and pointing out everything. They loved it and it blew them away when they heard the price, $1600. This is an excellent bike that anyone, even a pro racer can appreciate. I'm planning to put a lot of miles and hours on this thing, many of them on the race course. I will update again in a few months whem I have more off-road experience with it.
Similar Products Used: Specialized FSR and FSR-XC, Diamond Back DBR X-10, Schwinn Factory Homegrown, Gary Fisher Joshua F-2, Everything that Trek Makes, Cannondale Raven 1000
Bike Setup: Rock Shox SID, Fox Floar R with lock-out, new Specialized body geometry seat, Specialized S-Works, rims and hubs on the front and back, Specialized team tires, Specialized S-Works grips, Control Tech stem and headset, new blue fender, I love it, keeps the mud out great and looks cool, TIME ATB pedals, Specialized team shoes
