Similar Products Used: This is my first real mountain bike and i like this brand.
Bike Setup: Everything is stock i have had this bike for 9 years and i never rode it at all!!!!!!!!!! I wanna put some monnnnay into it and i'm broke which sucks and i just broke my chain so yeah dam dam
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Submitted by
lorne
a Cross Country Rider
from perthshire,Scotland
Date Reviewed: January 26, 2009
Strengths: as they say...a real bombproof bike(frame)i love it!! great handling and comfy over rough terrain.this bike goes up steep slopes great,the gears are great.bike nice&light to carry when needed.a great buy!!
Weaknesses: front suspension needs to be stronger
Bottom Line:
a real great buy for the price,i got this for half the price.
Submitted by
Kenny Hatten
a Cross Country Rider
from Hattiesburg, MS, USA
Date Reviewed: March 3, 2008
Strengths: Bombproof frameset, neat little features such as hydraulic brake line guides, and it tracks straight as an arrow over the roughest terrain. I bought this bike new back in 2000, choosing it over a new GT I-Drive that had pathetic part spec in comparison, and have never looked back. This bike has been my off-road rig, commuter, and all around do-it-all bike. It has been through long distance and long duration use that probably would have killed any other bike in this price range, and it keeps coming back for more. Right now I'm commuting 18 miles one way to work on it, and it rocks over these rough roads. Another thing I like is that the frame color doesn't cream "STEAL ME" like the brighter and more flashy paint jobs on other bikes. These bikes have travelled under the radar for years, and are a helluva bargain for the money.
Weaknesses: Some of the cheaper parts gave out after a few years, but I expected that, and planned to upgrade this very worthy bike from the beginning.
Bottom Line:
If you can find one of these bikes, BUY IT. They aren't the most popular bikes in the world, but I hardly ever see them for sale, which tells me that the people who own them know they've got a good thing. If you like having the latest and greatest thing in mountainbiking, these solid but kinda dated frames ain't gonna float your boat, but if you love pure, gutsy performance and super reliability, then get one of these frames and go to town on it.
Similar Products Used: Never owned another FS/XC rig. This is the only one I've ever needed.
Bike Setup: Rock Shox Pilot SL Air, stock RST rear shock, Hayes HMX-1 Disc Brakes, Easton Monkeylite CF handlebar, Shimano Deore disc hubs with Sun Rhynolite rims, Terry Liberator saddle, Thomson 110mm stem, Azonic Headlock, Old Man Mountain Sherpa cargo rack, Michelin Transworld City tires.
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Submitted by
Anthony White
a Weekend Warrior
from Antelope, CA USA
Date Reviewed: July 16, 2007
Strengths: Frame is actually light and very strong. Geometry allows you to set it up for light DH, All Mountian or XC. Comes with a decent crank and has gides for hydo brakes. It is a very agile bike, easy to toss around and maneuver on single track.
Weaknesses: Stock components dont do this bike justice, rear shock doesnt give full travel and the front Marzochi is to soft and doesnt have enough travel. Would like it if I could get more travel from the rear shock.
Bottom Line:
Bike is setup mainly for all mountain, but can actually handle light down hill and is awesome to ride. The bike climbs very well with this setup and flys going down the mountain. It would be nice to have 5 or more inches of travel in the rear, but I couldnt be happier with this bikeand setup.
If you can find one of these and can afford to put a few better prarts on it, GET IT! You wont regret it.
5 chilis for value, 4 since you have to upgrade some things and are limited on rear travel.
Similar Products Used: First real full suspension bike
Bike Setup: Magura 120mm-160mm Wotan front fork, crane creek headset, Shimano hydro disk with 8" F/7" R. Romic D at rear 4.5" travel. Shimano SPD 520 pedals. Less angled stem than stock (performancebike brand). Asonic Outlaw 20mm front and QR in rear wheels with 2.3 tires. Shimano XT Low Rise rear deraileur and XT rapid shifters.
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Submitted by
B P
a Cross Country Rider
from England
Date Reviewed: March 29, 2007
Strengths: Bullet proof. Very versatile. Not too heavy.
Weaknesses: None
Bottom Line:
Had this bike for 6 years. It has been completely thrashed and everything has been thrown at it. Jumps, singletrack, freeride, downhill, XC. No problems whatsoever. Excellent
Similar Products Used: Gary fisher mullet giant NRS
Bike Setup: Rockshox J3s, FSA cranks and BB, Shimano mechanical discs, Alex rims on deore hubs
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Submitted by
Matt Weir
a Cross Country Rider
from Ballarat Vic Aus
Date Reviewed: August 31, 2006
Strengths: Good solid frame i'm over 200 lbs and i havent had a problem with it.
Weaknesses: Not able to fit long travel shocks.
Bottom Line:
A very good and reliable bike that doesnt mind getting an absolute hammering. A little on the weighty side but im big so i dont care. All round fantastic ride.
Bike Setup: Sun double track rims, dice hoodoo hubs, marzochi mz fork, hayes mech disc brakes, truvative splined cranks.
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Submitted by
Robert
a Downhiller
from Crescent City
Date Reviewed: February 4, 2005
Strengths: the bike frame and geometry great ride
Weaknesses: suspension link gets loose half way through my hour and a quarter downhill bike bash
Bottom Line:
smooth and fast, best feel on the trail of any bike I have ridden including the latest 2005 bikes. I always go back to the diamondback I love to go fast and hard down trails this bike gets me to the bottom and begs for more I will never get rid of it and it can never get enough. If you like to beat up the bikes and yourself this bike will make it through anything and is the bike for you.
Strengths: frame can be used for xc or downhill or 4x,hose guides good,four bar linkage very good
Weaknesses: none really, apart from maybe being able to fit a rear shock with more travel.
Bottom Line:
as you can see from my set up it can be used for dh/ or freeride,never had any problems with it ,very strong frame which will take some very good parts that will last.i have raced this bike at Aston hill on all tracks with no problems,it is a bombproof frame that can be set anyway you want really!
Bike Setup: marzocchi jnr ts 170mm,pig headset,amoeba bar 6061,stem and headlock,hope spacers,truvativ hussefelt cranks and c/ring,race face evolve bb,v8 pedals,wtb speed v seat,fnt wheel mavic ex721 on deore hub,rear mavic 521 on deore hub,deore 9 spd derailleur,rear hope m4 185 rotor,front shimano mech disc 160 rotor,lx 9 spd shifter 03,maxxis high rollers 2.35.deore rear cassette,stratos tr1 rear shock 5-6 travel,intense odi lock ons.truvativ twin roller chain device
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Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from London, UK
Date Reviewed: January 26, 2004
Strengths: The frame, hydraulic cable guides!
Weaknesses: Weight
Bottom Line:
I got the frame of eBay a few days ago, once it was in my grubby paws i noticed it is quite a heavy frame, luckily all the bits I was going to put on the bike where all carbon fibre from my K2/Proflex 4500, so she is a respectable weight at the moment.
The frame is absolutely bombproof, I havent had a lot of time to throw it about but I am pretty sure it will take a lot of abuse with very little complaint. The hydraulic cable guides are brilliant (why cant every bike come standard with these?) so there is no need for cable ties. The rear strut is quite wide and you can fit up to a 26x2.4in tyre, I have had to replace the frame bushes but they are easily available from Diamondback and a cinch to install.
All in all, a good buy, but I would be careful what you put on the bike as it could end up quite heavy.
Bike Setup: Spinergy CF XC wheelset, Noleen CF X-Link suspension fork, Fox Vanilla, XT shifters & derailleurs, FSA CF crankset, Magura Hydraulic Disk brakes
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Submitted by
derek
a Cross Country Rider
from rensselaer, ny usa
Date Reviewed: September 4, 2002
Strengths: frame and the ability to upgrade
Weaknesses: the mag r fork was nice when i bought the bike but is seriously in need of a stiffer spring. the components are OK at best and the wheels just suck.
Bottom Line:
this bike is one of the best ive ever been on. im 160 lbs and i beat the livin snot out of this bike and ive never had a problem with it. other then rather cheap components, this bike could esily be of of the best bikes for aggressive XC/DH riders like me. BUY THIS BIKE!!!!
Bike Setup: x-links framw with manitou black elite 100/120 fork, fox float r rear shock, ryno lite wheels laced to LX hubs.
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Submitted by
Ben
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney, NSW, Australia
Date Reviewed: January 10, 2002
Strengths: Value, Look
Weaknesses: Original Forks RST381
Bottom Line:
My first dual suspension bike and its great. The standard front forks had to go as did the head set. The psylos are great on this bike. I can take 4 to 5 ft drops with ease. Best value bike around for entry to mid level riders who want a bike that can be XC, Freeride or Downhill.
Bike Setup: stock except I have rolf satelite wheels and a bontarager seat.
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Submitted by
Dangman
a Cross Country Rider
from sydney, australia
Date Reviewed: May 28, 2001
Strengths: i upgraded most of the components to the ones below. i bought the bike for the frame as it is one of the strongest frames that you can get for the money.
Weaknesses: a little heavy overall but then again who cares?.
Bottom Line:
this bike really rocks. the frame is as solid as anything and the handling is like a dream. the front marzocchi has got to be the best fork out there for the price. the XT rear derailler is a godsend. fellas, put in the extra dollars and get the better components as theyre really worth it. am going to upgrade the front brake to a hydraulic disc and then possibly the rear when i have more money because the V brakes seem to damage the rims:(. otherwise this is a very nice and plush bike to have without spending an arm and a leg so you could brag how much your bike costed.
Similar Products Used: Giants warps, cannondales, gary fisher
Bike Setup: marzochi Z5 (front) RST rear, deore (cranks, front deraillier, shifters levers) XT rear derailer, tioga tires (factory) and alex rims
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Submitted by
Neil Macdonald
a Cross Country Rider
from Elgin, Moray, Scotland
Date Reviewed: May 10, 2001
Strengths: Frame design
Weaknesses: Cheap components, wheels, tyres, etc
Bottom Line:
Even though I've said the level of componentry is a weakness, I knew that when I bought the bike. It was bought for the frame, and for future upgrades when things wear out, which they haven't done. This bike, especially at that price is exceptional value for money. It does everything asked of it, and a little bit more. My first taste of full sus. and I love it. It's the only way to ride. It makes you faster, and it's more comfortable. The only problem I have is, when I crash now I'm generally going a LOT faster than before. THE BIKE ROCKS. BUY ONE!!
Got a 2000 X-Link. I love it. But Diamondback rep says bushing kits for the rear suspension are no longer available. Anyone have a set lying around you are willing to part with? Or Read More »
