Submitted by
Tom Wightman
a Weekend Warrior
from Rockwall, TX USA
Date Reviewed: August 14, 2002
Strengths: Good frame design. It is very similar to the Intense Tracer (i.e. $1599 for only the frame!).
Weaknesses: I never could get the front derailleur adjusted properly. Tires were marginal.
Bottom Line:
I like the bike. This is my first full suspension bike and I'll never go back to a hardtail. I bought this bike because I liked the design and the components (XT rear derailleur/Truvativ cranks/LX shifters) are as low as I would go. I searched the internet for a long time and this was the best full suspension bike I could find for less than $1000. My only complaints are: The tires were no good for the trails I ride and the front derailleur was very weak, other than that - get one and go ride!
Bike Setup: Stock except for XTR front derailleur and Velociraptor tires.
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Submitted by
Josh Greeley
a Cross Country Rider
from Greenville, SC
Date Reviewed: May 20, 2002
Strengths: Comes equipped to handel most trails staght out of the bike shop. A great first full suspension bike.
Weaknesses: Original tires suck in muddy trails. Recalled bottom bracket. Can't lower seat post very far because of built in stop, makes it hard for those steep downhills.
Bottom Line:
A great bike. Well worth the money. I have ridden this bike hard and it has not let me down yet. Great for intermediate bikers, and those who want to go from hardtail to full suspension.
Submitted by
jake
a Weekend Warrior
from scottsdale,arizona
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2002
Strengths: good bike for begginer and intermeddiate rider. good st up except for handelbars too short for me. but really good components like deore and xtr and lx
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
good bike might want to get slime in tires or get slimed tubes because they popped on first ride.
Bike Setup: marzocchi z.3 front shock, rock shock sid rear, monkey bar handel bars, and basically as is from there
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Submitted by
justin stewart
a Downhiller
from Weatherford, Tx, Usa
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2002
Strengths: Awesome handeling, no doubt turns on a dime. Extremely quick, runs real fast and smooth. Rear SID is enough to take the edge off. Front Marzocchi is nice, plush.
Weaknesses: no weaknesses put a monkey lite riser bar on it. thats it though.
Bottom Line:
awesome bike, and you cant beat the price. good bike for the begginer who wants a dual. rode soem fisher's and fell in love, but this diamondback came with much much better componetry. and rode just as good. ive taken in on some pretty hairy things, conquered it all ike a champ. not too schabby.
Similar Products Used: tested Sugar 3+, nice bike too much for me though. and i ride my brothers kona stinky. but they are in a totally different league.
Bike Setup: marzocchi z.3 flyer in front. sid rock shoxk in rear. soem lx and xt components. thompson seat post. monkey lite bar.
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Submitted by
David
a Weekend Warrior
from Mancos, CO
Date Reviewed: March 2, 2002
Strengths: It rides sweet. Powers through the rough. The harder you ride the better it handles.
Weaknesses: ***ATTENTION: 2001s have a product recall for a bottom bracket defect!! See DB website for further details!!! Front deraileur has trouble making the fast shift when you need it. Brakes work well, however the stabilizer wire can come loose, making the brake ineffective.
Bottom Line:
This is probably more of a bike than I need, but the price was awesome, I couldn't pass it up. It is a sweet ride for a dualie. Fast and stable, I have left my hardtail friends in the dust on the bumps. Pretty light in weight, but I ain't no techie. I would vote for wider tires, especially out here in the desert. 2.0s and 1.9s have a hard time holding the curves in loose sand. I will switch out for 2.2 up front (if they fit) when the time comes to change them out. Lean deep into the corners and go for it. This bike can take it.
Submitted by
Rich B.
a Weekend Warrior
from Albany, OR
Date Reviewed: February 24, 2002
Strengths: Smooth going down muddy mountain sides. Excellent handeling in really nasty situations. I thought I would give up speed from my hard tail when climbing but I have not.
Weaknesses: Front derailer was a pain at first but I took it to the local experts in town and now I have zero complaints.
Bottom Line:
Test road a few and fell in love with this one. You probably won't beat the price. It is a great value!
Similar Products Used: Specialized stumpjumper and Schwinn Rocket 88
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Submitted by
Eman006
a Cross Country Rider
from Houston, TX
Date Reviewed: October 8, 2001
Strengths: Good rear shock (Rock Shox - SID). Good front fork (Marzocchi's Z-3). Thomson set post.
Weaknesses: Front Derailleur (Deore) pretty much is a piece of crap. V-brakes are nothing compared to the Magura's I had on my old bike.
Bottom Line:
Was seeking an inexpensive replacement for my out of date Cannondale dualie. After getting back up to speed on what to look for in a modern XC bike, I found that the Intense was one of the top rated bikes and was the example of what to look for in a good XC bike. Like mentioned in a previous review, the XSL Race had the similar frame and angles as the Intense. What really sold me on this ride were the components that came with the bike at the price they were selling it for. Upon riding my DB (named "Savannah"), I was amazed at the handling and the plushness of the ride. I love the rapid fire shifters as compared to my old gripshifts! Important: Recommend that you buy from a shop that will provide you lifetime service like Sun & Ski Sports, so if you want a quick tune up every week (if you ride 3-4 times a week like I do), then you can take it in at no charge. Very satisfied with my purchase. Upgrades to come for Savannah - disc brakes, riser bars, and new front derailleur. She won't let you down, and she'll always get you up....the hill. Stay real and ride!
Similar Products Used: Cannondale SE1000 (old but true jalopy - Manitou forks, XTR throughout, grip shift, Magura Hyrdaulic rim brakes)
Bike Setup: As is. Thought about transferring XTRs and Magura's to it, but decided to try to sell as is.
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Submitted by
Ken
a Cross Country Rider
from Carnelian Bay
Date Reviewed: October 4, 2001
Strengths: The whole package is still solid after 2 months. Of course I'm drooling over XTR this and hydrolic that...but the bike as is keeps me riding and happy. =)
Weaknesses: THE KOSKI BRAKE LEVERS ARE SCAREY! They work fine but a pin holding lever to housing wants to come loose during rides, if it ever shakes all the way out on me during a ride i'll be screwed with no brakes...knock on wood...(and check it often!) The thing needs rise bars, but that is just how it fits me. Disc brakes are in the future for this ride.
Bottom Line:
FAST BIKE! I hurt my arm just flying down a trail on it and have had to slow down just a tad for a while (arm not back to 100% yet). I gota admit, the jeckel was probable the best bike I looked at, but not by much. The DB XSL is VERY similer to the Intense Tracer in frame design and critical angles and lengths (head tube, chainstay length, etc...) So it is THE poor mans XC bike. 3.5 or 4.5 inches of rear travel...enough for me to freeride as well! (I'm 150 lbs. with wet clothes on, so the bike feals stiff and super plush to my light ass). The Cannondale headshock is to stiff lateraly to ignore...maybe a lefty would fit the head tube...droooool (wips spit pool from in front of moniter).
Favorite Trail: white rabbit in Ashland, Or. / or the TRT from Brockaway summit to Watson Lake...
Duration Product Used: 3 months
Price Paid:
$900.00
Purchased At: Paul's bicycle way of life, Eugene, Or.
Similar Products Used: Fisher Suger 3, Giant Warp, Cannondale Jeckel.
Bike Setup: This is an update to an earlier review, the bike is so worth it.
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Submitted by
Ken
a Cross Country Rider
from Carnelian Bay, Ca. USA
Date Reviewed: September 7, 2001
Strengths: Freaking amazing deal!!!
Weaknesses: Nanoraptors seamed weak on any surface except a BMX track i found in medford, but beware the goathead thorns in the park nearby!!! I changed the tires to a special mix of 2.1 and 2.0 front and back, I would tell you but whats the use everyone has there own favorites...
Bottom Line:
$900.00?!?!? Unbelievable deal!!! These guy's are nice like gramma and just as generous! GO GO GO
Seriously, I road spencer butte in Eugene (sorry hikers i didnt know the summit trail was no bikes! Turned around curtiously as soon as I was told..., and white rabbit in Ashland, and this bike performed very well. The brakes slowed me down very well and seemed to ahave apropriate range for getting through tight sections were a light touch is needed. I did a few 4 foot drops in a parking lot in ashland and was amazed at the suspension, need to add some air theough nearly bottomed out both ends. It was not the best bike I looked at, and up untill I saw it I had not considered Diamond back for a XC full suspension ride. But when I saw it sitting in the rack in the 21st bike shop in two states that I had checked ether by phone or in person looking for the best deal, it was soooo right. And I have not one regret.
Thank you Paul's
The value cannot be expressed in mere chilis... The bike itself I cant even rate as im so blinded by the deal I got, so i'll give it 5!
Purchased At: Pual's Bicycle Way of Life. Eugene, Or.
Similar Products Used: 2000 giant warp 3, Fisher Suger 3
Bike Setup: LX Hollowtech cranks, Koski V-brakes stem and bar, XT rear derailleur, deore front D and hubs, thompson seat post and mavic rims. RockShox SID xc in back and Marzocchi z3 air fron forks, Cane Creak headset, welgo clipless...did i forget anything? oh, BB is shimano somthin or other...
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Submitted by
Pete Avitable
a Cross Country Rider
from NY USA
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2001
Strengths: Tested rear suspension design, Many good parts spec'ed, rear travel is smooth and bushings seem sturdy and stiff, thompson post,
Weaknesses: Poorly built by diamondback, brakes a little squishy, rear shock a little hard to setup, front derailer sucks,
Bottom Line:
I must admit I am biased having never seriously ridden a dualie on the trails before, but this thing is FAST, and it is a very notecable improvment over my hardtail. I don't notice the weight difference, its pretty light. The component spec is somewhat questionable, the Deore fronat derailler is pretty much a peice of crap, and the brakes seem sub-par compared to the avids and shimanos speced on similar bikes. Then some of the parts are great, like the thompson seatpost and truevative cranks/bb. What were they thinking? Also, when I purchased the bike, I noticed that the crank bolt was very much recessed into the crank arm. I tried to take it out and have a look, but the thing wouldnt budge (yes I was turning it the right way). I don't think its ever coming off. Some guy assembling bikes must have gotten a little overzealous with his hex wrench. Luckily, the crank works aweseom so I don't see a need for replacing it anytime soon. Lastly, I've only had the bike a few days, so I'll post an update sometime. for now, 4 flamers
