Submitted by
Philip Pisanchyn
a Cross Country Rider
from Dalton, Pa, USA
Date Reviewed: May 15, 2004
Strengths: great frame, good entry level bike
Weaknesses: parts could be a little better choices
Bottom Line:
Great bike, needs upgrades, i used this bike until all the parts wore out, then upgraded, the frame is pretty light, i have been able to bring the weight down to 22 pounds. Amazing for the price that you pay! if you are willing to pay a little for the upgrades, you can have an amazing bike. I didn't have any problems with the frame, i have moved on to bigger and better, but i loved this bike!
Bike Setup: started with all shimano acera parts, now with all shimano lx, michelin tires, and some others
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Submitted by
Doug Simmonds
a Downhiller
from ferndale MI
Date Reviewed: October 2, 2002
Strengths: Great Strong Frame!
Weaknesses: Shock sucks! parts ok, for beginner, must upgrade to suit your riding personality
Bottom Line:
Im 32 and have 3 kids!! I love to ride!!!( my 12 yr old just started w/ me now!!!)But with 3 kids Im poor!!! I paid good money for a bike And got what I paid for !! the up grades are nice and well worth itif you have the spare $ throw a new part on !!! I highly recomend it!!!! I love my Phat Ride
Similar Products Used: Specialized Hardrock, Cannondale F400
Bike Setup: I did a complete make-over for my ride!! it is stilll going on!!I have put on, An XTR rear Shifter and Derrailuer, A club-roost riser-bar brace to take the flex out of the handlebars(it helps the handling out alot!!!!)Deore hollow-Teck Mega 9 crankset,535 spd pedals, Schwinn gel seat, Ritchy wsc1 Severe condition tires,sram 7.0 V brakes stx-rc front shifter-brake combo(left the front derrailuer) am waiting for my Disc rims to put some Pro-Max disc bakes that I came across, and am Deffinitly putting a PSYLO 5" shock soon!I even painted solid Black!! very nice!
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Submitted by
Shaun
a Cross Country Rider
from Berkshires, MA
Date Reviewed: January 4, 2002
Strengths: This is a pretty good bike for the price. The frame is good quality. When the crappy parts wear out upgrade with better and you will be OK. The Tektro brakes were quite surprising in quality to me.
Weaknesses: Some parts wore out pretty quickly but you get what you pay for. The seat was crap and wore out quick. Also the freewheel broke. The cranks are real heavy, flexy and a smallish large chainring.
Bottom Line:
The frame is what you are really buying with this bike. The cheapo parts will wear out but the frame is worth hanging beter parts on. I cant complain, it has treated me well and never left me stranded. If you are not rich and want a bike well built to start riding on this is it. I am amazed when people complain about chains wearing out after several thousand km. You should replace these every year.
Bike Setup: I put on Truvativ cranks WTB seat & tyres LX brakes ritchey pedals and many others
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Submitted by
Courtney Klapwijk
a Weekend Warrior
from Saskatoon, SK, Canada
Date Reviewed: May 23, 2001
Strengths: Excellent frame geometry, Tough components and it handles well
Weaknesses: Shifting can be rough, some of the stock parts are pretty weak and the paint scratches a bit too easily
Bottom Line:
I love this bike, but I think it may have something to do with the upgrades. The frame kicks ass(strong and nice design with the oval tube). This bike is tough and it rides nice. The stock fork was a manitou magnum that kept bottoming out on the test ride so I replaced it when I bought the bike. I think that this is a nice bike that will take abuse. Definitly worth buying(cheap in the US) and fixing up.
Bike Setup: RS Judy Race, Clipless petals, XT V-brakes, Post Modern susp seat post, Rhino Lite rims/LX hubs, Tioga XC tires, upgraded seat and handle bars
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Submitted by
Joshe
a Weekend Warrior
from Ljubljana, Slovenia
Date Reviewed: May 19, 2001
Strengths: Price, brakes. At 300$ it's a good entry level bike.
Weaknesses: Frame geometry. RS Jett sucks big time.
Bottom Line:
This bike's biggest drawback is handling. The components aren't very tough either. After 3000 km I compeltly trashed chain, chainrings and cassette. I also changed font sus to Marzocchi Bomber Z4 and the difference is huge. Stay away from RS. But who could complain at this price.
Submitted by
Jason Ottinger
a Weekend Warrior
from Georgia
Date Reviewed: May 16, 2001
Strengths: Good frame and components for a novice rider. Great value
Weaknesses: Probably will need a more comfortable seat.... Ouch!
Bottom Line:
For entry level riding, this is your bike. It comes with decent components at a great price. I give it five flammers for value and four because the seat is a little rough.
Weaknesses: Front forks(Rock Shocks Jett-T2)SUCK!!! What the Hell is with this seat,I felt like I did prison time
Bottom Line:
This bike is TUFF!!I am 210 lbs and verry hard on equipment,yet this bike handles everything I could give it. A few upgrades (read forks & seat)and you have a verry good recreational ride.You could spend alot more for alot less
Bike Setup: Suspension seat post--Vetta seat--Will be getting new forks
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Submitted by
David S
a Weekend Warrior
from Rockville, MD
Date Reviewed: January 16, 2001
Strengths: Bargain price for last year's model (2000), nice paint, meaty brakes, aluminum frame is lighter than similarly priced bikes with steel frame
Weaknesses: Factory seat was a real pain in the butt, shifting is not smooth (chain problem?)
Bottom Line:
Best bike for the money, find last year's models on clearance while you still can. Can't beat $239.
DB Sorrento is also a good recreational bike, but the shifters are not worth the trouble. See also the DB Response.
Similar Products Used: Diamondback Sorrento, Diamondback Sorrento Sport, Diamondback Response, Various Huffy, Schwinn, Specialized Rock Hopper
Bike Setup: Split gel seat, removed toe clips
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Submitted by
Jim Morrison
a Weekend Warrior
from Houston TX
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2000
Strengths: Price, decent bike for beginner to novice type riders, seems well built for a 400 dollar bike, Good climber,Alien Orange paint job rocks!
Weaknesses: 1.Handling! 2.Handling! 3.Handling!......this bikes handling is as nervous as a hooker in church. Frame geometry is such that it causes a very twitchy ride at slow speeds and causes the front end to wash out really hard in any turning situation that is borderline aggressive. This bike does nothing to boost ones confidence when the trails get demanding. Fork.....If DB is going to use a Jett fork it should at least be an XC or a Race. I was riding beyond the capabilities of the fork after one week of single tracking! Seat...... replace it immediatley! Very uncomfy.
Bottom Line:
This bikes handling characteristics are the biggest drawback to an otherwise very nice bike. If I could do it over again I would have spent a little extra money and bought a Rockhopper comp. It has a much better fork and componet package than the DB. Not to mention, it handles like a dream compared to the DB. Too bad I never had the chance to ride a Rockhoper until after I bought my Topanga.
Bike Setup: LX rear derailleur,Rock Shok suspension seat post. Platform pedals. More comfy seat
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Submitted by
Gabe Padilla
a Cross Country Rider
from Auburn, CA
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2000
Strengths: Inexpensive, very durable, nice riding position. Diamond Back knows where they can cut corners and not loose performance.
Weaknesses: little heavy, not the greatest components (of course, they never broke, so I should keep my mouth shut).
Bottom Line:
This bike is amazing. This was my first real mountain bike (after my Huffy), and it kept going for years. In fact, it's still going. It now has over 4,000 miles on it of hard offroad riding and I've never replaced anything besides the rear tire, a chain, and a couple of tubes. This thing just won't die. It has survived multiple high speed crashes, fast downhills, jumps, etc. and it just keeps going. Now I ride a Jekyll 3000, but I like this one so much that I still use it for training and recreational rides when I want a bike that I can throw around and really abuse (using it to jump into lakes, rivers, etc.).
Who is this bike for? Somebody who is more concerned with a bike that will last than a little less weight. This thing'll seem like a feather after your Huffy, and it will last forever. Obviously, this isn't for somebody who's intending on racing. It is a very solid recreational bike which is wonderful for beginners and intermediate riders.
You have probably noticed, but I can't say enough good things about this bike. Please, do yourself a favor, and give it a test ride before you buy anything else.
Submitted by
Josh
a Weekend Warrior
from Bitburg Germany
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2000
Strengths: Brakes are BAD ASS. Mucho stoping power. You will end up over the bars if your not careful.(I've done it) Very sturdy bike. It has lived throgh some tough wipe outs, with damage only to my pride. Good componets for the price. Has 24 gears compared to 21 that most bikes in this price range have.
Weaknesses: A bit heavy. 29lbs stock.
Bottom Line:
I LOVE IT. I have Ridden buddies bikes that cost $800-$1200. And I wouldn't trade them. This bike is a lot of bang for the buck. Perfect if you are just getting started into the sport. It will take a long time for the novice rider to out grow it.
Bike Setup: Wellgo clipless pedals & Coda stubby bar-ends
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Submitted by
Steve Ruemmele
a Cross Country Rider
from Indianapolis, In
Date Reviewed: June 13, 2000
Strengths: My Topanga is a 99, but I want to tout it's virtues. For the price, a great bike. I've ridden very tough stuff, the bike is a stallion, holds up better than most of my friends more expensive rides. I plan to start replacing componants to reduce weight, but the core of the bike is solid. Highly recommended for low budgets, but hard riding.
Weaknesses: On real rough trails, suspension not as plush as higher end bikes, some control is lost. Paint chips easy.
Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Greenfield, Indiana
Date Reviewed: June 9, 2000
Strengths: Jett shock, strong value for $$$, cool orange paint job
Weaknesses: Tires just OK
Bottom Line:
I shopped around Indy and for $400 it's a close one between the Trek 6000 and the Schwinn Mesa. I chose the Diamondback based on the ride. The brakes felt stronger (setup) than the other two. The frame more responsive. Components and shock basically are the same. The other factor is that the big glitzy stores with untrained personnel sell the others and the shop where I got the DB is the typical small shop where people who actually ride help you pick and set-up the bike. This bike is exactly what I was looking for an the alien orange paint is very cool
Similar Products Used: GT Karakoram, Specialized rockhopper
Bike Setup: Suspension seatpost, firm front shock setting
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Submitted by
Hans Strodle
a Weekend Warrior
from San Jose, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: May 7, 2000
Strengths: Good front suspention
Weaknesses: hardtail, Chain, seat
Bottom Line:
This is a good starter bike. It is a bit of a harsh ride from the hardtail setup. I got a thudbuster seatpost, and it cleaned up real nice. The gears are a bit rough and took some getting used to. The seat was not very comfy, and I could not go long distances. Got a Terri cutout seat, and its great now. The Chain is junk get a new one ASAP. The brakes are the best I have ever used.(other than disk) Overall its a great bike. I would highly recomend it as a high end starter bike or a Mid. second.
