Submitted by
vspec
a Weekend Warrior
from Houston,TX
Date Reviewed: March 24, 2012
Strengths: The frame is strong a bit on the heavy side but durable. This is a great entry level fs bike. I bash the heck out of this bike from drops to Jumps. I grew up on BMX so i ride this thing like i stole it when im at the trails it handles everything ive thrown at it.
Weaknesses: Low end components but you get for that you pay for, thats why there are $1,300 bikes and this one is half that.
Bottom Line:
The bottom line is this is an entry level bike with a little cash in this bike it will last. I have had Zero issues with this bike riding on it stock for the past 2yrs. It is the best bang for the buck and I still have under $650 invested in this bike and it rides alot better than i could ever had imagined.
Strengths: great bike, rides nice up and downhill. i dont see why people dont like this bike, it is a great frist downhill bike. the frame is soild, the fork is great, and the shifters shift way smooth
Weaknesses: the rear shock squeeks but thats it.
Bottom Line:
if you want to learn to become a downhill rider, this bike is a good bike to start with. its cheap and a little to the heavy side, but use the weight to become stronger and faster rider.
Submitted by
Skulltoy
a Weekend Warrior
from Colorado
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2011
Strengths: Great bang for the buck, frame is quality build, bike color, simplistic/ proven design of suspension system (murphy's law)
Weaknesses: To get the bike at the $600 MSRP the component group is not the greatest.
Bottom Line:
I can not leave anything "stock" everything I own is "Moderfied" I have been running hardtails for awhile and wanted to play with full suspension, but I thought spending $1000+ was too much for my habits at this time. So looking at what I wanted is simplistic proven design, single pivot was my forte. Looked at Full suspension frames and came across the Diamondback bikes. back in the early 80's that is what I rode BMX days and always had a place in my heart with Diamondback. $600 for full suspension was not too shabby and I liked the look and the simplistic design. Got a 20% deal and got a whole bike for less than what just the frame would cost. As the stock Recoil setup is good for the price, but the not greatest components. I instantly upgraded almost everything and the bike rocks. Fits me perfectly and feels great doing mild drops and jumps. Smooth on the street and loving my entry into the full suspension world.
Bike Setup: Without a single mile on it I swapped out everything but the seat, seat-post and wheels/tires. Converted to SRAM X.7 rear derailleur, SRAM 9-speed cassette/chain, X.5 shifter, Hussefelt 32T crank w/bashguard, Howitzer BB, Rock Shox Tora 302 120mm fork, AVID BB7 disc brakes(160mm rear, 185mm front), Jagwire Cables/housing, FOX RP3 Rear Shock (Tuned by PUSH Ind), SUNLITE lock-on grips, Hussefelt Bar and stem.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
recoiler
a Cross Country Rider
from Hood River, or, us
Date Reviewed: May 17, 2011
Strengths: tires and fork
Weaknesses: breaks and rear shock
Bottom Line:
Great, Great bike, but just a sturdier suspension set up would increase the overall strength of the bike itself.
Submitted by
150mph
a Downhiller
from Los Angeles CA USA
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2011
Strengths: Full suspension, low price
Weaknesses: Heavy, cheaply produced, poorly made components, entry-level full-suspension bike. A serious full-suspension bike will cost 3 times as much.
Bottom Line:
Bought new, an intermittent chain slippage demanded numerous return visits to the shop for adjustment, but an incessant squeal couldn't be diagnosed or fixed.
A replacement bike exhibited identical problems, but with additional brake squeal - front and back - that continues today.
The techs at Sports Chalet bike dept. have been heroic in dealing with the constant problems and return visits (I got a svc. contract) , but I'm convinced the problem is poor design, flawed construction and sub-standard components.
My experience: If you want the techs at your local bike shop to hate you and cringe whenever you show up, this is the bike for you. I didn't give it the lowest rating possible simply because I've managed to put 1000's of mile on it despite the constant problems, and because it's the first full-suspension bike I've owned. I've ridden friends bikes, but I don't have any experience buying a better model.
Submitted by
Chriskc
a Cross Country Rider
from Bellingham, Wa
Date Reviewed: April 21, 2011
Strengths: The frame is strong and lightweight. Its the stock components that make it heavy. Rims are good. Nice Saddle. I like the 70 degree head tube angle.
Weaknesses: if your taking it around the park its fine left stock, anything harder you will need to upgrade components.
Bottom Line:
Great xc frame with a lifetime warranty, great first full suspension bike, good frame for experienced riders as well. Not for freeriders - weak lateral stiffness and only 4" travel in rear.
Bike Setup: Rock Shox Pike 454, Fox Float rp32, Spx Crank, Avid bb7 brakes, Bontragger Stem, Transition Revolution Hubs, Stock Weinmann Rims, Stock 8sp Cassette, Kenda Nevegal Tires, truvativ seat post, fsa handlebars, pro grips
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
jp81
a Weekend Warrior
from irvine, CA
Date Reviewed: December 13, 2010
Strengths: Solid Frame, great deal at purchase for $359.00 during black Friday 2010. Bike is normally from mid $500 to mid $600 at the local LBS. Bike is 2011 model with 100mm. Front forks. Big plus from the previous model. Components have been switched from SRam to Schimano. Took it out for the first time to a trail and handled bumps and anything I through at it great. Took 1 - 3 foot jumps with my 230 lbs self with smooth landing and did not bottom out. Thanks to the 100mm shock.
Weaknesses: Peddles become sleeper when wet. No lockout for front nor rear suspension but what do you expect at a MSRP of $600. With a great frame.
Bottom Line:
Bottom line is if you are like me and want a full suspension bike at a low price that will take a pounding till you decide to fork up 1K plus. It’s a great buy. Look around ,I have seen this bike at times for as low as $450 at times or wait till black Friday next year and see if you can score a deal. I will keep it stock till things break but I might upgrade my rear and front shocks. Have seen great deals on Ebay.
Submitted by
legooolooos
a Weekend Warrior
from Medicine Hat, AB, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2010
Strengths: Frame its a hooded strong box gotta luv it
Weaknesses: Brake pads
Rims
Rear tire (front tire is great for the terain)
seat post number one thing to be replaced if doing down hill
almost everything on the bike you will need to replace if your an intense bicker
Bottom Line:
The bike is a great deal if your on a budget or just starting out but if you want it for intense riding your gonna need to upgrade almost all stock parts on the bike start out with a new seat post and clamp and work your way up to putting a whole new suspension system on it add some new rims and then upgrade the brakes to compression(oil) and finish it all up by replasing the crank arm and free wheel and all the little things leaving you with pretty much a stock frame with all performance parts on it and make sure its all tuned exactly to your ride after all that is done its a sexy bike and i wouldnt even think about selling this bike after all the hard work that has gone into it the people at diomandback should thank me for making a good bike a amazing bike.
Similar Products Used: Kona Stab Deluxe
kona stab supreme
Giant Warp
Bike Setup: Kona LOG grips,Sun MTX 33 rims, RockShox Boxxer World Cup 200mm w/20mm Dropout forks, Fox DHX RC4 rear suspension, Shimano Saint Disc 8" with shimano saint brake levers, and Maxxis 26 x 2.5 DHF front/High Roller rear 3C DH casing tires,FSA Gravity DH-300 seat post, Kona Clamp (seat clamp), Shimano Saint (170mm)crank arm, Kona Wah-Wah peddles, Shimano Ultegra (12-23, 9spd) free wheel, E13 LG1 Alloy w/Taco disk, and to top it all off i coated the base coat with a clear metalic paint job
Nice bike, except for rear derailer! First ten minutes owned rear derailer cracked of going of a puss of a bump. Hopefully getting replace i dam better paid 100 for 5 year warranty.
Submitted by
h82crash
a Cross Country Rider
from So Cal
Date Reviewed: January 10, 2010
Strengths: Cost. Strong frame (per reviews). Ok components.
Weaknesses: Rear shock, pedals.
Bottom Line:
The few mods cost me about $100 thanks to Ebay. So far its a great ride and performing well. I'll run the stock crank and derailleur till I destroy them cause they're working fine. I like it, it was 1/3 the price of my last bike (FSR) and better (just due to the new technology, no dis to Specialized). Other who have posted said the frame is durable and its too early for me to speculate. If you're into XC or All Mountain and want an affordable bike, test this one out.
Bike Setup: The Costco version comes with the 100mm lockout fork from SR. Nice upgrade but the pedals are plastic. the rear shock is a Tough Shock MA (mixed air damping). It was ok but has a gap in damping between comp and rebound and the "air" is bubbles in the shock oil and makes for noisy operation. I replaces the rear with a Fox Vanilla RC 7-7/8x2.25 and it is a whole different ride. Had to clearance the swing-arm slightly to fit the shock(7.5x2 stock). Also replaced the pedals, bar and stem-Truvativ Hussfeld DH riser and Origin8 110 45*. I had to break the chain and install a link because the last link was riveted too tight at the factory and was binding. Probably not a common problem. This is the same bike as the DB Topnaga at Sport Authority on sale for $499 which also has the 100mm fork.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
drtuner
a Weekend Warrior
from Houston,TX
Date Reviewed: December 28, 2009
Strengths: Solid frame i really like the tires, brakes are ok not to bad. takes abuse!!!!!!!!!!!
Weaknesses: Rear derailleur sucks have been thru 2 already luckily for warranty seat posts is horrible,
Bottom Line:
BL this is a great entry lvl dual suspension bike for the price one of the best id say overall it handles great on the trails its totally worth the money.
Bike Setup: Only upgrade so far is rear shock switched it out for a rock shox monarch 3.1 its a night and day difference id say a must. found mine on ebay for $60
Strengths: I have been racing and riding dirt bikes for 20 years and i beat the crap out of my equipment. I am stoked at the way this bike is responding to abuse! Such a FUN ride. feels like my dirt bike, gives me confidence on trails.
Weaknesses: a lot of people said the seat post sucks...it did at first but i just turned it around and tightened it, works great now. I would say that the shock will be my first upgrade (but its hangin' in there), still loving the forks.
Bottom Line:
This is the least expensive full suspension ride i could find, Don't worry that it's cheap (i was at first). I am 6feet 185lbs and have broken dirt bike frames! This bike can take a beating,I tell everyone that it's 1500 dollar fun. The frame is the same as the comp model and you can slowly upgrade and still have an awesome ride. The bike doesn't look like an old mans ride either! This bike helped me get out there now and has been nothing but fun. Took it up kennedy trail in los gatos for the turkey ride the first weekend. Been going to demonstration forest in santa cruz and all over my local bike trails in san jose. i want to ride my bicycle...BICYCLE!
Strengths: Has a very durable frame. Comes with good tires and a nice seat. Brakes aren't bad.
Weaknesses: The seatpost bent within the first week. The rear derailleur doesn't take the slack out of the chain so it jumps off of the sprockets on the crank. The rear derauiller is weak as it broke in the second month.
Bottom Line:
It is very nice going downhill. It would be nice if it had a better fork for going over obstacles. It is a very good bike for the price. Also is good for beginners.
