Submitted by
nrebebab@aol.com
a Cross Country Rider
from Elma, NY, USA
Date Reviewed: January 4, 2010
Strengths: everything except the brakes and rear shock
Weaknesses: the brakes and rear shock, and the cable path blows b/c the cables wear the $@#* out of the frame w/extended use (my frame has 2mm grooves all over it where the cable go)
Bottom Line:
its a nice bike but the shock blows ass because i couldnt go over any bumps without chain skip
Bike Setup: this bike with hayes stroker trail hydraulic discs, fox float rp23, and rock shox boxxers
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Submitted by
JIMMY Z
a Weekend Warrior
from point pleasantn nj
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2009
Strengths: AWESOME LOOKS, MEAN!! AGGRESSIVE TREAD TIRES, DISC BRAKES STOP ON A DIME. Full Suspension
Weaknesses: The SEAT!!! Why did they bother offering this as a seat...Just assume use a sheet of plywood!!! I quickly switched to a full Gel- a No Brainer
Bottom Line:
Look...$ 6' Bills is enough to spend on a Bike that I think is as awesome looking as any plus offers good quality components.....Can't ask for anything. 6 years now and shes still running strong!!!
Similar Products Used: 1986 Full Chrome Diamonback Mountain Bike. Still have to this day. Another awesome bike...but back in '86...nobody knew what a "Mountain Bike" was really so everyones Jaws dropped when I rode by.
Bike Setup: Seat-'Nuff said...Oh yeah...the pedals...stock ones were way too small for my size 13 Dogs!
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Submitted by
steve
a Downhiller
from allison park,Pa,
Date Reviewed: June 29, 2004
Strengths: deraillers,frame,discs,tires,
Weaknesses: cranks,rims,
Bottom Line:
i like the bike but the first time i road it the back rim cracked on me and i had to take it back to dicks,and made them give me a new one
First and foremost, we must remember that this is a $550 dollar full suspension bike and not to expect the performance of a $3000 FS bike. With this in mind, this bike is a very good value for the money.
The Frame Diamond back advertises the frame as a 6061 aluminum alloy but my frame sticker says 7005. I've read that 7005 is stronger and lighter than 6061 but 6061 is the proffered alloy of the more expensive bikes because it is easier to work with and weld. Unlike 7005, 6061 aluminum need to be heat treated after fabrication to obtain optimal strengths and that probably adds to the cost of the frame too. 6061 is deemed nore durable than 7005 in the long run. All this doesn't matter for a entry level bike. This frame seems strong and well built with reinforced gusets and consistent welds. Nice paint & clear coat too.
The Suspension The Suntour SR XCP 75 front fork is durable and stiff. It doesn't flex much on braking or bumps. The preload adjustment didn't do too much to stiffen or soften up the ride. I never achieved the full 4" of travel as advertised but I haven't taken the bike off any huge drops. The only reason why I changed the fork out for a Marzocchi was because the LBS was going out of business and I got a smokin' deal. The X-Fusion Tuff Shock on the rear does its job. Unlike the front fork, the preload adjustment actually makes a difference. It would be nice if it had rebound control to rid the "springboard" feeling at times. (Oh yeah, forgot that this was a $550 bike)
The Brakes The Pro-Max mechanical disc brakes do their job well. After I broke them in, I can easily lock up the rear tires or send myself over the handlebars. Most brand name junkies will tell you they are crap because they are not Hayes or Shimano hydraulic. Perhaps, but those brakes are worth at least half the cost of this whole bike.
The Tires & Rims Awesome meaty WTB Motoraplor 26x2.4 tires. They will give you great traction on any wet or dry singletrack. Due to their size, they also handle above average on loose sand and gravel. The Rims are still true and have not bent or warped under my abuse.
The Seat One word... OUCH!. This thing is as hard as a rock. Some may like it or are use to the backend abuse but I switched mine out for a Velo Plush.
Derailleurs The Deore Rear works like a charm. It switches gears immediately without any hesitation or skipping. A funny thing is happening. Whenever I compress the rear shock from a big bump or drop, it switches to a higher gear. Wierd. Probably needs more slack in the cable or adjustment. The Shimano ST-EF29 front derailleur doesn't work as well as the Deore. It usually takes about 5-10 seconds before it shifts up to the larger chain rings. There are no problems dropping to the lower chain ring. It probably needs adjustment but I haven't been able to fine tun it enough to make it behave.
Cranks & Pedals Crank works. No problems encountered thus far. The pedals always flip upside down when idle. You need to conciously flip them & place your feet on the propoer side when you start pedalling. (Minor inconvienience)
The Diamondback Coil SS is an excellent valued, FS bike recreational bike. It is not a specialized Downhill, Extreme or X-Country bike and it would be unfair to compare it to those. Before buying it, I tested 3 other recreational FS bikes. Fuji Discovery 3 ($650), K2 Attack 1.0 ($715), Iron Horse Sinister DS($825) I found that this bike handled much better than the Fuji & K2 and had disc brakes & much better tires. The D'back's performance was comparable to the more expensive Iron Horse.
Similar Products Used: I've test drove a Fuji Discovery 3 ($650), K2 Attack 1.0 ($715), Iron Horse Sinister($825). I bought my D'back for $390 because the LBS was going out of business. This was thier liquidation sale. Regular price was $650.
Bike Setup: Stock Coil SS except with new Velo Plush saddle & Marzocchi Marathon SL fork.
Strengths: Strength of frame (obviously)except for shock
Weaknesses: can't ride in HOUSTON pedals will kill your calves if the crank doesn't fail first35lb XC bike????????????????
Bottom Line:
Give this bike to a dealer to get suped up for jumping downhill rear shock bites~I think get a 4" I chose the wrong bike for my trip through town it is 6061 not 7005 which is fine cause it is 35 lbs not 25
Bike Setup: diamondback needs a new rear shock for thsi freeride limited bike
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Submitted by
Aaron Martin- Colby
a Weekend Warrior
from North Kingstown, RI, USA
Date Reviewed: August 16, 2003
Strengths: See below
Weaknesses: Pedals
Bottom Line:
UPDATE: This is an update to my previous review. I was forced to replace the pedals seeing they bent to the point of unusability. I also accidentally went off a 10-15 foot drop onto hard rock and blew out the rear shock, but that was expected. So yes, pedals are kind of weak and we now know what NOT to do with this bike.
For 550 bucks the CoilSS is a very tough bike to beat. My bike has been completely trouble free and I've put it through some decent abuse.
The seat was a beast. It ate my ass alive. I swapped it out for a comfier gel seat that is far nicer to my rear quarters. The disc brakes also had a VERY long break-in time... like 50 miles long. But once they were broken in, they have decent stopping power. They may underperform other discs, but they certainly outperform even the best pull brakes. The rear shock is also very weak and noisy. I've found a good setting that absorbs a lot, and doesn't ground out at the slightest thought of a bump, but that took awhile. The shock in general is kinda crappy.
The frame, front suspension, deuraillers, and shifters are all GREAT, Especially when you consider the sub $600 price point. The tires are another strong point... they are enormous. These monsters will chew into any terrain. All things considered, the bike is a solid deal and worthy purchase of anyone who does more than a $300 jobbie can handle, yet not enough to warrant DH level hardware. I love my bike so far and would heartily recommend it to anyone else in the market.
Bike Setup: Stock, except for new brake pads and seat.
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Submitted by
Aaron
a Cross Country Rider
from Bobcaygeon, ON
Date Reviewed: June 24, 2003
Strengths: Frame, Tires, seat
Weaknesses: cranks, pedallers, pedals, rear suspension, front suspension
Bottom Line:
This is an update from my last review. This bike has been nothing but a nightmare, since my last report. I have had to take it back to the shop on a regular basis. The pedallers have fell off several times and left me stranded. The front suspension became impossible to adjust. This weekend during a race the rear suspension broke 20 mins into my first lap. I took it back today for a refund. This bike spent more time getting fixed than it did on the trail. I didn't abuse it, or use it in any unruley manner, it just didn't hold up over a three month period. Cudos to Midtown for giving me a refund, for a poor product. BUYER BEWARE.
Submitted by
Justin
a Weekend Warrior
from Price, UT, USA
Date Reviewed: June 13, 2003
Strengths: Inexpensive, disc brakes, huge wheels, nice shifters, full suspension, bad arse looks.
Weaknesses: bobs alot when you stand up (maybe it needs adjusting), cheap uncomfortable seat
Bottom Line:
This bike is a great value for the money. I wanted to get into biking, but didn't wanna blow a ton of money (I tend to get into things and quickly loose interest). This bike has got me hooked on the sport. I ride alot of mountain trails and this bike rocks. It is super smooth and easy to control. However, I have never been on a really expensive bike so I have nothing to compare with. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to try out a full suspension bike and not wanting to blow a couple of grand.
For the money this is a great bike. I have been pounding it x-country, downhill, up steep climbs and through technical rocky sections. It has held its own in every situation. The low end suntour shock leaves something to desired. There is a slight "bob" in the ride on a steep climbs, and when you stand up to really go the suspension gives too much. This is the first time that I have road a bike with disk breaks, and they are worth every penny. If you are looking for a bike in the beginner to intermediate range with a full suspension you can't beat this bike for the money.
Bike Setup: no upgrades as of yet. (first thing I'll change is the front fork)
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Submitted by
Kevin R
a Downhiller
from Brooklyn, Ny, US
Date Reviewed: April 21, 2003
Strengths: ProMax Disk Brakes, 2.4" Tires, Compnents, Good Ground Clearance,Grips(WTB), Handle Bar, And Much More.
Weaknesses: I didnt find any quite yet, but then again, i only have it for about a day.
Bottom Line:
THE bottom line is that it is worth every penny, i took it out to the trails and the WTB MOTORAPTOR 2.4 inch tires gave me the best traction, and its one of the best looking bikes in the world. IF you have the 550.00 dollars, than i would recommend you to buy it.
Favorite Trail: Usually Downhill, but what ever i find
Duration Product Used: Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$550.00
Purchased At: Roys Sheep Shead Cycle Shop
Similar Products Used: DiamondBack X-10, Diamondback XTL Trail,
Bike Setup: All STOCK, GREAT PARTS, DONT LISTEN TO THE OTHER REVIEW WITH THAT DUMMY.
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Submitted by
Joe B.
a Cross Country Rider
from Cypress, CA
Date Reviewed: December 24, 2002
Strengths: Disc brakes, relatively cheap, decent weight at 32 lbs.
Weaknesses: Pedals, chain, saddle.
Bottom Line:
This bike is a pretty good beginner bike, and one of the cheapest that already come with disc brakes. It has a little bob going uphills, but not too noticeable. Ditch the pedals (WTB) though, as mine came apart a few miles into my ride. Broke the chain on the first week (Shimano IG31). The saddle (WTB) came with a tad too little padding. This bike definitely leaves a lot of room for upgrade. DB advertises the frame as 6061 aluminum, although mine came with 7005.
I'm a "roady" recently converted over to mountain biking. (Yes, I have been to the mountain and have seen the other side... and it was good.) So, I bought this Diamondback Coil SS Read More »
I went with a CCDB on my SS and like it a lot better than the DHX 5. I have a 450# steel spring and I want to switch to Ti. Anyone know where I can buy a Ti spring for the CCDB? Read More »
Just built up a 6.6 SS with a DHX 5.0 Coil shock and it's trying to kick me over the bars. I haven't been out riding in a while, so I'm thinking some of it is just down to bad tech Read More »
