Strengths: Very Sturdy frame, excellent component group
Weaknesses: A little on the heavy side
Bottom Line:
I bought my Apex in 1990, commuted 5,000 miles on it between 90 and 92, then as a recreational trail rider until 2010. I'm 6'1" tall with a 34" inseam. The 20" frame was perfect for me with a longish torso, and very comfortable to ride. The Deore DX component group never broke or failed in any way. I did taco the rear wheel, but in all fairness I weighed 265 lbs at the time.
More recently I found an 88 Apex on Craigs for $115 in nearly new condition. I love it!! Good designs never become obsolete, and the relatively rare DX group is a Godsend.
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Submitted by
Jim
a Weekend Warrior
from Detroit, MI, USA
Date Reviewed: February 17, 2008
Strengths: For it's time, it was pretty lightweight, and actually still isn't too bad. It has solid componentry; I've been riding it stock on and off for 13 years. The bike is easy to control both up and down hill.
Weaknesses: Long top tube geometry makes long-term riding on flat trails and neighborhoods uncomfortable (too stretched).
Submitted by
Glenn
a Weekend Warrior
from North Carolina, USA
Date Reviewed: November 18, 2007
Strengths: Durability. Had this bike since 1992. It's in Japan now; I moved it when I worked for government. Now it stays with my father-in-law, who takes it out a few times a week, often up into the hills. He's a rugged 77 but can push all the way to the top, amazingly. I outweigh him by 100 pounds, but we both love the Apex. In California, I rode it on streets and trails, often commuting to work. In Japan, it eats up the wide sidewalks and curbs. Was great fun on some of Tokyo's urban hills. Watch out for that gaijin bombing down the hill! And with little tweaking, mostly tuning and adjusting brakes, I have great fun every time I return for a visit. Old Mr. Nakano, who in his 80s still runs a one-man bike repair shop on the corner, gives it an occasional once over.
Weaknesses: I used to ride up some hills with some pretty gnarly guys. The Apex didn't usually arrive first, but I can't assign that fact entirely to the bike. It was nails on the long, gradual turns coming down, though.
Bottom Line:
It sits under a tarp in Japan on most days (and inside at night), but 15 years later it is still a great and responsive ride. Still looks good, too. My only regret is that it would cost me more to ship it back here than I can justify. It gives me one more good reason to visit my in-laws.
Submitted by
Nick
a Cross Country Rider
from Sydney, Australia
Date Reviewed: November 8, 2006
Strengths: 1992 Apex: bombproof, "surefooted", stable, excellent for commuting and touring, lugs for racks at both ends, very solid gruppo.
Weaknesses: Heavy as my dual suspension bike, despite rigid forks.
Bottom Line:
Over 14 years I've killed or worn out 2 forks, 2 headsets, 2 front hubs, 2 bottom brackets, 3 rims, 2 middle chainrings, 4 cassettes, countless chains and tyres. This frame can never die! Still has original DX levers, cranks, FD, RD and rear hub/freehub. First generation SPD pedals are just starting to wear out - they don't make them like they used to! DX thumbshifters taken off only this year. I'll never get rid of this bike - it rides beautifully and has become a part of me.
Bike Setup: Stock, or sympathetic to stock items, except for more modern rigid steel forks with full set of lowrider lugs, and converted to 8spd on 7spd freehub with 9spd components. 12-27 road cluster. I ride a 19" bike with a very long Ti seatpost (I'm 192cm). I now use 1.3" slicks. Beavertail mudguards. Thinking about turning the bike into a drop bar tourer.
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Submitted by
rod steinberg
a Weekend Warrior
from SF
Date Reviewed: September 30, 2006
Strengths: Durability, Ride, Solid Feel, Nice paint job - Blue Smoke fade to white.
Weaknesses: Heavy, Heavy, Heavy.
Bottom Line:
This was 2nd top of the line bike Diamond Back offered back in 1990, when it was purchased. Wow! Did it feel solid as a racer back then. It came with Deore DX groupo all around and most of the riding was done with this setup.
1999 - upgraded to a Silver colored Manitou suspension fork with Deore XT V-Brakes & Levers, Orbit headset & Stem.
2006 - upgraded Easton monkey lite handlebar, Mavix 517 w/ XT hubs, Fire XC pro tires. Let's go RIDE!
As of late summer 2006 - I am riding again back on the trails... Love going downhill. This bike is 16+ years now and still solid and taking care of me. I've debated buying a new ride several times, but just can't seem to get rid of her. Aside from being HEAVY, she is a GREAT RIDE. I totally agree that newer bikes w/ the APEX name just aren't the same as 1988 - 1992 bikes.. REALLY.
Bike Setup: To ride nice - Original DX crank, f&r derailer; XT everywhere else. Gripshift 7 speed, Onza endz, Panaracer Fire (Blue).
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Submitted by
Steve
a Cross Country Rider
from Washington State
Date Reviewed: September 12, 2003
Strengths: This bike is awesome at everything! It climbs well, it's fast and very stable at speed, and it handles pretty well in the technical stuff! Dare I say that in many ways it reminds me of my 2003 Yeti ARC (a bike that costs eight times as much).
Weaknesses: It's heavier than my Yeti, but look at the price difference, and remember that my DB Apex is a 1992 (11 years older than my Yeti).
Bottom Line:
I've always been the kind of rider that has to have the latest and greatest. Because of this, all of my friends could never understand why I've owned this bike since I purchased it new in 1992. Other bikes have come and gone from my life, but I have always kept my Apex close by me, and if you new how many bikes I've actually gone through you would really be impressed. For the money spent, I can easily call this the best bike I have ever owned/ridden. It can handle fire roads, single track, and even street duty. This bike just eats up the miles, and mine has for years. I put alittle over 60 miles on her just yesterday. This was what inspired me to write this review. The bottom line is: If you run across a 1992 DB Apex, BUY IT!!!!! You can't go wrong. It really is a great bicycle.
Similar Products Used: If it's a hardtail, I've probably ridden it at one time or another.
Bike Setup: My 1992 Apex still has the Shimano Deore DX Group it came with. My only changes to the bike have been the addition of a WTB Rocket V saddle and an underseat wedge-bag.
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Submitted by
Scott
a Weekend Warrior
from San Francisco, CA USA
Date Reviewed: July 18, 2003
Strengths: Geometry, balance, ride, and tiger stripe paint job.
Weaknesses: Stock headset got loose and wobbly after two years and 5000 mostly city miles.
Bottom Line:
This is a review of my 1991 Apex in Red with Black Tiger Stripes (cost $10 more): What more can I say other that to curse the $#@! who stole it from me way back in 1993? I hope the headset gives and he swallows 25 inches of rusty tioga handlebar. Since then I've been searching for an adequate replacement and still looking.
It could climb any hill without the front end lifting, descend at speed with confidence, it could hang corners at blazing speeds... basically everything you could want from a daily commuter in a busy city with homocidal bus and cab drivers, with trips to local firetrails on the weekend. Sure it was heavy compared to today's bikes, but back then i was younger and stronger and didn't notice. Steel bikes are not for weight weenies and the smooth steel soothed my soul.
I tried the 95 Apex: no dice, just wasn't the same. The geometry wasn't as aggressive. If anyone has the 91 apex 17.5" frame (hopefully in red and NOT rusting), let me know and we can deal.
Even though the headset was giving out right before it got stolen, hell, i rode that puppy down a flight of stairs every chance i got: five chilis all around.
Bike Setup: Nothing now - in process of building one up
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Submitted by
Aaron
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: September 22, 2002
Strengths: Im told it cost about $800 new, a lot of money in 1988, but since it has lasted this long, that price is the bike's biggest strength.
Weaknesses: NONE!!!!
Bottom Line:
This is an update to my previous review from a year and a half ago. I still have the old girl and she is better than ever. Im running all the stock equipment which is now 14 years old. This bike has full Deore groupo, less the Biopace chainring. I have since bought a Raleigh alum hardtail with front susp. and a susp seatpost. It has a very crisp, but smooth ride with the suspension. It wasnt until I bought a rigid aluminum framed urban commuter bike that I fully appreciated the steel frame of the DB. The Raleigh is my bike of choice when I go riding the trails, obviously I am going to prefer the suspended ride on the rocky central texas trails. The commuter bike, a story on its own, has been outfitted with a low rise stem, flat bars, and other lighter component and is used for riding fast on the veloway or going down the the store since it is my least cheapest bike and less costly if stolen. The diamondback has been assigned to my neighborhood cruisin', wheelie ridin' duty. It is the best balanced, smoothest ride of any rigid bike Ive ridden. Since this bike is kept inside and is well maintained, it will easily last another 14 years.
Submitted by
Ben Flack
a Weekend Warrior
from Sydney,Australia
Date Reviewed: September 21, 2002
Strengths: Frame way above the price bracket, stiff, light, keeper if you decide to upgrade. TT Lite frame
Weaknesses: Too many Avenir (inhouse DB) stock parts used. STX front shifter is an Achilles Heel, STX brakes have held up fine. I replaced the 1996 Gripshifters for LX shifters which were also unreliable. The weakness is the accesory mix, not the frame!
Bottom Line:
Can't beat this bike for bottom line buck. I reckon the frame is just as light and stronger than most $600- $900 Aluminium deals today. Great for commuting/touring
What can I say? After 10 years of riding everything from daily commutes to Hewlett's Gulch, I finally need a a new bike. The rear dropouts stripped out (my own fault for delaying the replacement of a broken skewer) and sadly I have to lay this frame to rest. The Apez is a solid piece of engineering that, in the right hands, can hold its' own against bikes twice as costly.
Bike Setup: '90 Apex; rode it stock for a while, eventually replaced everything except the frame. Final setup was Halsen shock, A/C cranks, XT comp. w/ index shift, Mavic 217 wheels.
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Submitted by
Jonathan
a Weekend Warrior
from West Coast USA
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2001
Strengths: Durable, excellent quality components.
Weaknesses: A tad heavy.
Bottom Line:
Excellent overall performance bike. I owned this bike since 1992, added a Rockshox21 front suspension 3 months after purchased. A bit heavy for climbing but agressive & sturdy downhill. Haven't ridden regularly but with regular tune-ups, I still have all original components. Time for a new bike!
Similar Products Used: Specialized Rockhopper Comp, Schwinn
Bike Setup: All original components
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Submitted by
Aaron
a Weekend Warrior
from Austin, TX, US
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2001
Strengths: Strong frame to support my fat butt. Biopace chainring (yeah this is old, like 88 or 89 model). Light compared to the cheap bikes I have owned in the past. Every component screams high quality.
Weaknesses: I love the bright orange paint, but it really is ugly. Low mounted rear brake makes it impossible to mount a conventional kick stand, but I do have a Specialized rear mount stand that I now prefer over the normal ones.
Bottom Line:
This is a great bicycle I had the great fortune to aquire free from a relative. Its a great bike that may be 13 years old but looks and performs brand new as it was barely used before. As for the Biopace chainring it features, its is great. Many people thought it was just another eliptical ring, but it really works well. Free bikes are great, but free nice bikes are awesome.
Similar Products Used: Huffy Scout MTB, piece of junk. Murray MTB, even bigger piece of junk (the handlebar broke right in half when I was doing a wheelie!)
Bike Setup: Specialized comfort plush saddle, Specialized rear mount composite side stand, gel grips, Blackburn Air Stick frame mounted mini-pump, biopace chainring(not a simple eliptical piece, but a computer designed ring that actually does eliminate that dead spot when your pedaling), and a rear wedge bag and a triangle frame bag and a waterbottle cage.
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Submitted by
Jan
a Weekend Warrior
from Vojnik, Slovenia
Date Reviewed: February 6, 2001
Strengths: Frame, weight, components, colour,...
Weaknesses: Brakes, rims, stickers.
Bottom Line:
I owned Diamondback Apex for 2,5 years then I replaced it with 1999 GT Backwoods. It was a great bike and it is my duty to write some good things about it. The frame was very stiff, strong with minimum weight. That was the reason for not such an easy climbing. The components (STX-rc and Deore LX) were superb and teh SACHS chain also (Sachs chains are simply the best). I rode about 3000 km on it then I sold it to my friend and I`m sure it will serve him well for a long time. I decided for a GT because of the aluminum frame they offered but the frame is probably the main reason for buying GTs. My old Apex was better in all ways. I really miss it.
Submitted by
David
a Cross Country Rider
from Fairmont, WV
Date Reviewed: January 5, 2001
Strengths: kick butt strong frame, handles great anywhere
Weaknesses: weight maybe
Bottom Line:
This is a kick butt bike. I have had mine for three years now and still love it. I have rode all over WV on this bike and it rules. This bike was a crash replacement from my old bike, which I mangled the frame. My bike has been through hell and back more than once and all it shows is some scratches and a dent in the top tube(you should have saw the wreck) and it is still kicking. Everyone should buy this bike.
Submitted by
Jude Evbenata
a Downhiller
from Surrey, UK
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2000
Strengths: This bike is very stable at high speeds but as agile as you could want in the tight twists and turns. The frame is a great steel job, the spec is as good if not better than other bikes in its price range. The PrimalRaptors surprised me with their off-road grip in the dry and low rolling-resistance which really emphasise the bike's ability to get up to high speeds.
Weaknesses: Er...the Tektro brake levers feel a bit cheap'n'cheerful for a bike like this. And the blue paint just is not a good shade; it should be lighter or darker.
Bottom Line:
For a list price of £480 this bike is good value. I got mine for £225 and that is an absolute steal! It's great as it is with lots of potential for upgrading.
