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Submitted by
RJM
a Weekend Warrior
from Lake Charles
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Lincoln Parish | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$900.00 | | Purchased At: | Action Bikes, San An | | Strengths: | Plush travel, strong frame. | | Weaknesses: | Terrible Narrow rims given 2.4 tires with it. Quality of rims bad (WTB) on my 2001 XTS 3 | | Similar Products Used: | Redline Dually | | Bike Setup: | Stock, replaced rims with Sun Single Tracks, Azonic DH bars, TransX stem. | | Bottom Line: | Great bang for buck. Plush travel, wish I had stronger springs (sag would probably be little less and closer to optimal) on fork and rear as I weigh 210, but I don't huck but do ride hard, so this has been a fantastic trail bike. I'd buy high end Diamondback again, for sure.....they get nicer and nicer every year (of course the are closing the gap price wise with the boutique brands....) | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
huni313
a Weekend Warrior
from ca
Date Reviewed: October 5, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | north star | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | this bike is sick! it can resist all the bumps and jumps. the frame is really strong.
| | Weaknesses: | the brakes are kind of cheap. when you use it for like a year, it brakes down. | | Similar Products Used: | giant glory, specilazied enduro | | Bike Setup: | Jr.T bomber fork, manitou metal shock, x-7 derailur, hayes 9 disk brakes mrp bomb proof bash guard, edge instense tires | | Bottom Line: | this bike is the bike you can depend. diamond is kind of a crappy company, but you can depend on their freeride/downhill bikes!! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Evomanarron
a Downhiller
from New zealand
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Redwoods | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2750.00 | | Purchased At: | R and R | | Strengths: | good front shocks. great hayes 9 brakes | | Weaknesses: | easy to bottomout rear shock. | | Similar Products Used: | Specaillized big hit 2, jamis diablo, demo 9 | | Bottom Line: | good begainning bike good value for money | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kyle Grawehr
a Downhiller
from Denville, NJ, USA
Date Reviewed: February 26, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Moutian Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Dicks Sporting Goods | | Strengths: | sturdy frame, good suspension, very quick, brake system is great | | Weaknesses: | rear derialler broke twice(within the same week) rear wheel jumps around when going over quick bumps and the fork clicks when climbing. but other than that its great | | Similar Products Used: | N/A | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | very sweet bike | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Doug Espinosa
a Downhiller
from Camas,WA
Date Reviewed: January 19, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Leadbetter | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | G.I. Joe's | | Strengths: | The bike has a very Beefey frame. the suspension it great it can take over 5 feet to flat without bottoming out.thats all i have done so far. i have only had it for about 2 weeks. rear shock has nice adjustments. great crancks and handle bars. Very nice brakes. tires and wheelset has very good traction and has great traction. | | Weaknesses: | no chain tensioner=floppy chain. the seatpost is to high, but that is an easy adjustment. loose grips. but that is probally my fault | | Similar Products Used: | 2006 kona stinky 2006 specialized big hit fsr | | Bike Setup: | STOCK!!! | | Bottom Line: | this is a sick bike for tyhe money. it only cost me 1 grand. can take the big hits. easy to pedal. Plush suspension. it is also not to heavy. and if people give you crap about buying it from gi joes or that its a diamondback tell them to go be a fred. GO BUY IT IS A VERY AWESOME BIKE.!!! STRAIGHT UP | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
andy myers
a Weekend Warrior
from spokane
Date Reviewed: September 11, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | still looking | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$850.00 | | Purchased At: | north division cycles | | Strengths: | strong frame, point and shoot and let the suspension do the rest | | Weaknesses: | none | | Similar Products Used: | haro ex1 | | Bike Setup: | junior t fork, julie hyd disc 8" front 6" rear disc the rest is stock | | Bottom Line: | bad ass bike cant beat it for the price. suspension kicks ass. rides like a dream. if you want excellent quality for a good price this is your bike. reccomend for all who want step up thier game and ride like a champ. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
zach aguilar
a Downhiller
from spokane
Date Reviewed: July 3, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | beacon | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1710.00 | | Purchased At: | wheel sport | | Strengths: | frame is very sturdy, braking system is stong, and i like the rear suspension | | Weaknesses: | rear tire jumps around,and the three ring sprockets with no chain gaurd lets the chain go where ever | | Similar Products Used: | cannondale lefty specialized demo pro | | Bike Setup: | all stock so far | | Bottom Line: | wont take much over five feet | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chris james
a Downhiller
from spokane wa
Date Reviewed: February 7, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | beacon | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | scott's cycle and sport | | Strengths: | great value, good stock brakes | | Weaknesses: | fork sucks for drops bigger than about 5 feet, seat is too high for real freeriding, stupid adapters for 10mm frame dropouts makes the back wheel move aound | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | switched to single ring with bashguard and chain guide (a must), ride with seat post cut short as possible, 8" rotor on back, | | Bottom Line: | its a good starter freeride bike, but once you start to do some jumping and drops you realize the suspension equiped is limited and you will bottom out routinely. Too heavy for a real trail bike. This frame is pretty badass but with a better fork and chainguid this bike would be pretty rad | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kel patrick
a Downhiller
from noosaville qld australia
Date Reviewed: August 9, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | two many | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1480.00 | | Purchased At: | airlie bargain centre noosa outlook | | Strengths: | This bike is a weapon just point shoot and hold on. my bike is the 2005 model the standard of gear is a fair bit better than previous models ie shocks f + b wave roters single track rims and the frame is a bit more chunkey cant beat this bike for the money @ $1750 aus just buy one u wont be dissapointed | | Weaknesses: | apart from the $hit my mates gave me for riding a diamond back til i smoked them ,I had a little trouble with the rear derailer due to bushes in the rear linkage having worn out,my fault for not noticeng sooner, but apart from that not a thing | | Similar Products Used: | diamond back bsx pro norco sasquach giant big hit spec haro x2 | | Bike Setup: | stock apart from front dh chain ring and chain guide | | Bottom Line: | if money is an object ride one and u will buy 1 | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
BikeCzar
a Downhiller
from Woodstock, VA
Date Reviewed: July 13, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Powell Mtn. | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$995.00 | | Purchased At: | Mark's Bike Shop | | Strengths: | Frame is burly but not too heavy, nice and long for the craziness, pretty decent fork and shocks, adjustable shackle, good components for the most part.
| | Weaknesses: | LX drivetrain, no bash guard or tensioner (you will throw the chain in the rough stuff), seat post height is a compromise, I leave mine to XC levels for the most part, may get a second post/seat combo for pure DH. | | Similar Products Used: | Kona Stinky | | Bike Setup: | Stock for right now | | Bottom Line: | Mine was an '03 leftover, so I get it on the cheap ($995US) and I don't regret it at all. This is a great FR bike for someone that also goes up hills, I didn't like the triple chainring up front, but I'm actually warming up to it now. It climbs great if you stay in the saddle, and sprints aren't too bad with the bob, but it ain't an XC bike for sure. Don't buy it to race, buy it to ride. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Battle Cruiser
a Racer
from Austin, TX, USA
Date Reviewed: March 1, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Freeride, BMX Track | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Long frame length fits me well. I like the Marzocchi fork. The fork is air adjustable (schrader valves) and easily tuned to your weight and riding style. Overall it feels strong and stiff. Hayes hydralic disks are great. I like the shift levers. | | Weaknesses: | The frame design places the seat too high for free riding. I cut the the seat post short and dropped the seat down to the clamp and the seat is still 4-6" too high. The wheel set is crap, low quality hubs don't fit the dropouts and the rims are too skinny. The two inside chainrings are too small to be useful - single ring and bash guard would be a better choice. | | Similar Products Used: | BMX cruisers, Gack TrailMod | | Bike Setup: | Stock | | Bottom Line: | Mine is a large frame (I'm 6'3", 240lbs). Overall sharp looking bike, excellent fork, exellent disk brakes, lame rear shock (one of the air models would have been better). The rear shock is adjustable from too much dampening to way too much dampening. The shift levers feel good but the derailer needs stronger springs and even a little dirt screws up the shifting. Bumps or washboard will easily throw off the chain.
I have an agressive riding style and rarely ever sit down. Ths seat on this bike is too high and is always in my way. The bike can handle jumps and 4' drops but the seat thing is really distracting. The wheelset is a big disapointment. The axles are 9mm which move around and chew up the 10mm dropouts. You can't get the QR skewer tight enough to prevent the movement. I'm not a big fan of QR hardware, bolt-on axles would be a much better choice for this type of bike. I would have prefered sealed cartridge bearings instead of the cheap cup-and-cone style. And I hate skinny rims!!
For the price it is a good value but needs some work. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Remington Murphy
a Weekend Warrior
from Richland, Washington, USA
Date Reviewed: November 24, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Acme | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Scott's Cycle | | Strengths: | Great frame and forks | | Weaknesses: | EVERYTHING THAT CAN BREAK HAS and its a wee old. chain/brake handle lever bot snaped/front derailer broke | | Similar Products Used: | BMX bike | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | good but cheaply made | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
fatcat
a Weekend Warrior
from los angeles, california USA
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1700.00 | | Strengths: | rolls over mostly anything on the trail, can be ridden uphill for a 40lb bike, lots of travel for cheap, the dual crown Marzocchi 155 mm air fork is plush | | Weaknesses: | the Marzocchi fork makes clicking annoying noises while climbing, its a interrupted seat tube frame. | | Similar Products Used: | 04 Kona Stinky, 02 Santa Cruz Bullit | | Bike Setup: | took off big chain ring and put a Hussefelt bash ring on it
and put short bar ends on it (looks retarded but when climbing I reach for them) changed wheels to wider Sun Rhyno Lite Disks, cut an inch off each end of the stupidly long Hussefelt handlebar (the new nice 31.8 ones) | | Bottom Line: | pedals uphill better than my Bullit used to (perhaps the Pro Pedal Fox?)--its a real cheap way to go big--6.5" rear travel and 6" up front, costs just as much as a 2004 Stinky
but gives you a bit more better parts and 1/2" more rear suspension.
I believe its a pound or two lighter than a Stinky as well. Trade in or resale will suck though. Its like buying a Saturn vs a Honda Accord--both are great cars mechanically but the trade in on the Honda will be better.
I rate this as one of the best big hit bikes on the market.
Check out the specs and try one out or ordre one if your dealer doesnt have on in stock--its well worth it.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
ernie
a
from la crescenta, california
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1700.00 | | Purchased At: | bicycle station | | Strengths: | easy to pedal uphill for a bike that's almost 40 lbs,
the Marzocchi dual crown air is light and has 6" of travel, and this bike goes over good sized rocks with no problem. The Fox Vanilla R Pro Pedal seems to be doing its job as there is little rear bob. | | Weaknesses: | Who decided to put a big chain ring on this thing?
| | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Bullit | | Bike Setup: | I put a RaceFace bashring on the crank. A narrower 2.35 Maxxis
tire in the rear, a Easton EC70 stem and bar for climbing purposes. | | Bottom Line: | Its a great value with Hayes brakes, 6" DropOff Air, Truvativ Hussefelt junk and the Pro Pedal rear shock.
I was going to buy another (I sold my old one) Santa Cruz Bullit but with a few hundred extra, I bought a whole bike instead of just a frame. Good thing I went cheap.
Many others have posted about the pedaling for such a heavy bike and they are correct--it pedals uphill. In fact,
I went up a pretty steep fireroad today with it. I also went on a little rocky singletrack and was smooth sailing.
I did get cocky and it bronco'd me off while going
too fast down a sandy singletrack.
I recommend this bike for both novice and experienced riders, since you get a little of both worlds---good solid parts and frame with a nice pricetag. The only thing that
sucks are the LX parts, but on a bike like this, you'll end up snapping the rear deraileur off and breaking the shifters within a year anyway.
Last year's parts on this frame were wimpy so I guess
the company decided to really upgrade a few parts and with the exception of the shifters, its good stuff all around. Last year's Psylo compared to this Marzocchi is a joke. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
brandon
a
from Bismarck, ND USofA
Date Reviewed: June 17, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1350.00 | | Purchased At: | Epic Boneshaker Cycle | | Strengths: | EVERYTHING, Seriously. This bike is an animal. There is virtually nothing that it can't handle. Big mondo Drops, stutter bumps, whatever. Suspension is Plush all the way around, 2.6" tires are beef, and frame is thee most comfortable I've EVER riden. Hayes hydrolic 8" fronts provide Tons O'Stopping Power with a gentle squeeeze. Very smooth & Responsive with little to no fade. Front adjustable Marzocchi Drop off TRIPLE is VERY impressive, as is the Vanilla R Shock in the Rear. Factory grips are A++, bars are great, shifts smooth, all components are perfect and FREAK'N TUFF.... I honestly can't say enough about this bike. | | Weaknesses: | No real weeknesses, after riding off the showroom floor, a couple days later, the bolts for the front disk got a little loose. Took it back, had em' adjusted, no probs 3-4wks later. | | Similar Products Used: | Beings this is about like a "Dirt Bike" motorcyle w/ no motor.... 92 Honda Cr125, 99 Honda CR250, 00 Yamaha YZF426 | | Bike Setup: | Nothing really...I threw some www.corerat.com stanchion guards on as to not damage the 32mm Marzocchi drop offs, and a lizard skin on the rear shock to avoid dirt and Gab'ge from get'n on it... | | Bottom Line: | THIS Bike is TUFF AS NAILS. I jpretty extensivly researched it and other similiar bikes for 2-3 weeks and found it to be a superb value. If you are looking to use it for a daily rider, its probably a little overkill. I like that. I use it for a daily rider, that on occasion take and use for trail riding, urban thrashing, and little downhill. If you are a big guy, like my self(6'2", 215lbs), it will fit you great in the largest Frame. Never have I felt so comfortable on a Mountain Bike. If I could have designed and built a frame and setup, it would have been this bike, even down to the paint. After looking at many other bikes in the similar price range there IS NO BETTER VALUE than the Diamondback XTS. Period. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kyle Grode
a Cross Country Rider
from Fort Collins,CO 80521
Date Reviewed: March 4, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | A trail | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1700.00 | | Purchased At: | Recycled Cycles | | Strengths: | This bike was built solid from the ground up. The components are worth the money and with nearly 6.5" in both front and rear, that's plenty of travel. | | Weaknesses: | Could use a little hotter grips, but you know, i'm not complaining. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Big Hit | | Bike Setup: | Downhill whatever you want. | | Bottom Line: | For the price, this bike is the hottest thing out there and if your looking for some help riding downhill, you found it. Solid bike that can withstand most anything you throw down, definately worth giving a shot. Great bike that may go unnoticed, but now you know. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Dingleeater
a Downhiller
from Whistler BC
Date Reviewed: February 14, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | anything with mondo-big drops | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Downhill Sports | | Strengths: | Oh my god, everything, this thing is a beast! I usually hit 5-10 footers, and the frame handles it with near perfection. Ocasionaly though, I hit a 15-20 footer, and even though the frame bottoms out ( i'm a big guy at least 190 lbs)it takes it in stride. the frame is awesome, the design is unique and unbreakable | | Weaknesses: | nothing yet, this is the real deal, diamond back sure did their homework | | Similar Products Used: | BIG Hit Comp and others in this price range ( this one is the best) | | Bike Setup: | 100% stock baby, no need to upgrade a bike that performs at the level of a downhill rig at 1/5 the cost | | Bottom Line: | if you need a strong frame and are a pretty big dude, this is the bike for you. its fairly light, yet as strong as bikes that weigh 10-15 lbs more (2004 big hit comp). The big hit comp (2004) is nowhere near as good performing from small things to huge hits. Sure it may have more travel, but its quality of travel that matters, not quantity. anyway, overall a steller bike for the buck, in fact, it rivals bikes that cost upwards of $3500, and i'm dead serious. i used to think more expensive and bigger is better, not true. Just take this thing for a ride and you will be a believer! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stuey
a Downhiller
from Vancouver, BC
Date Reviewed: February 14, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | the hukster even though i'm a pu$$y | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | schwinn, after having bu++ $ex with chris | | Strengths: | this is the best bike ever. i'm fat and it still does 6fotters to flat without breaking. like this one time, i didn't really want to hit this drop, but i'm pretty hardcore so i went for it, and i lnaded it perfectly, thanks to the bike, which is the best ever since its mine. | | Weaknesses: | nothin, its the best ever because its mine | | Similar Products Used: | big hit comp, stinky, karpiel, FSR XC, superraven | | Bike Setup: | XTS completely stock because its the best | | Bottom Line: | this is the best bike ever, it doesn't break if your fat and soaks up the bumps good. the frame is soooooooo cool, all those bars that aren't really needed makes it look awesome. i can bottom the fork out off a 2 footer and it doesn't break, YEAH!! my old super raven broke when i did that, it was carbon fiber so what do you expect when your fat and hit a 6 footer to flat with a carbon fiber frame? great bike, actually make that the best bike! good for all types of riders, but especially for those who are fat and go huge! later | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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