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Submitted by
Mr.joestreet
a Racer
from arizona
Date Reviewed: May 24, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | fire trail south mountain | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | sports authority | | Strengths: | great bike | | Weaknesses: | setup way it was built | | Similar Products Used: | diamond back response | | Bike Setup: | poor | | Bottom Line: | the bike is great but the way it was setup was poor the company didn't Evan put on the wright shocks i am going to talk to them about it | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
crossclimber
a Weekend Warrior
from Halifax, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: September 9, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Rattling Creek | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | Dick's | | Strengths: | Great Componetry for the price. Most excellent Geometry, fits tall guys. Low price allows lots of upgrades! | | Weaknesses: | Heavy front fork. Cheap crank. I bought it at Dicks and felt like such a cheapskate. Support your local bikeshops!!! | | Similar Products Used: | Giant Yukon, Raliegh M50, Fisher Marlin, Trek (hardtail but forget number) | | Bike Setup: | LX Derailuers and Crank, Deore Shifters & Cassette, XTR Chain, R7 Fork w/Lockout, Flatbar, Shadow V seat, Avid BB7 Breaks, WTB Speeddisc wheels, IRC Mythos II Tires, Crankbothers pedals | | Bottom Line: | I've had this bike for a while now and even tho there isn't much left of my original bike other than the frame that is what really sold me anyway. Its super light, crazy durable, and fits a tall guy like me. It climbs like a goat and nimble enough to flow down technical terrain. Wonderful for those wanting an entry bike into XC riding and it won't hold more advanced riders back (after a few upgrades). | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
clash9898
a Weekend Warrior
from richmond
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$350.00 | | Purchased At: | dicks sporting goods | | Strengths: | exxelent frame, love the tires, exellent disk | | Weaknesses: | calipers, pedals, fork is for beginers, back deraler is annoying, short seat post | | Similar Products Used: | trek mtb, walmart bike(my 2nd bike form when i was 7) | | Bike Setup: | changed fork for a rst titan air with remote lock out, front kenda klaw rear panaracer fire xc | | Bottom Line: | exelent for 350$ just replace the calipers and fork and u hav an awsomely nifty bike!!!!!!!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Noh 937
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: June 26, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Don Valley | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$461.00 | | Purchased At: | Sportchek | | Strengths: | Great frame, and decent fork and components for the money.
the best bang for the buck. the orange that comes on the frame is absolutely awesome. but it chips easy so becareful. the kenda klaw tires that it comes with are real good on the wet dirt and mud. as well as hardpack. but can be alittle loud on the concrete, but still a good high roller. another good aspect of the bike is that its a really good hill climber. much better then fullys. also, taking it off some jumps in the dirt park at DON, it works pretty well considering its not really built for it. if you put on slicks, it could be a real road warrior as well. DISC brakes needed adjusting but that was easy, and it worked beautifully. | | Weaknesses: | the forks heavy, but that can be changed. and the chain really can eat up your frame. tape it up or put the cover on that part of the frame, or your gonna get white marks all over it. pain chips easy, and the big Kenda Klaw tires are really good on dirt....not for getting back home. | | Similar Products Used: | Gary Fisher Wahoo, GaryFisher Mullet, Toyrus bikes. (woot!)
| | Bike Setup: | Complete stock DiamondBack Topanga 08. (NOT COMP OR EX, JUST TOPANGA) | | Bottom Line: | pretty much the most bike you can get out of your dollars.
one of the best value quality bikes you can get, and recommended to anyone.
pretty much anyone who is looking to ride in the dirt of anykind, (downhill, XC, DJ, FR, Shore) you can do it all on this bike. if your looking for efficiency and personal upgrades to really customize your bike to perform like a 4000 dollar bike, this is your bike. just don't buy it if your going to do cross country marathons...and just make sure you keep your baby clean, taped on the chainstays, and away from things that could chip the paint.
having a good lock is a good idea too;)
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mickey Tilman
a Weekend Warrior
from Orlando Fl, 32812
Date Reviewed: March 2, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | none so far??? | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | Sports of Authority | | Strengths: | Thier is a whole lote strength out this rig. The parts that Diamond Back pick out for Tanpango are so kick ass! | | Weaknesses: | A little bit on the heavy side. I think it needs Fox forks, that will be the cherry on top of it!!! | | Similar Products Used: | Gaint bikes,Trek bikes | | Bike Setup: | I have change the stock Kenda tires to Maxxis Holly Rollers and always I change stock crappy plastic pedales to Kore plateform | | Bottom Line: | To tell the truth this is one good bike out on the market and for $400.00 bucks I get my bang for for my buck!!!!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Justice Mack
a Cross Country Rider
from Ballantine,MT,USA
Date Reviewed: December 29, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | two moon park | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$325.00 | | Purchased At: | sports authority | | Strengths: | great disc brakes.shocks absorb the trail niciely.very light. | | Weaknesses: | none yet | | Bottom Line: | this bike is a purfect bike for me because i like rough trails. it is an excellent starter bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris P
a Weekend Warrior
from Melbourne,Vic,Australia
Date Reviewed: September 15, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Lysterfield | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | Lawrencia Cycles | | Strengths: | Mine is a Topanga Sport not comp. Only difference is sport has shimano mech disks and Truvativ fiveD cranks. Great value 4 money. Good stoppers. Shocks work well for me. Good cassete and rear derailleur(xt). | | Weaknesses: | Seat, but this changes for everyone. Stem can rattle when landing a big jump. Chain eats at paint unless frame is taped. | | Similar Products Used: | Diamondback Vectra Sport, Giant Alias | | Bike Setup: | Marzocchi MZ comp(82mm). Alex ace-18 rims. Tektro levers with shimano mech disks. Sram cassete. Xt front and rear derailleurs with deore shifters. Truvativ fiveD cranksets. Adura seat. Diamondback frame, hubs, stem, handlebars and seat post. | | Bottom Line: | Great value for money. ( i got mine for half price Au$524). Good strong xc bike that handles well around town. Tyres could be changed to better suit riding style. All components function properly after two years.(only had the bearings in the hub replaced due to myself not tightening the quick release properly). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt Martin
a Cross Country Rider
from Caribou, Maine, USA
Date Reviewed: April 13, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Nordic Heritage Center | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | Dick's Sporting Goods | | Strengths: | This bike is great for just about any cross country rider that is on a bike at least three times a week. I ride my bike to school almost every day and it is great for in town use. I also use it for aggressive biking on the trails and it is great for any tree roots and loose dirt. | | Weaknesses: | The Rockshox Judy TT is only good for about 500 miles. After that the oils inside start to come out on the stanchions and it freezes right up. The Truvativ FiveD Crankset could also use some changing after a while. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek 4500, Trek 6700 Disc | | Bike Setup: | Rockshox Judy TT Fork, Shimano Deore Levers, shifters and front derailleur, LX rear, Hayes HMX2 Disc Brakes, Truvativ FiveD crankset, Alexrims DM21, WTB Weirwolf Tires and Sram cassette and chain. | | Bottom Line: | Get this bike. It has great components on it and the bike looks sharp. And you can get it all for a very low price. Just don't let anyone named TIM ride it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cam
a Weekend Warrior
from Wollongong, NSW, Australia
Date Reviewed: October 29, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Possums | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | CPC | | Strengths: | Great front and rear derailer (Shimano Deore XT), trusty forks, solid frame, awsome brakes.Does everything from uphills to steep downhill and even jumps. A great bike but time for me to move onto a dualy. | | Weaknesses: | Weight, uncomfortable seat, grips seemed to wear out pretty quickley, short stem. | | Similar Products Used: | Giant Ricon | | Bike Setup: | Marzohci EXR 100mm,27 speed, Deore hydrolic brakes,Truvati cranks | | Bottom Line: | Top bike for a top price, Does anything you want it to, anything from downhill to dirt jumps, this bike has lasted me in various enduro races and rides at downhill tracks. This is a perfect bike for a beginner.Great colour too.
Cheers | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ted Marks
a Cross Country Rider
from Carlinville, IL
Date Reviewed: October 26, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$325.00 | | Purchased At: | Bikes and Boards | | Strengths: | The whole bike is just such a solid setup for the money and while taking it on a wide variety of trails it performed like a dream. | | Weaknesses: | The shock just doesn't do it for me on rough trails. I hate the wellgo pedals because my foot keeps slipping. Cranks suck because they creek. The seat sucks it just doesn't feel right. | | Similar Products Used: | Gary Fisher, Jamis | | Bike Setup: | Judy TT fork, Hayes disc braks, TruVativ cranks, Wtb warewolf tires. | | Bottom Line: | For the money this bike really rocks and it feels like a bike that you might spend more money on. I think this bike would really be sick with a Rocksox Reba fork, and different seat and clipless pedals. Over all value I give it an A. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
scooter
a Downhiller
from blue mountain australia
Date Reviewed: May 13, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | woody | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$700.00 | | Strengths: | strong frame, mostly reliable componance, good value | | Weaknesses: | tru-vative cranks and bottom bracket are junk | | Similar Products Used: | haro v3 | | Bike Setup: | all stock except lx front derailer and fsa platinum pro bottom bracket | | Bottom Line: | in the last 12 mounths i have riden this bike long and hard. i brought this bike to replace my mx bikes and have done everything from long road rides, to downhills even been to bmx tracks but mostly cross country. other than the crap bottom bracket that wore out to soon everthing else has been rock solid. i ride with guys with much more expensive bikes and the topanga does everthing there bikes can do. looking forward to many more trouble free miles from my topanga. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
George Reither
a Weekend Warrior
from Sylmar
Date Reviewed: April 25, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | gabrielino tail | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$499.00 | | Purchased At: | sport chalet | | Strengths: | Strong frame, nice frame geometry (for me anyways), very upgradable, looks cool(I think), good components for the price. | | Weaknesses: | none that I can think of. Well...maybe they should of put a better fork on this thing, although I've had no problems with the Judy TT that came with it. The whole bike is a little heave, but im not really concerned too much with weight. The way my bike is set up, it weighs about 27 pounds. Is that good? | | Similar Products Used: | This is my first real bike. | | Bike Setup: | Truvativ Team handlebars and stem. XT rear derailleur. XT chain. Sun Ringle Zu Zu pedals. Ritchey slicks 1.4' tires (this is my commuting bike to and from work). Everything else stock. | | Bottom Line: | I'm sure glad I bought this bike. I was a beginner when I bought this bike, and I think, all in all, I'm a better biker because of this bike (for being a hardtail). I've taken a few pretty hard falls on this bike and the frame is hanging in there better that I thought it would. Perfect beginners bike, and with a few upgrades, could be a perfect intermediate to advanced bike. The Bottom Line: I love this bike. five stars all the way. Ride one first before you judge it (Whats good for me may not be good for you). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jerome
a Cross Country Rider
from Spokane WA
Date Reviewed: April 12, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | Wheel Sport ND | | Strengths: | Very light in weight, components are exceptional especially for the overall price paid. Very responsive. | | Weaknesses: | Stock WTB seat sucks IMO, I changed it the second day of riding. Pedals seem cheesy. Im not sure if this is a weakness, but going downhill at faster speeds the bike wants to float because its so light. (maybe its the tires). | | Similar Products Used: | Crap Fred Myer bikes. | | Bike Setup: | Stock except seat. | | Bottom Line: | Excellent bike for daily riding, weekend trails. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
KT
a Cross Country Rider
from Roanoke, Va.
Date Reviewed: January 26, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | dick's | | Strengths: | Geometry, Climbs Well, handles well | | Weaknesses: | deore front derialleur, judy | | Similar Products Used: | Giant, Fisher | | Bike Setup: | psylo race, hollowtech 2 crank, xt stuff, RS seatpost | | Bottom Line: | I love this bike for what I have into it, great bike to upgrade along the way as you can afford if you are on a budget. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Gareth
a Weekend Warrior
from Perth, western Australia
Date Reviewed: January 13, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Mundabiddi | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$685.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicyle Entrepenuer | | Strengths: | Looks fantastic, has all the right components for a hobbyist | | Weaknesses: | Tioga factory tyres spin easily, especially in Perth's infamous ball bearing gravel | | Bike Setup: | factory std - Marzocchi EXR Comp forks, Shimano XT running gear, Shimano mech. disc brakes http://www.diamondback.com.au/MTB/Topanga.asp | | Bottom Line: | I'm not fanatical, but Ive progressed from riding a 'run-of-the-mill' bike, to a serious 'weekend warrior' spec. I love the bike, especially its looks, apart from the excessive wheel spin on our Perth gravel. Looking fwd to replacing the tyres with something more suitable to our environment.
ps - riding in Perth's very dusty, 100 plus Deg F conditions is hard work, but soooooooo much fun :-)) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron
a Racer
from Campbell
Date Reviewed: October 11, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Campbell Park Course, Calabazas | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | Wheel Away | | Strengths: | Shimano Mech. Disc, RockShox Judy TT | | Weaknesses: | Crankset, heavy | | Bottom Line: | Ill admit now im a big guy, but I ride hard. This is a great bike. The crankset started creaking alot. I put it in the shop and got it back on Friday. On Sunday it broke again. The original WTB seat is JUNK! I landed on that thing a few hard times and the hollow rails snapped. Got that replaced with a solid rail seat. It rides nice and smooth with great shifting from the Shimano shift levers and the Shimano 9-Speed Drive Train with Rapid Fire Shifters and great stopping from the Shimano Mech. Discs. After riding downhill going about 40-45 and stopping rather quickly there still going strong. The Judy TT shocks are heavy but do make a noticable difference. The original PLASTIC ATB petals are also junk. The WTB Velociraptor (26x2.1) tires have been running smoothly with minable poping. Other then the crankset this is a pretty great bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stu G
a Cross Country Rider
from Nelson, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: June 17, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | DevilsTail :P | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Shimano Discs, LX rear Derailleur, Deore Rapidfire shifters. | | Weaknesses: | Weight, crankset and bottom bracket, formula hubs, 32T rear cassette. | | Similar Products Used: | Diamond Back response, Trek 4500, Avanti Barracuda, Diamond Back Zetec Comp, Diamond Back Vecta comp. | | Bike Setup: | Rock Shox TT forks, Shimano M475 mech discs, LX/Deore components, Formula hubs, Alexrims, Shimano crankset. | | Bottom Line: | Being a Diamond Back fan, when I decided to upgrade I went for the Topanga. I wanted a bike that I could ride hard and rely on every ride. The Topanga has delivered. The Shimano rear drive train has been awesome. Even when the bike has been for a hard muddy thrash its still shifting as smooth as ever. The Shimano mechanical discs are also great. They require a large amount of maintenance to keep them working at their optimum range but the braking power and the predictable modulation on long steep runs is well worth it. I have found that the M08 resin used by this system can be used up very quickly on hard technical runs. This results in having to realign and adjust the pads quite often. The weight of this bike is something I am always thinking about, with discs and a heavy set of Judy TT’s it makes climbing a harder task. The cheap Shimano bottom bracket and crankset on this bike has really been a b__. The bottom bracket is always creaking or clicking I have spent many hours trying to find the cause but what ever I do it doesn’t stop it for long. This bike has been good for me, I have been down some nasty runs and have done some mean climbs and some hard urban assaults and it has never broken down on me. All in all a solid bike that is exactly what the manufactures say – an entry-level comp bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
wu chee yiun
a Weekend Warrior
from singapore
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | east coast | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$600.00 | | Purchased At: | yuppies cycle | | Strengths: | reasonbly priced with decent components | | Weaknesses: | heavy fork and creaking at crankset | | Similar Products Used: | trek 9800 trek 9500 marin comp | | Bike Setup: | judy tt, full shimano deore lx setup, shimano mechanical disc, truvative crankset. | | Bottom Line: | No need to further upgrade if riding on weekend and simple trail. Too heavy to make decent climb. Stable for downhill. Bike a little heavy but for the price to weight ratio not too bad at all. Truvative creaks on uphill. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
luke
a Cross Country Rider
from trenton, nj
Date Reviewed: April 27, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$499.00 | | Strengths: | Any other bike in the $500 range has shimano acera, tektro sidepull brakes, etc. For the low end price, midclass components, deore LX, deore, shimano disc, truvativ crankset, WTB tires, shimano hubs | | Weaknesses: | JUDY JUDY JUDY you are crap! the Rockshox JUDY TTL is horrible. If you're 195-200 pounds frame flexes a considerable amount under hard pedaling. pedal broke the second day riding. | | Bike Setup: | marzocchi MX comp ETA fork, SRAM x.9 rear derailleur and x.9 shifters, XT front derailleur, clipless pedals | | Bottom Line: | If you're like me and only have 400-500 for a bike and can't wait to save more for a better bike then get it. Don't have product envy and want XTR this, and FOX forks that. Unless you're a doctor who makes 400 grand a year forget it. Get a bike and enjoy yourself. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cameron Hedges
a Cross Country Rider
from Saugus, CA, U.S.
Date Reviewed: April 16, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Sullivan Canyon, Santa Monica Mts. | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Purchased At: | About $600 with upgrades | | Strengths: | Very light stiff frame, disc brakes, climbs like a goat, sucks up the bumps. | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | Diamond Back Ascent EX | | Bike Setup: | Topangs Comp Disc frame, Bomber MZ Comp, XT D's and disc hubs, Avid mechanical brakes w/avid levers, Sun rims, grip shift, 9spd DT | | Bottom Line: | I hope this review is fair. I custom built this bike from the frame up so my components differ a bit from the stock, but I love this bike. Frame is light, stiff, and well built. And, typical Diamond Back, this thing climbs like crazy. Something else, the frame doesn't seem to have the typical aluminum vibrations during the downhill. I guess it could be my WTB seat, but this frame really seems to suck up the bumps. With all that said, I think the stock version of this bike is well worth the money. You are going to ride this bike for a long long time. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
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