|
|
|
| |
Submitted by
MICHAEL
a Cross Country Rider
from SAN JOSE
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | MAILBOXES | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$800.00 | | Purchased At: | ONLINE | | Strengths: | This frame is extremely lightwieght and a very good climber. | | Weaknesses: | The pivot-point for the swingarm is mounted extremely high on the bike which causes a reasonable amount of side to side and twisting motion in the bottom bracket area. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Manitou Skareb fork, Swinger shock, Shimano XT on everything else. | | Bottom Line: | This is a great cross country bike, but a bit on the flimsy side. If you can get a good deal on one, it will get the job done. I would probably go for a Santa Cruz Superlight if i were to do it over again. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
wayne lockett
a Cross Country Rider
from huntsville,alabama u.s.
Date Reviewed: May 20, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | mount sano | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay...various e-retailers,local bike shops | | Strengths: | 2005 redesigned frame,metallic paint with clearcoat(black),light,nicely designed frame | | Weaknesses: | not enough rear travel | | Similar Products Used: | ross mt. olympus,haro extreme,specialized rockhopper a-1 comp,klein mantra | | Bike Setup: | 2002 rock shox psylo xc 125mm travel fork with u-turn and tulio 20mm,manitou radium rl rear shock 90mm travel with lockout,2005 shimano deore xt hollowtech crank,front and rear derailliers,bottom bracket,9 speed
optical shifters,raceface realseal headset,syntase vro ecolite handlebar and adjustable stem system,shimano deore xt rear casette,generic disc brakes,avid flak jacket shifter and brake cables,time atac xc pedals,supergo(remember them?)wireless computer,raceface lock on grips,avid ulimate single digit ulitmate brake levels,kobi xenon saddle,sette apx alloy 400mm seatpost,performance forte ergo carbon barends,excaliber white freeride anti-snakebite rims,sks xtra dry 3 rear fender,sette seat bag,sigma sport rear red led seatpost light,diamondback sl super 20" frame,continental twister pro semi-slick tires,and sette alloy quick release (rear),lizard skins head
set,fork and chainstay protectors,and mazocchi 20mm front hub | | Bottom Line: | i took a couple of years to put this bike together after i sold my klein mantra to a co-worker.i bought mostly everything online with the exception of the shimano xt rear cassette and rear deraillier,and avid single digit ulitmate brake levers.i have always wanted to build my own mountain
bike and i have done it.it's a sweet ride and i very happy overall with it with the exception of the rear travel,but i can live with it. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Spencer Stagg
a Cross Country Rider
from San luis obispo CA
Date Reviewed: November 7, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Poly Canyon | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | Looks great, fairly lite, can find them cheap, don't see too many around | | Weaknesses: | It's almost an exact copy of a santa cruz superlite, Diamondback quality, not a 4 bar link suspension | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized rockhopper, and ironhorse hardtails | | Bike Setup: | 2005 diamondback frame,skereb platunum fork, Avid juicy 7, sram xo drivetrain | | Bottom Line: | This bike is great, I love taking it out any chance I get, however I have had some issues with it. First of all, even though diamondback writes "designed in usa" on there bikes, and the easton tubes are made here too, doesn't mean the bike is made in usa, and it shows. The entire frame was powdercoated including all of the contactpoints between the frame and the headset, cranks, and the suspension pivot. My lbs wanted $70 to properly face the frame, and that wouldn't include the suspension pivot which makes neverending clicking/creaking noises unless I keep it really tight with lots of lube. I appreciate the lightweight design on the clibs, but when I really need to push it or bomb a downhill section I do wish the rear of the frame was stiffer. I know it is the best frame I could get for the money, and I haven't yet compaired it to an actuall sc sl, but I kind of wish I shelled out more for a quality all mountain ride | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a Racer
from San Luis Obispo, Ca
Date Reviewed: July 23, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Phils World, Cortez, CO | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Strengths: | Was a sweet ride to the very end. Very good for climbing and soaked up the drops with ease. | | Weaknesses: | Completely cracked through a weld on the rear triangle after only a few months of riding. The frame is destroyed. This is too bad. I'd stay away from this frame especially if you are 200lbs and love to hammer. | | Bottom Line: | Nice frame for the money. A failed weld is never a plus in my book, so I would not recommend this bike. Spend the extra cash and get the SC superlight. Adios! | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John
a
from St Croix
Date Reviewed: June 14, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$750.00 | | Weaknesses: | Daimond Back will not warranty it | | Similar Products Used: | TREK OCLV Hardtail, Trek Y22 OCLV | | Bottom Line: | The frame developed a cracked near the pivot of the rear suspension and Daimond Back will not warranty it. Read more about the DBR warranties at http://www.diamondback.4t.com | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andrew Cain
a Racer
from Bakersfiel, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: January 13, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | Unal | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Purchased At: | Sponsor | | Strengths: | Great price, light weight, air shox, adjustable rear shox angle, rear lock out, good frame geometry, just a very sturdy frame. | | Weaknesses: | It could always be lighter... | | Similar Products Used: | 04 SL Super | | Bike Setup: | Manitou Skareb Super with TPC Lockout, Avid mechanical disk brakes, Ritchey Pro components, Manitou Radium RL rear shox, XTR shifters, Cyclepro wheels, and XT hubs. | | Bottom Line: | The 04 Diamondback SL Super had a major problem with the frames folding about 4 inches under the head tube. Trust me I found this out first hand. Diamondback replaced the frame no questions asked. The new SL Super frames came with a small piece of metal welded under the bottom tube up to the top tube that eliminated this problem. The new frames also came with a new frame design. This eliminated the other problem the 04 frames had, they would not corner! The 05 frames corners like a pro.
The 05 frames are a great, fairly inexpensive, competitive crosscountry frame.
I would recommend it to any XC racer. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Johnny Durocher
a Cross Country Rider
from Seattle, WA, USA
Date Reviewed: September 19, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Galbraith | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | lbs | | Strengths: | Loaded with top end components: XT, Hollowtech crank, dual shift, Manitou Skareb Super and Radium RL with lockout, hydraulic disc brakes, Truvativ Team Carbon bar, WTB Speed Disc Pro XC wheels, and Truvativ Team seatpost. Easton aluminum frame (similar to the Santa Cruz Superlight design, but without the curved top tube). The SL Super is surprisingly lightweight, nimble and well-balanced. | | Weaknesses: | The Manitou Skareb could be a bit more laterally rigid (something I've read they are doing on the new model) to improve tracking. An improved, lighter wheelset would be an improvement (as on almost every bike). | | Similar Products Used: | Former bike is a Cannondale M800 (Beast of the East). There is no comparison, as the two bikes are totally different, and both great in their own ways. The M800 will climb anything, but will try to toss you on the way back down. The SL Super climbs remarkably well for a F/S bike, especially with the lockout, and it rewards you on the way down the hill with an unmatched fluidity. | | Bike Setup: | Stock, save a Titec carbon seatpost, 959 pedals, and Flight titanium saddle. | | Bottom Line: | A great ride that is remarkable nimble and lightweight for a F/S bike. Perfect for the person that wants to get into a full suspension ride without feeling like they're riding a tank, or pedaling one up a hill. A great cross country ride that is great in varied conditions.
Also, there has been some controversy over the Shimano Dual Control levers (brakes and shifting all in one), which the SL Super comes with. I've gotta say that I like it. It's not necessary by any stretch, but it has worked well for me and I would have a hard time going back to standard shifters. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike
a Racer
from Florida
Date Reviewed: May 2, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Razorback | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Village Cycles | | Strengths: | Very similar to the Santa Cruz Superlight, great riding frame, makes the rider feel at home. | | Weaknesses: | A tad heavier than an SC Superlight. Not a hardtail... but guess that is in the eye of the beholder. | | Similar Products Used: | SC Superlight, Trek Fuel | | Bike Setup: | Sid Race, Am Classic 350 Disc Wheels, XT Cranks, XTR Disc Brakes, Easton, Thomson | | Bottom Line: | This bike rocks for all day riding. I am reviewing only the frame, but my overall setup is not that dissimilar from the complete package. I have raced a 6 hour, a 12 hour, and 5 XC races on this bike so far. It has also logged ~ 2000 road miles during its tenure with me. Pretty much whatever I do to this bike it takes and doesn't compalin in the slightest. I do wish it had a stable platform rear shock but the Manitou QRL does a fine job since it can be locked out as necessary. If there was a way to shave a bit of weight of this frame I think that you'd see more people racing them at XC events. I'll be keeping mine for the foreseeable future. Don't overlook this bike because it doesn't have a chic name attached to it. If you ride your bike hard, and simply want the frame to do its job this bike will not let you down. Low maintenance XC frame I think I have tightened the pivots a total of 1 time in 6 months. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a
from Alameda, CA USA
Date Reviewed: September 2, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | flume | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | bike shop | | Strengths: | value. Component package. Great for downhill compared to my old Trek 950 no suspension. Like a whole different sport. More like the dirt motorycle I have. | | Weaknesses: | somewhat sloppy welds. Seat is not so good. | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale Jackyl. | | Bike Setup: | stock. | | Bottom Line: | A great bike at any price. Not as freeride oriented/plush as my wifes bike but not suppose to be. Will do anything you want pretty much. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Grant Stirling
a Racer
from Nelson, New Zealand
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2004 | | Favorite Trail: | Heaphy Track | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1600.00 | | Purchased At: | Provo Utah | | Strengths: | Light weight all XT disc bike with lockout rear shock makes it ideal for XC racing. Takes relatively hard hits with out bottoming even when the rear shock is set soft.
Brakes a nice step up from the old LX V brakes. Rear lock out is necessary if running the rear end soft. Higher pressure in the rear is a good compromise for the climbs in a XC race when you don't have time to reach for the lock out lever. Keeps good lines in ruts feels much safer at speed in the rough. | | Weaknesses: | Front Manatou Sareb elite 80mm needs a lock out or VPS valve as they sag badly when out of the seat even with 150 psi.I would go for the 100mm if I had the choice. I'm 178 lbs. Cooked the front brake on a long steep down hill so swaped the std resin pads for metallic. WTB tyres worn real fast on slick rock working great here in NZs winter dampness. | | Similar Products Used: | Avanti aggressor LX 99 aluminuim hard tail | | Bike Setup: | Stock bike with 80mm scareb elite Manatou QRL rear shock Kept the ridiculously wide truvative bars-I like'm now. | | Bottom Line: | I had my eye on the Blurr but went for the deal instead and I'm happy. I'm 6'1 and have the large with the seat post at max height? yet the top tube length is almost too long for me. Not the bike for big air | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
| |
|
Photo Caption Contest
(sponsored by Maxxis)
|
Enter here
|
|
|
$
