Anyone like Diamond Back's?

Retro_Roy · Jun 30, 2012

hi all
this is a Diamond Back axis le of unknown vintage to me. anyone know what year? it is almost mint. :shock: looks to be never ridden. interesting feature, top tube is ovalized at both ends. fork blades are done in matt or satin finish to match stem. i think it's very cool. comments?
roy

Retro_Roy · Jun 30, 2012

merckx · Jun 30, 2012

i love diamond backs. but very specifically, only this model year you own. afaik its 1991 model.

axis bikes typically had a XT spec and avenir and tioga components, with a traditional curved blade steel fork.

looks like your rig has been built up, looks nice and will come up even better with a few tasteful mods.

Neil · Jun 30, 2012

merckx":3oprivam said:
i love diamond backs. but very specifically, only this model year you own. afaik its 1991 model.

axis bikes typically had a XT spec and avenir and tioga components, with a traditional curved blade steel fork.

looks like your rig has been built up, looks nice and will come up even better with a few tasteful mods.

I don't think that's a 91 - because it's a Tange frame - maybe 90?

Font used in the decals is like 91, but I'm pretty sure by the time 91 had come along, frames were all True Temper.

I have a 91 Axis, which has a very similar / same paintjob (black with a sort of splatter effect) and a 91 Apex (red with a sort of stripped paint effect) and both have True Temper frames (OX for the Axis, AVR for the Apex).

Retro_Roy · Jun 30, 2012

hi
any chance this is some sort of north america or more specific canadian version of this model?
it is dripping with suntour components. not a piece of shimano to be seen on it.
as i mentioned previously, the finish on the fork matches the stem exactly.
for some reason i don't believe this was `built up' but came this way originally.
it doesn't look like it was ever ridden.
any comments on the double ovalized top tube? has anyone seen that before?
if you want more pictures of something let me know.
roy

Neil · Jun 30, 2012

Retro_Roy":29usukrp said:
hi
any chance this is some sort of north america or more specific canadian version of this model?
it is dripping with suntour components. not a piece of shimano to be seen on it.
as i mentioned previously, the finish on the fork matches the stem exactly.
for some reason i don't believe this was `built up' but came this way originally.
it doesn't look like it was ever ridden.
any comments on the double ovalized top tube? has anyone seen that before?
if you want more pictures of something let me know.
roy

Colour scheme could be region specifc, but I don't think the tubing, or potentially the Suntour kit lie. I suspect 90, because of the colour scheme and decals, and because of the tubing.

And yes, I know that around 97 they used some differing tubing on some models, depending on region, but I don't think they were doing that in 90 or 91.

Retro_Roy · Jun 30, 2012

few more pictures.

Retro_Roy · Jun 30, 2012

mamadirt · Jun 30, 2012

Wow that's great

My first MTB was a Diamondback - nothing like that though - just a basic 1992 Camarillo but it was the one that started it all and I'd love to find another for that reason alone.

Love the forks. Switchblades?

Neil · Jun 30, 2012

This is a close up of my 91 Axis - notice the uncanny resemblance in paintwork, 'cept now on True Temper tubing:-

Another tell of yours being an earlier one is the scalloped top to the seat tube - 91 models and later it's just straight.

There's some more pics of my 91 in my build thread that's so far not progressed much, 'cos of lack of time, travel (sadly not enough time-travel) and middle-aged-torpor.

Anyone like Diamond Back's?

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