1994 Diamond Back Axis - Rescue Build a.k.a. Guest Bike

Saw an ad on Marketplace for "Must buy all, take all" add for $50.xx CDN.

What caught my eye was the set of obviously a pair of custom Mavic 26" rims on XT hubs that looked barely used.

The photos sucked but I could see enough to see Diamond Back on the downtube of the bike with the mavic rims. No seat post, no seat.

That was enough for me to offer buy.

When I got there to pick it up, I saw that it was a 1994 Diamond Back Axis. And the other bikes I had to take with me.

Could not believe my luck.

Full XT.... the real deal... True Temper TT-Lite tubeset.... I had scored big time.

15.5 inch size (from centre of sloping tube to centre of BB). 21.5" top tube. Perfect for a "Guest Bike"

These photos prove the that fact I am in deed single...lol - When was the last time your wife let you clean a chain over the kitchen sink eh?

As it is mostly XT, not much to change. It will be built up as a road/city/paved trails bike for friends to ride.

SFP said:

Saw an ad on Marketplace for "Must buy all, take all" add for $50.xx CDN.

What caught my eye was the set of obviously a pair of custom Mavic 26" rims on XT hubs that looked barely used.

The photos sucked but I could see enough to see Diamond Back on the downtube of the bike with the mavic rims. No seat post, no seat.

That was enough for me to offer buy.

When I got there to pick it up, I saw that it was a 1994 Diamond Back Axis. And the other bikes I had to take with me.

Could not believe my luck.

Full XT.... the real deal... True Temper TT-Lite tubeset.... I had scored big time.

15.5 inch size (from centre of sloping tube to centre of BB). 21.5" top tube. Perfect for a "Guest Bike"

These photos prove the that fact I am in deed single...lol - When was the last time your wife let you clean a chain over the kitchen sink eh?

As it is mostly XT, not much to change. It will be built up as a road/city/paved trails bike for friends to ride.

Click to expand...

Great find…what did the original advert pic look like?

Nice, that should be a True Temper Ox frame?

vtwinvince said:

Nice, that should be a True Temper Ox frame?

Click to expand...

TT-Lite for 1994. The frame number will confirm the date if you want me to check it.

First debate on the build...

Rock Shox Judy LT T2 or Marzocchi Bombers fork for the this build.

This will be for guest to use for off road riding.... as I am gonna use the Trek 4900 WSD for road/city use for friends.

Both are great shocks and in great condition...

Reasons why to choose one over the other ???

Asking the Hive Mind as it were.

Thanks in advance folks.

Also have decided it will get my XTR V-brakes with matching levers.

Need to decide on which wheelset... keeping the XT derailleurs. May put a slightly shorter stem on it (have a Thompson 110mm collecting dust).

Pedals I will swap out... not sure for what yet, but something smaller and ideally coloured.

Tires, no idea yet... Not sure yet if I will drop a flat-bar on it, but it needs bar ends so a wider bar if nothing else.

Every time I pick it up and I am slightly shocked at how light it is. Gotta LOVE this tubeset.

Have also selected a name for her - Sally aka Frog - from Sally Fields in Smokey in the Bandit....

She is getting a Rock Shox, I am going to throw the Bomber on my Rocky build for myself.

Hoping to get started on the build this up coming week. Pics to follow.

You're on a roll lately. Great find. I'm looking forward to this one too. I think the Judy is the right choice. I love Bombers but I think they look best on over sized aluminum frames.

I know people talk smack about XTR v brakes but I absolutely love the durn things. Kinda feel the same about Mavic 230 TIB rims. I guess a racer could tear either one of those apart in a few minutes, but I'm no racer. RE forks, marzocchi of course, is that a trick question? I dunno, the bombers are just little tiny motorcycle shocks, I can wrap my head around that (and work on that) ymmv. Only downside is, as of the last time I looked you're kinda stuck with a spring rate appropriate for like a 16 year old. But just cruising around I don't think it'll hurt anything

Well I finally got her up into the stand yesterday.

Started at the front. Complete teardown of the headset and removal of the stock fork. Basic cleaning on frame.

By the looks of it, it was the OG grease which was not a big shock. Got the Judy LT T2 installed along with the XTR brakes up front.

The OG front mech XT shifter is fubar (not sure it can be repaired), so I need to decide on shifters... tempted to use thumbies (but I am down to only one set on hand and those are ear marked for one of my own rides).

I do have the matching XTR brake levers so those will be used along side the XTR V-brakes. Front and Rear derailleurs need a good servicing and I may have to replace the front one - but lets see how it works after a proper cleaning and servicing - rear is just dirty and works great. Need to clean the chain and chain-rings as they are beyond dirty at this point. The BB feels fine, so I am leaving it alone at this time. I really like the looks of this era of XT cranks, so they are staying for sure.

At this point I have mounted up a pair of LX Hubs laced to Sun Rhino Lite wheels. I have to keep telling myself this is for guests, some of whom may never had ridden off road, so the heavy duty rims will serve the purpose well and to stop being a weight wheenie about the rims.

Not sure about the tires at this point, but they were already mounted so have left them at this time. Am leaning towards a Smoke or Velociraptor on the back and no idea about the front at this time. The existing front tire is a Black Jack that IMHO is a good front tire, I am leaning towards something a tad wider than the 2.1 size (maybe a front Velociraotor ???).

Have put on a Ritchey handlebar I had laying around. Cleaned up the OG Tioga stem she came with and reused it given it fits length wise kind of perfectly. Seat post and seat tube are nicely lubed up and a seat mounted.
Aqua ODI Mushroom grips are waiting to be installed along with a pair of bar ends.

Need to select pedals, as those currently on her are HUGE and I figure they can be used for another project. Will also need to pick up an entire set of cables and casings (aqua and gold) for her.

Needless to say I can't wait until she gets painted this fall. I have decided I shall go with Gold-Aqua-Gold (Rear Triangle - Main Triangle - OG Forks) - think Team Yeti for gold and aqua colours from the early 1990s. Not sure if I will have the Rock Shox painted to match the new paint job, but will think on it.

I also still need to get my hands on a decal set for her before then.

Had one of the friends who will be riding this bike stop by to watch the Dodgers game and for dinner so I got a chance to do a test fit, and fits really well at this point.