My '94 Diamond Back Axis Pro 'Tribute' (& many thank you's)
- Thread starter kjarrett
- Start date
kjarrett
Retro Guru
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
kjarrett
Retro Guru
Thank you!
kjarrett
Retro Guru
Thanks a lot! I'm enjoying the heck out of it! DB made some terrific bikes back in the 90s. Happy my post brought back some good memories for you!
SFP
Dirt Disciple
Hi everyone,
Just wanted to take a moment and acknowledge this community for being such a huge help with my restoration project. This is my only bike, I'm not a collector, and though I've owned and have worked on bikes as a hobby for 25+ years, I'm far from an expert. The people I have met here, and the information I have gotten in this forum, have been a huge part of the success of this build. So let's begin, shall we?
Pics of the bike, and the build, are here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmSqNwGX
I also post about the bike and my adventures (sic) on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twozerodeltathree/
This particular bike started out as a bare frame on Craigslist. I'd purchased it because months earlier, I'd gotten a '93 Diamond Back Response Elite (also on Craigslist) that I knowingly acquired despite the frame being one size too small. (I had been out of the hobby for 25+ years and was desperate to get back into it, and that bike was what I wanted - vintage steel hardtail, XT/LX, in great condition). I rode it for six months until I decided to upgrade the frame, because you can do that, contrary to popular opinion.I found the Axis Pro frame on Craigslist moved all the parts onto it in August 2020. I then rode it happily for several months while I started shopping for a full XT kit to install over the winter.
Before I go any further, I should say that this is NOT meant as a full RESTORATION (it's incorrect in almost every way), it's more a a TRIBUTE (and not even that really) since the real Axis Pro had full XTR M900. And, despite the fact I just HAPPENED to come into possession of MOST of an M900 group on an old Trek 8900, I decided against using it all. It was in rough nick, and so incomplete that I determined the cost of acquiring the missing bits would be too much. Plus I didn't care about bragging rights or weight reduction as this bike is a RIDER not a showpiece. So I sold those M900 bits to help defray the costs of this rebuild and kept on course with the XT build plan.
Bike specs (along with a tip of the hat to the folks here who provided parts or help):
Frame: Diamond Back Axis Pro (1994)
Material: TT-Lite Cromoly Steel
Fork: Marzocchi XC-51 [legs rebuilt by Retro Guru, thank you!]
Paint: Gloss Black Powdercoat by Sport Bike Powdercoating
Decals: Retrodecals [Thanks, gil_m!]
First off, beautiful build. Second, damn nice photos you have of the process/build.
I had/raced a 1994 Axis back in the day and have regretted letting it go pretty much since the day I let it go.
IMHO the Axis steel tubesets (True Temper TT-Lite) were simply beautiful for the era. I loved how mine rode and handle single track, climbed, and the BMX type abuse I threw at it. It was light, fast and a damn responsive frame in my opinion. I had come from ridding a 1992 Rocky Mountain Experience prior to the DB.
Yours is similar in build up to what I has with the following differences:
- Answer Pro Fork
- Shimano 600 Shortcage RD
- Dia Compe 987 front and Rear, SS-7 levers
- Brodie magnesium brake boosters front and rear
- Control Tech stem
- Shimano 7/8 above bar thumb shifters
- Mavic 231 rims front & rear - Custom built with double-butted DT spokes (3 cross drive, 2 cross outboard on the rear - 2 cross on the front)
- Scott AT-2 LF handlebar
- Rear tire WTB Velociraptor and a WTB Velociraptor up front.
Yes, I miss that bike.
As dumb luck would have it, I have had a 1994 Axis come back into my life two weeks back.
I bought it off the OG owner for the wheels (a barely used Mavic custom wheel set to be used on another project) and it wasn't until I went to pick up that I realized what it actually was (stickers missing on TT). I forgot how damn light these bikes were until I picked it.
Needless to say, I did a happy dance when I got home and was looking it over - Full XT, etc.... just missing a seatpost and seat (anyone have an the sizing, I keep reading 27.0 but can't confirm that).
It's not perfect... missing some frame stickers, the aforementioned seatpost and seat, patina on the forks and a slightly on the frame. It needs a serious cleaning and the drivetrain a serious degreasing and relube.
Currently I have a custom paint job scheduled for the fall (early 90's gold and aqua ala Yeti - Gold rear triangle, Aqua main triangle and Gold for the forks). Will need a new decal set, so also searching for someone who can do actual proper reproduction (seems to be hit and miss with a number of the suppilers out there).
Build wise I am building it up as a "guest bike" for city, road, paved-light gravel trails. Yes, I will do a thread for the build.
So again... awesome build you have their and damn nice to see other folks who appreciate these seriously underrated bikes.
