Retro Diamond Back any good?

[Dr S]

Frankenshite II, my singlespeed project is based around a Sorrento. Its not a bad frame, rides well and ain't too heavy. I really like it, but its a little different now to the day it left the factory . If the lower end stuff was good, top end must be great IMO.
Hoping to get it back from the powdercoaters in morning, will unleash it on the world at weekend!

 

[JeRkY]

Nice looking skinny steel retro DBR went on ebay the other day for a relatively small amount, looked really nice, good condition too, I was half tempted.

 

[jango]

Are Diamond Back, as a brand, highly regarded these days - what is the general concensus on this?

No, generally speaking....hence their relativally low values.

Thay went downhill in the late nineties but I think some of their newer offerings look like they are getting back on track.

Personnally I think they are a cracking ride, I started on a DBR, tried various things in the mean time none of which were as good so I'm still riding them, a bit twitchy for some but I like that, and the cheap prices mean I can buy more of them

 

[Timmy]

think I had a sorrento? Black with pink/purple writing? Going way back like, early to mid 90's... Got swiped outside the sweet shop :-(

 

[Geoff]

Aren't the new Genesis bikes something to do with Diamond Back? Very nice they are.

Nah they were originally an offshoot of Ridgeback, not DB.

 

[cherrybomb]

Aren't the new Genesis bikes something to do with Diamond Back? Very nice they are.

Nah they were originally an offshoot of Ridgeback, not DB.

Knew it was 'something' back. Just got the wrong one. :roll:

Now; here's a question for ya.........

Am I imagining this or is it true that the Mongoose name was chosen because Mongeese (or is that Mongooses ??) eat Diamond Backs (rattle snakes).
Seem to remember it was from back in the BMX days. Always made me smile, even if it is an old wives tail. :?

 

[orange71]

My first MTB was a DB Topanga, and I currently have an Axis which I love (set up as SS). Definitely underrated.

 

[Tallpaul]

Whilst there are a bunch of people interested in DBR in one place, anyone care to hazard a guess at the age of my Axis TT?

It has water-cut dropouts and serial number DBR181437.

I've seen one on MTBR that the owner claims is a 1997, it has the exact same decals as mine with serial number DBR181297. I think he believes it's a 1997 because of the 97 at the end of the serial number, but as mine shows this is not the year.

Mine has a canti bridge, so i doubt it's as late as '97. But how long did they build them for? Maybe they always had a canti bridge :?

Here is a photo of identical decals to mine, with 'Diamond Back Racing' on one line along the downtube, which is differant from Kev's... The colour of the DBR sticker is also differant to the '94 catalogue, but that catalogue is Spanish and my frame came from the US - not that i can see them putting differant decals on in the same year, they can't have made very many!

 

[DM]

My former housemate had an Apex (or maybe an Axis?)... took it for a spin in the woods and it was fantastic.

But the black-chrome Harry Leary Turbo is the one to get. (Ker-ching! £££$$$)
I saw one in an amazing bike shop in Oostend on a family holiday. If I close my eyes I can still see her now, plain as day...

 

[JustKev]

Whilst there are a bunch of people interested in DBR in one place, anyone care to hazard a guess at the age of my Axis TT?

1995 - same as mine. We both have decals missing. Soon to be rectified.

But the black-chrome Harry Leary Turbo is the one to get. (Ker-ching! £££$$$)

Agreed.