What Diamondback do I own? now with pics

[Jaz]

I bought a Diamondback back in the late 80's/early 90's (sorry I can't be more exact but it's all a bit hazy, think it was more late 80's though), & ended up giving it to my father.
I can get some pictures later today but hopefully you can tell me the year/model from my description as I used to strip the stickers off my bikes back then.

All I remember is it was a limited edition model, it has a black paint scheme with purple flicks of paint over the top.
It came with matching rigid forks & Shimano DX 7spd gearing iirc, any ideas?
An original spec list would be good, although I'm sure I have some old magazines at my parents with an advert for it in. It will just be a mission to dig them out & hunt through them though.

I'm sure my dad told me he saw it featured on some program on the Discovery channel & there was something a bit out of the ordinary about that models tubing or where it was made.

I already own a few decent bikes but I'm considering using it as a project & returning it to it's former original glory.
It's still in a half decent condition but it's missing a few original parts due to me giving him the odd hand me down.

Thanks for any help!

ADDED PICTURES!

 

[tintin40]

can't help. But some pictures would be cool

 

[Jaz]

Seat/Stem/Headset/Forks/Crank/Wheels are all non original, the XCR crank I remember was a bargain costing me £25, the nds arm is original shimano though I'm sure. Bar ends are Onza under the grips
It looks tatty but some is dirt & some are scratches.
Can anyone identify it now?

 

[jango]

Early '90s Apex is my best guess........the frame looks about right for that period but that paint scheme isn't in my catalogue so I can't be specific on the year, the original DX groupset would make it Apex level though.

 

[Pickle]

Early '90s Apex is my best guess........the frame looks about right for that period but that paint scheme isn't in my catalogue so I can't be specific on the year, the original DX groupset would make it Apex level though.

My mate had an Apex in the early 90's, and that was full DX.....but it was the smokey white colour. The Axis was a darker colour, but that was XT IIRC :?

 

[Jaz]

Thanks for the reply's, it was definitely a limited edition model though, that I do remember.
I have a feeling it was a DBR Accent LE but can't confirm that as it's just from memory.
I think I'll have to read through my pile of old MTB mags from that period as I pretty sure there's an advert for it in one, hopefully it will also have the original spec as there's a chance I swapped out the DX parts so it could have been XT originally.
I'll post back when/if I find it & include a scan of the advert.

I took it out for a spin the other day as well & it still runs pretty much perfect, my dad used to get it serviced regularly & took better care of it than I did.
It felt a bit of a tank compared to my Salsa Bandito XC bike but was still a lot of fun, just takes a lot more effort to get it rolling.

 

[Ziggy]

1991 Ascent EX would be my guess.

 

[Neil]

1991 Ascent EX would be my guess.

Agreed - I think the Apex from that era was red (by that point, afer the smokey paint jobs that preceded). The Axis paint job in black was more splattery.

The hoods on the STI combos look like they would have been on the Ascent / Ascent EX.

 

[oochieminger]

I had one of those!

I'm pretty sure it's a Diamondback Acent EX Limited Edition.
It was in the 1992 catalogue. I think retail was around £419.
I loved the black gloss with fluo pink splatter.
Deore LX was the standard equipment if i remember as i wanted to upgrade to XT.
This was my first real MTB and I used to think that I was the mutts nuts as everyone else round here were on releigh mustangs
I had a mate with a Carrera Krakatoa. Think he still has it.
Good times, Good times.

 

[Jaz]

Thanks everyone for confirming it's a Ascent Limited Edition, I had a look through my old magazines but they only went back to around 1993 & I couldn't find an advert for it.