Trying to identify a tandem

[DrDada]

Hi,

This, my second post to bikeforums, is a request for help.

I have a mountain-bike tandem which has decals on it that indicate it is a "Diamondback V-12". I have done much web-hunting and found no evidence that such a bike ever existed. As such, I think maybe my bike is a 'fake' - it is a frame someone has painted red and attached Diamondback decals. (It has a pressed metal Diamondback logo on the front of the head stem, but the logo is stuck to the frame not riveted in place.)

I have attached an image and a specification sheet for this bike.

Any and all advice would be very welcome.

Thank you for reading,
Colin

[StephenH]

Your explanation sounds reasonable.

I do find a Diamondback tandem- a "Wildwood"- but it doesn't look anything like yours, and doesn't have the V12 name.

Another possibility is that the word "Diamondback" may not be a registered trademark, so it could be some other Chinese bicycle with that brand.

[DrDada]

Your explanation sounds reasonable.

I do find a Diamondback tandem- a "Wildwood"- but it doesn't look anything like yours, and doesn't have the V12 name.

Another possibility is that the word "Diamondback" may not be a registered trademark, so it could be some other Chinese bicycle with that brand.

Thank you for this.

From my limited understanding, the componentry seems reasonable - not top-of-the-line but certainly appropriate for more casual riding. The bike certainly contains a mix of component brands!

Thanks again,
Colin

[zonatandem]

So what's in a name?
There are Gucci and Nike copies, why not Diamondback?
If it rides OK and suits your needs, just enjoy the ride TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

[DrDada]

So what's in a name?
There are Gucci and Nike copies, why not Diamondback?
If it rides OK and suits your needs, just enjoy the ride TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

You are right, of course. I guess it is just my personality - wanting to know what it is I have in my garage!

It certainly rides well.

Thanks,
Colin

[cornucopia72]

As such, I think maybe my bike is a 'fake' - it is a frame someone has painted red and attached Diamondback decals.
Colin

The excentric/stems/etc. look like good quality... if anything, components look better than most diamonbacks I have seen.

[TandemGeek]

I guess it is just my personality - wanting to know what it is I have in my garage!

Ignoring the decals, the frame looks like it was made by Kinesis (http://www.kinesis.com.tw/profile_2004.htm), e.g., tubing selections, welds, eccentric shell, and cable stops. If not Kinesis, then one of the newer players in Asia who has modeled their tandem designs after the ones produced by Kinesis. I'm pretty sure (still checking) that last year's one-size-fits-all tandem from Pinarello was also made by Kinesis per Pinarello's specs and well as for Peugeot, Thorn, Fandango, etc... Pretty much anyone who wants to use them as a source.

[DrDada]

Ignoring the decals, the frame looks like it was made by Kinesis (http://www.kinesis.com.tw/profile_2004.htm), e.g., tubing selections, welds, eccentric shell, and cable stops. If not Kinesis, then one of the newer players in Asia who has modeled their tandem designs after the ones produced by Kinesis. I'm pretty sure (still checking) that last year's one-size-fits-all tandem from Pinarello was also made by Kinesis per Pinarello's specs and well as for Peugeot, Thorn, Fandango, etc... Pretty much anyone who wants to use them as a source.

WOW. THANK YOU for this detail.

I was checking the bike again last night and, from what I can figure, the Shimano gearing was made in 1997.

Also, the Serial Number appears to be partially obscured by frame welding. That is, I can see what looks like part of a letter stamp before the visible serial number of 'VGI00224'. But this does not make sense to me - why would a serial number be stamped on the frame prior to it being completed?

Thanks again.

Colin