1985 Diamondback Apex! CL Score and build thread
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
1985 Diamondback Apex! CL Score and build thread
I have been really digging the old school MTB frames lately and scored this off of CL the other day for a really great price! From what I have found it is a 1985 Diamondback Apex that is completely original, even the tires! The seatpost is fairly scratched up but otherwise it is in good shape. There are some scratches to the paint but nothing too bad. I will be building it up as a drop bar conversion with some nice parts but wanted to document the conversion from start to finish. I really like some of the details on this bike especially the chainstay protector/spoke holder. The stem is also interesting(Nitto?), it is basically a 1" threadless stem that has a quill steer tube that it clamps to. I have a nice dirt drop setup that I was going to use on it but I might try and make the original work. I have also seen these with two bottle bosses on the down tube so not sure if that denotes the year or not.
I will post more pics as I build it up and please let me know if you have any vintage Diamondback info or catalog pics.
Parts break down:
Tange butted tubing
Shimano deer head front and rear derailleur
Shimano Deore cranks with biopace rings
Shimano Deore front canti brakes
Suntour XCII pedals
Suzue Sealed hubs laced to Araya rims
Nitto? Stem and riser bars
Shimano Deore brake levers
Shimano Deore Thumb Shifters
Suntour Rollercam Rear Brake (Chainstay mounted)
I will post more pics as I build it up and please let me know if you have any vintage Diamondback info or catalog pics.
Parts break down:
Tange butted tubing
Shimano deer head front and rear derailleur
Shimano Deore cranks with biopace rings
Shimano Deore front canti brakes
Suntour XCII pedals
Suzue Sealed hubs laced to Araya rims
Nitto? Stem and riser bars
Shimano Deore brake levers
Shimano Deore Thumb Shifters
Suntour Rollercam Rear Brake (Chainstay mounted)
__________________
Bikes are cool, even the dumb ones.
Bikes are cool, even the dumb ones.
Last edited by purebikes; 04-21-15 at 09:51 AM.
Likes For purebikes:
#2
Phyllo-buster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 8,847
Bikes: roadsters, club bikes, fixed and classic
Mentioned: 133 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2298 Post(s)
Liked 2,055 Times
in
1,255 Posts
There's nothing on that bike not to like. A beauty. The hubs are really cool without the cutouts. A Japanese version of the Harden Bacon slicers of old. Nice.
#4
Extraordinary Magnitude
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Waukesha WI
Posts: 13,648
Bikes: 1978 Trek TX700; 1978/79 Trek 736; 1984 Specialized Stumpjumper Sport; 1984 Schwinn Voyageur SP; 1985 Trek 620; 1985 Trek 720; 1986 Trek 400 Elance; 1987 Schwinn High Sierra; 1990 Miyata 1000LT
Mentioned: 84 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2608 Post(s)
Liked 1,703 Times
in
937 Posts
Yeah, that lugged unicrown fork is cool. I wonder if they thought the fork needed the lug or a fork crown or if it was just close to how they used to do it, or if it was a stylistic choice.
__________________
*Recipient of the 2006 Time Magazine "Person Of The Year" Award*
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
#5
Full Member
Thread Starter
I really like the fork too. The lug definitely adds a nice touch. I have seem some early bmx forks that were similar so it might have been a structural concern or thought to be stronger than a weld.
__________________
Bikes are cool, even the dumb ones.
Bikes are cool, even the dumb ones.
#6
Fat Guy on a Little Bike
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 15,944
Bikes: Two wheeled ones
Mentioned: 42 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1254 Post(s)
Liked 345 Times
in
174 Posts
Congrats...what a great score, and unusual in that sort of condition. LOVE the deerhead derailleurs.
#7
Chainstay Brake Mafia
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: California
Posts: 6,007
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
10 Posts
Very nice. I have one of those, it's my daily rider. Here's an old pic of mine.. it's basically the same as in this pic but some parts have been upgraded since it was taken. I wish I could find a second frame in my size i would do a drop bar conversion on the second frame
There was a review in the March/April 1986 issue of Mountain Bike for the Adventure magazine (more issues here: 1986 - CB Klunkers )
btw i'm not 100% sure but I think the model year is 1986
There was a review in the March/April 1986 issue of Mountain Bike for the Adventure magazine (more issues here: 1986 - CB Klunkers )
btw i'm not 100% sure but I think the model year is 1986
#8
Full Member
Thread Starter
btw i'm not 100% sure but I think the model year is 1986
Yours has the double water bottle bosses on the downtube correct? I wonder why some have it like that and others have the more traditional setup? Maybe it was a mid year change after some feedback?
__________________
Bikes are cool, even the dumb ones.
Bikes are cool, even the dumb ones.
#9
Chainstay Brake Mafia
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: California
Posts: 6,007
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
10 Posts
yeah i have two bottle cages on the downtube. I think because yours is smaller they put one on the seat tube and one on the down tube
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: South of the Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 4,122
Mentioned: 29 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1119 Post(s)
Liked 2,255 Times
in
1,311 Posts
A cool bike in great shape. Congrats on the find! I have a Diamondback Ascent, also an '86. I was interested to see that yours has the same nutted axles (and lawyeriffic wheel retention tabs) that mine has. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your project.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,435
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5888 Post(s)
Liked 3,471 Times
in
2,079 Posts
Cool bike; that's quite a long wheelbase as well. Even though I have two vintage mtbs, I keep my eye out for them on CL. I'd pick up a 3d if the right bike showed up. They're fun bikes.
#12
Full Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Decatur, Alabama USA
Posts: 319
Bikes: '07 Specialized Roubaix Comp, '88 Trek 400T, '88 Diamondback Ascent EX, '56 Raleigh Superbe, '73/60 Raleigh Sports
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
2 Posts
Cool bike! Looking forward to the build pictures. I have an Ascent EX that I bought new in 1988, still love to ride that bike.
#13
Extraordinary Magnitude
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Waukesha WI
Posts: 13,648
Bikes: 1978 Trek TX700; 1978/79 Trek 736; 1984 Specialized Stumpjumper Sport; 1984 Schwinn Voyageur SP; 1985 Trek 620; 1985 Trek 720; 1986 Trek 400 Elance; 1987 Schwinn High Sierra; 1990 Miyata 1000LT
Mentioned: 84 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2608 Post(s)
Liked 1,703 Times
in
937 Posts
In that first article posted- it mentions the 17.5" wheelbase as "short."
__________________
*Recipient of the 2006 Time Magazine "Person Of The Year" Award*
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
#14
Full Member
Nice bike, I’ve had three they are very comfortable (relaxed 69 headtube angle like early Ritcheys and Stumpjumpers), about 30 ponds and full of touring bosses. Your bike is a 1986…they started making frames for that model during mid-85 to sell as an 86 model as best I have been able to gather the little information available. There should be a 5 in one of the three first serial code characters. Something like [X5] but sometimes pre-ceded by an F perhaps for a Japanese Factory. At one time during the 87 model its production changed to Taiwan.
-The Nitto MT-2 stem is reversible, still can be purchased for around $75-100. The bar should also be a Nitto B801, one of the nicest mountain riser bars, in my opinion.
-Tange Mountain Frame with earlier models came with Infinity Tubing (see Frantiks’), top tube has a nice “ping” to it, almost Tange Prestige-like. Sizes over 20” came with two bottle bosses on the downtube.
-The beautiful Suzue hubs have cartridge sealed bearings which were on the early side for production mountain bikes.
-The fork is made by Tange, this is only 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] year of uni-crowns, third if you include late 83 adaptation in some Ritchey-Fisher bikes. This was probably based on the Specialized “lost wax” (if someone can explain that term to me I will appreciated) uni-crown with the lugs. Coming from the crowned forks, the lugs probably were believed to be necessary on MTBs at the time (just guessing here).
Nutted Axles in 86 changed to QR’s in 87, also the roller-cam changed to U-brake.
-The Nitto MT-2 stem is reversible, still can be purchased for around $75-100. The bar should also be a Nitto B801, one of the nicest mountain riser bars, in my opinion.
-Tange Mountain Frame with earlier models came with Infinity Tubing (see Frantiks’), top tube has a nice “ping” to it, almost Tange Prestige-like. Sizes over 20” came with two bottle bosses on the downtube.
-The beautiful Suzue hubs have cartridge sealed bearings which were on the early side for production mountain bikes.
-The fork is made by Tange, this is only 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] year of uni-crowns, third if you include late 83 adaptation in some Ritchey-Fisher bikes. This was probably based on the Specialized “lost wax” (if someone can explain that term to me I will appreciated) uni-crown with the lugs. Coming from the crowned forks, the lugs probably were believed to be necessary on MTBs at the time (just guessing here).
Nutted Axles in 86 changed to QR’s in 87, also the roller-cam changed to U-brake.
Last edited by Santuri32; 04-22-15 at 03:24 PM.
#15
Chainstay Brake Mafia
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: California
Posts: 6,007
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
10 Posts
btw, are you sure production moved to Taiwan in 87? I have an 88 Ascent EX which was made in japan, I assume the Apex would be made in japan as well. I had an 89 Apex and it was made in Taiwan
#16
Full Member
Thread Starter
Thanks for all the info Santuri32. I am planning on getting into the build this weekend. I will update the thread with pics of the process. I will probably do a test ride as is to see about original ride quality.
__________________
Bikes are cool, even the dumb ones.
Bikes are cool, even the dumb ones.
#17
Full Member
-The fork is made by Tange, this is only 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] year of uni-crowns, third if you include late 83 adaptation in some Ritchey-Fisher bikes. This was probably based on the Specialized “lost wax” (if someone can explain that term to me I will appreciated) uni-crown with the lugs. Coming from the crowned forks, the lugs probably were believed to be necessary on MTBs at the time (just guessing here).
Nutted Axles in 86 changed to QR’s in 87, also the roller-cam changed to U-brake.
Nutted Axles in 86 changed to QR’s in 87, also the roller-cam changed to U-brake.
Last edited by belacqua; 04-23-15 at 06:37 AM.
#18
Full Member
hah I LOVE the ping sound my frame makes. I've wondered how the non-infinity frames feel, if any different. I wish I could find another one in my size with all of the original bits
btw, are you sure production moved to Taiwan in 87? I have an 88 Ascent EX which was made in japan, I assume the Apex would be made in japan as well. I had an 89 Apex and it was made in Taiwan
btw, are you sure production moved to Taiwan in 87? I have an 88 Ascent EX which was made in japan, I assume the Apex would be made in japan as well. I had an 89 Apex and it was made in Taiwan
Last edited by Santuri32; 04-23-15 at 03:55 PM.
#20
Full Member
My pleasure, try inverting the stem and using a flat bar...very curious to see it like that, although is referred as reversible stem, Ive never seen one like that possibly not great? Just don't run it in mud, but if you do be prepared to clean the roller-cam.
#21
Full Member
17.5" was on the short side for that time, one of the shortest was Stumpjumper Team at 17" regular at 18", I think chain-stay length on my 84 SM500 was also called short at 17.5". The good thing is you could fit a rolled tent behind the seat tube.
Last edited by Santuri32; 04-23-15 at 04:17 PM.
#22
Extraordinary Magnitude
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Waukesha WI
Posts: 13,648
Bikes: 1978 Trek TX700; 1978/79 Trek 736; 1984 Specialized Stumpjumper Sport; 1984 Schwinn Voyageur SP; 1985 Trek 620; 1985 Trek 720; 1986 Trek 400 Elance; 1987 Schwinn High Sierra; 1990 Miyata 1000LT
Mentioned: 84 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2608 Post(s)
Liked 1,703 Times
in
937 Posts
I think both of my MTBs, an 84 Stumpjumper and 87 High Sierra had 18+ inches of chainstay. Cray Cray Chain Stay.
__________________
*Recipient of the 2006 Time Magazine "Person Of The Year" Award*
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
#25
Chainstay Brake Mafia
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: California
Posts: 6,007
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
10 Posts
Not an expert but maybe these were commissioned to more than one factory, my son's Tangerine 87 was made in 1986 date code starts with 6FU (no joke, late 86 build); "F" refers to Akisu Fujiyama (these have been referred as the "good" Taiwanese frames). I see nor feel any difference between my '86 Japan Made and the 87 Taiwan Made bikes. What's your frame size?