NOSish 1994 Diamondback Topanga
 

I just got a Diamondback Topanga off an auction site over here, the seller used to have a Bike shop years ago, he parted this frame out when it was on the showroom floor towards the end of season, it has sat in this guys shed since 1995!!!
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=389182
Threads are all very nice, I will take some pics in the morning, wanted an opinion on build path, couple of questions,
Rigid threaded original fork, or A head rigid fork?
Early LX 7spd Mountain mechs with Shimano thumbies with NOS Alivio cantilevers,
Or Black LX 8spd full group Rapid fire, cantilever
Or Modern 9spd Shimano something(?) with Avid Single Digit V Brakes and levers, I do like these brakes cheap and effective.

What's your plan for the bike?

I hate, hate, hate, hate, Shimano Rapid Fire shifters. On keeper MTBs, I tend to stick with seven speed, LX, DX, or XT (depends what I have in the bin at the time). Thumbies are fine. Typical Shimano approach, take something simple and durable that works, and make it complicated and fragile.

LOL @wrk101, are you declaring jihad on Rapid Fire's?!

Conversely, Thumbshifters rule on flat bars.

IMO- the Shimano XT indexed thumbshifters and the Suntour MTB style ratcheting thumbshifters are my favorites.

Looks familiar. This is my younger son's bike currently hanging in our garage:
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=389240

Based on component dates, I believe it is a '92. A couple of years ago I picked up 2 1992 DB Ascent EXs complete NIB for my wife and I. Amazing what is out there.

Hi to all who have replied, I realize I should have listed its intended use, which is just a bike to bomb around on.
So I have put some wheels, put in BB and put on some LX cranks, bars stem thumbie's. I am waiting on some NOS Altus cantilever arms, not great but period correct.
I will post a progress pic tomorrow.
How fat can I go on tyres? 26 x 2.3 fit?

Diamond Back was based in Newbury Park, CA, about an hour north of Los Angeles. A well-known Southern Californian road about halfway between LA and Newbury Park is Topanga Canyon--no doubt the inspiration for this model name--which connects The (San Fernando) Valley to Santa Monica and the coast. Along this route are many enclaves of ex-hippies, actors, yuppies, and artists--not to mention some fantastic MTB trails. Do an image search for the Backbone Trail, visualize yourself flying down the top of the coastal ridge, a series of hazy mountain ridges on one side and an eternity of blue on the other, our shared Pacific Ocean air in your face, and channel those thoughts when go bombing around on your Topanga. :thumb:

I had one of those Topangas; bought one for my gf. Hers had 7-speed, cromo frame, rode nicely. I sold it twelve years ago to a college student.

gaucho777, I will do just that you never know you may see me waving at you from my side of the Pacific!?

I am liking it, enjoying the build, I will cable it up on the weekend (2 days from now) and test it, I am hoping the size is right for me.

bbattle Thanks for the reply, it seems everyone I have talked to since getting this frame/fork has had nothing but positive things to say, I also had a early 90's DB myself until it got stolen . . . liked the whole go anywhere with ease thing. Looking forward to having that again.

Here's one I got for $5.00 at a yard sale. I intended to sell it, but after riding it a while I've decided that it's a keeper. The paint is not so hot, so I'll touch it up with nail polish some day. It now has new riser bars, saddle, 2.125 slicks, and Sun Race thumb shifters.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=389660

I have a Topanga that my boss gave me, I redid the whole bike with a mix of black 7 & 8spd LX. The 8spd shifter & brake combo were NOS as were a lot of the parts I used in the build.

Glenn
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...inished001.jpg

dweenk, Thanks for the reply, I am going with 2.1's for the time being, it was raining today so I could not really get any pics of the progress, but it is taking shape, hope to get some brakes and cables on tomorrow and test it out, I have a little creek with a gravel track beside it just down the end of my road, so I will test it tomorrow, I will set it up with riser bars I think.
Liking the bike.

glennfordx4, I will go to black LX too if the bike is the right size for me, I have a couple of near complete groups waiting. Liking the bike you have there, I am looking forward to riding mine.

Thanks for the replies guys. Paul

Some hots of it awaiting cables and chain,
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=390056http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=390057http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=390058

I will go with a Sram 7 speed chain, and may well cable it up tonight.
Should I go with period correct push on grips or modern lock on's?

I'll have to check the model name, but just found a CroMol DB MTB frameset at the dump this week. Frame is too small for me, so I'm glad to pass it along for a little tidbit of a trade and shipping. I'll try to post pictures later.

Rapid fire is on par with grip shift...Honestly I'd rather use a friction pair of 10 dollar sunrace thumbies than either Rapid fire of grip shift.

Okay, not the same model DB. Sorry about any confusion I might have caused. I found an Ascent at the dump.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...psg9ie6dai.jpg

Wish I could find a cheap 80's DB apex in my size. I really liked the one I had but it was a bit small for me.

I got it going and went for a ride for about half an hour along the side of a water way down the end of my road(about 300 metres away, it rode super nice, good tyres for this wet time of the year, quite slushy mud and some very slippery leaves.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=390936http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=390937http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=390938

Bar height is way to low for a fatty like me, so I will put in a riser bar, the gear cables are longer for this exact reason, I should only need to replace the front brake cable which is no biggy.

Front cable routing was done via the Tektro unit bolted into the fork, very very nice . . . no more cable squashed up under the stem!!
Feels so much more free in movement. Extra adjuster too, mint.

Tyres are both Tioga(obviously) and are very nice together, out of the parts department, but i am thinking of going Panaracer Smoke on the rear and a Dart on the front, I have access to a few.
Did anyone run this combo back in the day? Should I go that way?
Flattish to hilly riding(not MTB type riding more ATB) with muddy slushy gravel/mud type riding in the winter, dry loose gravel tar seal riding in the summer.

Looks great! Could you post a closer picture of the unit holding the front caliper cable? That looks very interesting.

As far as knobby MTB tires go, I've never ridden one I liked. I much prefer a smooth tread fattish 26" tire and fenders. Started mounting Panaracer Street Wise (IIRC) and fenders on my '88 Schwinn High Sierra last night. Two rides on the old knobbies and I was covered in trail dust and rocks! :eek:

Sorry pastorbobnlnh, thought the thread was dead! These bikes sure do not get as much love as a french road bike aye?

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=392153http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=392154http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=392155

Tektro cable hanger, very nice piece of kit, I was worried until it got fully tightened as it looked like it was going to put the straddle cable on too much of an angle but it is sweet. I will use these from now on with retro MTB builds, they are much tidier and no more cable squashed up under the stem, the front brake is so much nicer than what it could have been.
I got the idea from here actually about 2 years ago . . . this place is a wealth of knowledge, Thanks for the interest Bob. Paul