Buying a used diamondback
#2
Senior Member

Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,946
Likes: 256
From: Sin City, Nevada
Bikes: Catrike 700, Greenspeed GTO trike, , Linear LWB recumbent, Haluzak Horizon SWB recumbent, Balance 450 MTB, Cannondale SM800 Beast of the East
Don't pay a lot of money for it. According to this (https://slickdeals.net/f/10389444-di...e-other-models) the bike sold for as little as $180 at Dick\s Sporting Goods in July 2017 obviously on closeout since it wasn't made that year. MSRP for the bike from 2013-2016 was from $360 to $450. Lots of people here look at the Bicycle Blue Book prices with more than a grain of salt.
It is classified as a hybrid bike, not a road bike. It is an entry level bike. The Amazon site says it weighs 33 pounds. Not lightweight but not the heavy crap sold by some mass merchandisers. If they hadn't designed it with the useless suspensions it probably would have been lighter. Apparently it came in two frame sizes (15" and 17") so you might ask the seller how long their inseam is compared to your own before wasting time going to see it.
You can read the reviews at Amazon as they are still there to be viewed https://www.amazon.com/Diamondback-B...pe=all_reviews. It's obvious that a lot of the reviewers aren't avid cyclists who ride many miles. From reading the negative ones I guess you have to hope whomever assembled the bike knew what they were doing.
It is classified as a hybrid bike, not a road bike. It is an entry level bike. The Amazon site says it weighs 33 pounds. Not lightweight but not the heavy crap sold by some mass merchandisers. If they hadn't designed it with the useless suspensions it probably would have been lighter. Apparently it came in two frame sizes (15" and 17") so you might ask the seller how long their inseam is compared to your own before wasting time going to see it.
You can read the reviews at Amazon as they are still there to be viewed https://www.amazon.com/Diamondback-B...pe=all_reviews. It's obvious that a lot of the reviewers aren't avid cyclists who ride many miles. From reading the negative ones I guess you have to hope whomever assembled the bike knew what they were doing.
#3
Banned
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
Likes: 1,380
From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
The 80s diamond back bikes built a reputation, and buying that name
gives the illusion it's the same company , it is not.
Mongoose, same issue, Schwinn Likewise.. No longer top Quality, but had cost cutting to sell cheaper..
No longer thru bike shops but big box stores..
gives the illusion it's the same company , it is not.
Mongoose, same issue, Schwinn Likewise.. No longer top Quality, but had cost cutting to sell cheaper..
No longer thru bike shops but big box stores..
#4
Senior Member


Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 30,225
Likes: 649
From: St Peters, Missouri
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
The real trick to buying a used bike is getting the right size. The best bike in the world if it's significantly too big or significantly too small isn't going to be a lot of fun to ride.
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#6
Senior Member



Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 5,818
Likes: 3,396
From: Los Angeles
Bikes: 82 Medici, 85 Ironman, 2011 Richard Sachs
You can get so much more bike for the money buying a used bike. But if you got the money, by all means go new and make sure you get the free tuneups. I just got a bike that was called an ATB back in the day -- Schwinn Cimarron. It looks like a current hybrid or city bike. It retailed for 600 bucks 30 years ago and I got it for 110. It is awesome. What city are you near?
Last edited by Classtime; 07-07-19 at 10:28 AM.
#7
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
Hi That looks like a great deal. I live southwest of Chicago. I have been visiting local bike shops the last few days. I decided I will buy from a bike shop. Either an older reconditioned one or a new one. Currently I am looking at Liv a light (Giant). These aren’t serious bikes but I think they would fit my needs. I appreciate all this valuable input. Thank you
#8
I'm the anecdote.
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 1,820
Likes: 1,177
From: S.E. Texas
Bikes: '12 Schwinn, '13 Norco
You can get so much more bike for the money buying a used bike. But if you got the money, by all means go new and make sure you get the free tuneups. I just got a bike that was called an ATB back in the day -- Schwinn Cimarron. It looks like a current hybrid or city bike. It retailed for 600 bucks 30 years ago and I got it for 110. It is awesome. What city are you near?
Where'd you mount the vacuum pump that keeps that coffee bag on that rear rack?
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