The 26in-wheeled Mission Enduro is a newly updated weapon in the Diamondback armoury. With a spec including 20-speed Deore and a WTB saddle, it costs £1,999. This sample is a late prototype – we’re told the production models will have a Diamondback bar, stem and seatpost, and will be available from September 2013
The 26in-wheeled Mission Enduro is a newly updated weapon in the Diamondback armoury. With a spec including 20-speed Deore and a WTB saddle, it costs £1,999. This sample is a late prototype – we’re told the production models will have a Diamondback bar, stem and seatpost, and will be available from September 2013 - Tom Marvin/Future Publishing
The Diamondback Mission Enduro runs a Fox 34 CTD fork, a Fox Float CTD shock with Boost Valve technology, and Schwalbe Nobby Nic tyres. Also in the range is the £4,000 Mission Pro, which has a 36cm Fox fork – the Rockstar Diamondback team have been testing the latter bike in training - Tom Marvin/Future Publishing
Diamondback are right on trend introducing 650b (27.5in) bikes into the 2014 range – including this £575 Response - Tom Marvin/Future Publishing
The Response runs a 100mm SR Suntour fork, a Deore 27-speed transmission and Shimano M395 brakes on 60mm rotors. Also in the 2014 650b range is the 24-speed Acera-specced Peak, at £455 with Tektro stoppers - Tom Marvin/Future Publishing
Diamondback have four aluminium 29ers in the 2014 range, with the Axis at the top. The bike has a RockShox XC 32 TK 100mm travel fork and a 10-speed XT groupset. The spec isn’t much different to that of the 2013 model, but the price has dropped by around £100 to £900. Other Diamondback 29ers are the Descent (£475), Ascent (£700) and Apex (£800) - Tom Marvin/Future Publishing
Diamondback’s 2014 mountain bikes were unveiled earlier this week, at an event shared with sister brands Raleigh and Haibike (stay tuned for more on the latter company).
The development of the latest Diamondback bikes has been a to-and-fro project shared between the UK and US research and development teams, who have pooled ideas, testing and feedback from different markets.
The UK lineup BikeRadarsaw has a distinctly European flavour, with on-trend 650b (27.5in) wheels coming into the range, complementing or replacing 29er models, while a number of 26in-wheeled bikes have been retained for 2014.
The Rockstar Diamondback team have had input in terms of testing and feedback for the performance models, with trickle-down geometry and component specs from the £4,000 Mission Pro right down to the £475 alloy Decent 29er.
