1989 Diamond Back Ascent

[retroJIM]

I accidentally bought this Diamond Back Ascent for £25. I was expecting to be outbid. It was local and I liked the smokey paint job and straight blade forks. I collect it on Thursday, should be a fun little project



I wonder how hard it'll be to find a replacement cover for an Exage Thumbshifter? I'll pop up a wanted add once I've collected it and checked the rest of the bike.

 

[Tsundere]

Got a soft spot for these old DB's, the smokey paintjobs look great and the frames are a comfortable ride. That's an absolute bargain, i don't think it's an 89 though, I had an 89 and it was blue smoke faded into a white middle.

 

[retroJIM]

Got a soft spot for these old DB's, the smokey paintjobs look great and the frames are a comfortable ride. That's an absolute bargain, i don't think it's an 89 though, I had an 89 and it was blue smoke faded into a white middle.

You could be right. The owner said he'd owned it from new since 89. I'll do some investigation once I've collected it. I see yours was an Ascent EX so maybe a different model from the same year?

There's no 89 catalogue in the archive sadly.

 

[Magpiegifts]

Love the smoky paint jobs on these old DB's. DX kit would look great on this

 

[Tsundere]

You could be right. The owner said he'd owned it from new since 89. I'll do some investigation once I've collected it. I see yours was an Ascent EX so maybe a different model from the same year?

There's no 89 catalogue in the archive sadly.

The non EX model had the same paint job, I've seen examples of your model before, pretty sure it's a 90.

Here's a nice resto-mod thread from another forum that you might find interesting.
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/1210747-diamond-back-ascent-1990-refurb.html

 

[retroJIM]

The non EX model had the same paint job, I've seen examples of your model before, pretty sure it's a 90.

Here's a nice resto-mod thread from another forum that you might find interesting.
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage/1210747-diamond-back-ascent-1990-refurb.html

Thanks very much. I'll have a read later

 

[Tsundere]

Yours IS an 89
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2/v/user_albums/Frotz/1989DBCat/Ascent.jpg.html
So mine must have been a 90.
Edit - Nope, mine was an 89 too
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/gallery2/v/user_albums/Frotz/1989DBCat/Ascent+EX.jpg.html

 

[slimjoe]

Defininately a 1989 Ascent. I owned the Ascent EX in 89 and it was blue/white smoked different than the Ascent.

 

[retroJIM]

Collected at lunchtime and sadly no seat post or saddle. My calipers make the seat post 25.8mm diameter, does that sound about right?

I've added a wanted post.

 

[retroJIM]

I just love it when you strip a 30 year old bike with all original components and every single part can be removed with the minimum of effort. Even the bottom bracket came out without fuss.