2000 Diamondback X Link Sport

[sam_white]

Local Facebook marketplace find. Have been keeping an eye out for a full suspension frame that may make a good XC bike.

 

[sam_white]

Re:

Looks like this is a Year 2000 bike. Found the catalogue amongst my stash. Also means that it must have been available in the UK.

 

[sam_white]

Here's the relevant page from the Year 2000 catalogue.

Appears that there were 5 XLink based bikes available that year in the UK. My catalogue was obtained from a local shop (Streetlife Cycles) according to the dealer stamp on the back. The range comprised of:

3x Diamondback XLink Bikes
Equipped with the RST 22 rear shock

2x DBR 'XR' models. Assuming the 'XR' name is short for 'XLink Racing' or something. These came with higher spec components compared to the Diamondback bikes.
One model came with the Fox coil whilst the other has a Fox air shock.

Looks like all the frames were identical, the differences being the colour scheme and shock.

 

[sam_white]

Build coming along nicely.

Year 2000 Marzocchi Bomber Z5 Flylight Air forks.
Easton seatpost and stem. Richey bars and grips.
XT M770 9 Speed shifters and mechs, XTR brake levers. Deore crankset. M600 brakes for now.
LX hubs with X517 rims.

 

[sam_white]

Thanks to a cheap Bolany cassette https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/bolany-are-they-a-good-brand.428902 and a chain from Planet-x, it's now up and running. Only a quick ride into work but it is running nicely.

 

[jimo746]

Looks great, I very nearly bought a similar frame not long ago when I saw it on a local Marketplace listing. Should make a nice xc rider.

 

[sam_white]

The bike has been out for 3 or 4 rides so far this year, and works very well. Despite being bottom of the range, it pedals very well and the seemingly basic Z5s work very well once the air pressure is set correctly.

It'll be off to the Peaks in a few weeks to sample some proper mountains.

 

[novocaine]

because of Specilized and their ability to apply a patent to a pivot point on the chain stay these were technically a faux bar linkage similar to kona at the time, the rear pivot being above the axle rather than beneath it. it technically a linkage driven single pivot as the axle is connected directly to the primary pivot point, this means the travel of the rear wheel wasn't linear like that of a horst link instead it arcs around the bottom pivot similar to a single pivot design.

what this means is that under braking you'll get more suspension compression and you get more pedal bob because you are directly affecting the rear wheel around a single pivot rather than the wheel and main pivot being isolated from each other.

truthfully none of this matters and they rode really well. it was one of the bikes I wanted back around 2000 as their was no way I could afford a horst linkage.

very nice bike and the 80mm Z5 is a great choice, they also did a 100mm version that would suit this frame very nicely if you can find a set. the Z5 might have been "budget" but it had technology that is still being used today unlike the higher end coil shocks of the era.

 

[sam_white]

Frame number is IE9I11737 - Looks like it a September 1999 build date for the frame, haven't seen 'IE' for the factory before, any ideas?

 

[sam_white]

To cross reference threads, I've been trying to find new bushings/fitting kit for the rear shock.
Thread is https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/rst-22-rear-shock.465319/