DBR Identification help?

[madhatter]

New user, first time posting, came here via all the diamondback threads i keep finding when doing web searches. Im going to pull the bike appart and clean/replace components as needed, it actually feels pretty good to ride and is light enough that weight doesnt bother me riding up the hills around here, so it would be a shame to scrap it when its a good ride.

Have to excuse me because im not really into bikes in a big way, ive ridden on and off since a kid but always had a family member look after them. However, ive recently caught the bug and it's all very interesting, so it would be nice to put an age and model to the bike, just for my personal interest.

Ive gone over the bike quickly and found a few model/part numbers on different components if it helps make it easier to put a model to it.

Fork: Sakae Japan

Headset: Shimano Deore
Stem: Zoom
Handlebar: GT

Brakes: Shimano Alivio Front/Coda Rear
Brake Pads: M65/T
Brake Cables: Shimano sis-sp
Brake Levers: Shimano STMC-30

Shifters: Shimano STMC-30
Front Derailleur: Shimano Alivio
Rear Derailleur: Shimano XTS (cant find a model number on them because of dirt/grime, other than the outside)
Derailleur Cables: Shimano sis-sp
Cranks: XTR (FC-M900)
Hubs: Shimano Alivio Parallel front and rear
Saddle: Cionlli
Seatpost: Uno

Entire bike is/was quite striking in powdercoated black with red and silver holographic logos. Pretty much everything on the bike appears to be alloy, frame, forks, bars, etc. From doing a lot of searching, to me it starts to look like its been modified a little with different components it might not have originally come with?

As a side note, id like to paint the frame again but i was wondering about the decals? ive looked around a little for them but havent had much luck finding the same ones. Any ideas? Ill take some better pics on my day off when i pull it down and clean it up.

Thanks

 

[orange71]

Apex? Ascent?

re. decals - contact member gil_m he'll do some for you (I think he's off till June though).

 

[madhatter]

thanks, i shall send him a pm.

If it helps, i reckon ive had the bike atleast 12 years (and put on a good 10,000km since then), it was in good condition, but used when i purchased it, couldnt have been more than a few years old.

 

[orange71]

this is Jango's Apex. He's the resident DBR expert (among others).

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewto ... light=apex

 

[jango]

Not sure about that one.......a little early for my limited knowledge

If it is a Diamond Back, and I'm guessing it's been re-finished and re-decaled, is that it's a 'Diamond Back Arrival'. This is based on the fact it's aluminium and has downtube gear cable routing.

If you can take some more up close detail photos and maybe supply a frame number this may help with identification, is there a decal indicating the type of tubing used for the frame?

 

[madhatter]

Thats the problem i keep finding when searching for apex, ascent, the bikes im finding from that era dont appear to have front shocks which this does.

Yeah ill take some better photos for you, i had a quick look over it, but i couldnt see a whole lot of identifying marks on it, but then i dont really know where to look. Any particular place to find a serial?

 

[jango]

Yeah, most bikes that era were rigid, however........looking through a '93 catalogue I've spotted a 'Outlook Comp' which has identical looking forks to yours, they're called 'DBS Suspension fork' (Diamond Back Spring) but the frame is a cheapo steel job so that doesn't fit in with your frame :?

It could be a case of different specs for different markets I guess.

The tubeset identifying sticker should be on the seat-tube and the frame number under the BB.

 

[madhatter]

I cleaned the area around the bb just now and found a feint serial number in the powdercoat. It appears to be GX1L6878, i cant say 100% sure as it needs better light to bring it up properly. No sticker around the seat tube though, there is a stamp on the post itself but thats probably just the post and not the frame.

 

[ozpete]

" they're called 'DBS Suspension fork' "

I've got a early '90s Sorrento Sport with the DBS fork. Re-badged RST 180 if I remember rightly. Nowadays serves as the mule with the kiddie seat attached.
My first ever bike with suspension!! Those were the days......utter crap in hindsight, however.