The 1989 Diamond Back Apex that everyone forgot!

[Mahoney1978]

A bit misleading by the title but I bought this off of a local auction site and had to share with you. It's not a unicorn by any means but it's a very cool example of a late 80's Diamond Back that kind of got forgotten about.



The story goes something like, a 55 year old's son bought him this bike back in 1989. Then, said 55 year old rode it once or twice.... on the road. For the next 25 years it's been sat on a fluffy piece of carpet in his clean and tidy garage just gathering dust. The now 80 year old decided that he needed a clear out and the Apex needed a new home. I tried to barter him down on price, but the wily old 80 year old held firm and I probably ended up paying a little of a premium, but what a great specimen I got in return!



I'm probably over exaggerating saying that it's a museum piece, but I think Diamond Back themselves would be proud to show this off in their head office (if DB still exists??!!). Some of the highlights:

- Shimano Deore II groupset is near perfect (not Mint) but in perfect condition
- Avenir saddle looks like new (although gel... what gel!!)
- Double butted Tange frameset is shiny (under the dust)
- T Bone Stem
- A pair of Tioga Farmer John Cousin tyres still have the nobbly bits on them... incredible

I'm pretty sure the poor Apex doesn't even know what dirt or mud is!! It needs a clean, which it will get but I wanted to post it up whilst it was in its untouched state (including cool Zefal lights and a kick stand...yeah!!).





Anyway... hope you like stepping back in time and seeing the bike as it probably was the day it was bought and let me know what you think. The chap I bought it off even wrote me out a receipt, awesome!

 

[jimo746]

Re:

Time Warrrrrrrp!!!!! :shock:

 

[My_Teenage_Self]

Loverly

 

[lowe1677]

Re:

very nice

 

[Chopper the ex Copper]

What a beautiful original machine. Not many left like that now.

 

[drystonepaul]

Re:

Lovely. Just lovely.

 

[Neil]

Nice pictures, and shows that it doesn't have to be exotica to be evocative.

The only thing I think is often a shame, is when you see such nice examples, hardly used, in such great condition, for them to be stripped apart and sold off piece by piece.

I know they're just parts, and it's just a normal bike from BITD, but sometimes these little gems that have been preserved so long, get pulled apart in such quick fashion.

 

[My_Teenage_Self]

Nice pictures, and shows that it doesn't have to be exotica to be evocative.

The only thing I think is often a shame, is when you see such nice examples, hardly used, in such great condition, for them to be stripped apart and sold off piece by piece.

I know they're just parts, and it's just a normal bike from BITD, but sometimes these little gems that have been preserved so long, get pulled apart in such quick fashion.

100%. Sometimes bikes like this are overlooked too easily.

There's a reason why some of the more popular classic cars at the moment are 'Normal cars from 30-40 years ago. Mini, Ford escort etc. And the same reason that I doubt I'll ever sell my 93 fire mountain. Nostalgia rules, and bikes like these were the entry into mountain biking for so many of us.

 

[Mahoney1978]

Nice pictures, and shows that it doesn't have to be exotica to be evocative.

The only thing I think is often a shame, is when you see such nice examples, hardly used, in such great condition, for them to be stripped apart and sold off piece by piece.

I know they're just parts, and it's just a normal bike from BITD, but sometimes these little gems that have been preserved so long, get pulled apart in such quick fashion.

100%. Sometimes bikes like this are overlooked too easily.

There's a reason why some of the more popular classic cars at the moment are 'Normal cars from 30-40 years ago. Mini, Ford escort etc. And the same reason that I doubt I'll ever sell my 93 fire mountain. Nostalgia rules, and bikes like these were the entry into mountain biking for so many of us.

Thanks for your replies and I have absolutely nothing to hide here as I definitely bought this bike in mind to strip and put the parts on a very sentimental Dyna Tech frame that I've just paid heaven and earth to get to New Zealand.

And herein lies the issue(s). I consider myself very much a retro biker heart. I grew up in 80's and 90's, I had the utterly rubbish Raleigh Lizard, I yearned after XTR and Titanium but settled for a bottom of the range Dyna Tech (with a 500LX groupset), upgraded it with a set of XT Thumbies and an X-lite bolt or two.

In rebuilding the Dyna and based in NZ I find myself with two options. Find a 2nd hand retro bike with half decent gear to use, or go for the semi-modern ride (V brakes, some late 90's XT etc). I was going down the second route when I saw the Diamond Back and the retro nostalgia in me took over. Living in NZ severely limits the parts that become available locally (in ANY condition) and means buying from overseas becomes your only option where postage can be more than the part!

So, this brings me full circle and when the Diamond back came up for sale, it was a decision I made to buy it and use the parts. However it is never easy and there is now a part of me that doesn't want to break this bike up for the reasons you guys have stated above.

I'll post up some more photos when I fully clean it up. Who knows maybe an Apex lover will see this and offer to take it off my hands, although being in New Zealand is probably going to be the downfall for this bike.

 

[Mahoney1978]

Nice pictures, and shows that it doesn't have to be exotica to be evocative.

The only thing I think is often a shame, is when you see such nice examples, hardly used, in such great condition, for them to be stripped apart and sold off piece by piece.

I know they're just parts, and it's just a normal bike from BITD, but sometimes these little gems that have been preserved so long, get pulled apart in such quick fashion.

100%. Sometimes bikes like this are overlooked too easily.

There's a reason why some of the more popular classic cars at the moment are 'Normal cars from 30-40 years ago. Mini, Ford escort etc. And the same reason that I doubt I'll ever sell my 93 fire mountain. Nostalgia rules, and bikes like these were the entry into mountain biking for so many of us.

Thanks for your replies and I have absolutely nothing to hide here as I definitely bought this bike in mind to strip and put the parts on a very sentimental Dyna Tech frame that I've just paid heaven and earth to get to New Zealand.

And herein lies the issue(s). I consider myself very much a retro biker heart. I grew up in 80's and 90's, I had the utterly rubbish Raleigh Lizard, I yearned after XTR and Titanium but settled for a bottom of the range Dyna Tech (with a 500LX groupset), upgraded it with a set of XT Thumbies and an X-lite bolt or two.

In rebuilding the Dyna and based in NZ I find myself with two options. Find a 2nd hand retro bike with half decent gear to use, or go for the semi-modern ride (V brakes, some late 90's XT etc). I was going down the second route when I saw the Diamond Back and the retro nostalgia in me took over. Living in NZ severely limits the parts that become available locally (in ANY condition) and means buying from overseas becomes your only option where postage can be more than the part!

So, this brings me full circle and when the Diamond back came up for sale, it was a decision I made to buy it and use the parts. However it is never easy and there is now a part of me that doesn't want to break this bike up for the reasons you guys have stated above.

I'll post up some more photos when I fully clean it up. Who knows maybe an Apex lover will see this and offer to take it off my hands, although being in New Zealand is probably going to be the downfall for this bike.