Differences

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--- db:start [2021/05/30 18:16] – created gchandler
+++ db:start [2022/08/16 17:14] (current) – mtbtimeline
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+<div column 50% #intro>
+----
+===== Diamond Back Overview =====
+Diamond Back Bicycles was founded as a BMX brand in 1977 by Western States Imports (WSI) in Newbury Park, California, by Mitchell M. Weiner and Junya (Cozy) Yamakoshi ((who left WSI in 1986 to start [[http://www.parkpre.com/history.htm|ParkPre Mountain Bike]] [[https://www.pacelinebikes.com/blog/the-men-who-brought-japanese-bicycles-to-the-bike-boom-era/|pacelinebikes]])).  WSI also sold road bikes under the Centurion brand.
+Mitchell Weiner was born in 1932 in Romania and emigrated to the U.S. at the age of 16.  In 1969, while running an import business, Raleigh UK asked him to import 2000 Grand Prix's from Asia and then Raleigh backed out of the deal, accidentally turning Mitchell into a bike reseller.
+((Background from [[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-10-07-fi-4968-story.html|latimes]] and [[https://www.pacelinebikes.com/blog/the-men-who-brought-japanese-bicycles-to-the-bike-boom-era/|pacelinebikes]]))
+<blockquote>
+None of the bikes actually is made by WSI. Ever since it entered the bicycle business, WSI has been strictly an importer and distributor.
+“Boxes in, boxes out. Everything else is marketing,” said WSI’s executive vice president, Michael L. Bobrick.
+<cite>
+[[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-10-07-fi-4968-story.html|latimes]], 1986
+</cite>
+</blockquote>
+</div>
+<div column 45%>
+{{db.jpg?500|Diamondback}}
+\\
+Why DB?  Their answer: It's not about the bike.  ((They actually state this, in so many words: [[https://www.diamondback.com/why-diamondback]]))
+\\
+</div>
+<div column 50% #s1982>
+----
+===== 1982 Ridge Runner =====
+Note that the brand is "Diamond Back" with a space and not "DiamondBack", nor "Diamondback."  ((This changed in 1993: [[https://bmxmuseum.com/bikes/diamond_back/]]))
+</div>
+<div column 45%>
+{{1982.jpg?300|1982 Ridge Runner}}
+\\
+Ridge Runner
+[[https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/1982-diamond-back-ridge-runner.236636/page-5|retrobike]]
+</div>
+<div column 50% #s1983>
+----
+===== 1983  Mean Streak =====
+As Bobrick ((Who owned 15% of WSI [[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-10-07-fi-4968-story.html|latimes]])) said, "Everything else is marketing."  Diamond Back tried focusing marketing  to the easily angered and sold many bikes.  Almost identical to the Ridge Runner, with newer derailleurs.
+</div>
+<div column 45%>
+{{1983.jpg?300|1983 Mean Streak}}
+\\
+Mean Streak
+[[https://www.boisebicycleproject.org/bbpexperience/2019/6/11/preservation-bicycle-4-1983-diamondback-mean-streak|boisebicycleproject]]
+</div>
+<div column 50% #s1984>
+----
+===== 1984 Trail Streak =====
+The streaks continued, with "Mean Streak", "Trail Streak", "Sand Streak" (cruiser) and "Silver Streak" (bmx).
+\\
+Note the unusual pump pegs, which marks it as a close cousin to the [[fmsa:start#s1983|1983 FMSA]].
+</div>
+<div column 45%>
+{{1984.jpg?300|1984 Trail Streak}}
+\\
+Trail Streak
+[[https://www.mtbr.com/threads/1983-84-diamondback-trail-streak.353288/|mtbr]]
+</div>
+<div column 50% #s1985>
+----
+===== 1985 Apex=====
+The streaks kept on coming with "Hot Streak" (bmx) and "Fleet Streak" (hybrid),
+\\
+Meanwhile Diamond Back released a couple of pretty good mountain bikes with their Apex and Ascent.  Note the full Shimano XT level components.
+</div>
+<div column 45%>
+{{1985.jpg?300|1985 Apex}}
+\\
+Apex
+[[http://opac.gdctral.ac.in/jyss.asp?iid=60367082||gdctral]]
+</div>
+<div column 50% #s1986>
+----
+===== 1986 Ascent =====
+Factory chromed and clear coated.
+Shimano RD-L512-SGS touring rear derailleur (1985)
+<blockquote>
+The workingman's race bike.
+<cite>
+DiamondBack catalog
+[[https://web.archive.org/web/20131023120948/https://www.bikeman.com/attic/catalog1988diamondbackmtn.htm|bikeman archive]]
+</cite>
+</blockquote>
+</div>
+<div column 45%>
+{{1986.jpg?300|1986 Ascent }}
+\\
+Ascent
+[[https://www.pedalroom.com/bike/1986-diamond-back-ascent-27725|pedalroom]]
+</div>
+<div column 50% #s1987>
+----
+===== 1987 Arrival =====
+Top of the line Diamond Back.  Full XT group, Japanese aluminum frame.  Original tires were only 26x1.5.  In the era of lightness performance choices were left to the aftermarket.
+</div>
+<div column 45%>
+{{1987.jpg?300|1987 Arrival }}
+\\
+Arrival
+[[http://classiccycleus.com/home/1987-diamondback-arrival/|classiccycleus]]
+</div>
+<div column 50% #s1988>
+----
+===== 1988 Ascent EX =====
+Ascent EX
+DiamondBack's "mid-range trail rider"
+Deore RD-MT60 (1987-88)
+</div>
+<div column 45%>
+{{1988.jpg?300|1988 Ascent EX }}
+\\
+Ascent EX
+[[https://www.reddit.com/r/xbiking/comments/snq7ur/nbd_1988_diamondback_ascent_ex_my_new_slightly/|reddit]]
+</div>
+<div column 50% #s1989>
+----
+===== 1989 Sorrento =====
+The lowest in the range which DiamondBack considers off road worthy. If this is an 1989, it should have a Shimano Light Action L554 rear (1989-1995+) and 26x1.9 tires.  No DiamondBack MTBs came with tires >= 2"
+</div>
+<div column 45%>
+{{1989.jpg?300|1989 Sorrento }}
+\\
+Sorrento
+[[https://www.facebook.com/62453932286/photos/diamondback-sorrento-vintage-mountain-bike-large-19-frame-315/10154341940067287/|facebook]]
+</div>
+<div column 50% #s1990>
+----
+===== 1990 Topanga =====
+Unknown derailleur in the Exage family.  The name is likely in honor of VVA's ground breaking 1979 [[vva:start#s1979|Topanga!]] downhill racer.
+</div>
+<div column 45%>
+{{1990.jpg?300|1990 Topanga }}
+\\
+Topanga
+[[https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/1990-diamondback-topanga.168073/|retrobike]]
+</div>