gregaz

EDIT: Changed the thread title to reflect the now-found manufacturer. Thanks everyone!


So ... I started a thread this morning (here), and next thing I know I have a new bike. Unfortunately there was not even a decal on it (I did read that Diamondback Ascend were chrome, and that their decals would flake off). What can you tell me about this bike? BTW, I paid $60 for it - a great price for what I am going to use it for!

Here are some photos:

The Golden Boy 

I hope it fits you!

Aside from the chrome being dominant, you've also got the Mountech II derailleur- despite complete and utter failure of the first Mountech, the 2nd generation was a good derailleur, but it had the Mountech name... I think those are DiaCompe 980 brakes- really nice cantis. And the "business" version of the ratcheted thumbshifters.

Looks like a real eye catcher and a well equipped ATB of the vintage order.

gregaz

Fits great! It's a 20" frame.
Thanks for the info on the rest. I assume this is not an original stem or bag?
So, this looks like a chrome Diamondback Ascent from what I have seen on the interwebs. Not sure which model.
Care to guess at an age? My guess is 90's because of the in the tube cable routing - seems that the older ones had braze ons.

The Golden Boy 

I would guess older than 90s- that's a really long wheelbase- I think those shrunk up by 1988 or so. I hadn't noticed the cable routing through the top tube. Does it look stock?

If any of the components are original, the date codes on them should tell when they were made- and you can guess the frame is about that age as well.

Date of Manufacture of Bicycle Components can be used to date a bike: component dating

clubman 

86ish is my guess

OTS 

That rear rack is wowzer.
Did that come with the bike ?
Have not seen one like that before.
Great score for $60

MacGyverBurrito

Looks older than 86

I'm pretty sure 1985-87 they were doing chainstay brakes

I remember seeing an 83 or so centurion touring model with that mountech stuff
Could be 83 or 84

Didn't the ascent first appear in 86?

MacGyverBurrito

Just went over to craigslist and this was on the first page.

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/bik/4682714687.html

Weird how stuff like this happens

I think my age estimate is pretty accurate.

gregaz

Saw that. Notice the braze ons ...
What about the internal cabling on mine?

gregaz

Yeah, the rack came with it ... it's coming off ASAP. :-)

gregaz

Serial number stamped on the bottom of the BB says M6-F5937. Can't figure out how to read that yet ...

Oldairhead 

The DB Ascent was their third tier bike, below the Apex and the Apex Comp. I have a 1989 Apex and it is generations ahead of the model you show. I think the 1985 version (shown above) is a good guesstimate. It is amazing how quickly the technology advanced in that era.

BTW: my 1989 Apex is still going strong, updated to 8 speed. That True Temper OX2 frame is solid!

Sixty Fiver

The friction shifters point to pre '86 manufacture... after Shimano came out with their 6 speed Dura Ace in '84 it took very little time for manufacturers to jump on this new technology and during this interim Suntour lost a significant share of the OEM market to Shimano who were improving their groups at an astounding pace.

If the '85 in the ad was originally equipped with the rather excellent, and complete Shimano Deore "Deer Head" group, (which was the last of Shimano's friction set ups), the Suntour equipped Diamondback is probably an '84 if the parts are original.

Sixty Fiver

I am not sure when my Apex was built... I suspect the early to mid 90's.



Mtb geometry really morphed at the end of the 1980's from rigid, conventional diamond framed, all terrain bicycles to the types of frames we see today... the last lugged frames and cantilever equipped models were all but gone by the start of the 90's as V brakes took over and the bikes became more specialized.

Grand Bois

Beautiful bike. I'd just replace the saddle with a Brooks and turn the clamp around the right way while I'm at it.

gregaz

Everything you guys are saying makes sense. Still confused about the inside the tube cable routing, though ... Maybe it's not a Diamond Back at all?!
Also surprised no one has commented on the lovely gold stem. Surely that is not original, is it?

scozim 

Sweet looking bike and I'm not into shiny chrome that much. That would an awesome drop bar conversion or be a nice rugged touring bike.

Glennfordx4

Pre index shifting and cable routing puts it earlier than a 86 I would think, it's a great looking bike & it reminds me of a early Mongoose except I don't know if any of them had internal cable routing for the brake cables.

Glenn

gregaz

The reason I think this is a Diamond Back is because the seller said so. Supposedly there was a "D" badge on the front that fell off. BUT, the more I Google Image search (chrome mountain bike), the more I am confused ... NONE of them have internal cable routing! All the old Diamond Backs and Mongooses are braze ons ... So, the mystery remains ...

Darth Lefty 

Blingy!

Glennfordx4

I am 99% sure it is a Mongoose ATB, I have been searching Google images and there are a few 1985 & 86's that look just like your bike with the same components, the rear brake cable hanger & fork is what made me think it was. Search for Vintage Mongoose ATB and check them out, a lot of bad pics but some of them clearly have internal cable routing on the top tube. Look at post #62 here,

https://forums.mtbr.com/all-mountain/$2500-frames-$1000-forks-wtf-865793-3.html


Glenn

gregaz

I think you NAILED it, Glenn!!! Check this out: https://velobase.com/CatalogScans/1986_Mogoose.pdf
You can see the internal cabling AND the specs on page 19 are dead on!

Bravo!!!!!

likebike23

+1 on Mongoose. The fastback seatstays are also a feature on the Mongooses. Does it have holes drilled in the headtube for a head badge? BTW, great deal on a cool ass bike. It looks to be in great shape.

Edit: looks like a positive Id found.

gregaz

Here it is: BMXmuseum.com For Sale / 1986 MONGOOSE ALL TERRAIN ATB COMPLETE
So, Mongoose was built by BMX?

Here is another one - https://www.lockedcog.com/bikes/travis-mongoose-atb/ Wish I could find a bullmoose stem / bar like that!

Here is the funny part - @Grand Bois suggested changing the seat clamp, but for some reason all the Mongoose ATB's I see (including the catalog photo) has the clamp on the drive side!

Glennfordx4

Mongoose was a big BMX company, that's where they started then they started building ATB & MTB's in the 80's. The clamp he is talking about is the one holding the seat to the post, it is on backwards the bolt & opening should point to the rear of the bike.


Glenn