Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Fifty Plus (50+)
Reload this Page >

Buying a used diamondback

Notices
Fifty Plus (50+) Share the victories, challenges, successes and special concerns of bicyclists 50 and older. Especially useful for those entering or reentering bicycling.

Buying a used diamondback

Old 07-06-19, 11:26 AM
  #1  
Phab
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 6
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Buying a used diamondback

Hello. I am considering buying a used Diamondback Vital 2. It has been awhile since I have road a bike or bought one. I have the blue book prices. Any advice for me?
Phab is offline  
Old 07-06-19, 12:44 PM
  #2  
VegasTriker
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Sin City, Nevada
Posts: 2,877

Bikes: Catrike 700, Greenspeed GTO trike, , Linear LWB recumbent, Haluzak Horizon SWB recumbent, Balance 450 MTB, Cannondale SM800 Beast of the East

Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 520 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 227 Times in 179 Posts
Don't pay a lot of money for it. According to this (https://slickdeals.net/f/10389444-di...e-other-models) the bike sold for as little as $180 at Dick\s Sporting Goods in July 2017 obviously on closeout since it wasn't made that year. MSRP for the bike from 2013-2016 was from $360 to $450. Lots of people here look at the Bicycle Blue Book prices with more than a grain of salt.


It is classified as a hybrid bike, not a road bike. It is an entry level bike. The Amazon site says it weighs 33 pounds. Not lightweight but not the heavy crap sold by some mass merchandisers. If they hadn't designed it with the useless suspensions it probably would have been lighter. Apparently it came in two frame sizes (15" and 17") so you might ask the seller how long their inseam is compared to your own before wasting time going to see it.


You can read the reviews at Amazon as they are still there to be viewed https://www.amazon.com/Diamondback-B...pe=all_reviews. It's obvious that a lot of the reviewers aren't avid cyclists who ride many miles. From reading the negative ones I guess you have to hope whomever assembled the bike knew what they were doing.
VegasTriker is offline  
Old 07-06-19, 01:18 PM
  #3  
fietsbob
Banned
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: NW,Oregon Coast
Posts: 43,598

Bikes: 8

Mentioned: 197 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7607 Post(s)
Liked 1,354 Times in 861 Posts
The 80s diamond back bikes built a reputation, and buying that name

gives the illusion it's the same company , it is not.

Mongoose, same issue, Schwinn Likewise.. No longer top Quality, but had cost cutting to sell cheaper..

No longer thru bike shops but big box stores..
fietsbob is offline  
Old 07-06-19, 03:06 PM
  #4  
Retro Grouch 
Senior Member
 
Retro Grouch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225

Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.

Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 642 Times in 363 Posts
The real trick to buying a used bike is getting the right size. The best bike in the world if it's significantly too big or significantly too small isn't going to be a lot of fun to ride.
__________________
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
Retro Grouch is offline  
Likes For Retro Grouch:
Old 07-06-19, 03:13 PM
  #5  
Phab
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 6
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Thank you for that. I think I will just use a bike shop in my area.
Phab is offline  
Old 07-07-19, 10:22 AM
  #6  
Classtime 
Senior Member
 
Classtime's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 4,663

Bikes: 82 Medici, 2011 Richard Sachs, 2011 Milwaukee Road

Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1918 Post(s)
Liked 1,940 Times in 1,079 Posts
Originally Posted by Phab
Thank you for that. I think I will just use a bike shop in my area.
You can get so much more bike for the money buying a used bike. But if you got the money, by all means go new and make sure you get the free tuneups. I just got a bike that was called an ATB back in the day -- Schwinn Cimarron. It looks like a current hybrid or city bike. It retailed for 600 bucks 30 years ago and I got it for 110. It is awesome. What city are you near?

Last edited by Classtime; 07-07-19 at 10:28 AM.
Classtime is offline  
Old 07-07-19, 02:28 PM
  #7  
Phab
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 6
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Hi That looks like a great deal. I live southwest of Chicago. I have been visiting local bike shops the last few days. I decided I will buy from a bike shop. Either an older reconditioned one or a new one. Currently I am looking at Liv a light (Giant). These aren’t serious bikes but I think they would fit my needs. I appreciate all this valuable input. Thank you
Phab is offline  
Likes For Phab:
Old 07-07-19, 05:15 PM
  #8  
FiftySix
I'm the anecdote.
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: S.E. Texas
Posts: 1,823

Bikes: '12 Schwinn, '13 Norco

Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1110 Post(s)
Liked 1,176 Times in 795 Posts
Originally Posted by Classtime
You can get so much more bike for the money buying a used bike. But if you got the money, by all means go new and make sure you get the free tuneups. I just got a bike that was called an ATB back in the day -- Schwinn Cimarron. It looks like a current hybrid or city bike. It retailed for 600 bucks 30 years ago and I got it for 110. It is awesome. What city are you near?
Nice ride.

Where'd you mount the vacuum pump that keeps that coffee bag on that rear rack?
FiftySix is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
grizzly907la
Commuting
91
06-06-16 08:28 AM
vinnyvincent
General Cycling Discussion
120
01-10-16 07:41 PM
tiger187126
Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg)
21
09-14-14 07:36 AM
cbourbeau
General Cycling Discussion
14
09-07-13 01:00 PM
todayilearned
General Cycling Discussion
3
08-02-11 09:24 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.