Comments on: Diamondback Overdrive Pro: First Impressions http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/03/diamondback-overdrive-pro-first-impressions/ 29er Bike Reviews, Rumors and News Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:50:51 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Effin Haole http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/03/diamondback-overdrive-pro-first-impressions/comment-page-1/#comment-44592 Effin Haole Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:21:02 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/03/diamondback-overdrive-pro-first-impressions/#comment-44592 I hadn't ridden a bike in over a dozen years and got the itch to hit the trail again. I picked up the Overdrive, not the Pro, and love it. I wanted an affordable bike, and one that would last me more than a few years. I'm a big guy (6'/250) so sturdiness and build quality was important. After all of those years, getting on this bike was like I never took time off. I bought it to take back to HI with me and leave it there to have at the ready (I split time between the islands and west coast). But I decided to take it up to Big Bear for test run or two prior to my trip back to the islands. Well, I was nervous to say the least, but after a few hundred yards down the mountain I felt race ready. In the islands that extra tire size made a huge difference compared to what I remembered those trails being like so long ago. And this was also my first bike with disc brakes - a definite requirement for those wet and muddy HI trails. Instead of leaving it in HI, I decided the extra fee to lug it back and forth was worth it. I use this bike in HI and CA and I really love the handling, especially with the different terrains - from muddy, rooty island trails to dry, hard, rocky west coast stuff. This is my first 29er and it is a dream to ride, a perfect choice for being back in the saddle again. I hadn’t ridden a bike in over a dozen years and got the itch to hit the trail again. I picked up the Overdrive, not the Pro, and love it. I wanted an affordable bike, and one that would last me more than a few years. I’m a big guy (6′/250) so sturdiness and build quality was important. After all of those years, getting on this bike was like I never took time off. I bought it to take back to HI with me and leave it there to have at the ready (I split time between the islands and west coast). But I decided to take it up to Big Bear for test run or two prior to my trip back to the islands. Well, I was nervous to say the least, but after a few hundred yards down the mountain I felt race ready. In the islands that extra tire size made a huge difference compared to what I remembered those trails being like so long ago. And this was also my first bike with disc brakes – a definite requirement for those wet and muddy HI trails. Instead of leaving it in HI, I decided the extra fee to lug it back and forth was worth it. I use this bike in HI and CA and I really love the handling, especially with the different terrains – from muddy, rooty island trails to dry, hard, rocky west coast stuff. This is my first 29er and it is a dream to ride, a perfect choice for being back in the saddle again.

]]> By: Desert9r http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/03/diamondback-overdrive-pro-first-impressions/comment-page-1/#comment-31949 Desert9r Fri, 04 Jan 2008 21:17:41 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/03/diamondback-overdrive-pro-first-impressions/#comment-31949 Damn it, I hate when I see things! it is shimano, even better :D Damn it, I hate when I see things! it is shimano, even better :D

]]> By: BunE http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/03/diamondback-overdrive-pro-first-impressions/comment-page-1/#comment-31944 BunE Fri, 04 Jan 2008 20:33:53 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/03/diamondback-overdrive-pro-first-impressions/#comment-31944 SRAM? The website calls it all Shimano, down to the octolink. SRAM? The website calls it all Shimano, down to the octolink.

]]> By: mtroy http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/03/diamondback-overdrive-pro-first-impressions/comment-page-1/#comment-31934 mtroy Fri, 04 Jan 2008 17:04:32 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/03/diamondback-overdrive-pro-first-impressions/#comment-31934 I will look forward to the post-up of your thoughts on the handling paths that are being followed. I think 29er are still, if not infants, at least toddlers when it comes to overall design and parts synergy. Fisher is thinking right by way of having forks made to fit their idea of the ideal bike. That takes a bit of pull and $$ to make that happen. I still think chainstays are too long and headangles are too steep. And, to soapbox a bit more, the "CS lengths are that way to help climbing" is silly. CS 's are 18" cuz it is easy to build them that way and, if it works for the buyer, great. If not, what choice have they had? I applaud the little guy Lenz and big guy Fisher for tweaking the idea of what a 29er should be. I bet it will take another 2 years or so to get things settled down and reasonable. But hey, what do I know? Looking forward to what you know, GT. I will look forward to the post-up of your thoughts on the handling paths that are being followed.

I think 29er are still, if not infants, at least toddlers when it comes to overall design and parts synergy. Fisher is thinking right by way of having forks made to fit their idea of the ideal bike. That takes a bit of pull and $$ to make that happen.

I still think chainstays are too long and headangles are too steep. And, to soapbox a bit more, the “CS lengths are that way to help climbing” is silly. CS ’s are 18″ cuz it is easy to build them that way and, if it works for the buyer, great. If not, what choice have they had?

I applaud the little guy Lenz and big guy Fisher for tweaking the idea of what a 29er should be. I bet it will take another 2 years or so to get things settled down and reasonable.

But hey, what do I know? Looking forward to what you know, GT.

]]> By: Guitar Ted http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/03/diamondback-overdrive-pro-first-impressions/comment-page-1/#comment-31887 Guitar Ted Thu, 03 Jan 2008 23:29:26 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/03/diamondback-overdrive-pro-first-impressions/#comment-31887 Gren: Great question! The extra weight on a 29"er might actually be better than extra weight on a 26"er. Consider the following: 29"ers roll over stuff easier- If you do not have to re-accelerate as much, then the weight isn't as much of a penalty as it might be on a 26"er. Also, you have better traction with a 29"er, so getting up steeps is actually easier, especially if you utilize the momentum a 29"er tends to generate. In my mind it is advantage 29"er no matter the weight, as long as weight is equal. Dream spec? Well, I'm all about acquiring a four inch travel full suspension 29"er, and I am really liking the new XT stuff, so keep an eye out. I think you might be a bit surprised at what it is that is on my radar. ;) Gren: Great question! The extra weight on a 29″er might actually be better than extra weight on a 26″er. Consider the following: 29″ers roll over stuff easier- If you do not have to re-accelerate as much, then the weight isn’t as much of a penalty as it might be on a 26″er. Also, you have better traction with a 29″er, so getting up steeps is actually easier, especially if you utilize the momentum a 29″er tends to generate.

In my mind it is advantage 29″er no matter the weight, as long as weight is equal.

Dream spec? Well, I’m all about acquiring a four inch travel full suspension 29″er, and I am really liking the new XT stuff, so keep an eye out. I think you might be a bit surprised at what it is that is on my radar. ;)

]]> By: Gren http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/03/diamondback-overdrive-pro-first-impressions/comment-page-1/#comment-31880 Gren Thu, 03 Jan 2008 21:48:57 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/03/diamondback-overdrive-pro-first-impressions/#comment-31880 Great to have someone with your breadth of experience, who can spot these trends. Is the extra weight more easy to live with on a 29er than a 26 ? I'd love to know the spec'n of your dream bike, or should that now be bikes ? Great to have someone with your breadth of experience, who can spot these trends.

Is the extra weight more easy to live with on a 29er than a 26 ?

I’d love to know the spec’n of your dream bike, or should that now be bikes ?

]]> By: Guitar Ted http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/03/diamondback-overdrive-pro-first-impressions/comment-page-1/#comment-31874 Guitar Ted Thu, 03 Jan 2008 19:34:44 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/03/diamondback-overdrive-pro-first-impressions/#comment-31874 mtroy: Look for a full fledged post on this subject soon. ;) mtroy: Look for a full fledged post on this subject soon. ;)

]]> By: mtroy http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/03/diamondback-overdrive-pro-first-impressions/comment-page-1/#comment-31870 mtroy Thu, 03 Jan 2008 18:29:45 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/03/diamondback-overdrive-pro-first-impressions/#comment-31870 Interesting point about the diverging handling attributes. Care to elaborate on that further? I assume the G2 HiFi is on the far extreme the other direction? Interesting point about the diverging handling attributes. Care to elaborate on that further? I assume the G2 HiFi is on the far extreme the other direction?

]]> By: Desert9r http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/03/diamondback-overdrive-pro-first-impressions/comment-page-1/#comment-31865 Desert9r Thu, 03 Jan 2008 17:26:31 +0000 http://twentynineinches.com/2008/01/03/diamondback-overdrive-pro-first-impressions/#comment-31865 Great info! Even though I do not like Sram or Aluminum, I can tell it another quality product that I can tell people about. Thanks for the Update Ted Great info!
Even though I do not like Sram or Aluminum, I can tell it another quality product that I can tell people about.

Thanks for the Update Ted

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