Diamondback has established itself as a brand that delivers excellent products at fair price. The model that we are reviewing today promises to be a good blend of great quality and the best value for money. Should we see if it does live up to that promise?
Who is This Bike For?
This is a more affordable bike to start yourself off on. But something has to give to make it more affordable. In this case, you are saving money because it is not a full-suspension option. This also makes maintenance easier and less expensive – fewer parts = less that can go wrong. Unfortunately, this also means sacrificing a bit of comfort and planning out your routes more carefully. If you are planning on riding over a lot of rough terrain, or down steep hills, you probably won’t enjoy the ride.
Why Consider It?
This is a design classic. It shapes up very well against your more expensive mountain bikes and offers a lot of the same features. It rugged and will take on the roughest of terrains. (You might not enjoy the ride, but this hardtail can handle it.) This is great if you are just starting out at mountain biking. This bicycle can handle dirt roads and forest paths with the same ease. The frame has been built to last. It is an aluminum alloy that is handmade and will take quite a beating. It comes in at just over 30 pounds, making it a cinch to carry over areas that must be traversed on foot.
The tires are 2.2 inches thick, and hard-wearing and the design allows them to grip the trail well. This means that you can accelerate as quickly as you need to. The Tektro Aries brakes will stop you in your tracks every single time. The front suspension is taken care of by a Suntour Coil Spring Fork. This highly efficient system smooths out many of the bumps in the road, allowing you to have a more enjoyable ride and ensuring that you do not tire as easily. This 24-speed bicycle has a range of gears to help you handle the most challenging terrain.
Alternatives are the GT Avalanche Comp
What it Loves
Walks on the beach at sunset? Nope, this is not some sappy, sentimental model looking for its soulmate. This is a rough and tough explorer that loves to conquer rough terrain. It is at its best when dealing with less than ideal surfaces but also works well on smoother terrain. But please let this bad boy run wild once in a while.
What You Get
Okay, so this does not have all the features a professional bike would have, but it does have the features that count.
A Durable Option
If you take care of your Overdrive, it is going to last you for a very long time to come. The frame is sturdily, and every frame is checked thoroughly for potential errors. The aluminum alloy used creates a strong frame that will work in all weather conditions and won’t weigh a ton. Durability is one quality that is essential here – mountain biking is tough on the bikers, but tougher on the bicycles and so requires a frame that is a lot stronger. Keep the shake, rattle, and roll for the dance floor and not on the trail by choosing the Overdrive.
Do a Wheelie
The wheels are as important as the frame here. You need wheels that will be able to grip properly, or you will never be able to maneuver properly or even stop easily. The tires used here are by Kenda Honey Badger and are built to last. They are robust and, at 2.2 inches in width, give you more than enough traction on the path.
Gears
This is an option that is good for its ruggedness, but also capable of putting in a respectable time. This is due to the Shimano 9-speed drivetrain allowing you to utilize 27 gears. You will be able to coax every inch of speed and control out of your ride with this. So, whether it is time for a quiet ride through the countryside, or time to work off some serious calories, you are covered here. Test yourself and your ride to the max and feel the endorphin rush of flying along a more difficult trail.
Sizes
You should check on this before ordering by the size range from Small (at around 5’4”) to Extra Large (at around 6’4”).
Price
With quality like this, you would expect to be paying a lot more, but the Overdrive will set you back a lot less than $1 000. The trade-off, as mentioned before is that you don’t get full suspension. That would push the cost over the $1 000. While it may be comfier to have the full suspension, this is not a deal-breaker. If you like, you could swap the seat out for one that has extra padding or get a cover for it that pads it out a bit more.
As mentioned before, this will really only be an option if you are on a seriously uneven trail or if you are going down a steep hill. You also have to factor in the higher cost of maintaining a full suspension system and the extra maintenance it entails, and suddenly the odd bump here and there barely seems to matter. For the price that you are paying, you are getting a more professional-grade bicycle that comes fully assembled and ready to ride. All you will need to do is to pump up the tires and set out.
Conclusion
When you want to ride over rugged trails, you need a bike that can really get stuck in. It doesn’t need to look pretty, but it does need to work and to work really hard. This is what the Overdrive was made to do.
It handles beautifully, is easy to maintain and won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Are there better options out there? Sure, but none of them will be at the same great price.