Early-mid 90's Diamond Back Approach Hybrid

Diamond Back Approach Hybrid we refurbished here at Bike Boom. If your'e not familiar, Bike Boom is a used bike shop in Davis square, on the border of Cambridge and Somerville , near Boston MA. where we specialize in restoring and refurbishing used and vintage bikes and offer professional bicycle repair services
The Diamond back brand is relatively new. it was actually the predecessor of centurion, a brand of WSI an american company who manufactured and exported bikes from japan. in the early 80's WSI introduced the diamond back brand for their mountain bikes and later for the BMX series. throughout the 80's both names were utilized until centurion was dropped in 1990. Great article from sheldon brown on centurion models here. Used hybrids are hard to come by as they are pretty modern bikes, the first ones were produced in the late 80's. Most bike companies started offering several models  in the early 90's. They are considered all around bikes and it seems like they are probably the best selling bikes right now. They are so popular that people who don't even know what  a hybrid bike is, still want one. Hybrids rarely stay in our shop for more than a couple of days and women's hybrids with an open frame such as this Diamond back approach usually don't survive 24 hours in the shop in the biking season as usually the first person to try them will make a purchase.
We usually replace tires on all of our bikes unless it's clear that the tires are recent replacements or of high quality, these tend to survive for longer period. this Diamond back approach has undergone the standard refurb and was fitted with new tubes, cables and brake pads on top of the tires. More diamond backs  we refurbished here and a brief history of Diamond back and its predecessor Centurion and also a wiki page on diamond back

Are you looking to repair this bike?

Links below for parts you can buy now on amazon.

Over the years we repaired thousands of Vintage bikes and became experts in finding alternatives to original bike parts. 

Buying parts for older bikes is confusing, as most of the original parts have been discontinued. 

We use these parts everyday and created this list to make it easier for you to repair your bike.

Parts list for Early-mid 90's Diamond Back Approach Hybrid

Rear Wheel: https://amzn.to/36dGCGE Front Wheel: https://amzn.to/2Qf7lgI

Tires (Standard for leisure riding): https://amzn.to/36aCvLz (choose 700x35 or 700x32)

Tires:(Flat resistant, heavy duty): https://amzn.to/2MLhUpj Select (700x35 or 700x32)

Shifter cables and housing: https://amzn.to/38g40ol

Brake cables and housing: https://amzn.to/2DZqPPk

shifter set: 3x7 https://amzn.to/2Qzzv4X

Rear Derailleur: https: https://amzn.to/2sHJOeL

Front Derailleur: https://amzn.to/2Pj0QHH

Crank: https://amzn.to/39tFBwf

Cassette: https://amzn.to/37oL9pN

Pedals: https://amzn.to/2OUDbyD

Chain: https://amzn.to/38ayVCI (fits 6, 7 and 8 speeds)

Headset: https://amzn.to/38EkfvQ (Choose 26.4 but it's better to remove crown race and measure inside diameter for sure)

Brake pads: https://amzn.to/34TYUMF (standard use, original part)

Brake pads: https://amzn.to/369Nvbs improved performance and wet and cold condition 

Brakes: https://amzn.to/2s2IfIg

Saddle: https://amzn.to/34Wkccn

Handlebar (25.4 clamp): https://amzn.to/34SU2XT

Brake Levers (good): https://amzn.to/2smGpT6

1982 or 1983 Diamondback Ridge Runner

Diamondback Ridge Runner we had here at Bike Boom. If your'e not familiar, Bike Boom is a used bike shop in Davis square, on the border of Cambridge and Somerville , near Boston MA. where we specialize in restoring and refurbishing used and vintage bikes and offer professional bicycle repair services.
This Diamond back ridge runner is a recent find of our good friend Curtis and has yet to be refurbished. One day when people start collecting mountain bikes more seriously like the guys at mombat.org  the museum of mountain bike art & technology, the diamond back ridge runner is going to be a must in any serious collection.
In 1991 specialized made the stumpjumper and had great success. In 1982 centurion released the ridge runner as a super high end mountain bike featuring a lugged frame with ornate lugs, top of the line Suntour components and high end Tange 5 double butted chromoly tubing. Diamondback didn't save any money with this bike and the later 1984 model wasn't as  high end as this one. The diamondback ridge runner featured ultra long wheelbase and shallow angle head tube and seat tube as they were meant mainly for downhill. The funny thing is even though they were built as sturdy bikes for dirt riding they share a very similar geometry with the English cruisers like the Raleigh tourist (DL-1) and sports and even turn of the century bikes which were meant for street riding.
 The bike is currently for sale. I had it in the shop for a few days and every day I found another interesting feature on it. The bull moose handlebar with the angled tubing are quite unique also the ornate lugs and especially the Superbe tech derailer. The superbe tech was suntour's top of the line derailer and debuted in 1982-1983. it had a unique design with a sealed paralelgram and had a unique cable pull but in reality the design failed and was a huge humiliation for suntour which was then the world's leading bicycle components manufacturer. More about the superbe tech derailer in disraeli gears a very informative site with great pictures that concentrate solely on rear derailers and another beautiful and restored 1982 diamondback ridgeline.  

Are you looking to repair this bike?

Links below for parts you can buy now on amazon.

Over the years we repaired thousands of Vintage bikes and became experts in finding alternatives to original bike parts. 

Buying parts for older bikes is confusing, as most of the original parts have been discontinued. 

We use these parts everyday and created this list to make it easier for you to repair your bike.

Parts list for 1982 or 1983 Diamondback Ridge Runner:

Rear Wheel: https://amzn.to/3526DqZ Front Wheel: https://amzn.to/2RmyIGj

Tires (pavement, light off road): https://amzn.to/2YsSodj (choose 26x2.1)

Tires:(high performance off road): https://amzn.to/2LzPazq ((choose 26x2.1)

Shifter cables and housing: https://amzn.to/38g40ol

Brake cables and housing: https://amzn.to/2DZqPPk

Front and rear (set) Shifters (better): https://amzn.to/2Qzzv4X (3x7 only)

Front and rear (set) Shifters (good) : https://amzn.to/2u89Usc (select 6 or 7 accordingly)

Rear Derailleur: https: https://amzn.to/2sHJOeL

Front Derailleur: https://amzn.to/2Pj0QHH

Crank: https://amzn.to/2qp6e3H (choose 42/32/22 tooth type)

Freewheel (7 speed): https://amzn.to/2EZunS6 

Freewheel (6 speed): https://amzn.to/2qx4c1t 

Pedals: https://amzn.to/2OUDbyD

Chain: https://amzn.to/38ayVCI (fits 6, 7 and 8 speeds)

Headset: https://amzn.to/38EkfvQ (Choose 26.4 but it's better to remove crown race and measure inside diameter for sure)

Brake pads: https://amzn.to/34TYUMF (standard use, original part)

Brake pads: https://amzn.to/369Nvbs improved performance and wet and cold condition 

Brakes: https://amzn.to/2s2IfIg

Saddle: https://amzn.to/34Wkccn

Handlebar (25.4 clamp): https://amzn.to/34SU2XT

shifter cables and housing: https://amzn.to/38g40ol

brake cables and housing: https://amzn.to/2DZqPPk