Diamondback Overdrive 29 Hardtail Mountain Bike, Black

I did a lot of research before buying the Diamondback Overdrive. Most of the reviews were positive and I found it highly recommended as an entry level Mountain bike on various web sites. At 48 years old, I started riding again last summer to get some exercise. I was using an old 26" bike that belonged to my son and thought I should upgrade to get the most out of the hobby. Because the old bike was really basic (10 speeds, no front suspension, big box store quality) I wanted to upgrade to a quality bike without breaking the bank and the Overdrive seemed to meet all the requirements. I knew the frame on the old bike was on the smaller side so not only was I looking forward to the 29" tires, but the larger frame as well. I'm 6'-1" tall and 210 lbs which put me right between sizes for Diamondback frames. I opted for the XL frame size which works well for me. I have the seat in the lower 1/3 of the adjustment range. I'm sure the LG frame would have been ok too in my case, but it's definitely a large bike so trust the sizing charts. Compared to my old bike, the breaks and mechanicals are top notch. For someone not accustomed to 24 gears, the low end power is amazing. This is the "Ready Ride" version, and just like they said, you only need to install the pedals, seat and front wheel. Very simple. The breaks and derailers were factory adjusted perfectly. I did go over the whole bike to make sure everything was tight and did find a couple bolts that needed an extra turn. The bike arrived in a giant box and was well packaged. Absolutely no scuffs or dings (not even the box). The only problem is figuring out what to do with the huge box. After a quick test ride in the driveway, the warnings from all the other diamondback reviewers were confirmed: the seat really sucks. Buy the larger seat and don't waste your time installing the factory seat. I took it out on the trail today and it is truly a pleasure to ride and it looks amazing. The front suspension and 29" tires make most of the bumps disappear. Solid ride with excellent paint and graphics. I highly recommend this bike!

Ok, I wanted to put a few hundred miles on this bike before I wrote a review....so here goes.I love it. It's huge and fast as hell, and I love every second of it. That being said...You're gonna have to get a new seat. The seat that comes with the bike is a torture device. Don't even try. Just buy a new seat along with the bike.You're going to want to set it up for your body type too. I got the XL, and I feel like it's a good size for me. I'm 6'2", 200lbs, and once you adjust the seat, I was good to go.Now, this isn't a top end, blasting down the Himalayas kinda kit. I try and ride six days a week...maybe an hour or so at a time...so I'm a mid-level type. I'm also 40 and don't wanna die. So take that into account.If this bike has been in your cart for awhile, pull the trigger, I promise you won't be disappointed.EDIT: Okay, I'm closing in on a thousand miles on this bike, and thought I did get a tune up at a local bike shop, I have noticed a few issues with a bit of bottom bracket wobbles. I think the frame and tires are fantastic, but you may want to upgrade the drive train after a bit.

Ok I will start with the bad. The front tire wasn't true out of the box. The brakes also needed adjustments. The seat is hard as a rock. The grips also needed to be replaced because they offer no cushion and my hand was getting numb. The fork isn't that great but I knew that and I'm not doing much downhill or hitting jumps. The bike shown in the pictures is also not the bike I received. I received the newer model which has the newer Diamondback decals which I didn't mind. The part I did mind was the tires were supposed to be Schwable Rabid Rob's and what I got was WTB Nine Lines which offer no traction at all. So I had to spend more money to replace the tires. The bike is pretty heavy due to the cheap fork, the retailers are okay but not great. Probably gonna upgrade to the Shimano Alivio as well. More money out of my pocket. I paid $499 for this bike. Of course now it's on sale. My box was also open. If I wanted an open box I would have used Amazon's warehouse deals and saved some money but whatever. Now for the good....the set up was easy and I'm no pro at putting anything together. The bike is fun to ride, the frame is solid, the paint job is great. It's my first 29er and I'm enjoying it for what it is. I ride pretty hard and it seems to be taking everything so far. I didn't want to break the bank on a full suspension because I really don't ride downhill. It does roll over things pretty easily and would be great for beginners to intermediate riders. It's definitely an upgrade from 26 and 27.5 tires. Feels more solid. I love the wider handlebars as well. I would recommend with all the cons in mind. The picture shows the grips, Punisher decal and the seat cushion I purchased.

I've had this bike for a few months now and have ridden it pretty hard on rugged single track trails. It can hang with much more expensive bikes. It is light and well built. If you are new to off road riding this is a great starter bike. Not going to get much better for the price. I'm sure some more experienced riders will complain about the front shocks and gears but a new rider will not know the difference and will love this bike.