Customer Reviews

Diamondback Insight 1 Performance Hybrid Bike (700c Wheels)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm happy with the bike.

In summary, I think that for the money you get a pretty good value. This is above the quality you'd get for a bargain basement bike, but it's got a good frame and you're free to change whatever you don't like later. But out of the box, this bike is still very rideable.

It comes boxed with the rear wheel on, the only assembly you do is attaching the front wheel and handlebars and connecting the brakes.

For sizing, I am 6'3" with a 34" or 36" inseam, and I bought the XXL. It's just about right sizing-wise - sitting on the seat with a pedal fully downward, my leg is almost straight but not quite.

Brakes - good, but like any set of this type they are prone to sequal. Derailers - good enough for this price point... performance is satisfactory. Tires - lower end, but decent quality. People complain about the saddle, but you have to get your body accustomed to riding regularly - then this type of saddle is satisfactory.

I rank this bike higher than most you would find at or below this price point, you aren't getting a super-fancy bike shop special, but you aren't getting something with a lot of plastic parts either. And whatever you don't like - buy a part online and change it out.

I think I'll be happy with this as a commuter/urban tourer.

I recently purchased this bike thru Amazon as I was unable to find this model locally. I have had Diamondbacks in the past and have been quite satisfied with them. This order arrived quite quickly, even with the free shipping option, and though some assembly was required upon arrival, not surprisingly, I was able to put most of it together without a problem, taking it to a local bike shop for final checkout. I have been riding it for a couple of months now and have found it an very satisfying purchase. In comparing it to a Specialized Vienna, which I had also recently acquired and have found to be a very good bike, I find myself using the Diamondback most of the time, commuting to work everyday, and occasional longer rides out of town. I have the largest size and, with a handlebar post extension, at 6'6" find it a very comfortable fit, for a change. The gears shift quite smoothly for the most part, and the brakes have a decently tight feel to them. It is nicely light to carry when necessary but still has a well-enough constructed feel to it while riding. Overall, I am quite satisfied with this bike and can comfortably recommend it to anyone looking for a low-to-medium priced hybrid bicycle.

May 27, 2010
As a follow-up to my initial review, though overall I am still quite satisfied with the bike, I have found that I need to replace the plastic/composite pedals already after just 6 months or so. I don't feel like I've been overly hard on them but I've already had one partly break off on me. I have replaced them with metal pedals so hopefully I won't have this problem again for some time. I would still recommend the bike though and will probably look for something similar in the future, when the day comes.

I received this bike as an anniversary present in late June '09. I've ridden with an experienced cyclist who rides high-end road bikes costing thousands, and he was extremely impressed with the geometry, speed, and weight of this bike (he was convinced the forks had to be carbon). I added bar ends for climbing and replaced the stock pedals with a pair of Crank Brothers Clipless pedals to get the most efficiency out of my revolutions. After the inaugural 500 miles, this bike has held up very well on both road and packed gravel off-road paths. If you buy this bike at a chain sporting goods store, be sure to get it tuned by a bike shop pro as it may need some tweaking to reduce shifting chatter. Some minor adjustments were made and the shifting has been flawless. Some folks complain about the bike not fitting on roof-mounted racks because of a narrow front fork; all it takes is the removal of the front wheel and a little careful filing to widen the openings and your bike will fit on the rack with no problems. I initially had brake noise, but after applying rubbing alcohol to the rims to clean them off and having the brake pads adjusted slightly, there is no more noise. You will be pleasantly surprised by both the speed and light feel of this bike. Had a run of 35mph on a downhill and there was never a sense of instability or wobble. The bike is an excellent ride for those who wish to maintain fitness, yet rides well enough to keep up with those on more traditional (and more expensive) road bikes. Again, I've only put about 500 miles or so on this bike and am getting ready for the second season, but it has received nods of approval from both serious cyclists who rode with me and from bike shop pros who tuned it up for me. Wide range of gears allows you to comfortably enjoy a wide variety of terrain easily or push yourself in a test of speed, strength and endurance. Upright riding position is very comfortable and ample seat adjustment allows for proper fitting of the bike for your frame. Hand grips are wide and designed to disperse weight to help fight arm fatigue. Tires are inflated through Presta style valves, so be sure your air pump can accommodate (you can easily purchase a presta valve adapter). Bottom line, I love this bike and there is nothing about it that dampens my enthusiasm for wanting to get it out on the road at every opportunity. Very happy my wife purchased this bike for me...it has turned me into a cycling enthusiast who cannot wait to get on the road for more! Given 4 stars because it is an entry level bike, but certainly rates on the higher end of the scale for bikes designed in this price range.

I've never actually written one of these before, but this time I felt compelled. After searching through craigslist, ebay, local bike shops, and amazon I decided on the XXL 23 inch model from Amazon (how can you beat the sale price of $240) and received it very quickly. The gears and entire back wheel/assembly come put together already. The only assembly required was the front wheel/brakes, and the seat/pedals. Took me about an hour because the brakes were sort of tricky. Originally I was worried about the 23 inch being too big, but I'm 6'2" and I'd say that it's right on the threshold of being too big for me...so I'd get a smaller size if you're shorter than 6'2" or have short legs.

The first ride was really nice. I took it eight miles to my LBS to have them check my brake installation and to buy a light, and it rode effortlessly on the road/sidewalk. I had a pretty nice nishiki road bike before this one, but I didn't like the curved handlebars very much. Although the upright position is definitely less aggressive, I find it a lot more comfortable on long rides. I'm really glad I only paid 240 for this bike, but I would have paid 399. It feels almost as light as my old bike, and I was cruising at close to 20mph with no problem.

I got this bike for commuting 20 miles each day and clock around 1000 miles a year between commuting and fun rides. This is my forth bike in the past 12 years. I have an older road bike, and two $1,500+ mountain bikes. I prefer the flat bar design for comfort and safety in city streets. I did look at many road bikes as a commuter but could not justify price and did not feel comfortable. This Diamondback Insight probably has one of the best frames out there and for this price range beats all other bikes.
Pros:
- Great lightweight responsive frame
- Comfortable seat and geometry
- Fenders are well designed and do not rattle
- Rack is heavy duty and can carry heavy loads
So-so:
- Sram4 shifters and components OK
- Suntour crank OK
Cons:
- TekTro Brakes could be better, feels cheap
- Handle bar could be lighter and higher rise for more comfort

I've enjoyed this bike commuting to work and leisure riding with the kids, I would definitely recommend this bike for anyone wanting a good quality entry level bike. From test riding many bikes, I think it is comparable to name brand bikes (e.g. Special... & Cannon...) without the $500+ price tag.

Purchased this bike at Dick's Sporting Goods after researching online. Was the same price as Amazon but didn't want to wait for shipping. :) Have had the bike for a few months, no problems! Seems like a well built product, all parts seem well put together and high quality. No complaints at all, would definately recommend this bike!

i bought this bike at a pro shop and git a great deal. $300 on sale vs $499 they sold it for as a regular price. i ride this bike at least 5 days a week and could not ask for anything more. The bike is light weight, easy to manuver and looks good. I am new to riding but I think I got a great deal

I feel real good about this purchase. I'm a bigger guy, and so I needed a 23-inch frame to handle my height and weight. I initially had the bike assembled by a professional at a bike shop for $50, which was well worth the money. I didn't feel comfortable assembling the bike myself and I would encourage others to do so to ensure the bike rides properly and safely.

I love the fact that the bike is a hybrid, which makes it easy to travel over grass as well as the roads. I have sense of security as I travel on all types of surfaces.

I decided I wanted to buy this bike at a bike shop because I didn't want to have to get into assembly projects, no matter how simple, and because I wanted to create a relationship with a bike mechanic who would help me get the bike in tune and keep it in tune. When I first got this bike, about a week ago, the brakes howled like a pitiless starving animal crying out into the wilderness. I kid you not. The sound the brakes made was loud and pitiful. I did some internet research on these bikes (after buying it :-P ) and found that this bike is known for howling brakes. One reviewer who had put up with howling brakes for a year had decided that the howling brakes were an intended safety feature. Yeah, right. Anyway, I took the bike back to the bike mechanic at the shop where I bought it and got the brakes fixed. What the mechanic told me and showed me was that the brakes should look pigeon toed when you look down at them. so that just the front part of the brake makes contact with the tire when you start to apply slight pressure to the brake. As you put more pressure on to come to a complete stop, the whole brake pad will make contact with the tire. When the brakes were aligned this way there was no more howling, etc.

The other thing I read about this bike in internet reviews is that the spokes on the wheels sometimes break off. More than one reviewer mentioned this. I have only had the bike for a week, so I don't know if that problem will develop.

The one modification I made right from the start was to replace the seat. I put a comfy Bell gel seat on there and I am really glad I did. That seat is the most comfortable ride on a bike I have ever had. (While my experience with this seat is good- I see it got really mixed reviews on Amazon.)

I am not an experienced rider- the last time I rode was when I was a kid. And that is a long time ago now. For me, this bike "feels" stable. The tires are neither skinny racing tires or big mountain bike tires. Since I intend to ride on paved roads and smooth trails for fitness and enjoyment, and was looking for a bike that was more agile than a cruiser but less intense than a mountain bike- so far this bike seems about perfect for me. I also like that it is relatively light weight, so I can get it in and out of the back of my car by myself. (Just for reference- I am a 5'7 ft tall woman in my 50's.)

I bought this bike for commuting 20 miles a day to and from work on back country roads. I really loved this bike. Very comfortable ride. Very durable. Whether commuting to work or just out for a ride with my kids, I always enjoyed this bike. I would definitely recommend this bike for anyone wanting a good quality entry level bike.