Customer Reviews

Diamondback Mini Viper Kid's BMX Bike (16-Inch Wheels)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Very impressed with the quality; its immediately clear coming out of the box that this is not a cheaply made bike. Even the training wheels are made from solid rubber and metal. Only had two issues. First, there were no assembly instructions in the box (although not really much to assemble; i.e., front wheel, pedals, handle bars, training wheels and seat). There was an owners manual with the bike (how to ride, safety instructions, adjustments, etc.) but nothing specific to this actual bike or its assembly. And secondly, the seat covering was trimmed short on a small spot in the back so that a couple of staples were not making any contact with the internal hard frame in the seat -- albiet minor, I would still consider this a defect in workmanship and might call the company about sending me a replacement. All considered though, we are delighted with the bike and trust that it will easily be in use for many years to come. Very highly recommend!!!

I bought this bike for my 3-year-old son and hoped it would fit him and be something he could grow with. We've had one trip around the block and I can already tell it will fill that role very well. The parts appear very durable, the seat is comfortable, the training wheels are very sturdy, and the bike comes with a chain guard not shown in the photo.

I didn't subtract a star from this bike because it is heavy, and it is heavy. Nor was the subtraction due to the the ever-so-slight wobble in the sprocket that causes a minimally inconsistent feel as the cranks are turned a full rotation. I subtracted a star because there is excessive and unnecessary drag in the drive train and bearings and many of the bearings feel a little "catchy". In an attempt to remedy this, I removed the fork and thoroughly greased those bearings, which lead to substantial improvement in ease and smoothness of steering. I'd like to lubricate the drivetrain, but unfortunately, I can't seem to loosen the nut to access the bottom bracket without destroying the paint. I didn't bother with the wheel bearings yet and I likely won't. I'm not a bike mechanic and don't want to chance wrecking my son's gift the same day I gave it to him. Reducing drag for little riders who are trying to develop muscle and balance all at once would seem to me to be a significant priority; the fact that the manufacturer didn't pay as much attention to this issue as I would like was enough for me to feel mild disappointment with this one aspect.

That said, my son didn't seem to much notice the resistance as he pedaled this behemoth up a sizable hill on our way back home, nor was it enough to prevent him from starting the bike from full stop on almost all occasions as he practiced braking, and to be fair, I'm a little spoiled by my much more expensive bike. My son loves his new bike and so do I; despite my issue, I'd buy it again or recommend it to a friend in a heartbeat.

If you're like me and you don't feel like dropping $250 on a Specialized or Trek bike for your 4 year old, then the Diamondback Viper is the perfect solution. You might be thinking, "Heck, I might as well buy an $80 bike if I'm going to save money." Big mistake. My in-laws ordered one of the cheap-os for my kid's birthday. Total junk. Sent it back and upgraded to the Viper. It's very solidly built and has quality components. The training wheels are really durable. They're not the flimsy, rattly kind found on cheaper bikes. Yes, overall it's a little on the heavy side, but who cares. An extra pound isn't going to break your back lifting it out of the car.

We bought this for our (tall) 4.5 year old son - he is 110cms and we were thinking we should get an 18'. But we are very happy with this bike 16' is plenty and will last for quite some years even though he is tall, 18 would've been unmanageable for him. He went straight to it without training wheels and is now popping wheelies and going up and down sloping gutters, being adventurous which is wonderful to see.

In the pic it did look like there was no chain guard, but there is one.

I don't remember hearing my husband complain too much when putting it together, and he hates doing that kind of stuff

Very happy with the purchase

This looks like a great quality bike, but I am not 100% certain I've put it together properly because there are no assembly instructions included! The owners manual is full of useful information on adjustments for the individual rider(while consistently recommending you to ask your dealer for help), though, which makes me think the manufacturer does not intend this bike to reach the consumer prior to assembly.

If you are considering buying and assembling this bike yourself, you should also know that while the tools it requires are not bicycle-specific, it's not just a screwdriver, either. A phillips head, two sizes of allen wrench, and a decent-sized wrench are what I ended up using.

The overall assembly is not terribly difficult to figure out on your own, but as a paranoid (and not entirely bike-educated) mom, if I can't have a pro do it, having the mfg send step-by-step instructions (however mundane) would go a long way toward my confidence in my own ability to do it correctly and safely.

[...].

Not a bad bike, but I was expecting more given that a 20" version with caliper brakes is the same cost. First, the instruction manual is generic.....not that putting this bike together was rocket science, but if OEMs wonder why people don't read owner's manuals, it's because they stink!

I have come to the conclusion that most kids bikes 16" and under are made from depleted Uranium deep in the bowels of the former Soviet Union, and weigh more than the rider. This one isn't an exception. It feels heavier than its 20" big brother.

Great paint scheme and design. It looks much cooler than the normal run-of-the-mill bike that you'll find at your local mass merchant.

Bike is a "classic" shape including all elements/geometry of a standard bmx bike. Very sturdy and ready for abuse. The addition of a flag makes it that much more visible.

The bike is great! Built well, easy to assemble. I had to call about adjusting the wheel. I called diamond back got help right away. I ordered snake skin pads for the bike and they fit great. Good product!

My 4 year old saw this bike in the bike shop earlier in 2011 and gravitated to it immediately. As a cyclist, I was also drawn to it and ended up purchasing it for him in August when he was a little taller. Let's just say, he loves riding this bike! I've since removed the training wheels and that makes it just that much more fun. We live in a somewhat hilly community, which has "Hill" in the name, and he handles it well most of the time - walking is ok. :-) Bottom line, I recommend this bike. I would like to also note it came with a chain guard. I agree with those reviewers who oppose not having one at this age, especially in a hilly community like mine.

Put it together today and for the most part it was pretty painless. I did have to grind down the training wheels a bit. The metal was curved and the powder coat was too thick. Was unable to slide them into the stablizers as instructed. Once ground down, they slide in fine. The instructions are horrible! They include every bike they make as one set of instructions. I was a little perplexed with the training wheels at first when they didn't slide in properly, so I decided to use the manual (which is unusual for me). Dug through it and found it, but it took a while. Other than that, the bike is great. As others have have stated, the parts do not move freely. I think it will break in over time. What I like the most about the bike is the fact that it doesn't have any ridiculous bling. I think that appeals to me the most since it will be used for many years. It is a bit pricey, but I've been known to spend more for less. The quality is not bad and the style will last as my son's taste change.