13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Professional assembly required!!, December 1, 2009
This review is from: Diamondback Wildwood Deluxe Men's Comfort Bike (26-Inch Wheels) (Sports)
Just received the bike today, quick shipment. This bike does NOT come with assembly instructions. The outside of the box states: "IMPORTANT NOTICE: This bicycle to be sold in an assembled and adjusted condition only." A list of required tools is listed on the outside of the box, which include some specialized bicycle tools, not your standard Home Depot stuff. My local bike shop wants $60 for assembly. Keep this in mind when deciding on your purchase. If I decide to keep this, once it's assembled I'll update this post and let you know how it is.
UPDATE: I had the bike assembled, had a chance to ride it for only about 15 minutes (lousy weather the past few days). Best bike I have ever had, no question. Comfortable ride, smooth shifting. Was a great deal at $199 with free shipping, plus the $75 I paid for assembly and a kickstand.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I DON'T work for Diamondback. This is an unbiased review., May 6, 2010
This review is from: Diamondback Wildwood Deluxe Men's Comfort Bike (26-Inch Wheels) (Sports)
I got this bike today via FEDEX. It was waiting for me when I got home from work. After reading the reviews here, I was a little worried that assembling it might be beyond me. It was partially disassembled as the other reviews have stated, but I was pleasantly surprised.
If you have any mechanical aptitude, or you are fairly comfortable doing normal operator maintenance and adjustments on bikes, you won't need to get a professional to assemble and adjust it. Here is what you have to do to assemble the bike.
1. You have to install the (quick-release) front wheel and hook up the front brake.
2. Screw in the pedals.
3. Slide the handle-bars into the frame and tighten the post. Adjust the handlebars.
4. Inflate the tires.
5. You may have to adjust the shifter tension a little.
6. Slide the seat into the post and tighten the quick release. Adjust the saddle.
7. Adjust your brakes, seat and handle bars to suit you.
8. Add your front and rear reflectors.
I decided to time myself to see how long it took to assemble it. It took almost exactly 40 minutes to assemble and another 30 minutes to get it adjusted the way I like it. I was in no hurry and could have done it in half that if I were rushed. Not too bad. It even comes with a wrench and a hex key set (since most of the hardware is adjusted with hex keys).
The wheels were true, the gears, shifters, cranks, rear wheel, and almost everything were already assembled and perfectly adjusted (except for the front shifter, which needed the cable tightened slightly). If you are worried that you will get a box of parts the way it sounds in some of these reviews, don't worry. It went together easily with no fuss.
It doesn't come with a kick-stand, so you will need to order one if you want one. I installed a Schwinn adjustable kickstand and it works perfectly on the longest setting.
Schwinn Adjustable Kickstand
It also has no fenders, cargo rack, lights, horn etc. Those items will have to be installed and are not counted in my assembly time. I have a light set, speedometer, rack and set of panniers I intend to install this weekend, but I don't anticipate any trouble. All the hardware on this bike are excellent quality and look durable.
Here is a tip for beginners: Get yourself some thread locker (or even nail polish) and use it on every screw you ever touch with a wrench. A drop of thread locker will save you a lot of grief by keeping everything from vibrating loose on the road and still allows you to unscrew the bolt later. I swear by it. Loctite 262, 6 ml Thread-locker
So, what is it like once you assemble it? It's just great!
First, I bought the Extra-large frame and was surprised at just how BIG it is. It is extremely comfortable to ride and cranks smoothly and easily. I took it out for about an hour and abused it a little, riding it like a Mountain Bike on some easy trails. It performed perfectly. The tires are not as aggressive as a mountain bike, but they dig in pretty well in dirt and sand. They are mostly built for street use and are very smooth on pavement. (You can inflate these tires up to 65 pounds. Mine are inflated to 60 PSI and that seems perfect to me.)
It's very light for it's size and the frame is solid. It has a granny gear that will allow you to climb almost anything and keep up with your buddy on his mountain bike. Your top gear combination is not as fast as a racer, but moves you along easily at 25mph if you have the muscle and wind. It shifts smoothly, handles hard curves like a street bike and stops on a dime.
Also, it's comfortable to ride. Your knees get some relief from the angle of the seat post and It has front shocks and a shock absorbing seat post that makes riding on trails or bumpy roads incredibly comfortable. The seat itself is comfortable, unlike most bikes. This bike is lively enough to jump curbs effortlessly or ride a wheelie if you are so inclined, but it's almost as stable as a cruiser. It strikes an excellent balance.
If your only experience with bicycles is with a low end Huffy or Walmart special, you are in for a treat. This is a quality bike that rides like one that costs much more.
If you are inept with tools or simply uncomfortable adjusting a bike, taking it to a bike shop for assembly and adjustment is a good investment. But don't just leave it there. Watch a real mechanic adjust your bike once and you will be able to do it in the future. Everyone who rides a bike should know how to do minor repairs and adjustments, so watch a professional and ask questions. You will enjoy your bike (any bike) a lot more if it's adjusted to your body and riding style. This bike is more adjustable than most, so learning to do it yourself will make it even more enjoyable. You might want to change some of the settings for different kinds of riding.
I fell in love with this bike on sight. I am extremely glad I bought it.
This is a sweet ride!
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