Today we'll be taking a look at my Diamondback Sync'r Pro, and comparing it to my old Trek
4900. If you're just popping in on this review then you might be thinking that's a weird
comparison to make, but it's very relevant to my subscribers. Over the last year we used
this bike to learn how to bunny hop, perform trials techniques, and even ride skatepark,
so my new Diamondback has big shoes to fill.
Indeed, it seems suited for the job. Many companies are adding super aggressive hardtails
to their lineups, with slack headtubes, disgustingly wide bars, and no nonsense drivetrains. Bring
it on… I feel like this category was designed especially for riders like me.
Before we go on to the rest of the bike, note that I threw some stems and sealant in these
wheels and made them tubeless. Also, I added a KS Lev Integra dropper post, using the port
back here for the cable. It looks nice and clean, with the release routed through the
seat tube.
So clearly this bike is an upgrade over my Trek. Literally every part on it is better
than what you see here. But what about the handling? The wheels, tires, frame, and handlebars
are all bigger, which you think would have some effect on the maneuverability. The Sync’r
does feel bigger, and there are times on the trails, particularly on tight turns where
the Trek just feels easier to manage, but that’s pretty much where it ends.
One thing you’ve all seen is how the trek was able to handle the skatepark almost like
a BMX. The 26 inch wheels and small frame would have a lot to do with this. Because
I’ve pushed the Trek to its absolute limits, it’s easy to assess where the Diamondback
is better, and where it falls short.
For instance, its bigger size makes it harder to 360, but only slightly. In fact, after
a few tries it didn’t feel so bad at all. One area where I was really surprised was
bunny hopping. Despite its bigger size, the Sync’r is easier to bunnyhop on. It seems
obvious that the suspension should get credit for this, but actually it’s the geometry.
Note how your riding position is close to the rear axle but also close to the bars.
While this design could result in a ridiculously short bike, the slack head tube angle makes
up for it, positioning the front wheel further away. This seems to be a deadly combination
for hopping, at least for me.
Speaking of the slack headtube angle, it’s noticeably better for descending. When the
bike is angled down a slope, the fork points outwards to absorb the bumps more directly.
On a hardtail, you can use all the help you can get on descents, so this is a nice feature.
On to the components. It’s no secret that I like Raceface, in fact my drivetrain hasn’t
changed that much at all. The biggest difference here is that I’ve gone from a 10 speed to
an 11 speed, and from Shimano XT to Sram GX.
I appreciate the lighter touch required to shift
the GX, but also the military grade build quality of the Shimano. They’re both great
derailleurs and you can’t really go wrong with either one.
One of the biggest upgrades the Sync’r has over my Trek is the fork. The Fox 34 has more
travel, and a much better build than the Rockshox Recon, which I’ve had some serious reliability
issues with. These forks aren’t even close to the same price range, so this might not
be hard to believe. Just like the Rockshox, I have my Fox 34 set to max pressure most
of the time. Originally I didn’t have it set to max, and I bottomed it out hard. To
be completely fair, I don’t think this is what Fox expects you to do with a mid travel
trail fork.
So, that’s pretty much it. Having this new bike has made me want to ride trails more.
I’ve gotten some funny comments from fellow riders though, like “where’d you get that,
Sports Authority?”. Obviously they’re alluding to the fact that Diamondback also
offers budget bikes found at many retail stores. As soon as we get out on the trails though,
they can clearly see that this Diamondback is nothing to joke about. As many of you know,
any bike that can hold up to my terrible habits is perfectly suited for any type of trail
riding. Thanks for riding with me today, and I’ll see you next time.