Total Weight:
48.5 lbs (21.99 kg)
Frame Material:
6061 Aluminum Alloy,
Frame Sizes:
17 in (43.18 cm)19 in (48.26 cm)Frame Types:
High-Step
Frame Colors:
Black
Frame Fork Details:
SR Suntour NRX-D LO Suspension with 75 mm Travel and Lockout, , 30mm Stanchions, Magnesium Lower, Alloy Crown
Attachment Points:
Rear Rack Bosses, Fender Bosses
Gearing Details:
9
Speed 1x9 Shimano Deore M592 Shadow 11-34TShifter Details:
Microshift Triggers
Cranks:
Aluminum Alloy, 45T Sprocket
Pedals:
Wellgo Aluminum Alloy Platform, Forged CNC
Headset:
Ahead 1 1/8"
Stem:
DB 3D Forged 7° 31.8 mm
Handlebar:
DB Laser Series 31.8 mm Low Rise
Brake Details:
Mechanical Disc with 180 mm Front Rotor and 160 mm Rear Rotor, Levers with Motor Cutoff
Grips:
Diamondback Dual Density Comfort Grip
Saddle:
DB Dual Sport Series, Black
Seat Post:
DB Lazer Series Micro Adjust
Seat Post Diameter:
27.2 mm
Rims:
Diamondback SL-7 Doublewall, 36 Hole
Spokes:
14 Gauge Stainless Steel
Tire Brand:
Schwalbe Land Cruiser, 700 x 40c
Wheel Sizes:
28 in (71.12cm)Tire Details:
Kevlar Guard, Reflective Sidewall Stripe
Tube Details:
Presta Valve
Accessories:
Chainstay Protector, Side Mounted Kickstand, Aluminum Alloy Bash Guard and Chain Guide
Other:
KMC Z99 Chain, Locking Removable Battery Pack, Quick Release Front and Rear Wheels
EbikeNoob
10 years agoThanks for the review. Given its 2 step turn on process, can we operate the bike in battery-free mode say when battery is discharged or if don’t want to use the assist functions?
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoSure thing! If I’m understanding you correctly then you’re asking if this (or any ebike) can be ridden without the battery pack and the answer is yes. You can pedal it just like a normal bicycle and use the gears etc. and it will be easier than with the battery because the frame will be lighter by ~6 pounds or so. Keep in mind that without the main battery, the LCD display panel may not work so you won’t have the speed or distance readouts. On this bike, given the rear hub motor design, you could actually replace the rear wheel with a generic one (with cassette) and ride it as a nearly pure bicycle and save a bunch of weight. Hope I understood you and that this helps :)
ReplyEd
10 years agoI have one of these bikes and it does assist in any assist mode up to 6 mph without pedaling and continues to assist up to 20 mph if you are pedaling. This helps when you stop and forget to down shift or need a sudden boost while using pedal assist. The throttle mode does operate up to 20 mph without pedaling.
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoThanks for the feedback Ed! I’m a bit confused about what you wrote… the first sentence says “continues to assist up to 20 mph if you are pedaling” but then in the third sentence you say “throttle mode does operate up to 20 mph without pedaling”. My experience has been that throttle works to 6 mph without pedaling or 20 mph with pedaling. Could you please clarify?
Replyjaime
10 years agowhen in pedal assist when does the motor cut off; I assume it doesn’t power all the way up to 28. Also do you know how this bike would do on hills?
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoHi Jaime, in the highest level of assist the motor will help you reach speeds up to ~28 mph if you are pedaling rigorously. I think it would perform fairly well on hills, the motor is relatively large at 500 watts though it may not be as torquey given the gearless design. The larger 48 volt battery also helps :)
ReplyIker
10 years agoHow does this bike compare with the E-joe Koda 2015? I really want the Koda, but it is not available in any of my local stores, and the EXC is on sales for 2300 nearby. I am a little bit afraid purchasing such a big investment online. Thanks!
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoHi Iker! Great question… I trust Diamondback as a frame manufacturer because they have been around for over a decade (my Dad bought a standard bicycle from them years ago and it worked very well). The drive system on this is from Currie Technologies which has also been around for over a decade and the motor and battery system here were both launched in 2014 and refined so I feel like all of the bugs and kinks have been ironed out. If you have a local shop that carries this model I’d recommend going that way. You might have to add fenders and lights on your own compared to the Koda but you get a solid warranty and support from that shop (even fitting probably and some free tuneups?) I don’t love putting bikes together so I always try to get one from a store and I’d trust the EXC.
ReplyRandy
9 years ago@Court I own one of these bikes and will step in for Ed re the 6mph limitation in pedal assist modes (1-4) vs the sub-20mph limitation in throttle (T) mode. This is an advanced concept in speed controls that represents solid use-case research by Currie Technologies/parent company Accel Group (ANA). As you know, federal law in the US requires manufacturers to limit ebike performance to under 20mph exclusive of pedaling. Compliance in the case of the electric Trace is accomplished seamlessly via firmware in the controller that the user is able to activate via the throttle mode. The 6mph limitation at the throttle in pedal assist mode is simply the company’s implementation of so-called walk-assist and startup use cases (not in any way inspired by US regulations). This system is also deployed on the sister Izip Dash and Peak E3 bikes. One can further extrapolate from the US example how this firmware solution is easily adaptable to regulatory schemes in other jurisdictions, all of which is common practice in device manufacture generally.
ReplyCourt Rye
9 years agoI think I get it Randy… are you saying that in Europe they don’t allow throttle mode but they do allow walk assist so Currie has kept that feature in the US (for convenience) even though riders would prefer a 20 mph mode here?
ReplyRandy
9 years agoWell, no. I am saying there is a 20mph mode – T for throttle – and that it is designed to conform to language in US regulations for low speed electric bicycles, while offering the option to go ~28mph with pedal assist. I am saying the 6mph limitation only applies when you apply the throttle while in pedal assist mode (1-4 on the screen). Although not a model of clarity by itself (haha), review the System Operation Manual for the Trace, etc. In the section under Riding and use, you will find several paragraphs on assist levels and the throttle.
ReplyCourt Rye
9 years agoThanks Randy!
ReplyJames
9 years agoThis bike has a design flaw. I have ridden it enough to need 2 brake adjustments. The 1st adjustment, they cheated with the rear brake, and did not adjust the cable, but only the adjustment screws. The 2nd time I went in, the mechanic pointed out that the rear brakes are virtually impossible to adjust. The inside set screw is only accessible with the wheel off, yet you need the wheel on to properly adjust the brake. I called the store from which I purchased the bike, and they confirmed this brake should be a different model, either an Avid BB7, or hydraulic (although there may be some clearance issues with this). I am working with the bike shop to upgrade to a brake that can be adjusted. I am not a bike mechanic, have only confirmed with 2 different mechanics about this, so I apologize if my terminology is wrong. Otherwise, I like the bike.
ReplyCourt Rye
9 years agoExcellent feedback, thanks for taking the time to point this out James! I’m sorry you’ve had to do some extra screwing around and feel shorted by Diamondback… This is their first model year in the electric bike space and it sounds like they compromised the design a bit. Hopefully we won’t see this on future iterations :/
Replyhugh
9 years agoHi, As Ed mentioned up there, this bike as well most of other currie-powered ebike gets you to 20 mph without pedaling (just using the throttle). In order to use the “throttle ONLY mode”, you have to go past the highest level of assist modes, then you are in “throttle only mode.” Once you are in the throttle mode, you don’t need to pedal to get to 20mph. I noticed in every review of these bikes you mention the throttle cuts off after 6mph. This is only true for if you have it set in one of the assist levels. I actually prefer the throttle mode being next to the highest level of assist mode rather than in “no assist” mode like BH’s bike does. Because sometimes, when you are riding without “no assist” and come to a stop to chat with someone you can accidentally twist the throttle causing the bike to run forward.
ReplyCourt Rye
9 years agoVery interesting, thank you Hugh! I speak with the reps and test out the bikes as best as I can with limited time and I may have missed this next level of “throttle only” which is sad because I ding them for it… maybe they adjusted the settings after I reviewed the demo bikes? Many times I’m seeing pre-production stuff and some companies make updates all throughout the year (Pedego does this). In any case, the next time I see these I’ll experiment more and make a note of it. Thanks again!
ReplyCharles
9 years agoI saw the post by James on Aug 5 about brake issues, which I am having. I purchased my Diamondback Trace early September and it has been my primary mode of transportation since. I ride daily, between 5 and 16 miles, and have had to adjust the rear brake three times, which I expected, being a new bike. However, I am now having issues getting the rear brake rotor aligned correctly to avoid “rubbing”. I have tried centering the disc rotor using the “squeeze the brake” method and the “wiggle it to realign” method. The rear wheel still feels as if the brake is on and/or the rotor is coming in contact with something. Any ideas/help would be appreciated.
ReplyCourt Rye
9 years agoHi Charles, thanks for sharing your experience with this. I just recently learned the trick where you loosen the pads and squeeze the brake before tightening to get them lined up… if you’ve tried that and are still having issues I’m honestly not sure what to say. Maybe someone else will chime in to help :)
ReplyCharles
9 years agoThanks for the brake advice Court. I did indeed try the squeeze the brake method with some success. However there is still a rub. More research recommended adjusting the “pad adjustment bolt” to better center the rear brake. And looking at “James” from Aug 5 it would seem that this is a design flaw in the brakes used on this bike. The rear motor placement on the wheel inhibits/prevents access to the “pad adjustment bolt”, which is pretty frustrating. It is a 30 second fix/adjustment made near impossible. I am due for the bike’s first tune up soon and will check with the fine bike mechanics at REI.
ReplyCourt Rye
9 years agoHmm, that is frustrating… Thanks for describing the way that the motor blocks access to the brake caliper and adjustment. I’ll keep an eye out for this type of design limitation in the future.
Izk
9 years agoSo the brake problem is not really a model problem, but is an issue with most of the mechanical disc brakes that have pad compensation done from the other side of the wheel through the spokes. You will experience this with most ebikes with discs either front or rear. Since the hub motor is so big, it makes this adjustment not possible without removing the wheel. To make matters worse, the Shimano resin pad brakes wear out really fast. I was going through a set every 4-6 months. I was also really hard on the cables and snapped two of them within 8 months. All in all, mechanical discs are not really up for the task of stopping such a fast and heavy bike if you put in a lot of miles.
You really need to upgrade the brakes to hydraulic with metal pads and rotors that support them. I did this recently with Shimano SLX and they seem to work great (except handle bar clamp limits microshift location) I just taped magnets to the brake sensors and removed them from the old cable levers. You really don’t need them with hydraulics since they are so much better (they easily stop the motor if you turn the throttle and want to stop with the brake).
Good luck with an upgrade and you will love the bike that much better. I have 2900 miles on mine so far and smile every day that I am on it.
Wayne
9 years agoJamie asked how this bike does on hills. I tried it on a steep hill that I can barely reach 8MPH with my light mountain bike. In throttle only mode (T) it slowed down from 20MPH at the bottom of the hill to 8MPH at the steepest point. In pedal assist mode 4, I was able to easily maintain 16MPH going up the hill at it’s steepest point.
ReplyNeedless to say, I am thoroughly impressed by the power of this bike. I weigh over 200 pounds and have all the speed I need. We’ll see how the brakes work out. For now, it looks like they are easily adjustable without taking the wheel off.
Court Rye
9 years agoNice, thanks for sharing your personal speed and weight stats to help others Wayne, glad you’re enjoying the Diamondback Trace :)
ReplyRenato Kalugdan
8 years agoI’m contemplating purchasing this but have concerns w/ the aforementioned brake issues. The other option I have is the 2016 Izip E3 Dash for $400 more dollars. After reading the braking issues, I’d like to know if you’ve seen the same issue on the Izip?
ReplyCourt Rye
8 years agoHi Renato! I wish I could give you an answer here but I think the best approach is to look closely at the photos and video of the two bikes and see if you can tell whether the IZIP is designed better. You could also call an IZIP dealer and ask directly… or ask on the forums for people who own the bike? It’s a slow process, hope you find an answer and if so please chime in here to help others!
ReplyPrashant Mahadevan
8 years agoIs this bike legal to ride in NYC ?
ReplyCourt Rye
8 years agoHi Preshant! I believe the Diamondback Trace is a Class 3 Ebike which is a grey area in NYC. I’m not an expert but the throttle is where they seem to draw a line between ebikes being legal vs. more classified like a Moped. Hope this helps! Here’s a video I made with a friend about it recently.
ReplyJay Dee
8 years agoI actually cannot find the electric bikes on their website anymore period I was looking at the trace EXC about two years ago, but did not pull the trigger. No I have a friend who has a very good discount and I would like to get one but I can’t find them on their website anymore. I would have to buy from Diamondback from their website.
Jay Dee
8 years agoDid diamondback discontinue their e-bikes? I can’t seem to find them on their site any longer. No mention of the trace exc. Help??
ReplyCourt Rye
8 years agoGreat question Jay, I’m not 100% sure but it does appear that they either didn’t change them for this new year or have backed off a bit. Do you own one or did you find a good deal on one that you’re considering?
ReplyJeff W
7 years agoThis bike is currently available under the “Sale” section on iZip’s website for $999.00. I had been looking for an entry level bike for a couple years and noticed this on iZip’s site last week. Mine arrived yesterday and I am completely satisfied with my purchase. At that price it is unbeatable for a beginner. I believe Diamondback offloaded their remaining stock to iZip as iZip has bikes with similar power systems. If so I don’t imagine the supply will last long. Court, throughout my search your reviews and detailed information was an outstanding resource. Thank you! It has also been great watching your style develop over the years, great job! Keep doing what you are doing! Jeff
ReplyCourt Rye
7 years agoThank you Jeff! Your words mean a lot, I write this reply from an AirBNB in Canada… on the road filming new ebikes, doing my best… It sounds like you got a sweet deal on the Trace and indeed, the Accell Group has a good range of bikes but seems to be narrowing down to just Haibike, Raleigh and IZIP. The IZIP models share a lot of similarities with Diamondback and the company seems to support parts going way back so I hope you enjoy it for many years! Have a blast out there :D
Replyrichard myers
7 years agoJust picked one up on sale – to be noted Diamondback have added screwed eyelets on the frame to mount a rack.
So in terms of cons, its down to having to press the power on the battery pack first – which I don’t consider to a be a terribly big deal.
ReplyCourt Rye
7 years agoNice! Thanks for the update about rack bosses Richard
ReplyJulian
2 months agoI bought this bike on sale back in 2015. I had to get the battery cell redone this year, but now I have even more range. You do have to replace the break pads more often than on a standard bike or heavier e-bike with hydraulic breaks, but absolutely worth it. I ride it around NYC all day as I’m a real estate agent, and I literally consider it my Time Machine. Because it is the fastest, most efficient, fun way to get around. The top speed I’ve hit is 32MPH but that was downhill on pedal assist 4. I almost never go to pedal assist 4. Never use the throttle. Didn’t even know I could check the distance range I had left til I found this forum.
Also the last con, people were discussing-having to press the battery pack button on before turning the bike on from the handlebar button- I find to be a pro, bc I can leave the bike without locking it up for a minute or two to run inside a shop, and I know no one will be able to ride it away if I turn the battery off😂 so heavy when the battery is off and it’s in 9th gear!⚙️
This is my favorite bike I’ve ever owned, and is a unicorn due to its high achievable speed. If you ever find one second hand buy it! I’m coming up on 10 years riding this bike. Works better than the day I bought it!
ReplyMike East
1 month agoThose are all fair points and super happy to hear how 10 years later your still enjoying it!
Reply