The Diamondback Mission
For the Diamondback Design Team, MISSION was more than a model name – they were literally on a “mission” to create a new dual-suspension design that would put Diamondback back at the forefront of mountain bike design – MISSION accomplished!
At the heart of the new MISSION is the Knuckle Box bell-crank. With its compact design and welded uni-body construction, the Knuckle Box ties the rear suspension together, cradles and guards the FOX air suspension unit while providing a smooth near-linear leverage ra- tio through the entire six inches of travel. It also gives the MISSION a lower center of gravity than most all-mountain designs. The Knuckle Box is truly the “heart” of the design.
If the Knuckle Box is the heart, then the MISSION’s front triangle is the backbone. The low-slung “hooded” top tube wraps and rein- forces the head tube and provides more stand over clearance, and an uninterrupted seat tube that eliminates the need to cut seat posts the MISSION front triangle is strong, light and stiff.
The MISSION’s rear end features chain stays joined with a CNC’d yoke, a seat stay assembly reinforced with a unique inverse arch bridge, and press fit sealed bearings at all pivot locations. By joining these assemblies to the MISSION front triangle and Knuckle Box, the Diamondback Design Team has created a six-inch travel all-moun- tain bike with a low center of gravity, plenty of stand over clearance, and a ride quality that magazine test editors have described as “awesome, nimble” and “just plain fun”! We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.
