This is my 54 inch frame Diamondback DBR Axis R, I picked it up from Facebook marketplace not too long ago and looking to convert it into a touring bike to take to Japan next year!
Currently I’m having trouble figuring out how to get it fitted to my size, I’m 6’0 and feel as the bike is slightly to small and would like to adjust it to fit but not to sure how as this is my first time properly working on a bike. At the moment when I’m riding I’m in a quite hunched/aggressive position but would like to be more upright and relaxed to help with the long distance. How can I go about doing this?
Also does anyone know the year for this bike? I assume it’s early 90s but can’t seem to find much information online … thanks!
by JustAlexo
6 Comments
If you are 6 foot, the 54 is just too small for you. I suggest not investing any money trying to make this one work and instead try to sell it for what you paid and pick up something else in either a 56 or 58 size.
That’s not a 54″ frame. It doesn’t look like a 54cm either, but the classic road bike measurements such as that don’t neatly overlap with mountain bikes, anyway. I don’t know what you used to achieve that measurement, but if you measured the seattube height as 54cm, that maps to roughly a Large or XL size mountain bike. At a glance, I’d say this is on the larger end of frame size and *should* fit a 6′ tall rider, but obviously there are outliers. There exist myriad articles and videos showing you how to measure proper frame size.
The problem you describe of being hunched over is a common one with 90s mountain bikes, as manufacturers had a very different idea of how the bike was intended to be ridden than we do today. You’ll see most bikes like this being ridden today will have a shorter stem with a more positive rise, along with handlebars which put the hands in a more upright position through a combination of rise and sweep.
Not sure what on this bike is 54″ but a sensible conversion of the sizing-number to 21″ should be acceptable for your size.
i think your looking for ergotec charisma or the velo orange gooseneck stems, thanks to the bike being a ahead-design (probably mid 90`s)
Gonna just hafta send it to me. I’m a bit shorter than you.
If the seat height works for you as pictured, then it fits okay. But, you have bigger problems.
There are no rack mounts, front or rear, and you need those.
The stem is “slammed” and no steerer tube to raise the stem. You can get a much shorter stem with lots of rise. But, it doesn’t fix your bigger problems.
That is actually a super nice race bike from the early 1990’s. it’s in excellent condition. Unfortunately, not even close to what you need to tour.
Apologies for being blunt: That’s a very racy bike. No place to mount racks or fenders. If it doesn’t already fit you perfectly, it’s a terrible place to start from.
You can futz around with handlebars all you like, but XC racers had high bottom brackets. Meant to be skittish. It will never handle well with load. That thing is made to dance over rutted fire roads.
It’s not that it couldn’t be done; it needn’t. The planet is full of bicycles, you deserve to find one better suited to your purpose.
I’m also 6’. I’d be looking for a miled-up 56cm 700c touring bike with longish chainstays and low bottom bracket. Ideally with S&S couplers, since the upfront cost would be recovered in airfare baggage savings.