Diamondback Bicycles released their all new Mission Pro earlier this year and we have had the luxury of riding and testing it for the past several months. We were glad to see this new iteration of their Knucklebox suspension design as we had ridden previous versions (with the triangle shaped linkage) and been somewhat underwhelmed by the previous performance. No such worries now, the new Mission Pro 27.5 is legit and delivers for the rider worthy of really pushing the limits. This is the bike that will help Diamondback build its core mountain bike following up.

New and Improved - The Frame

The Mission Pro is completely re-worked from previous versions with bigger tires, more travel and improved suspension design and performance. The frame is 6061 aluminum and provides 160mm of rear travel. The bike is built very sturdy and was always confidence inspiring in both durability and stiffness. The bike features single sided hardware on the non-drive side of the main pivots for easy access and maintenance. The frame has ISCG tabs and a direct mount front derailleur (if you choose to forgo a 1x drivetrain) and sports a standard 142x12mm rear thru axle for increased stiffness. The Mission Pro also has a short headtube which is especially nice for shorter riders (we rode the 15.5"). The chainstays are not super short at 451mm (17.75") but for this style of riding, it struck a good balance of nimbleness and stability. There is plenty of standover clearance and tire clearance is also a non-issue.

It is also worth mentioning that Diamondback calls the color of the Mission Pro "Rocket Red" but this is clearly not accurate. As our photos indicate, the finish is much closer to a day-glow orange, than red. However, we much rather prefer the bright orange color anyway; it almost seemed to glow during our late dusk rides.

In this video, Diamondback Marketing Manager Jon Kennedy lays out the new 27.5 Mission Pro for us. Making the leap to 27.5 wheels necessitated some modifications to the Mission frame, including bringing the seat tube forward slightly and compressing the Knuckleblox linkage. This compression had the added benefit of lowering the center of gravity to provide better tracking and cornering.



Parts Spec Highlights

FOX 34 Float CTD fork has 160mm of rear travel to perfectly match the Fox Float X CTD rear shock and is one of our favorite combinations for all mountain riding. A remote lockout for the rear shock would be a nice upgrade, though since the suspension design is truly active. The SRAM 1x11 X01 drivetrain worked flawlessly and the 10-42 cassette and Race Face 30T narrow-wide ring allowed us to climb everything we normally ride with a 2x setup. Chain drop was not an issue for us, although there have been other riders who have experienced this (easily remedied with a chain guide). Shimano XT brakes are one of our favorites and we were happy to see it spec'd here.

The Mission features nice internal cable routing options as well as clean external routing.

The Mission features nice internal cable routing options as well as clean external routing.​

The rest of the parts spec includes wide Race Face Atlas 785 riser bars (the bars measured more like 810 from the very outside with grips and plugs installed) and Race Face Atlas 50mm stem, FSA headset, DB house brand saddle and DB4L lock-on Kraton grips (although house branded, these felt great and stayed secure). Bonus points for the RockShox Reverb Stealth dropper post. Also as a nice added touch, Diamondback includes a Knucklebox shock pump and DB branded aluminum platform pedals with replaceable pins and sealed cartridge bearings.

The Knucklebox is the heart of what Diamondback calls their single pivot four-bar suspension platform.

The Knucklebox is the heart of what Diamondback calls their single pivot four-bar suspension platform.​

2014 Diamondback Mission Pro Full Specs and Geometry Highlights

  • Frame: Mission All Mountain 27.5, 160mm 6061-T6 Weapons Grade Aluminum w/Hydroformed Top Tube, Butted / Formed Down Tube / Seatstays, Under Arch Seatstay bridge, Tapered Head Tube Knuckle Box Technology, ISCG, 142x12mm E-Thru Axle Drop out
  • Fork: Fox 34 Float CTD adjust FIT, Kashima, 160mm travel, w/ ext. rebound, butted Alloy 1.5 Tapered steerer, 34mm Easton aluminum stanchions, magnesium lowers, w/QR15mm Thru Axle
  • Rear Shock: Fox Float X, CTD adjust, Kashima, "LV" eyelet, 8.5x2.5" Air, DB Mission Spec, w/rebound adj, w/Climb, Trail, Descend, w/3 levels pedal platform
  • Headset: FSA No57 Taper 1.5 / 1 1/8" Alloy cups, Sealed Cartridge
  • Bottom bracket: Raceface Outboard Bearing
  • Drivetrain: SRAM X01, 1x11 10-42, 30T front ring
  • Brakes: Shimano XT, 180mm f/r
  • Pedals: DB Platform CNC, w/replaceable pins, sealed cartridge bearing
  • Wheelset/Tires: Easton Haven hubs and rims, Schwalbe Hans Dampf 27.5x2.35, folding, tubeless ready, snakeskin sidewall, TSC compound
  • Bars/Stem: Raceface Atlas 785mm riser bar 31.8mm/ Raceface Atlas Stem,50mm 31.8mm
  • Seatpost: RockShox Reverb Stealth Dropper 30.9mm
  • Head tube angle: 66.5 degrees
  • Seat tube angle: 73 degrees
  • Chainstay length: 17.75 inches
  • Bottom bracket height: 13.46 inches
  • Sizes: SM - 15.5″, MD - 17″, LG -19″, XL - 21″
  • Weight: 30.2 pounds - measured weight (size small, without pedals)
  • MSRP: $6500 US

Continue to Page 2 for more on the Diamondback Mission Pro 27.5 and full photo gallery »

studio shot of the Mission Pro and it's nice, clean lines

studio shot of the Mission Pro and it's nice, clean lines​

Geometry

I rode the small (15.5") size Diamondback Mission Pro and it was a perfect fit for me at 5'5". Diamondback gives the recommended rider heights directly on the bike via a seat tube mounted sticker. I am sometimes between a small and medium but the geometry on the 15.5" was spot on. As previously mentioned, the short head tube also helps keep the geometry ideal for shorter riders.

The wheelbase measured in at 44.7 inches on our 15.5" and the bike looks longish but doesn't feel long. The chainstays are not ultra short, but the front end is slightly shorter than some offerings from other brands. The bottom bracket height is a somewhat standard 13.5 inches. We like to run our suspension on the soft side, so with sag the bike does not feel tall at all. The 66.5 degree head angle and 73 degree seat angle are on the slack side and show that the Mission Pro is definitely downhill oriented.

Here are the geometry measurements from Diamondback:

geo-chart-2

On the trail - ready to roll.

On the trail - ready to roll.​

The Ride

The 27.5" wheels of the Diamondback Mission Pro offer a great balance of rollover ability and handling prowess. With only a few exceptions, 27.5 is the rule for all mountain/enduro bikes in the 140-165mm range of travel. For those of you who have been riding only 26", this bike will surprise you in how well it climbs and handles. Once you go big, you won't go back. We were really impressed with the way this bike handles the big stuff. With its new, re-worked suspension design, the rear of the bike contributes to a low center of gravity and it just looks right and feels right.

It inspires confidence just from the cockpit with a decidedly moto feel. Cornering, jumping, dropping...all improved over past D'back offerings. This bike likes to be pushed hard. If you haven't ridden a Diamondback in a while, you should definitely give this one a try.

The ride of the Mission Pro is very stable and this is definitely a bike that can handle the big stuff. If there is one area that could be improved it would be its weight. The aluminum frame is burly and tough, but is also a big contributor to the 30.2 lb. weight. This bike wasn't intended for long, extended climbs but if your normal rides include any, the weight can be felt. Again, a remote lockout for the rear shock would help a lot in this regard. Also, if you have any money left over from your initial purchase, a set of carbon hoops would be our first upgrade for this bike.

Close-up of the Knucklebox and Fox Float X CTD rear shock.

Close-up of the Knucklebox and Fox Float X CTD rear shock.​

Who Is It For?

The Diamondback Mission Pro 27.5 is a bike that likes to be pushed hard and go big. If you are an aggressive enduro rider, the Mission Pro will serve you well. However, it would be good for any potential Mission Pro purchaser to stop and ask themselves is they really need 160mm of travel and are they going to use it. If you do send it, then give this bike a closer look.

If the $6500 price point of the Mission Pro is still a bit steep for you, you can get the exact same frame with a different parts spec in two other models. The Mission 2 27.5 comes with a Fox 34 fork, SRAM 1x10 drivetrain, SRAM brakes, KS Lev dropper post and less expensive wheels for $3300. The Mission 1 27.5 comes with a Fox 32 fork, Shimano 1x10 drivetrain, less expensive wheels and more DB house branded components for $2800. If you prefer to build your bikes up with your own favorite mix of components, the Mission Pro is also available as a frameset that includes the Fox Float X CTD rear shock, RockShox Reverb Stealth dropper post and FSA headset including both crown races for taper or standard 1 1/8" steerer tubes.

Overall Rating
4/5 Flamin' Chili Peppers
4 Flamin' Chili Peppers

"We are pleased to see Diamondback coming on strong with their all new and definitely improved version of the Knucklebox. While previous versions didn't really knock our socks off, the Mission Pro 27.5 delivers on many fronts, but none more so than the going big side. On the trail, the suspension is active and supple, soaking up both the big hits and small ripples at speed. The Mission Pro sits in to the corners instead of riding high and this only helps it carve easier and faster. Extended climbs are not your friend on this bike, but it was never meant to help you set uphill KOMs. Downhill? Now, that's a different story."

Value Rating
3/5 Flamin' Chili Peppers
3 Flamin' Chili Peppers

"The lack of carbon means the Mission Pro is cheaper than the current crop of $8-$10k enduro mega racers out there and a smart component spec helps keep the price down. But Diamondback will have to keep an eye on the market as many brands have 2015 offerings in carbon that aren't that far from this neighborhood. Really strapped for cash? Check out the Mission 2 and upgrade as you go."

For more information visit https://www.diamondback.com/.