1980 Diamond Back Pro
Believe it or not, when I was a kid, I wanted a Diamond Back BMX, not a Kuwahara… as I saw the older kids riding around with them in the neighbourhood.
As I started collecting around 10 years ago… I came across this all original 1980 Diamond Back Pro but it was in rough shape. I had the frame and forks re-chromed and replaced most of the old parts with identical New Old Stock (NOS) parts to keep it Factory correct. Some of the OG parts like the Ukai Rims and Suzue hubs were in excellent condition so I figured I’d leave them but re-build them with NOS Asahi spokes and nipples. Re-furbished and re-anodized the Sugino cranks and Nagaoka fluted seat post. Everything else.. NOS parts. This build is pretty mostly factory original/correct. Only things not factory correct are the grips, chain and brake cable / housing. I replaced the badly worn out Oakley 1 grips for Tange grips since they are from the same era and look very similar. Plus I wanted to keep it ALL Japanese. The Rad pad set and decals are reproduction.
The Icing on The Cake… The Original “Diamond Back” Stamped Competition II Skinwall Tires in the typical racing Fat/Skinny combo. Factory would have came with Red tires, rather than black, but I thought the black complimented the build. I do have a red set of Diamond Back Comp 2 stamped tires.. which I might mount one day.
Year1980BrandDiamond BackModelProSpecsFactoryConditionShowSerial #01xxxxxHighlightOriginal DB Stamped Tires
Parts List:
| Factory | → | OG Koizumi Frame (Stamped w/ Baseball Symbol) (Re-Chromed) |
| Factory | → | OG Koizumi Double Dropout Forks (Stamped w/ Baseball Symbol) (Re-Chromed) |
| Factory | → | NEW Diamondback Pro Snake Decals* |
| Factory | → | OG Hatta MX-2 Headset (Re-Chromed) |
| Add On | → | NOS Suntour Headlock Nut |
| Factory | → | OG Sugino Stem ("Diamondback" Stamped) |
| Factory | → | NOS Chromoly Handlebars ("Diamondback" Stamped) |
| Factory | → | NOS Dia Compe Pre Bent Brake Lever |
| Factory | → | NOS Dia Compe 890 Brake Caliper |
| Factory | → | NOS Dia Compe Brake Pads |
| Alteration | → | NEW Brake Cable & Housing* |
| Alteration | → | NOS Tange Grips (Replaced Oakley 1) |
| Factory | → | OG Nagaoka Fluted Seat Post (Re-Anodized) (Original was Red) |
| Factory | → | NOS Kashimax MX Seat (No "Diamondback") |
| Factory | → | NOS Kashimax Seat Guts |
| Factory | → | NOS Kashimax MX Seat (No "Diamondback") |
| Factory | → | NOS Suntour Seat Clamp |
| Factory | → | OG Sugino "Diamondback" Cranks (Re-Anodized) (Original was Red) |
| Alteration | → | NOS Suntour MP-1000 Pedals (Replaced MKS Pedals) |
| Factory | → | NOS Sugino 44T Chainring |
| Alteration | → | NEW Chainring Bolts* |
| Alteration | → | NEW Izumi Chain* |
| Factory | → | OG Ukai HE Shineside Box Rims |
| Alteration | → | NEW Anodized Axle Nuts* |
| Factory | → | OG Suzue High Flange Hubs |
| Factory | → | NOS Asahi Spokes & Nipples |
| Factory | → | OG Suntour 16T Freewheel |
| Factory | → | OG Mitsuboshi "Diamond Back" Competition II Skinwall Tires (Fat/Skinny) |
| Add On | → | NEW Diamondback "Rad Pad" Pad Set* |
NOTE: All parts are N.O.S., Original or Re-furbished in Mint condition unless marked with *
