Alex has got it spot on. The Diamondback is a poor quality Raleigh bike with a brand name sticker stuck on it. Raleigh own the Diamondback brand name.
The frame is just "Aluminium"- no grade specified, it has a quill headset, a seven speed freewheel (rather than a freehub which won't break axles), plastic pedals, no-name tyres, a no-name flimsy fork and a very poor cable disk that will stop working properly within a few weeks. If they stuck the Raleigh sticker on it that it actually is, you'd be paying around £130 for it and still be getting poor value.
The Carrera has a heat treated 7005 frame, good branded tyres, an Ahead-set, a sturdier fork, 8 speed freehub at the back, alloy pedals, named brakes and better shifters.
The Carreras are indeed a Halfords own brand, but they're good quality - the cheap rubbish they sell is the Apollo brand, don't confuse the two.
And as for "Sean"'s answer above - well, observe the exuberance of youth and the joys of inexperience.
Of the two you're thinking of there's no competition - the Carrera is a bike, the Diamondback is a toy.
Old post I know this is for anyone reading, also I'm no bike genus, all I can say is that I bought the carrera valor, this is the model below the vengeance I believe.
I have had it now for 3 years and have give it a good beating in that time over Cannock chase on some of the tracks, bare in mind in no feather weight I way 18 stone.
It's never broke as of yet and I can give carrera I thumbs up in my oppinion.
Paid £300 for it at the time and was so impressed I bought the female version for my partner at the time.
I will say it's a bit heavy but really good value for the dosh and really resilient, to the point where I hit a tree and jumped back on straightened out the bars and was on my merry way.
Can't speak for diomond back but if it is a Raleigh made bike I did own one of those years ago and i would say it's ok for road or lite trails but nothing more, the bearings in the pedals and the crank used to break and warp.
You asked this the other day Punjab. Although I think you were not sure on the model of the Diamondback.
I would still go with the vengence. Looking at the halfords description for both bikes, the DB gets a vague description of front suspension for comfort (Image shows a set of Zoom forks), cheap saddle and reference to SRAM and Shimano. The DB is cheep.
If you look at the Vengence, the frame has nicer lines and is heat treated 7005. It uses more branded components and looks like it will last for years. I am not sure that you need a great bike for 1 mile a day, but of the two I would choose the Carrera. Note: If you are buying from Halfords, have your local bike shop give it the once over, as the mechanics at Halfords are not that hot.
Diamondback hands down, its not even a competition. Trust me I know I am a bit new on yahoo answers but I've been into bikes since I was 8 (I mean really into the pros and competitions and all that hoopla) and I actually may be getting a job at S&M bikes, one of the world's oldest, biggest, and best bike companies in the world, where I'd be answering phones answering people's questions about bikes. I'm sorry I don't mean to brag or anything, I'm just saying it's like the difference between shrimp and lobster, prime rib and micky dees. Diamondbacks are sort of considered cheap higher end bikes. For instance someone with a tighter budget might get a diamondback to hang out with the "hardcore expert" riders, who would probably say his bike sucks, but its still in that arena, carrera however would probably just laugh and make fun of him for being idiotic for buying such a bike. I'm just letting you know that's kind of the "expert" opinion on it, and certainly my own. Either way you go I hope it suites your needs well, good luck and happy riding!
diamondback for sure,the carrera is halfords own make bike and is totally crap.halfords bikes are so bad that "halfords" should be banned from selling bikes.the only thing in a halfords store worth any money is the exit door!
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
Alex has got it spot on. The Diamondback is a poor quality Raleigh bike with a brand name sticker stuck on it. Raleigh own the Diamondback brand name.
The frame is just "Aluminium"- no grade specified, it has a quill headset, a seven speed freewheel (rather than a freehub which won't break axles), plastic pedals, no-name tyres, a no-name flimsy fork and a very poor cable disk that will stop working properly within a few weeks. If they stuck the Raleigh sticker on it that it actually is, you'd be paying around £130 for it and still be getting poor value.
The Carrera has a heat treated 7005 frame, good branded tyres, an Ahead-set, a sturdier fork, 8 speed freehub at the back, alloy pedals, named brakes and better shifters.
The Carreras are indeed a Halfords own brand, but they're good quality - the cheap rubbish they sell is the Apollo brand, don't confuse the two.
And as for "Sean"'s answer above - well, observe the exuberance of youth and the joys of inexperience.
Of the two you're thinking of there's no competition - the Carrera is a bike, the Diamondback is a toy.
Old post I know this is for anyone reading, also I'm no bike genus, all I can say is that I bought the carrera valor, this is the model below the vengeance I believe.
I have had it now for 3 years and have give it a good beating in that time over Cannock chase on some of the tracks, bare in mind in no feather weight I way 18 stone.
It's never broke as of yet and I can give carrera I thumbs up in my oppinion.
Paid £300 for it at the time and was so impressed I bought the female version for my partner at the time.
I will say it's a bit heavy but really good value for the dosh and really resilient, to the point where I hit a tree and jumped back on straightened out the bars and was on my merry way.
Can't speak for diomond back but if it is a Raleigh made bike I did own one of those years ago and i would say it's ok for road or lite trails but nothing more, the bearings in the pedals and the crank used to break and warp.
You asked this the other day Punjab. Although I think you were not sure on the model of the Diamondback.
I would still go with the vengence. Looking at the halfords description for both bikes, the DB gets a vague description of front suspension for comfort (Image shows a set of Zoom forks), cheap saddle and reference to SRAM and Shimano. The DB is cheep.
If you look at the Vengence, the frame has nicer lines and is heat treated 7005. It uses more branded components and looks like it will last for years. I am not sure that you need a great bike for 1 mile a day, but of the two I would choose the Carrera. Note: If you are buying from Halfords, have your local bike shop give it the once over, as the mechanics at Halfords are not that hot.
Luck
Diamondback hands down, its not even a competition. Trust me I know I am a bit new on yahoo answers but I've been into bikes since I was 8 (I mean really into the pros and competitions and all that hoopla) and I actually may be getting a job at S&M bikes, one of the world's oldest, biggest, and best bike companies in the world, where I'd be answering phones answering people's questions about bikes. I'm sorry I don't mean to brag or anything, I'm just saying it's like the difference between shrimp and lobster, prime rib and micky dees. Diamondbacks are sort of considered cheap higher end bikes. For instance someone with a tighter budget might get a diamondback to hang out with the "hardcore expert" riders, who would probably say his bike sucks, but its still in that arena, carrera however would probably just laugh and make fun of him for being idiotic for buying such a bike. I'm just letting you know that's kind of the "expert" opinion on it, and certainly my own. Either way you go I hope it suites your needs well, good luck and happy riding!
Carrera Vengeance Review
diamondback for sure,the carrera is halfords own make bike and is totally crap.halfords bikes are so bad that "halfords" should be banned from selling bikes.the only thing in a halfords store worth any money is the exit door!