Diamondback Release

86/100
BikeRide Score
?
Scores
See all scores
Users (32 ratings)
88
Experts (4 reviews)
81
Diamondback Release
Where to buy
$1,800.00 Back­country See it $3,330.00 eBay See it
View all prices Show fewer prices
See at Back­country
We earn affiliate commission. Learn more
Bike Size Charts

BikeRide finds and shows you the best prices of the bikes you want to buy. Prices constantly change and it’s impossible to compare them all yourself.

We search for prices on over 120 bike retailers to guarantee that we find the lowest prices – to save you time and money.

It’s a promise we stand behind: If you find a lower price on a bike elsewhere, we will sell it to you for 10% less. For example, if you find a bike for $480 that we have listed at $500, we will offer you to buy it for $432 through BikeRide. The bike must be the same color and size, sold in the US and not include the use of a coupon.

If you find a lower price, email us at [email protected] with documentation of the price. We’re committed to making sure that the cost of a bike does not keep you from cycling!

Facts

Gender
Men
Type
Beginners, Mountain, Trail, Non-Electric
Release Year
2019
Brand
Diamondback
Wheel Size
27.5”, 29”
Number of Gears
10 (1x10), 11 (1x11), 12 (1x12)
Gearing Type
External Derailleur
Weight
31.0, 32.4, 32.0, 31.3 lb
Suspension
Full
Brake Type
Disc: Hydraulic
Frame Material
Aluminum, Carbon Fiber

Summary of Reviews

We have read all expert and user reviews on the Diamondback Release. In summary, this is what cyclists think.

13 reasons to buy

  • The Release is priced low, to undercut comparable competitors.
  • There are many appraisals of this bike’s long and slack geometry.
  • Users tell that the Release is an eager climber and efficient pedaller.
  • Cornering is described as natural, fast and fluid, assisted by wide bars.
  • On high-end models, Maxxis Minion DHR tires tackled mixed trail conditions.
  • Hydraulic braking delivered a smooth and seamless experience.
  • The Shimano SLX 11-speed drivetrain received only positive responses.
  • The Release is delivered 95% assembled, with great shifting out of the box.
  • It's said to be an all-terrain all-rounder, tackling trails, jumps and bike-parks.
  • Experts say the Release 5C's componentry needs no upgrades.
  • The 5C comes with extras, including flat pedals, a front fender, spare hanger, multi-tool, torque-wrench and bash-guard.
  • On the 5C, the 12-speed drivetrain easily propelled this 30-pound bike up hills.
  • Owners remarked on the Release’s ‘beautiful’ design and paintwork.

8 reasons not to buy

  • At 31 pounds (average), it's heavyish and for some, a difficult climb.
  • Diamondback's tarnished name offers owners few bragging rights.
  • Riders wanted a dropper-post upgrade from 125mm to 150mm.
  • Without spacers, the rear shock often bottoms out on blockier trails.
  • On the Release 3, stock Schwalbe Hans Dampf tires underwhelmed.
  • To some, the 73° seat-angle was old-fashioned and not suited to descents.
  • On the Release 3, experts felt SRAM RS brakes lacked bite.
  • Many an owner decried the absence of a bottle boss in the front triangle.

Bottom line

Diamondback was a prestige marque for a number of decades, before falling to the wayside as a mid-range, mass-production brand. Now that they are again competing with high-end manufacturers, models such as the Release offer outstanding performance at a lower price than most others. This bike comes in a wide range of models, from the slightly-lower-geared Release 1, up to the 5C – which most reviewers described as needing no componentry upgrades at all. As an impressive all-rounder mountain-bike, it’s likely that there’s a model to suit most budgets. This is a direct-order bike that will arrive with an honestly attested 95% complete assembly. Unlike dirt-cheap options, your Release will have trued wheels and gears that almost always shift without need for adjustment.

Expert Reviews

81/100 based on 4 rated expert reviews
Apply to become an expert
90
BikeRadar
Level 5 expert

Diamondback Release 5c Review

Level 5 expert

A surprisingly and nicely priced carbon trail bike that looks and performs like bikes costing 50% more.

Visit full review
60
BikeRadar
Level 5 expert

Diamondback Release 3 Review

Level 5 expert

Any of the three bikes in Diamondback’s Release line would be a good place to start for the rider looking to swap a hardtail for their first full-suspension mountain bike.

Visit full review
100
Pinkbike
Level 5 expert

Ridden and Rated: 4 Trail Bikes Under $3,000

Level 5 expert

The Release is designed for the pointier end of all-mountain, with modern numbers and a tough aluminum chassis.

Visit full review
75
Gear Patrol
Level 5 expert

The Best Mountain Bikes of 2019

Level 5 expert

This is the bike for an enthusiastic rider who wants to progress quickly or a rider who wants to ride hard but isn’t ready or able to commit to a bike that’s double the price.

Visit full review
Bike Magazine
Level 5 expert

First Ride: Diamondback Release Carbon 5c

Level 5 expert

So not only does the Release Carbon enter Diamondback into the running among other top-end bikes … it does it in a way that isn’t simply trying to take a piece of an already crowded pie.

Visit full review
Freehub Magazine
Level 5 expert

Diamondback Release 5C Bike Review

Level 5 expert

Bottom line, the Release is a damn fun bike. And if blazing new lines through the woods, hopping over logs and nose-bonking rocks is your kind of style, this bike will be a fine complement to that.

Visit full review
Bike Magazine
Level 5 expert

Diamondback Release Review – 2018 Bible of Bike Tests

Level 5 expert
Visit full review
Loading…
The Singletrack Sampler
Level 1 expert

Carbon, Under 4.5K, and… Shreds? Testing Out the New Diamondback Release 5C

Level 1 expert
Visit full review
Berm Peak
Level 1 expert

Bike Check | 2017 Diamondback Release 3

Level 1 expert
Visit full review
Gear Patrol
Level 5 expert

Review: Diamondback’s New Mountain Bike Leaves the Brand’s Mass-Market Reputation in the Dust

Level 5 expert

The Release 3, and Diamondback’s Level Link platform as a whole, has the ability to shed the mid-level stigma and bring the brand to the forefront of the trail-bike market.

Visit full review
Pinkbike
Level 5 expert

Diamondback Release 3 – Review

Level 5 expert

There always seems to be a little handling in reserve to ease you out of a risky situation. You’ll run out of suspension long before you’ll run out of confidence.

Visit full review
Bicycling
Level 5 expert

First Ride: Diamondback Release Mountain Bike

Level 5 expert

With a new suspension design and frame, the Release might be the best Diamondback trail bike ever.

Visit full review
Bike Magazine
Level 5 expert

Review: Diamondback Release Three

Level 5 expert

This is a bike that matches a confident demeanor with an enthusiasm for playful riding – even on mellower terrain.

Visit full review
Bike Magazine
Level 5 expert

Diamondback Release vs. Yeti SB5 LR

Level 5 expert

The Release is a very able climber, but it truly hits its stride descending. The front and rear feel perfectly matched, and the geometry strikes a balance between maneuverability and capability.

Visit full review
Pinkbike
Level 5 expert

Diamondback’s Carbon Release 5c – Review

Level 5 expert

In capable hands, the Carbon Release 5c can hit the big stuff, but all it really needs is dirt and a line to shred. It makes me feel like I’m free riding again.

Visit full review
mtbr
Level 5 expert

Diamondback Release Carbon Launched

Level 5 expert

…the short rear end makes popping the front wheel off the ground easy, while the slack front end engenders confidence on steep drop-ins and fast chunder.

Visit full review
Bicycling
Level 5 expert

The Diamondback Release 29 2 is a Lively Big Wheel Trail Bike

Level 5 expert

…in all, the Release 29 2 is a great all-mountain bike that’ll meet the needs of many riders.

Visit full review
Outside
Level 5 expert

The Best Mountain Bikes of 2018

Level 5 expert

…really, it’s tough to find fault with a bike this good that costs half as much as the competition.

Visit full review
Outside
Level 5 expert

The Best All-Mountain Bikes

Level 5 expert

The consummate all-mountain machine, the Release 5C Carbon is Diamondback’s finest mountain bike venture to date and … it does all of that at approximately half the cost of the competition.

Visit full review
Gear Patrol
Level 5 expert

Diamondback’s Release 5C Is the Best Deal in Mountain Biking

Level 5 expert

The Release 5C is for anyone who wants a rowdy carbon trail bike, but doesn’t want to spend $6,000. If you’re a discerning trail rider that appreciates modern geometry and a high-end parts spec, you’ll find the 5C well worth your money.

Visit full review
Bicycling
Level 5 expert

First Ride Impressions: Diamondback Carbon Release

Level 5 expert

Diamondback launches a lighter, stiffer Carbon Release trail bike…

Visit full review
mtbr
Level 5 expert

Diamondback Release Carbon 5C Review

Level 5 expert

With a 32-pound claimed weight, the Release Carbon 5C isn’t as light as some competitors, but honestly who cares. The bike pedals so well uphill I would have guessed it to be a couple pounds lighter than it actually is.

Visit full review
Pinkbike
Level 5 expert

Review – Diamondback Release 3 (2016)

Level 5 expert

…for riders looking for something a little different, a rugged all-rounder with very efficient pedaling performance, the Release might fit the bill.

Visit full review
Apply to become an expert

User Ratings

88/100 based on 32 ratings
  • 5 star
    75%
  • 4 star
    13%
  • 3 star
    0%
  • 2 star
    3%
  • 1 star
    9%

Rankings

Compared to other bikes
#55 Best Mountain
Top 40%
#31 Best Trail
Top 40%
#1 Best Diamondback Bike
Top 20%
#305 Best of All Bikes
Top 40%

Best Mountain Bikes

Mountain bikes with the highest BikeRide Scores
?
See all mountain bikes

Bike Comparison

Diamondback Release in comparison to averages
Diamondback Release
86
Average All Bikes
83
Average Diamondback Bike
81
Average Mountain Bike
84

Forum Discussions

Discuss which bike to choose in the forum
See all forum topics

Giveaway

  • Movcan V80 Commuter EBike
    8 January – 5 February 2025