Whattup y'all,

SRAM recently sent Eric Schutt to Mountain Bike Action Magazine to show R.C. and friends how to install their revolutionary Hammerschmidt single ring 2-speed transmission. What bike did he bring along to help showcase ze Hammerschmidt and some of the company's other fine products? None other than the '08 Diamondback Scapegoat. You can see the whole article right here.

Eric showed them how to install Hammerschmidt on a bike without it, but I can't help but let you know that all of that (as clean and simple as it may be) can easily be avoided simply by purchasing an '09 Diamondback Scapegoat aggressive all-mountain / slopestyle bike or Mission 3 all-mountain dream machine. Hammerschmidt is the frosting on the cakes that are the Scapegoat and Mission 3. The Knuckle Box suspension platform and Hammerschmidt work better together than peanut butter and jelly.

Whole wheat matrimony.

So you know. The Mission 3 is the most affordable full suspension bike in North America that comes with Hammerschmidt and by a long shot. The next most affordable Hammerschmidt-equipped full suspension bike is a model that is only available in Canada and still costs $1,100 more than the Mission 3. Take off, eh?

Speaking of Mountain Bike Action and the Knuckle Box platform; the latest paper version of the magazine is their 2009 mountain bike buyer's guide and features a few of our Knuckle Box bikes.

The cover looks like this.

The first of our bikes featured is the Mission 1. Well, the text features the Mission 1, but the photo is of a Mission 2. Sorry everyone; we won't be able to get you a white Mission 1 for $2,150 (nor any other amount), but if you can come up with 500 more dollars, we can set you up with a Mission 2 that is white. We'll make it worth the added expense by outfitting the bike with better components. Whichever you decide to go with, both bikes are currently available at your local authorized Diamondback Dealer.

The next great bike featured in the guide is this limited edition Diamondback Sortie Black trail bike. You may have seen this amazing bike all over these internets already, but if not; please allow us to be the first to introduce you both right here. The $5,200 price tag may be no laughing matter these days, but the Sortie Black is no joke and those we developed the bike for know that there will be enough laughs and good times after the purchase of the bike to make it well worth the initial investment. Those interested in such good times should see their local Diamondback Dealer. Sortie Black bikes and frames will be available through those dealers by mid March.

Last but not least, the Scapegoat is also featured in the MBA buyer's guide. The text below the bike calls it a 6 and 6 bike, but the fork actually has 160mm of travel (which is more than ¼" over 6"). I know, I know; what's a 1/4" amongst friends you ask? Not a lot if you're yacht shopping, but that little bit raises the front end of the Scapegoat up just enough to give it a little more clearance and to make it the amazing slopestyle bike that it is. Those interested in hunting down a Scapegoat of their own should also keep out a watchful eye in the coming weeks and possibly make some phone calls right now. Like the Sortie Black, the Scapegoat is also a $5,200 limited edition model that will become available in March; both as a complete bike as well as a chassis.

Thanks for stopping by everyone! Trevor