Intro
Diamondback’s Release C is positioned as their mid-travel carbon 27.5’’ trail bike, with 130 mm of rear suspension paired with a 150 mm fork. The Release C series includes the Release 5C and the Release 4C, which share the same frame but different builds — both of which are relatively affordable for the parts spec that they offer. Diamondback also offers a 29er version of the Release, which features distinctly different geometry, slightly less travel, and three different builds for its aluminum frame. Our review here is going to stay focused on the carbon-framed, 27.5’’ wheeled Release C.
Overall, Diamondback’s claims about the Release 5C tend to focus on its versatility, and since it is offered at a relatively affordable price point (by today’s standards), we were curious to see how the Release 5C performs across a variety of types of trails. I’ve been spending time on it and Blister Members can check out our Flash Review for my initial on-trail impressions. In the meantime, let’s take a closer look at the bike’s design: