How did Diamond Back BMX come about

Updated 14th March 2026

THE Origins of Diamond Back BMX

Diamond Back BMX originated in Southern California in 1977 as a division of Western States Imports (WSI). WSI was founded by Mitchel Weiner around 1969–1970, initially specialising in bicycle parts and accessories. The company also owned Centurion Bicycle Workshop, a successful road bike import brand that had been selling 10-speed bicycles for roughly a decade.

WSI decided to create a dedicated BMX line and adopted the name Diamond Back, inspired partly by racer David Clinton, who rode under the name. The brand name itself is believed to have come from Centurion’s observation that the frame design resembled two diamond shapes, while snakes were considered “kickin’” at the time.

Although early frameset kits began appearing in late 1977, full production began in 1978 after race testing and development improvements recommended by Wheels ’n Things.

At launch, WSI’s focus was primarily on establishing the brand within the California BMX market, rather than pursuing an immediate national rollout.

Early Production (1977–1978)

The earliest Diamond Back frames were produced by Jere or Jere Fabrications, coming in the Autumn of 1977 although discussions about brand and design go back to 1976

The original forks featured dual dropouts, inspired by a race fork known as the “Speedo.” Sandy Finkelman admired the design, which is why early Diamond Back forks adopted a similar layout.

During this period the bikes were generally referred to simply as Diamond Back, rather than by formal model names. However, early promotional flyers referenced the first version as the MX, with “MX” standing for Motocross.

Japanese Manufacturing and the Pro Model (1979)

In early 1979, the fabrication of frame production moved to the Koizumi factory in Japan, reflecting both the growth of the brand and the increasing strength of overseas manufacturing, as well as price.

This period also saw the introduction of the Diamond Back Pro, marking the beginning of a more structured model lineup.

National Expansion and Factory Team (1980)

By March 1980, Diamond Back began a national push, supported by the experience and resources of Centurion. A factory race team was formed to promote the brand at national events.

The team included David Clinton, along with riders such as Harry Leary, Doug Davis, Mike Horton, Aaron Stevens, Eddy King, and Pete Loncarevich, operating under the direction of Sandy Finkelman.

Model Expansion (1981)

In 1981, the Pro evolved into a full model range consisting of Mini Pro, Medium Pro, and Senior Pro models. These were available either as complete bikes or frameset kits, all constructed from full chromoly framesets.

Later that same year Diamond Back introduced the Tri-Moly Silver Streak. This model used the same geometry as the Medium Pro, but featured a mild steel rear triangle and slightly thicker steel dropouts.

The Harry Leary Turbo (1982)

With Harry Leary on board and development driven by Sandy Finkelman, the Senior Pro became the primary testing platform for future designs.

This development work led to the release of the Harry Leary signature “Turbo” in mid-1982. Leary himself contributed significant design input, as the bike was intended to reflect his personal racing preferences.

Production Changes and New Models (1982–1983)

By 1982, Diamond Back had commissioned Fairly (Taiwan) to manufacture a more affordable model, the Viper, aimed at the entry-level BMX market.

As economic conditions in the United States weakened toward late 1983, production strategies began to shift and additional models such as the Pacer 500 appeared. Higher-end models including the Formula One and the second-generation Harry Leary Turbo continued to be manufactured in Japan.

During this period the original large diamond gusset underwent a redesign and was replaced by a smaller diamond gusset, along with several additional frame updates.

Late Looptail Era (1984–1986)

Diamond Back eventually discontinued the Pacer 500, reportedly concerned that the name may have negatively affected BMX sales. The company instead continued with the successful Viper platform, which led to the introduction of the Super Viper.

The Super Viper used a frame and fork design closely related to the Pacer 500 and represented one of the final examples of the classic looptail frame design.

By 1986, the distinctive diamond gusset had disappeared from production frames entirely. Diamond Back began standardising frame designs across several models, marking what many enthusiasts consider the end of the classic Diamond Back BMX era.