Submitted by
Joseph J.
a Cross Country Rider
from Bath, SC, United states
Date Reviewed: May 8, 2009
Strengths: Alright sometimes
Weaknesses: Too many mechanical flaws seems lke it's trying to kill the rider.
Bottom Line:
Started out good for the first week of ownership then when I blew a tire and changed the tube for some reason the wheel was very hard to align and would gradually miss align with more miles no matter how good I put the wheel on. Causing it to rub the break pads and Ill-handling.
Then other problems such as the grip shifters are total crap because just one month into ownership the shifters were useless. The thing would practically start shifting it's self into higher gears on the back. Then the Front did the same and the Grip shifters actually resisted my hand and eventually wouldn't move for hell and high water.
It was so bad I dubbed mine the Blue-Devil because it seemed like it was trying to kill me.
I scrapped that piece of sh*t and revived my old XR200
Submitted by
Dan
a Weekend Warrior
from Park City, Utah, USA
Date Reviewed: September 16, 2006
Strengths: None unless a trip to the emergency room
Weaknesses: EVERY THING It is as Heavy as a suburban
Bottom Line:
This bike was OK for the first week, That is true because i didnt use it the first week. But i was riding it up hill and the gears like to slip and i hit my knee so hard i had a big bruise for what seemed like three weeks. Also whwn going downhill i had to make sure i was standing up or else i had a swollen member for a couple of days. So basicaly when going down i hit a small bump and the pedals fell off, i crushed my balls, the front tire tacoed in like butter, the shock bent when it hit the ground, and my face hit the asphalt like a hammer, I hadd to have many stiches and some dental work, I am very upset with the product and cant belive that there arnt any regulations agains it this bike has put me in a great amount of hurt and i love my new bike. If i could i would give this bike a Zero chili
Bike Setup: Jamis Dakar XLT, Fox Float fork, Fox Float rear shox, SRAM x7, Hayes disk brakes
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Tom Winkley
a Weekend Warrior
from Waldoboro, Maine, USA
Date Reviewed: February 26, 2003
Strengths: The brakes are good. Handle bars ain't too bad. Frame is pretty light.
Weaknesses: Tires, suspention could be better. Shifting really needs to be better
Bottom Line:
Ok I have no idea what the hell you people are doing with this bike. I've had this bike for three years or so and haven't had any problems with the frame or brakes. Hell I do brake slides sometime. I've ridden this thing off five foot jumps without any probelms. Well the sit didn't feel too good and I don't think I'll be having kids for a while. I mean alot of people that some how break the frame must have cut the thing before hand or something. My bike has lasted trips off a dock into salt water, slaming into rocks, and other stupid things I have done with it. The only real problems I've had is the tires ain't that great and shifting gears is a pain, I only use two or three gears anyway. I'm starting to look for companies that have better parts for it. Mainly tires, seat, and that cool front fork that looks like a dirtbike fork. I'm one of those people who doesn't believe in buying a bike that costs the same as a car. Mongoose knew what it was doing with this bike. After spend alittle more money on this bike and I think I will have a very sweet ride. I think this bike is one of those good bang for you buck things.
Submitted by
Anthony
a Weekend Warrior
from Cookeville, TN
Date Reviewed: April 13, 2002
Weaknesses: Its has a very heavy frame, brakes could be better, and front suspention could be a little stiffer.
Bottom Line:
I had a Giant Attraction(an old racing MTB) bike until it was stolen. I bought the MGX bike when i went to school and have had no trouble with it mostly. the only thing that i have messed up on it is the inner rim assembly of the rear tire, and that was only because i was stupidly riding down a large flight of stairs. The basic componets (although mine came with some parts that were a little better quality than normal) are good with a few upgrades such as new tires and rims, i haven't had any of the trouble some of the other people have talked about (to tell you the truth, i hardly believe half of the people that posted on here have really tried the bike out). Most of you people that post on this bike are just trying to look cool bashing a bike because you all have some extra expensive bike. This bike wasn't ment to be compared to something that is obviously out of its class. However, this is not the best bike money can buy obviously, it does what is asked of it, and i have put it through a few extra treats other than street riding (i.e lots of high curbs, lots of jumps), although the rims and tires are not the stock ones. Obviously if your an experienced MTBer you would buy something else, but this bike has done everything i asked of it and a bit more with fairly no trouble. If i still had my Giant i am pretty sure it would run circles around this bike, but overall this bike has lived up to my expectations.
Weaknesses: The fact that this is actually sold as a rideable bike.
Bottom Line:
Went to academy for some fun one day. After honking all the tweety bird and other various looney tunes horns, I saw this bike. I pulled it off the rack and the tires probably had about 10psi in em. I started laughing so hard i couldnt see straight becasue this bike was such a pos. After riding about 10 feet down the isle I tried to bunny hop (which was easy since the suspension was already bottomed from my weight on the bike) upon landing the front tire ripped off the rim causing the rim to scrape across the tile floor. I ended up sliding into the baseball bats and scattered them about the store pissing off all the sales people and making a huge amount of noise in the process. I ran out of there and have never been back since. SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BIKE SHOP AND DO NOT EVER BY A DEPARTMENT STORE BIKE. THEY ARE NEON PAINTED PIECES OF SH*&.
Similar Products Used: none similar...maybe my plastic roller skates when I was a kid
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Whitesboro, NY
Date Reviewed: April 1, 2002
Strengths: Good if you want to kill yourself
Weaknesses: Too many to list
Bottom Line:
This is the perfect bike if you want to kill yourself. The frame craked, the crankset kept loosing up, of all things, and of course shifting, what shifting. The suspension wore out in no time, and of coruse the wheels were unture most of the time I was riding the thing. I bought a USed trek 820 hardtail that has survived over 3000 miles of trouble free off road, and urban assualt trips for only $150. The key point, your life is too important to destroy by using a deathtrap like this. Trust no new hardtail under $200, muchless a suspension bike.
Similar Products Used: Other pieces of trash and my beloved Treks and Fishers
Bike Setup: stock
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
dennisd
a Cross Country Rider
from Cornwall, Ontario
Date Reviewed: November 18, 2001
Strengths: It's entertaining to watch it self destruct
Weaknesses: Suckers decent hardworking people who want to try a cool sport into buying totally useless junk
Bottom Line:
I saw this bike being ridden by a guy at work. We were talking about it at breaktime and I asked him if he liked it. His basic line was that he bought it to commute with because he couldn't afford a car right now and this "bike" looked cool at Wal-mart. I commute to work on my GT hardtail so I thought I'd ride with him on the way home. I was behind him pedalling easily while he was huffing up a storm when he hit a medium sized pothole at an intersection. Well, what happened next, you had to see to believe. The front rim just caved in! Then the handlebar bent down about thirty degrees on each side, then while he was desparately trying to control the bike, he tried to pedal forward when his right pedal just broke right off! Good thing we were going home on the evening shift, if there had've been a lot traffic he could have been killed, no problem.
Needless to say he took the Mongoose back the next morning and had his money refunded. We went together to a decent bike shop and I picked out a nice Specialized aluminum Hardrock for him. He ponied up with his credit card on the spot. On the way to work he couldn't stop grinning, this was the best ride of his life!
He didn't know a lot about bikes, but in this case, ignorance is NOT bliss. I see so many people around this small city riding what amounts to a hazard. Every time I go to my local shop 95% of the bikes in for service are similar to the Mongoose disaster: bikes bought at Walmart or Canadian Tire or some "box store".
This has stopped being funny to me a long time ago. I once rode the exact same junk, and I never rode unless my car was in the shop and then I hated it. Until I went to a decent Bike shop to look around, it was a revelation let me tell you. Please, please do not go to a box store to buy a bike, ever. These things are actually dangerous, and I'm sure a few people have already been killed, and the retailers sued. But it's all been hushed up by the box store industry which doesn't want to be held accountable. Don't be a victim. Go to a decent Bike Shop and pony up.
Similar Products Used: Sears supercycle, God forgive me, for I have sinned against you.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
bike freak
a Weekend Warrior
from Alaska
Date Reviewed: November 9, 2001
Strengths: the frame and the looks
Weaknesses: r. derailler brakes suspension tires place of water bottle rack crank heavy
Bottom Line:
i got this for my bday and i thought it was the coolest bike ever(i had never done any MB before). I rode it, and rode it and rode it. i had at least 10 flats in the first summer i rode it and that was just going to my friends house and back. Im pretty sure this thing has caused any hopes of having children gone away. My friend who also started like me has a new kona stuff and i just got a Schwinn Moab disc SL and now we are just loving the ability to actually go 10 feet from our houses without getting hurt/breaking something.
If you r looking for something to learn with, this is a good starter but make sure u have some money to buy at least a half-way descent bike after a couple of trips to the emergency room and at least hundred dollars of repairs.
Favorite Trail: messing around in our "big backyard"
Duration Product Used: 2 Years
Price Paid:
$250.00
Purchased At: Sam's club
Similar Products Used: if i used another product like this i might have killed myself
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Hobar Frozbog
a Downhiller
from Santa Rosa, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: August 15, 2001
Strengths: Paint color
Weaknesses: Pedals , frame and the thing that makes your chain move to the next wheel thing.
Bottom Line:
The pedals are the main weakness. My first time out I went off a jump that was probably outside of my experience level. When I landed the pedals and my shoes came off and I came straight down on the bar. I stayed in the fetal position for what seemed to be about two hours. I bent the frame with the excruciating nut smash. I wish they made a Lizard Skin ball protector. Maybe put it on the bike, maybe put it on you - whatever they come up with, cause I need some nut protection with this pile of crap between my knees. I had to walk this down the hill and I got hit in the back by another cyclist. Him and his buddies started making fun of me and squirting me with their backpacks. Finally the guy who hit me told he was doing me a favor and threw my bike down the hill. Then he beat me with his pump and told me to get off his mountain. So I bought another one and went back cause the trails are for everyone.
Weaknesses: Here's the story, as a DH rider, I thought it might be fun to ride a bike that is an extreme opposite to the bikes Iride. I was riding through town, on the test ride. I rode up a curb and all went to hell. My handlebars cracked, the plastic cranks shattered, the frame broke in half, the rims crumpled under all that immense stress. Not to mention the front fork busted off and I went flying into the pavement. While crashing, I managed to land on a piece of the broken, splintered frame and it stuck into my left shoulder. The last thing I remember was a white flash, then black...Due to this freak accident, I am longer able ride any bike at all thanks to this bike!!
Bottom Line:
The biggest mess of bike I've ever set my eyes on. I cant even see my mongoose would waste anything on this pos. If it were an option, I would give it zero flammin chilis!!!
Strengths: Hehehe, You're kidding right? Well the one I rode was shiny and red.
Bottom Line:
Around 2 am one morning last summer, some frinds of mine and I found ourselves in a Wal Mart to purchase some chairs for the vacation we were taking the next day. However we promptly found the Mongoose rack sitting next to some hockey sticks and an empty area where a display was to be changed. To make a long story short we pulled the bikes off the rack and had a great time playing bike polo. Until the employees figured out what we were doing. While dashing through the aisles on my tank I forgot that the brakes had been assembled wrong and jammed the front brake by accident launching me head long into a display of Wranglers. In the wreck, front brakes got ripped off their mountings and the rear deraileur got broke off. Realizing my rig was toast I promptly jumped up and bolted from the store to find my friends waiting outside with the engine running. The moral of the story....Sitting on the beach with out chairs causes sand in the ass.
Similar Products Used: I once went sleding on a cafeteria a tray, and that was a better ride.
Bike Setup: I'm no pro bike mechanic, but doesn't the left brake lever usually apply pressure to the front wheel?
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
steve cannon
a Cross Country Rider
from south canyon
Date Reviewed: June 30, 2001
Strengths: what the hell are you talking about! the only thing this pos is good for is ghost riding down the canyon brakes are okay, frame hasn't broken yet
Weaknesses: you name it anything on this POS the shocks stick and leak, sitting on the seat feels like sticking a rock up your ass, the shifters have minds of their own, the tires bearly go up a curb, heaavy as hell
Bottom Line:
don't let the decals and sparkles fool you this thing is not worth the trouble of picking up off the street if it were free you'll end up spending more fixing this piece than buying it why would you buy a bike a teenager did a helf ass job assembling while he was picking his ass an entry level hardtail is better this this fancy junker
Submitted by
jared
a Weekend Warrior
from chester, nj
Date Reviewed: June 29, 2001
Strengths: None, maybe the impressed looks when riding with total idiots.
Weaknesses: Crank, Front Wheel, Pedal fell off with no misuse. Heavy as Titanic. Components are fake (the seat tube is literally a tube) including back shock (which has shortened considerably) and the rock-heavy bar ends
Submitted by
Dan Tetreault
a Cross Country Rider
from Bristol, CT. USA
Date Reviewed: May 5, 2001
Strengths: Obviously the price, strength of frame
Weaknesses: shifting, total weight of bike
Bottom Line:
This bike is heavy as hell. There is just no way around it. I've read a lot of reviews though saying that department store bikes will fall apart and all this crap. But I haven't had any problems other than gears slipping under uphill pressure. A friend that I ride with bought a Specialized Enduro and upgraded almost everything on the bike and he has had more problems than I have had including gears slipping uphills. You don't need the most expensive bike on the block to ride just the best lungs!!
Bike Setup: No extras!! However the bike came from the store is how I ride!!
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Sideshow Jim
a Cross Country Rider
from Sacramento, Ca 95825
Date Reviewed: May 1, 2001
Strengths: shiny paint, fool suspenion.
Weaknesses: garbage through out
Bottom Line:
I use to work at Costco. I built those pieces of crap. What is even scarrier is who also built them. atleast I tried to tighten down the screws properly. I saw a dozen bikes go out onto the floor with the front skewer tightened by screwing it tight with it in the open position. I also saw a pedal get threaded backwards into the crank because one side had the standard reverse threads. This bike also went out onto the floor. These bikes sold by the ton. However half of them came back. sometimes for stupid things like a flat tire or mis shifting due to cable strech. Other times the bicycles would come back looking like a prezel with mud representing the crispy crust( or was that blood)? People would ask me if the bikes were any good and I would come straight out and say that they were childrens toys. % minutes later I saw them wheeling them up to the front end. I risked my job telling the truth and still people bought them. I told people to go to LBS's and they responded with "I don't want to waste my money". i was reading the reveiw from the poor fool in Auburn, CA. I probaly told him not to buy it. What burnt me the worst was when some old roady was asking question and I told him to go over to City Bicycle Works or Persision (bicycleproducts.com) and buy a Trek or Fisher. His responces was " Last time I checked, Treks were a junky bike". Tell Lance Armstrong that! Got to go, the computer lab is closing and I graduate in less than 3 weeks. P.S. ESP 9.0 kicks ass!
