Submitted by
chris
a Cross Country Rider
from NSW, Australia
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2007
Strengths: Mega tough frame. awesome tyres, the tread is great for sand/dirt and after more than 5 years they havent worn out
Weaknesses: I bent that crankshaft but i think it was more a rider issue :) Pedal locking nut has fallen off. caused me a half hour ride home with 1 pedal. $1.50 to fix but i needed grease and a lot of muscle to get it back tight again. steering column is slowly coming loose..........Forks havent got enough travel
Bottom Line:
Fantastic frame, really takes a beating, has a good centre of gravity. tyres and brakes last forever (5+ years). The forks need to be longer and for a 21 speed the gearing is a bit all over the place. I highly recommend the bike to people jsut getting into it. fantastic for dirt riding and light downhill. not the greatest for dirt jumping or drops because of forks but its an awesome offroad/road bike......best buy for the money
Submitted by
John
a Cross Country Rider
from Brampton, Ontario
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2006
Strengths: Rigid Ride, good geometry.
Weaknesses: Stock Parts need to go.
Bottom Line:
Great frame, I bought this as a complete bike, switching out the fork immediately. The rest of the components came gradually. I upgraded to a new frame and sold the frame to a buddy who used for 6 years. The new frame cracked and became a wall decoration, so I got the frame back from my buddy and rebuilt the bike - wow! The frame is still in tip-top shape and the ride is still what I remember. I recommend this frame to any intermediate rider who has good components or can find one for cheap to build up.
The bottom line? Its 2006 and Im still ROCKING the 1997 Rockadile SX. Its almost time for my baby's 10 year anniversary and I might actually buy her an upgrade. Ive not had to upgrade a single thing yet except the tires and handgrips because of wear. My gripshift rubber is rotting but still functional, and one of my spokes is loose. I keep the bike clean and I lube the chain and fork well. That goes along way.
For me this bike is an emotional experience. It all started the day I saw her. It was love at first sight. The chrome frame glistened in the store light, with the bold yellow logo, and the aggresive look. I asked for a test ride and when I got on, even though I hadent adjusted the seat yet, it fit like a glove. I guess thats the IBOC geometry? Since I had test riden 10 bikes over the last month this was a shock to me and I immediatly bought the bike, right there on the spot.
Only 10 years later am I able to appreciate what a fantastic, fantastic bike this is. It is the supurlative all arounder. I have a 19.5 size and it's not bulky on the trails but somehow it's also fantastic for long distance trail riding. Someone mentioned in here how they put slicks on this bike and competed in a road race. The frame is just dialed that you could actually do that, then turn around and go downhilling the next day. For the city somehow the frame remains taught enough for urban bashing with tons of bunny hopping over curbs, cats, whatever. Really there is no need for me to buy a road bike, or a more aggresive mountian bike, the 1997 Mongoose Rockadile SX is the jack of all trades.
This bike is indestructable. It has a triangle geometry built into the tubes that helps with strutural rigity. Ive been pounding the tar otta this bike for 10 years and it laughs at me. The only thing that can stop this frame is a smelting factory.
Everytime(I mean every single time too) I sit on the bike I think of how great the bike fits me and how well it rides. Im going to go on a trail ride right now of maybe 30 miles. I LOVE this bike.
MONGOOSE SX I LOVE YOU, you are my favorite and always will be!
Submitted by
James G
a Weekend Warrior
from Northern Indiana
Date Reviewed: March 31, 2002
Strengths: Comfy frame. Fit
Weaknesses: Cracking headtubes
Bottom Line:
Review by proxy.
This is my wife's bike. She's on her second frame. After about 1 month of riding she noticed a crack in the headtube.
Pity too because the bike fit, had a comfortbale ride, was not twitchy or slow in handling.
Bike was replaced. Fast forward several years of easy riding. Getting ready to upgrade to V-brakes and a few goodies, noticed another crack in the head tube. Frame is toast.
Will contact 'Goose tomorrow. Don't expect they have an equal bike anymore.
Can't complain too much, got the bike in 1997. But it should have lasted for many many more years.
Submitted by
Gary Ostergaard
a Weekend Warrior
from Pleasant Grove, UT USA
Date Reviewed: March 4, 2002
Strengths: Frame, components
Weaknesses: ugly paint - purple
Bottom Line:
I bought my Rockadile back in 96 from a pawn shop for $100 bucks. It was pretty beat up but I took it to a bike shop and they replaced the cables and gave it a tune up. I don't know how old it was, it just jumped out at me because it had a good set of components and who could go wrong for $100? I usually ride the same set of trails and I've ridden 5 different bikes on the same trails. The Rockadile was absolutely the best dang bike of them all. Best climber, best downhill, best shifting, best braking, and best riding, hands down! Dumbest thing I ever did was to let that one go, I wish I still had it. Out of the bikes I've ridden and owned this one gets a 5 all around.
Weaknesses: Tioga Tires BLOW!!! Get a set of Ritcheys. Also the stock forks are bit weak.
Bottom Line:
For the money, you can't go wrong...but sadly, I won't get another Mongoose (at least a new one) since they aren't really Mongooses any more. You can't really beat a hardtail, especially if you're over 200lbs. I'm going a slightly different route by saying that I have actually taken great care of this bike and it has served me well, but I'm sort of catching full suspension fever. If you can find one for $250 like some of these guys, you're getting a great bike! How can you not give this bike 5 chilis--try finding a bike now for that money that has the same look and quality...you can't!
well I thought this purchase was my mistake. The bike arrived with a cracked frame steerer receiver. I didn't notice until I had the bike a week. I secured it with a tight overlay and decided to go ahead a break it. Well to my surprise, it hasn't failed. I had just purchased some deore for it(because I like the way it feels on my iboc). I will save the xt and alivio parts. If the bike fails, I will replace it with the titanium mongoose no doubt. Wanna no when and how it fails? or any other questions, feel free to e-mail.
Bike Setup: alivio cantilever brakes xt ahead stem transx x bar alex rims
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
djonko
a Cross Country Rider
from Zwolle, Holland
Date Reviewed: May 10, 2001
Strengths: strong frame, good geometry, weight of frame is acceptable lx-rear der.
Weaknesses: Weak components especially that poor sugino crank, heavy goose tires(garbage), paint on the frame.
Bottom Line:
Since '97 ,when I bought this bike,I changed every component beccause the bad quality. The frame is very strong and it has a good geometry. It's also very stiff. 5 chili's for the frame and 3 chili's overall
Similar Products Used: GT zaskar/avalanche, Giant ATX/NRS
Bike Setup: red '96 rockadile, Marzocchi Z3, RockShox seatpost,xt/xtr drivetrain, Profile equipement, Gore-tex
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Manny
a Weekend Warrior
from Fall River, Ma., USA
Date Reviewed: April 14, 2001
Bottom Line:
Bought the Rockadile SX new 4yrs. ago. Fell in love with it the moment I saw it at the bike shop. Once I rode it, I had to buy it. The Aluminum frame is great. Handles amazingly well on all types of riding. Have been upgrading components over the years as they wear out, and love the bike even more. It is like a fine aged wine. I had a Cannondale CAAD 3 frame bike I picked up cheap, and ended it up selling it after a few months for it doesn't compare to the Mongoose. It is a shame what happened with Brunswick buying Mongoose and ruining its reputation, but I stand behind my rig 100%. I'm not sure of their quality of bikes now, but my "97" Rockadile SX has been too hell and back. Crosscountry, Downhill, and Urban Assault riding. Takes a lickin and keeps on tickin.
Strengths: Strong responsive aluminum frame, Wellgo clipless pedals, great buy for the money
Weaknesses: Spec'd with some stx-rc parts
Bottom Line:
Though the bike is a '97, it was brand new, never ridden. Bike came with Deore LX rear, and stx-rc front derailleur, cranks, and hubs. Answer Manitou Pro front shock, and Mavic rims. It rode very well with my 200 pounds and lower end components. It now rides flawlessly with all the upgrades I've put on. It delivers everything I ask of it, and takes some punishing hits. While it will never be the greatest bike ever, for the money I've put into it (less than $1000) I'll put it up against any hardtail.
Bike Setup: SRAM 9.0 drivetrain and brakes, XT hubs and cranks, Manitou SX-R fork, Bontrager Mustang rim (front) and Velocity Aeroheat (rear)Shimano M-545 clipless pedals
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Eduardo
a Weekend Warrior
from Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico
Date Reviewed: January 20, 2001
Strengths: Strong and responsive frame, light cromolly
Weaknesses: Some of the orignal parts make the bike somewhat heavy. The orignal setup had a Duotrack front shock.
Bottom Line:
I bought my Rockadile Sx about 4 years ago from a kid who never even shifted the bike's gears so it was brand new and have rode through snow, ice, mud, 5 feet of water (reservoir), and just about every material a trail can be made of, including 5 feet drops and the frame never gave up. Just last year, after 4 years of hard biking I noticed a tiny crack near the crank set. My bike shop added a few drops of welding and since then I didnt have any more trouble. From normal use and abuse I have replaced the rear dereileur, crank set and front shock at least once, but the bottom line is this is a great bike, and I hear Trek and Specialized and Giant frames cracking and bending, but every Rockadile owner I have met (2) rely on frame stenght. Another very important characteristic of Mongoose frames: Confort and responsiveness. The frame design is very confortable. I'm about to buy a new bike to replace my Rockadile with another Mongoose but I will hang this baby in my room wall! I give it 5 flamin' chilis or whatever for value and overall, because any bike that withstands 5 years of trashing and then some deserves it.
Similar Products Used: Specialized Rockhopper, K2 ZedX, Trek
Bike Setup: Shimano STX components, Sun rims, GT tires
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Jack Hanson
a Cross Country Rider
from East Maitland
Date Reviewed: December 1, 2000
Strengths: Great bike I bought it for the crome-molly frame and just to own a mongoose $439 aust good value
Weaknesses: Just cant get the front de-railers to work more than 3 or 4 times in a row,seem to be adjusting the brakes twice a day the front forks(Mozos) are theeeee stiffest will be upgrading to Shimano XTR/XT components and hopefully a disc on the front or if to pricey another set of forks
Bottom Line:
Good looking bike but for a bike not even 2 months old you would exspect it to change gears more than once or twice without going back to the shop to be adjusted.Took a big fall about a week ago the bike came out with out a scratch pity I didn't
Similar Products Used: Sons Mongoose Balistic 1.5 dual suspension
Bike Setup: Stock standard except for better brake shoes and bar extensions
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Drew
a Weekend Warrior
from Fenwick Island , Del, USA
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2000
Strengths: I bought it primarily for the frame, very durable and light wieght.
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
I have customized the bike a lot, but would recommend it to anyone just as it came from the factory. I ride it mostly into Ocean City on the boardwalk to work, about 20 miles a day round trip, but I have had it on some very rough trails in Northern Maryland. Not even the daily dose of salty sea air has effected it.
Submitted by
Steve
a Weekend Warrior
from Burlington, Ontario
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2000
Strengths: Strong frame, good geometry
Weaknesses: Old stiff forks, stx-rc parts
Bottom Line:
This is a great freeride bike, if you upgrade the fork, and put riser bars on it. The frame is nice and strong and it has a nice feel, especailly for downhill, because of the long cockpit. The only weaknesses are the Quadra 21R shocks, and the stx-rc rear derrailleur, both of which I'm planning to upgrade very soon. If you want to buy this bike used, like I did, make sure it's in decent condition.
Bike Setup: Stock + Club Roost riser bars, Deore V-brakes, Tioga and Manitou tires
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Bull
a Weekend Warrior
from Ephrata, PA, 17522
Date Reviewed: March 15, 2000
Strengths: One heck of a solid frame. Nice bike for the money. Got mine for $630.00 including tax and didn't change a thing.
Weaknesses: Cracked after five years of abuse
Bottom Line:
After about four years of riding I finally realized the frame was cracked at the headtube. Had hairline fracture at the top at bottom. Also cracked it down at the derailer. Clean trhough to the threads. Mongoose is replacing the frame under warranty and I am looking at getting a ful ssusp. one also.Solid all around bike that I could have taken better care of. Still ran great even though I didn't do so. The Goose will always have a spot in my heart. Had rapid fire plus shifters, shimano stx/rc al the way around and I think alivio brakes. SHOP AROUND BEFORE YOU BUY. SAVED $200.00 FROM ONE BIKE SHOP TO THE NEXT. The one guy said he paid 800.00 for his. 630 including tax. Buy from the Mennonite farmers bike shop that sell Mongoose, GT, K2, etc. They give really good deals.
