|
|
|
| |
Submitted by
Bike Bloke
a Cross Country Rider
from UK
Date Reviewed: July 19, 2009 | | Favorite Trail: | Glentress | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Price, Components, Stability, Riding Position, Confidence! | | Weaknesses: | XL frame is HEAVY. | | Bike Setup: | Stock + Hope Pro2 on Mavic XM719 Wheels with a Kenda Small Block 8 2.1' on the rear, and a PG990 Cassette. | | Bottom Line: | Review is for the 2006 - Black/Red Teocali Super:
This bike is simply incredible for the price, and no doubt the newer versions are even better. Everything on it is great value and well chosen. Never had any problems with it - even in super muddy UK conditions.
It absolutely destroys the descents, the Pike is incredible, and the riding position is perfect. It's weight helps this nature, but at the same time is its weakness, these days bikes with more travel weigh considerably lighter. While it still climbs brilliantly if you just sit and spin, you're never going to race anyone to the top! With that I've upgraded to a lighter wheel set, with some speedier rubber and the difference is extremely notable.
You cant go wrong with this bike, XC, All Mountain, Anything? Looks great too!
| Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
minotro
a Weekend Warrior
from Texas
Date Reviewed: September 3, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$370.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | I bought the frame by itself on Ebay with only the headset and rear shock. I love this bike. I will probably replace it with a newer one. It's strong but not too heavy, It's a bulkier, more aggressive version of the GT idrive. I love the freedrive, It does what it's supposed to. I like the cable routing alot, which is an underrated benefit. | | Weaknesses: | none noted so far | | Similar Products Used: | Giant AC1. Kona Dawg, Kona Stinky. GT RTS-1. | | Bike Setup: | NIxon fork, atomlab wheels, SIC stem, XTR rapid rise rear D and shifter. Hussefelt crank. 1x9. | | Bottom Line: | Worth it. I like the fact that it's Mongoose too. Better than most bikes in the same price range. You can put together everything from xc to freeride on the same frame, especially for someone 200lb's or more. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tim Reed
a Weekend Warrior
from Scottsdale, AZ, USA
Date Reviewed: April 20, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Pima and Dynamite | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1799.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Bomber XC600, Fox rp23 rear shock, Full XT every where else | | Weaknesses: | None, considering the price. | | Similar Products Used: | Custom Chris Kelly built on a Titus Racer-X rearend, all the rest have been hard tails. Although, before I bought, I road a Specialized Enduro, Full carbon Mt. Fuji pro, and a Giant something or another obviously not too impressed. | | Bike Setup: | 08 stock except for the stem, had to change to a 120mm | | Bottom Line: | The Custom Chris Kelly with the Titus Racer-X rear triangle has been great to me over the past 8 years; however, I'm not as young or lite as I once was, and the hard stuff started hurting a lot longer. I was going to just buy a high end hardtail and hit the fire roads and give up on the single track until I spoke to the manager of my LBS, and he suggested that I buy more of an all mountain bike with a little more travel.
I don't normally by anything before I have a chance to ride it. I made an exception to the rule with this bike because it was 2 grand less than anything else I could find with the same components, and Performance said if I didn't like it, they would take it back. Nothing to loose is a good position to be in.
After getting the suspension dialed in, I could not be happier. I have a feeling that once a word gets out on the 08 Teocali Super that it will become one of the allstars for MTBR. As far as the ride, this is the first time in a long time I didn't look for the absolute flatest terrain available on the trail. Just point and go, it will work out just fine. Kind of hard to get used to. As far as riding the flat stuff, this bike works great for that to due to the remote lock out on the bomber and the 3 position ProPedal on the rear shock. This bike kicks a$$. Go buy one, you will not regret it.
It's great to be able to take advantage of Mongoose trying to buy it's reputation back after damaging it by taking the department store route. Get it while you can, prices will go up in the future once the brand recognition is back.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Grant
a
from San Luis Obispo
Date Reviewed: April 17, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Pick N Shovel | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1500.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | Very Solid, great component build, sturdy | | Weaknesses: | Pivots come Loose, cheap chain | | Similar Products Used: | Owned a fuji diamond comp, and I pedaled around (i.e. not ridden on trails) about every mainstream "AM" bike. | | Bike Setup: | Stock with 2.3 nevagals f/r 203mm front rotor, and mallet C's | | Bottom Line: | First off this is for an 06 I believe (black one). Some people don't like that the bottom bracket moves, but honestly I don't notice it.
Good stuff:
Pedals decent uphill, and the pike is pretty awesome. The way the suspension is, it seems like there is a different lever ratio when seated than while standing. This makes it so that it is more plush when seated (by my observations, no science here). I really like cockpit and the brakes are awesome but I do recommend running a 200mm front rotor if you do any serious downhills. I really like the full X9 build that came with it (with an LX FD). Even though the wheels got bad reviews here I've had good experiences with the Sun SOS rims laced to ringle hubs. Still pretty true and haven't been touched since purchase.
Bad Stuff:
The chain broke on me pretty early (like first month) but I probably just got a lemon. The rear shock also broke after about 6 months of use. I don't abuse my equipment, and I try to be smooth when I ride, but I'm not going to hold back at all. Having said that, the shock was waranteed and I haven't had any problems since. The front dérailleur was set too high and I would always drop a chain, and even after lowering it some it still drops sometimes, could just be too long of a chain though. I don't like the saddle, and the suspension design limits how much you can lower the seat. Right now the saddle can't go as high as I'd like, or as low. I'm going to buy another seat post and saddle. Also mine weighs about 33lbs which is on the heavy side for a 140mm bike.
**Important to note:
The pivots do come loose and are a pain to deal with, I've also had the cranks come loose.
__________________________________________
Bottom line:
Great value, burly enough build for anything you should do on a 140mm bike, but suspension design isn't for everyone and loose pivots.
Buy if: you want a burly 5-6in bike at a price point with good components
Forget if: you want something super light and hate the suspension design
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Thirstin Howl III
a Weekend Warrior
from Long Island, NY
Date Reviewed: March 5, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | harborcountrybike.com | | Strengths: | Top notch parts spec (full Shimano XT, WTB, Easton, Etc.)
Excellent quality welds
Great geometry
Fox Float RP23
Marzocchi XC600 fork ATA2 with remote lockout | | Weaknesses: | Paint scratches very, very easily | | Similar Products Used: | Too many bikes to list! | | Bike Setup: | Stock except for a Race Face bash-guard.
-2008 Shimano XT
-Easton Post, Monkey bard, stem.
-WTB seat
-Candy pedals
-Kenda tires | | Bottom Line: | I've honestly only got about 300 miles on it so far, but I couldn't be happier. Just a great quality and spec'd out bike at a killer value. I was definitely skeptical about buying a Mongoose but just didn't have more funds in the budget for anything else.
The one thing I wasn't ready for was the low bottom bracket height. The fist couple times I rode it my big ring and pedals hit every rock. I adjusted my riding style to compensate and all is well. The bike is a great climber too.
I hope it continues to perform well but "out of the box" I highly recommend it.
I do have to say I'm very sad to decommission my 9 year old Santa Cruz Heckler. That's another bike I would recommend highly to anyone. If I had some more money that would have been my first choice to get a new one, but right now I'm very pleased with the Mongoose.
***** Value
**** Overall (I'll save 5 stars for my old Heckler) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rick
a Weekend Warrior
from Columbus, Ohio
Date Reviewed: March 3, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | Lake Hope | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Strengths: | Pike 454 thru axel
plush
The set up right out of the box. This thing is decked with components for the price. | | Weaknesses: | Shifter cables. I know, week but that is all I could think of. | | Similar Products Used: | GT Ruckus i-Drive
Giant AC1
Giant AC air
Blur LT | | Bike Setup: | All stock except for SRAM chain | | Bottom Line: | This bike is awesome! I am shocked at how much stiffer a bike can be with the PIKE 454.
Bottom line: I like it so much I just bought an 08 Teocali Super
I am a bit worried about not having a thru axel fork but the 'zokie XC 600 ATA2 seams just as nice. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Danny
a Weekend Warrior
from Fullerton, Ca
Date Reviewed: February 21, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | steep ones | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1000.00 | | Purchased At: | used | | Strengths: | Everything | | Weaknesses: | None so far | | Similar Products Used: | Lots, yeti, specialized stump jumper, Titus moto lite,foes,ect.... | | Bike Setup: | pike air 454 u turn, rock shock 3.1, sun ringle hubs and sos rims, stylo cranks, sram x-9, xtr front derail.sdg I beam post. | | Bottom Line: | Great bike. Light for a all mountain, no pedal bob from the free drive.The 15 year old who said he got one from adrenaline bikes is full of SHI8.For one, it is not in L.A., for 2 it is hard to believe that one person can break that many things on one bike.I could buy a bike from Walmart and not have the problems he claims.This is a good Am bike for all. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Justin
a Downhiller
from Chandler AZ
Date Reviewed: November 2, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | This bike is a upgrade from my first bike which I only had for 30 days. After relizing I needed more of a bike for my ability this bike was a good choice. I am a abusive rider and beat the crap out of my bike and this bike begs for more!!! The components on this bike are second to none and have been through it all from cross country rides, gnarly climbs and some good jumps and lots of downhill. I ride with others that have bikes twice the cost of mine and there is no reason for that with MONGOOSE!
My 06 model is sick and the new 08 model makes me drool. Do not hesiate to buy this bike. | | Weaknesses: | NONE, after all the abuse I have put my bike through the only thing I replaced is the chain.
| | Similar Products Used: | GT I-drive 5 4.0 | | Bike Setup: | Stock set up except maxxis minions dhr dhf.
| | Bottom Line: | The bike is awesome, it looks weird at first but that is cause they put as much of the weight low for the best ride possible. The bike will take whatever you can dish out and then some. Wheather your riding cross country or hitting the slopes this bike will handle where ever you go. Pick this bike up and be ready for a good ride.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Josh
a Downhiller
from Big Bear, Ca, USA
Date Reviewed: September 13, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | Lower Rock Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$1900.00 | | Purchased At: | Eric Carter | | Strengths: | Everything. Best value out every bike out there. Quality frame, great components. Bike can handle everything you can throw out at it from drops, to jumps to steep and technical rock gardens. | | Weaknesses: | None. Out of one whole year of hard riding, besides blown tires left and right i have only bent up my derailuer a couple times which was a quick fix. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized Stumpjumper, Kona Dawg | | Bike Setup: | Pike 454, X9's all around, juicy sevens, crank brothers 5050 XX, MC 3.1 | | Bottom Line: | This is the best bike for the money and blows away its competition. I would recommend this bike to everyone. It is tough and can take a beating all the while weighing in at only 32 lbs. Once you try it you'll never ride anything else. This bike can climb with ease as well as take on intense downhill. (Providing one knows how to ride a bike! hint, hint to one fellow reviewer) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan
a Weekend Warrior
from Reno, NV
Date Reviewed: August 7, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | flowy ones | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | After a year of heavy trail riding and jumping with the teocali, it is still performing very well. I have not needed to replace the bearings, and the frame is still in good condition. The bike also performs great as always, smooth and stable in the rough stuff, and it manuvers so nimbly, at the slightest touch. Cornering is amazing on this bike, it carves. Finally, it sails off jumps with ease, due to its low center of gravity. | | Weaknesses: | The paint isnt of the highest quality.
It takes A LOT of fiddiling to get the suspension balanced. | | Similar Products Used: | IH Mk3
Giant Reign | | Bike Setup: | Teocali
Pike(air)
Fox Rp3
Mavic 321 | | Bottom Line: | Damn good bike. You dont even think of it while you're ridin, you just enjoy the trail. Go buy yourself one if you havent already. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jimbo p
a Downhiller
from Hampshire, UK
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | South Downs | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | Built | | Strengths: | Sturdy, strong and dependable frame. Beautiful geometry for my weight and ride. (I'm slightly on the light side at 10 stone) | | Weaknesses: | Keep an eye on the pivot bolts. It's not that they're weak, you just need to maintain the correct torque on them for the ride you do. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized enduro, scott nitrous | | Bike Setup: | Stock Teocali Super with the forks swapped out to rock shox revelation, XTR crank. Monkeylite carbon bars, Thomson post, wtb rocket stealth saddle, Crank Bros Candy C's, | | Bottom Line: | This bike will put up with anything from gentle footpaths to full on aggresive downhill - NOTE TO GUY ABOVE - PROVIDING YOU KNOW HOW TO RIDE.
I love this machine. The geometry fits like a glove with a low Centre of gravity and weight thanks to the i-drive. The bike feels superbly centred beneath one and you feel safe moving about all over it to really take full advantage of the bikes lightness and agility through turns and jumps. I've had none of the problems others have spoken about. Now competing on this bike at national level and would not swap it with any other bike within £1000 of its price. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rick
a Cross Country Rider
from California
Date Reviewed: June 26, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1200.00 | | Strengths: | Reasonable price compared to other high end set ups. Excellent frame geometry. Light sturdy frame. The frame is strong on almost anything that comes in its path. Good looks! I pick this bike compared to Trek, KHS, Elseworth. | | Weaknesses: | Some components like the crangksets, have to change it and other stuff | | Similar Products Used: | Trek, Elseworth | | Bike Setup: | Mostly FSA components. | | Bottom Line: | This is a recommended frame for XC and DH. Can do some jumps on it because of its strong light frame | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff Shen
a Weekend Warrior
from Monterey
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | any long trail | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Purchased At: | Adrenaline | | Strengths: | Wow. I never realized how crappy this bike is!!!! | | Weaknesses: | (If I could cuss on this G rated site, you don't even know how long this review would be) First of all from bent rims, jacked up brake systems, to literatly every component on my bike breaking, I thought the ONLY "reliable" part was the frame. BOI! I was sooo wrong. That peice of S... CRAP, is sooo over complicated. sure it looks, I guess "cool" but I'd rather even have a triangle frame that ACUTALLY works. The bolts HAVE to get tightened EVERYDAY, then to my "surprise" they broke. (I "never" saw that coming, psh). That bolts to the rear trianle were bent, and the other snapped. and to let you guys know, I haven't even went off anything biggner than a 5 stair, or picnic bench, due to the fear of the bike breaking, which I'm glad I didn't. The frame is ready to snap. I don't know whether XT is suppossed to be stronger or lighter, from what I can tell you, it's definitly not stronger. My $300 mongoose from amazon has lastes 2 happy years, and has been through more crap, than thise peice of bull has even imagined, and it still works. The only reason why I wanted a new bike was for more travel. Well, I wasn't looking forward to everything breaking. + If you have the patience to still be reading this, you will now learn that the BB is incredibly LOW! I mean level pedals, + curb = scraped pedals and shortened pins. I mean you don't know how crappy this bike is, and hope you never will. | | Similar Products Used: | Nothing I've used broke this much, often, severely. | | Bike Setup: | I run a broken shimano XT, with deformed x9 components. I have bent WTB rims, and use Wellgo pedals, that are scraped more than my shins. | | Bottom Line: | I would defintly NOT recomend this bike. and trust me. It's not just one review that's bad. It's the freakin bike! I mean if you like maitnaining your bike EVERY SINGLE DAY. Spending $$$ every week to keep it running, be my guest and get this bike. It suits you. But I hate it! I went to adrenaline for a San andreas Mountain cycles bike, but when I drove ALLLLL the way from monterey to LA, they ran out of them. What my luck, but to my displeasure they pointed me towards a bike that is $600 more than what I would have gotten. and for a 14 year old, you can'traelly expect me to fork out $2,300. But passionate was I, so I worked hard and finally paid off for it. But my reward turned out to be a peice of Mongoose. With low BBs, Crappy, over complicated frame, poor service, I thin you can make up your decision. Trust me, I can gossip for days on end, but I doubt any reveiw reader is going to want to raed though a novel on a crappy bike. PLEASE DO NOT BUY THIS! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Weekend Warrior
from Monterey, California
Date Reviewed: May 15, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2239.00 | | Strengths: | This is a major upgrade from my old bike. For that I can say this bike rocks! Light for 5". 31 pounds. And a good variety, of XT and X.9 components. PIKES!! | | Weaknesses: | I can't say anyhting was wrong with the frame, (ie mongoose's fault,) other than a few bolts than continuesly become loose due to suspenion setup but some loctite should fix that. But when I first got this bike, I rode it in my driveway and the WTB rims bent enough to be a noticeable wobble. Had to true it which it is bent up and down too, so it still wobbles, but not as bad. The seat post clamp was broken, but no biggie, right? the handlebars are wide, but got them cut. And the cables eat up the frame like crazy, and the paint hcips like crazy, but I don't mind much. The gold color is putrid anyways. And my Avid Juicy 7s were really jacked up but got new systems like right after I got my bike, haha. | | Similar Products Used: | Other mongoose | | Bike Setup: | WTB raptor, (don't get, too big of knobs) | | Bottom Line: | This bike is pretty good, I would say, BUT there are other bikes out there that give you way more for the $$$ As the Ibex Atlas Pro, I regret not getting. And for all the fixes and trouble I had to go to, I can't say I can give this bike a five, but I hope that this was only my bike, like one of a thousand, that far away from perfection. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jeremy
a Cross Country Rider
from bend, oregon
Date Reviewed: April 19, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | phils | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | northwest adventure | | Strengths: | just about everything. this bike climbs great, it eats up everything you can throw at it on the downhills. mongoose speced this bike perfectly. | | Weaknesses: | can't think of any | | Similar Products Used: | haro exteme, specialized enduro | | Bike Setup: | added e-thirteen bashguard, 7" rotors, odi grips, maverick speedball r seatpost with sdg belair seat, and time z pedals. everything else stock. | | Bottom Line: | bike rocks! I have never ridden as much as I do now since having this bike. I ride 4-5 time a week and I never get tired of this bike. Went into the bikeshop today after my ride and three different guys were each buying one. Anyways I have had this bike now for about 8 months and it is the best bike out there for the money, don't believe me just read the reviews. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Tecoli_PwC
a Weekend Warrior
from Raleigh, NC
Date Reviewed: March 18, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | The dirt kind | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$1700.00 | | Purchased At: | Rbikes.com | | Strengths: | Efficient suspension design, 5.75" plush travel, excellent value!!! | | Weaknesses: | Can't drop post for downhills...not necessarily a weakness though.
Alot of play has developed in the Deore front derailleur over the last 1.5 years. | | Similar Products Used: | First & only FS bike thus far...next will be the Ibis Mojo. Previous bike was a Trek hardtail built to sub 22 lbs. | | Bike Setup: | 2005 model, stock except:
-Vanilla RLC 130 fork (prefer plushness over travel adjust)
-Crank Bros pedals
-SRAM 970 Cassette
-Monkeylite XC bar
-Raceface Evolve post (next will be Maverick Speedball)
-WTB RocketV saddle
-Stans No Tubes | | Bottom Line: | I've had the bike for almost two years now and must say that it has yet to disappoint me. The 2006/2007 have a better parts-spec but I'm happy with the 2005 parts because I'm more XC trail than all mountain oriented in my riding.
I run approximately 30% sag and keep the propedal to the wide-open position, and the bike still climbs like a mountain goat. Additionally, I have yet to feel the need to lockout the fork - Set it and let soak up the roots and rocks on the climb.
The suspension design combined with 20-25 psi tire pressure (ala Stans) = superb grip/traction. The low center of gravity makes the bike feel much lighter, and should I start to lose a little traction, all it takes is slight shift in body weight to get back on track. I'm faster on this than my hartail because I hardly EVER lose traction, even when I'm hammering out of the saddle.
The juicy sevens are incredible brakes but I think I will end up upgrading to a 180 mm front rotor. The ability to modulate made it easier for me to brake with the front brake and immediately made me a better rider. I can wait until I'm much deeper into corners to brake, then, due to the efficient design, I can power out the other side, bob free. This bike is 7 lbs heavier than my hardtail but I'm so much faster on it. It's unbelievable. I can also ride farther because the suspension reduces fatigue.
I concur with the other reviewers in that you can should set the 5.75" setting and forget it. Take advantage of the travel on the descent where it really kicks a$$.
The WTB Laser Disc wheels have been great. While not the lightest around, they've stayed within 1 mm of trueness after many 1-4 foot drops/jumps.
It originally came with an SDG saddle/post combo, but I had to swap that nasty thing out because it completely thrashed me.
After almost two years, I still get plenty of snide, arrogant remarks at the trailhead from those riding big-name bikes. Then I ask them how much they paid and smoke 'em on the trail and they shut-up. Take a look at www.mountainbike.com, in the video section. One of the magazine's editors does a video review of the 2007 model and highly recommends it. Nuff said.
If you want a great ride and value for your hard earned dollars, then this is the bike for you. You will NOT be disappointed.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Knut
a Downhiller
from Norway
Date Reviewed: October 17, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2676.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | My first FS, and I'm really amazed by how it copes in rough trails. Love the slack geometry and the Pike is a great choice. Brakes are also great, and performes great with just 160mm disc. | | Weaknesses: | No Remote PopLoc Adj (only Remote PopLoc without Adj) and the BB-height is a bit low. | | Bike Setup: | Stock, but switched to 185mm disc. | | Bottom Line: | After much tuning the bike is now perfect. I figured out that I the rear shock must be set up with pretty low pressure to get full travel. This reduses the BB-height some. Also misses the PopLoc Adj to adjust the compression on the fork. Now it is on or off. But slackening the wire to get the right compression did the trick. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan
a Weekend Warrior
from Reno, NV, USA
Date Reviewed: September 24, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$930.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | This is a followup for the one 2 spaces below, again, this bike is amazing, I have found myself taking harder downhill lines, and generally riding more. The rear suspension design is very plush, while still efficient uphill. Also, I have managed to get the bike down to 28lbs, amazingly light for the all mountain/ freeride style I am using this bike for. The frame seems to be indestructible, great worksmanship on mongoose's part. | | Weaknesses: | On the trail "Dude, are you riding a freak!ng Mongoose???" Dont be disrespectin' the goose, ladies. | | Similar Products Used: | Read below. | | Bike Setup: | Read below. | | Bottom Line: | You want a bike for light freeride and general all mountain useage? This is the one to get. Oh, and because of the suspension design, there isnt much use to the 4.75" setting, theoretically it will be more efficient, but its just ornamental, so put it to the 5.75" setting, and youll be in suspension heaven. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
jeremy
a Weekend Warrior
from bend,or usa
Date Reviewed: September 1, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | all of them | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | northwest adventure | | Strengths: | sram!!! rockshox pike fork, avid juicy sevens. this bike shines on the uphills and the downhills. feels very solid. strengths- everything!!! | | Weaknesses: | are you kidding | | Similar Products Used: | haro exteme, specialized enduro | | Bike Setup: | 7" rotors, odi grips, e-thirteen bash guard, everything else stock. | | Bottom Line: | this bike rocks. climbing up hills you do not feel any kind of bob at all. on the downhills this bike soaks up everything. the sram drivetrain is flawless. it shifts right now. had shimano xt drivetrain on my enduro, and it sucked. i had nothing but problems with shimano. anyways this bike is the real deal. mongoose has made an awsome bike. people you need to check this bike out, it is well worth it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan
a Weekend Warrior
from Reno, NV, 89509
Date Reviewed: August 25, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$930.00 | | Purchased At: | ebay | | Strengths: | I rode this bike today on some twisty rocky singletrack, and it preformed very well, I can describe it as very plush, yet still very stable while pedaling. Also, for the price I bought it off of ebay, its a great value. | | Weaknesses: | The bottom bracket seems lower than my old specialized. | | Similar Products Used: | Iron Horse Mk 3 (tested,) Cannondale Prophet, Giant Reign 3. | | Bike Setup: | (Bought Used) Teocali Super, Manitou Minute 3 fork (ditched the Fox,) Shimano Deore Hydraulic Brakes, sram X9 drivetrain. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is a great performer, it can climb almost as quickly as an XCer, but it will blow you away on the downhill. Great value, msrp is $2200, but if you look around, you can get it cheap on Ebay, as I did. I'll do a followup review on this after maybe a month? Happy riding =) | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Michael
a Racer
from Seattle
Date Reviewed: April 8, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$2200.00 | | Purchased At: | Gregg's Cycles | | Strengths: | The Teocali Super possesses quality suspension that remains level no matter the terrain due to the stable platform shocks, with unbelievable parts spec for the price point. If you haven't ridden the latest generation of Rock Shox you're missing out; pedaling doesn't faze it in the slightest. Set the floodgate to your preference, (try and match front and rear) and rip, but don't be afraid to fully utilize the floodgates. Those who have been riding on older suspension might be puzzled at first by the apparent lack of suspension movement, yet small and large bumps alike are absorbsed with aplomb even in the stiffer floodgate settings. Pedaling influence is minimized due to the bottom bracket moving up and back during suspension travel, and braking influence is mitigated by aligning the vector of brake force with the swingarm's radius of travel. There is a slight stiffening of the suspension while standing, but it will be noticed by only the those who have ridden a great many bikes of various designs, and in fact, this aspect conveys an extra degree of sureness in out of the saddle climbing. The frame's stiffness is comparable to that of the best, and handling is excellent due to the low center of gravity and well balanced angles. Stiffness in the fork is fantastic whether you consider the four pound weight or not, and the Maxle QR20 is ultra simple to use. | | Weaknesses: | For XC riders the stem will be short, but this bike is aimed at those who climb to descend, so most will find the 90 mm (Medium) stem appropriate. The suspension design seems specially tailored to attract and hold mud; if you live in an apartment in a muddy locale, and don't have a yard in which to wash your bike, this could be a pain. However, most current suspension designs utilize a complex four bar that is equally susceptible to grime so this is a minor drawback at best. | | Similar Products Used: | Santa Cruz Heckler, Superlight, Bullitt, Specialized Enduro SX, Ellsworth Dare, Jamis Dakar. | | Bike Setup: | Bone Stock 2006 model. | | Bottom Line: | There are few bikes that are as adept as the Teocali super. With it's IDrive-esque suspension and long, light travel its a bike that can be taken from the XC race trail to the ski lifts while remaining, at the very least, competent. It particularly shines on trails that can't be accessed by lift, and are insuperable for the 80mm travel XC set. Forget that the company that sells it is a multinational corporation that also services Wall-mart; take a look at the Teocali as a sophisticated bike with modern suspension that stands shoulders above single pivots, sports excellent parts, and has a price tag about a grand less than its equally refined competitors. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jim
a Cross Country Rider
from Inman, SC, USA
Date Reviewed: March 21, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$2000.00 | | Purchased At: | Sunrift Adventures | | Strengths: | This bike really hugs the trails. Component spec. sheet is awesome. | | Weaknesses: | I'm too busy enjoying this almost perfect bike to notice if there are any weaknesses. In other words None. | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale road bikes and cheap department store mountain bikes Mongoose XR200 | | Bike Setup: | 2006 Teocali Super as is. | | Bottom Line: | It's amazing how much difference there is between the department store bikes and this bike. But if it weren't for the reasonably priced bikes at Wal-mart I might not have ever realized how much fun mountain biking is. Thanks a million to Mongoose for putting there name on the lower end bikes. Besides the excellent components that come standard on this bike, I can speak first hand about the very dedicated and compassionate customer service team at Mongoose. I am very happy with there no hassles parts replacement policy. The Juicy 9 brakes stop with little effort. The Sram 9 components are smooth as silk. This bike almost climbs on its own with little or no pedal bob. The bike rides like a dream. I'm 46 but this bike makes me feel like im 25. Don't let this one get away. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a Weekend Warrior
from Stillwater, OK
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$1291.00 | | Purchased At: | eBay | | Strengths: | Plush, bob-free rear suspension. Avid Juicy 7s, SRAM rear derailler and shifters. | | Weaknesses: | TruVativ Team bars a little to wide - I chopped 'em. The Fox Talas R that came stock had to be shipped to Fox due to a rebound cartridge problem. | | Similar Products Used: | Switched from Specialized Hard Rock Pro. | | Bike Setup: | All stock. Trimmed 7/8" of each end of TruVativ team bars. | | Bottom Line: | I finally made the switch to full suspension. I read the reviews, which were great considering the price. I saw the ride on eBay, could resist bidding, and got a great deal. I rode @25 miles my first ride. There was no pedal-bob when climbing, except when I was tired and stomping on the pedals (not a good technique). I didn't even get bob when standing and pedaling with good technique. I also didn't notice any 'topping' when braking or sag when accelerating. Super plush, and handles good too. The SRAM shifters were a little different with two thumb levers, but that's just a learning curve. I was also worried about shredding the SRAM 9.0 rear derailler as other reviews have cautioned and me being about 230lbs. It held up strong, with few misshifts. This is after the derailler hanger got bent during shipping. I thought the SDG I-flex I-beam seat was fairly comfy too; although I was sore after 25 miles...
I haven't ridden it too far yet, I'm interested to see how it holds up. I'm also wondering how easy it'll be to get Mongoose and SRAM parts. We'll see.
Also, I've only ridden a few of my friends full suspension bikes (Spec. FSR XC), so my comparisions are limited.
Kudos to Mongoose for making a kick-but, non-dept. store bike!! Great bike for the money - just like the magazine reviews said! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
fmrhrntwso
a Weekend Warrior
from NC
Date Reviewed: July 30, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$1800.00 | | Purchased At: | Richardsbicycles.com | | Strengths: | PLUSH but stable, bob-free rear suspension. Quality parts standard. Did I say PLUSH! | | Weaknesses: | None that I can tell but I haven't had it that long. | | Similar Products Used: | 22.5 lb Trek 7000, custom build. | | Bike Setup: | Stock, except for Vanilla RLC (vice Talas R), and Raceface Evolve Post/WTB Rocket-V seat (vice SDG combo). Swapped Egg-beaters for the Shimano 520 pedals. | | Bottom Line: | I finally went over to the full suspension side of the house and I'm glad I did. Before I talk about the bike, I want to give Richards Bicycles huge kudos for their excellent customer service and unbeatable price. I wanted a plush ride over adjustability so they swapped out the stock Talas R for a Vanilla RLC. They also swapped the extremely uncomfortable SDG saddle/post combo for a Raceface Evolve post and WTB Rocket-V saddle. R-Bikes did this all over the phone and gave me an excellent deal on the bike. They ROCK and they know how to make a repeat customer.
Now to the bike...All I can say is WOW. The Teocali Super is a good 7.5 lbs heavier than my old hardtail but I'm faster on it. I find I can devote more of my energy spinning the cranks instead of keeping my weight off the seat. The freedrive suspension makes the bike climb like a good and I never find myself loosing traction. Downhills are much more pleasurable as well and a lot safer. This bike is an excellent value, all you have to do is take a look a the parts-spec's. The Avid Juicy-7's are unbelievable. I was better at braking on my first ride with these brakes than I ever was using my XTR v-brakes. The Vanilla soaks up bumps like I've never felt before, however, my old fork was a circa 2001 Mars-C. Compare to the Vanilla, I might as well have had a non-suspension fork. The Float RP3 rear shock is awesome as well. I haven't found a need to switch from the lowest propedal setting but it's nice to know it's there if I need it. The freedrive design awesome. I can ride on the streets in any ring and it doesn't bob at all. The Truvativ Stylo GXP cranks/B.B. are buttery smooth as well. Much more so than my old XTR. I'm sold on SRAM completely.
Hope this helps convince you to buy one of these bikes. You won't be sorry. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
| |
|
Photo Caption Contest
(sponsored by Maxxis)
|
Enter here
|
|
|
$ 1900.00
