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Submitted by
Catracker
a Cross Country Rider
from TX
Date Reviewed: December 14, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Palo Duro | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$2400.00 | | Strengths: | Light, flexy | | Weaknesses: | a little hard to get used to the frame | | Similar Products Used: | chromoly frames, aluminum frames all makes/models | | Bike Setup: | full XTR, USE XCR, Specialized BG saddle, Super Fly, King, Mavic, Kore | | Bottom Line: | I got this frame from Cambria and added custom components from PricePoint and SuperGo mostly. Once I first got on the bike I thought I had made something special. The first few rides I took were just cross country to see how far I could go on this baby. Needless to say no matter how fast I got the bike riding with every pedal stroke I could still feel acceleration! This baby is light and fast. One drawback was on the technical trails I had to get used to the headtube flexing on the turns. All other bikes I had ridden did not flex at all on the turns. But as I rode the bike more and more the flex in the headtube became an asset which now makes the turns easier to bite and really put as much pressure as the front tire can handle. I haven't taken this baby to a race yet but plan to. Looked into the Moots, Merlin, and Litespeed but was unimpressed with the price. Can't beat the hand workmanship of Moots but I'll race a Moots rider anyday and win on the hills. This is also a bike to take on a ride each day of the week. Oh and to all the naysayers about the suspension seat post I'm not sure if they've tried the USE. One great value for the bike and the welds are a work of art. No problem here with the headset and please actually check out the ride before you post a rating. 5 Chilis and Tobasco to boot! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
PHD
a Cross Country Rider
from Rochester, PA USA
Date Reviewed: March 21, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Brady's Run & Beaver Creek | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Quality frame with great performance.
Well-chosen and coordinated component selection that works.
Great value versus weight versus ride versus performance.
| | Weaknesses: | Front end tends to dance on climbs. | | Similar Products Used: | Diamondback carbon-fiber, steel frame with full XTR and Marzocchi BAM. | | Bike Setup: | Stock from Mongoose -- full XTR, SID XC, Crossmax's -- plus Ti Frogs. | | Bottom Line: | This bike is outstanding in value and performance. Close inspection reveals a well-crafted frame with exceptional fit-and-finish -- the welds almost look bonded. I have noticed little, if any, frame flex on climbs (although I am only 155 lbs). And does this bike like to climb. It is as if the back wheel is glued down -- outstanding in or out of the saddle. Although I considered going to a riser bar or bar ends, I have found that the top-tube length on the 16" frame and the stock, short, no-rise Titec bar and stem provide a range of perfect riding positions, at least for me, even without bar ends. The front end does tend to hunt and wander when climbing due to the light weight and front-end setup. However, as a result, the handling is exceptionally responsive. Although initially scary quick on downhills and tight turns, it inspired confidence after time in the saddle.
The XTR group has been outstanding with only a few random chain-suck incidents most likely due to poor-shifting habits -- otherwise shifting has been flawless, even when mud clogged. The FSA Orbit DL headset does appear to be mismatched with the level of the rest of the components. While there is nothing really wrong with it, the non-sealed bearings do require frequent maintenance. All that will be required is an upgrade to a sealed set when the DL wears out. The Crossmax's have been a delight with little discernable flex, amazing braking ability under wet and muddy conditions, and little fade under lengthy braking. The SID has worked well -- enough said.
I'd recommend this bike to anyone looking for a titanium ride with top-notch, well-coordinated components and frame. This bike is light, reliable, and XC raceable out of the box. While one should consider how Mongoose has changed some of the component specs on the '00's -- perhaps for the better, perhaps not -- I can only comment that the '99's work well. In any event, the frame alone appears to make it worth it. And as far as the Wal-Mart stigma -- who cares? My LBS is happy to take my money to service this bike which means they will get my business come upgrade time. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
a-dog foo
a Downhiller
from la
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | hunchback | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | light | | Weaknesses: | cheap, crappy, terrible product | | Similar Products Used: | cannondale 1999 f700 | | Bike Setup: | undergrove, front suspension | | Bottom Line: | sucks ass! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Old Dog
a Cross Country Rider
from San Diego
Date Reviewed: February 20, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | anywhere | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Top notch components...killer deal | | Weaknesses: | Cheesy seat post! | | Similar Products Used: | AMP | | Bike Setup: | XTR, Cross Max, SID XC, Lots of TI | | Bottom Line: | This bike is sweet...at 22 lbs off the shelf you won't find a better riding bike for under $3000...its fast and responsive. This thing climbs like hell even with my fat arse on it. The XTR groupe is silky smooth.
Perfect setup for XC. What a steel if you can still find one (at Supergo)
This bike takes it to the next level! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Reg
a Cross-Country Rider
from Atlanta, GA
Date Reviewed: January 6, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: |
Anywhere I can ride | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Great Frame
Great Components
Great Price!! (Supergo) | | Similar Products Used: |
I like the Litespeeds, but I had to pass them up in favor of the great deal on this bike! | | Bike Setup: |
Full XTR
SID XC | | Bottom Line: | This bike rides like a dream. It's light, it's nimble, it climbs like a mountain goat on speed. I am very pleased with the overall performance. I hate that Mongoose shot themselves in the foot with small bike shops, but I am enjoying the drastic price cut on this fine TI bike. Buy one before they are all gone! It is a fine TI bike. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter
a Cross-Country Rider
from NJ
Date Reviewed: December 27, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
nice finish | | Weaknesses: |
don't know yet | | Similar Products Used: |
nothing close | | Bike Setup: |
Race face tema SL, SX-Ti, XT/XTR | | Bottom Line: | After I got frame, I found that headset would not slide all the way in head tube. I tried some old Ritchey head set and same thing. Bike shop sent it back to Mongoose. After waiting for more than one month, I've started to regret that I bought it. I wanted to save few hundred bucks over Litespeed. I don't know what happens if I need it fixed later on. I was told that Mongoose service/customer support is dead last in industry. I will post more when I get my frame back. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Amar
a Weekend Warrior
from Amar Ohio
Date Reviewed: December 21, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Gomers Lover | | Duration Product Used: |
tested or demo'ed only | | Strengths: |
Expensive @ $150.00 @ Wal-Mart | | Weaknesses: |
It was missing a pedal so it was kind of hard to ride. | | Similar Products Used: |
Huffy FireTrail
Murray Hurricane | | Bike Setup: |
Stock--I just rode it around in the store. | | Bottom Line: | This bike was not very much fun, the saddle broke off and the pipe that sticks out of the frame to hold the seat there stuck up my A**. The people at Wal Mart were very understanding though, they even still had the frorlift out from there last customer to pick my severed 450lb A** off of the floor. 10 stars for the folks at walmart, 0 for mongoose Average = 5 | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kb
a Racer
from co
Date Reviewed: October 29, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
colorado trail near lost creek | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
no better components on the earth.
ride and feel of ti but not the cost of gold.
frame guaranteed forever!! | | Weaknesses: |
people only think moots can make a good ti bike | | Similar Products Used: |
last 3 were zaskar le's | | Bike Setup: |
full xtr sid oem red 80mm
ti bar, stem, saddle,
crossmax | | Bottom Line: | supergo has just a killer deal on this bike | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
KENNY
a Racer
from RIVERSIDE,CA
Date Reviewed: September 20, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
chino hills ,ca | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
QUALITY,LIGHT WEIGHT | | Weaknesses: |
BIKE DEALERS FROWN UPON MONGOOSE. | | Similar Products Used: |
95 RALEIGH MTI 1000 | | Bike Setup: |
ALL SRAM 9.0 SL,99 SID XC 80 MM, TITEC CONTROLS
SDG,RE-1 PEDALS ,ICON CRANKS,AVID ARCH BRAKES | | Bottom Line: | THIS BIKE RIDES ABSOLUTELY FLAWLESS IT IS SUPER LIGHT AND CLIMBS XLNT,MINIMAL FLEX, I USED TO RIDE A CAAD 4 F 3000 AND THE RIDE WAS HARSH,THIS RIDES XLNT,MONGOOSE YOU DID A KILLER JOB ON THIS BIKE NOW IF YOU WOULD JUST GET YOUR ASS OUT OF WAL MART AND HELP THE L.B.D !!! | | Overall Rating: |
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