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Submitted by
Caleb
a Cross Country Rider
from WA
Date Reviewed: January 30, 2008 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$170.00 | | Purchased At: | craigs list | | Strengths: | I use the mega range gear often when climbing steep asents and travling in mud. V brakes. strong frame. light wieght. rapid fire shifters | | Weaknesses: | cheap rims. cheap suspenson.derauler has a hard time shifting into the 7th or 1st gear | | Bottom Line: | I use this bike for riding on 45 degree desents and on steep inclines. It works good for me bucuse i also do a little road riding on it. great deal for the price. if your on a tight budget I would advise this bike . but if you do more extreme rideing go with a higher end bike. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
eane
a Weekend Warrior
from Reedsville Pa, USA
Date Reviewed: October 12, 2004 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | wal-mart | | Strengths: | Great Frame, brakes and Shifters, good front and rear suspension, good bottom bracket and Headset. | | Weaknesses: | Wheels, Cassette, Seat sucks, Derailers are kinda flimsy, comes with a freewheel, need to upgrade to freehub | | Bike Setup: | Upgraded to lx Derailer, new cassette and wheels, new seat, new cables & brake pads. stock shifters and suspention, | | Bottom Line: | GREAT BIKE for the price, i recommend upgrading the drivetrain you will not regret it!, Great bike to upgrade. i have had the bike for 5 years, everything worked great untill i wrecked it a few times and smashed in the derailer recently, at that point i upgraded. I bet it would keep up with a bike costing 4 times as much! I plan on upgrading all the components on this bike and eventually will change it over to a 9 Spd. Well worth the money to upgrade! I trashed the Old Mega Range Cassette that was on it, Smashing in the Derailer, Bent the wheels, Tore the seat, busted off the Bar ends, Pretty much Trashed this bike, and had it fixed, and it runs better than when i bought it bran new from wal-mart (now that i have premium parts on it). It will Take a serious BEATING!!! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Arthur
a Cross Country Rider
from El Paso , Texas, USA
Date Reviewed: September 26, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Tom Mayes Park | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$329.00 | | Purchased At: | Wal Mart | | Strengths: | This is a great bike. I bought it at a Wal Mart with my first paycheck when I was 16. I have ridden it hard at least twice per week for the last 2 of the 5 years that Ive had it. I have never had to replace anything on it except the pedals and the lines. It takes a beating, Im 6'5 and weigh 195lbs. and it doesn't seem to want to quit on me any time soon. | | Weaknesses: | The shocks could have more travel, but for the price, I wouldn't dream of complaining. And its too bad that the bike didn't come in larger sizes. | | Similar Products Used: | trek dual suspension | | Bike Setup: | the bike is stock with a set of sharkbite pedals for traction on my big feet. | | Bottom Line: | This is the absolute best bang for the buck. They really pulled their stuff together over at mongoose for this one. Its too bad you still get the looks from the "hardcore" bikers with all their garb. But it really does hold its own, I ride alot of hard trails and it doesn't fall behind the rest of the higher priced bikes. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jessica Lore
a Weekend Warrior
from Lexington Park, Mayland
Date Reviewed: August 11, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$90.00 | | Purchased At: | Target | | Strengths: | very stable and trust worthy | | Weaknesses: | heavy...can't do wheely very well | | Similar Products Used: | Huffy,Trek | | Bike Setup: | pegs on both front and back...custom number plate(#69) on front. | | Bottom Line: | It is a great bike for freestyle and could use a pound or two to lose so it wouldn't be so hard to do a wheely.Very sturdy and rides very smoothe like a luxury bike or something.I just purchased this bike today at Target and I knew it was the one.It is a boy's bike and I am a girl but who cares it works right.I love to go over jumps w/ it and ride on long trails through the woods. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
gary
a
from orange county, ca
Date Reviewed: July 9, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | wal mart | | Strengths: | frame, fairly light | | Weaknesses: | wheels, drivetrain, seat | | Bike Setup: | stock | | Bottom Line: | great bike for your average trail beginner. the wheels are really weak, gets warped really easily. the seat does a number on you and is murder on looooong rides. decent rst 281 forks. the chain gets hung up every now and then when shifting to a higher gear. drivetrain got noisy after a while but something a good lube job probably will fix. great frame to work with. i'm probably going to toss out all the stuff on it and build around the frame. for the money, you really can't beat the weight and looks. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mikko
a Cross Country Rider
from Ottawa Canada
Date Reviewed: June 3, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | L'Orange Chutes | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Temos Cycles | | Strengths: | very good frame, super strong and great feel.
I like the stem and bars too. | | Weaknesses: | wheels - they are not very durable, but are OK for smooth rides. | | Similar Products Used: | GT, Cannondale, Trek | | Bike Setup: | I have all the stock parts on it expect the pedals, seat, and wheels. I also had to replace the rear gear-switch after I clipped some rocks, I got another Shimano. I like the Shimano stuff that came on the bike, but if you upgrade to the next level up you'll be even happier. | | Bottom Line: | It's a nice bike with a wonderful frame. It looks cool with the buffed aluminum and it's worth the money. They had bikes right next to it for $700-$1200 bucks that just didn't seem much better. I only wish they made it still in other frame sizes. It was only made in 18in which is about the average I think. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex
a Downhiller
from Syracuse NY
Date Reviewed: May 16, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Bowman Lake | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Cycle Shop | | Strengths: | great frame: very strong and geometrically brilliant
stem: strong and solid
neck: strong and solid
bars: nice bend, pretty strong
cranks: decent, could be better
shifters: quick and responsive, if adjusted correctly.
brakes: nice power even on soft setting. they aren't disc, but they are the best pads-to-rims brakes I've ever used.
RST-281 Forks: good, but read below. | | Weaknesses: | wheels: rims are too flexy for aluminum framed bike.
RST 281 forks: they are good at low speeds, but there is too much head-shake at about 30+ MPH in the harsh terrain. They are fine for cross-country but they are not stiff enough for hard downhill hits.
| | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale, Trek, Fuji, GT, Diamondback, Gary Fisher | | Bike Setup: | woods/trail most parts stock or upgraded. | | Bottom Line: | I paid $300 for this bike because the frame was good. I figured I can't go wrong for even just the frame at this proce. Mongoose has always made great bikes and this one is no exception. Too bad they were only limited edition. Anyway, even for an avid hard-core rider this bike can be great. If you spend $300 on the bike and another $300 on upgrade components, you still have a $600 bike that preforms like a $1200 hard-tail from GT, Gary Fisher, Trek or Cannondale. I'm telling you, sprocket heads that laugh at your "Wal-Mart Mongoose" have never ridden one. The frame is as snappy and responsive as anything out there. There were not many of these Mongooses made. They were designed to help get 'Goose back on their feet, the A50R and the D60 (Orange dual suspension bike) were both great bikes by Mongoose. Some real bike stores did carry them, but others were just pissed that "Wal-Mart" was selling a better bike than anything they had for under $800...You know how I know this?.....BECAUSE I OWN ONE OF THOSE DAMN SHOPS!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Raymond
a Racer
from New York City
Date Reviewed: April 18, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Broadway | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$329.00 | | Purchased At: | Wal-Mart in NJ | | Strengths: | Great frame.....Super cool looks ('cause they matter) and strong as a house. I'm a bike courier during the week in NYC mid-town and down-town, and I hit the hard-core trails on the weekend, so I beat the crap out of this thing. I figured it would last about a year or two but I can't kill it! Forks are still intact after a cabbie thumped me into a paper stand at about 30mph. Neck and handlebars won't die either. This neck and stem must be bullet proof. Frame geometry is spot on and is very comfortable. It gives you TOTAL CONTROL and the frame is snappy strong in hard turns. | | Weaknesses: | I killed the rims after about a year. The cranks also bent after I hit a big rock in some North Jersey trails. In fact I hammered both the cranks and the front sprockets in that crash. Seat was a joke. But I like the seat post shock, it works pretty damn good. | | Similar Products Used: | I have a Cannondale (nice looking but rides like crap), Martin (mega expensive and a broken frame), and a really good Trek I got from a police recovery auction. | | Bike Setup: | Almost stock except for the seat (gel) and rims I got off the Martin. Brakes/rapid shifters/levers are stock, and so are the brake hardwares. Except of course pads and springs. | | Bottom Line: | WAY WAY better than expected. Great all around bike for street and trail. Be prepared to replace wear parts if you really beat on them.
I've always likes the Mongoose name back in the BMX days they were cool. The limited edition Wal-Mart 'Gooses were supposed to help Mongoose get back into the public eye and boy did they ever. The only sad part is that you can't get the nice Mongoose's at any Wal-Mart anymore. I know a guy who works for wal-Mart and they are only allowed to sell a certain number of the bikes with the good stuff. Each store only gets a few of each and when they are gone they are gone.
I wouldn't recommend getting a Mongoose at Wal-Mart unless the store just opened. Otherwise you are getting a typical department store bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Shane
a Weekend Warrior
from Roxbury NJ
Date Reviewed: April 15, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | any | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$299.00 | | Purchased At: | Wal-Mart | | Strengths: | Amazing value. Great frame, very strong and stylish. Solid RST-281 forks that work well with a heavy rider. Brakes are very good and most components are better than expected. A great all around bike. Rapid fire shifters are great, and usually not found on bikes of this price range. | | Weaknesses: | First off, rip the bike apart when you get it, the Wal-Mart flunkies can't be trusted to grease/adjust things, although I didn't find much wrong with my bike. Rims are a bit shakey but they will hold up longer than expected if you keep the spokes tight. Stock pedals are hellish and need to be tossed right away. Seat is a hemeroid waiting to happen. | | Similar Products Used: | Trek, Cannondale | | Bike Setup: | Virtually stock: New gel TricoSports seat. Odyssey Triple Trap pedals. I'm an ex-BMXer (freestyle/racing) and I need big grippy pedals. I don't buy into the lock-your-feet-in type, I can't ride with them. | | Bottom Line: | This bike cannot be beat for the value. Nothing even close in this genra. Some people complained about the components, but I can't see why. Either I got a special edition or the other riders are practically pros. I actually tossed some quality components off my Trek when I got this bike because I was so impressed with the Shimano V-brakes, high quality neck and bars. The Shimano rapid fire shifters are very good and the bike shifts well if everything's adjusted right. The bottom line is: Compares favorably with many $500-$700 bikes off the rack. Great bike, you won't get more for your money. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Danial Warbritton
a Cross Country Rider
from Huntingdon, TN, USA
Date Reviewed: January 18, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | anywhere | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$400.00 | | Purchased At: | Wal-Mart | | Strengths: | -light and strong frame
-inexpensive
| | Weaknesses: | -components and wheels
-painful seat | | Similar Products Used: | Velo, Trail Master and Rhino | | Bike Setup: | Cycle design seat, Yeti grips, Deore Hollowtech Crank, XT shifter/brake levers, XT cassette( 8-speed),XT front derrailleur, STX-RC rear derailleur, Zac19 rims with Coda hubs. | | Bottom Line: | Great inexpensive fun bike, but the original components really suck. They are okay for a weekend warrior, but will break or hamper performance on long distances rides, 60 miles or more. The frame is awesome, it is strong and fairly light and I really like the design and look of the polished aluminum. Great frame to upgrade. The Mega-Gear cassete blows chunks except on hills, but even then the Mega derailleur jumps the chain sometimes. Novice to Moderate riders will like this inexpensive and stylish alternative to a more expensive hard tail. Yet with upgraded components which release its true potential this bike can still be very appealling to avid riders.
Bottom line, I'd rather speed a few hundred to upgrade
this frame than spend $1000+ to by a comparable Trek or Cannondale. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
BUM
a Cross Country Rider
from Laredo, TX, USA
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Morales Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | Walmart | | Strengths: | -good strong frame
-fairly light
-good rear shock, still alive after all the abuse its taken
-holds a heavy rider well
-great for upgrades | | Weaknesses: | the stock components could use an upgrade.
rear hub and cassette jammed and broke easily | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | judy xc, LX cranks and drivetrain, time atac pedals, mavic x517 rims with LX hubs, sram 7.0 cassette, specialized seat(must), Maxxxis mofo xc tires. | | Bottom Line: | this bike held up well for the first six months but after that it started to brake apart and i just began replacing all the parts.
the rear shock is pretty bad ass and has held up well. the frame is a great foundation for upgrades and it hasn't broken yet.
its a fair bike for weekend warriors and does well for cross country riders | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jack Hall
a Weekend Warrior
from Austin, Texas, U.S.
Date Reviewed: May 17, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Sams hills | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | from a friend | | Strengths: | Its a good all around aluminum bike.
very light and very inexpensive | | Weaknesses: | The only weakness has got to be the wheels.
But that is the only weakness, which does not stand alone. Almost all spoke wheels will bend or un-true, so is it really a weakness among the bike itself? or a weakness of the overall product of spoke wheels? | | Similar Products Used: | I could compare it to a GT | | Bike Setup: | Stock setup, with Gel seat, new grips. | | Bottom Line: | what can I say?
for the design, it is a well rounded bike that offers superior weekend warrior ability.
I sure as heck am not going to pay $1000 for a bike that does the same thing, except is a different color. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ed Cruz
a Weekend Warrior
from San Antonio, Tx, United States
Date Reviewed: April 24, 2001 | | Favorite Trail: | Devils Den | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | Pawnshop | | Strengths: | The aluminum frame is the coolest I have seen. It has no flashy color scheme, no uneeded material, and it is strong as hell.
It is a light bike which allows you to move and jump with ease. The price was a good strength. I saw other bikes for $400 more which were specialized solid suspensions, with rusted components as well as a GT with a few mods,but looked like it just wasn't worth it. Oh yeah and i got the thimb shifters instead of the grip style which suck to high heaven!!! | | Weaknesses: | Hmmm the weakness.
The only weakness I found was the rims, they seem weak, but havent let me down yet. The tires were a lil worn, but hey, who has lifetime tires? | | Similar Products Used: | I would have to say, this bike has been quite unique.
I used to have the heavy sister of hers which was the D70r I believe, the yellow belly (I pawned that one off to a friend, who pawned it off to another friend for $100) it was just too heavy!!! | | Bike Setup: | Bike setups all stock with a gel seat ( the stock seat does suck)couple of slime gel in the tubes | | Bottom Line: | The bottom line is....this bike rocks for the price.
Like all makes and models, they have their POS bikes and their elite bikes.
This bike is an elite for the price.
I have yet to find another like it.
All I do find is the competitors which are either way too heavy or way too expensive.
Here I found a jewel who has kept up with the specialized and other "hi tech bikes" | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ryan
a Cross Country Rider
from Sodus, NY, USA
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$300.00 | | Purchased At: | WalMart | | Strengths: | great alum. frame, good suspension, good headset. | | Weaknesses: | crank, i have a shimano lx ready for spring '01, drivetrain is poor quality, but works ok, pedals suck, handlebars with barends are only good for long long rides, otherwise useless | | Similar Products Used: | i use to own huffys, and royce union. | | Bike Setup: | stock, with toe clips, and a shimano LX crank. | | Bottom Line: | Awesome frame, takes a lickin', but if you have one, please upgrade components, and you will love it even more :) it is worth the 300 that my mom payed at walmart, and it may take another 300 to make it more off-road worthy, but its still better than dishing out 1000 for your first bike. Overall, i love it, and i will use it till she breaks down. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
francis sanjuan
a Weekend Warrior
from raliegh, nc
Date Reviewed: August 18, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | umstead park | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | wallmart | | Strengths: | cheap, look good, decently light frame, low low gear | | Weaknesses: | cheap rims, drive train, | | Similar Products Used: | trek,huffy | | Bike Setup: | stock for now | | Bottom Line: | I wanted a cool looking suspension replacement for my ancient trek. The trek is over 10 yrs old with only a suspension stem and I still fly down the hills at full speed and the mongoose is even better. Although the rims are cheep and so is that stamped sheet metal rear derailer. The A50-R is fairly light, but expected it to be more so with that cool looking aluminum frame. When I first brought it home I had to adjust lots of things and remove some reflectors and kickstand before even riding it. I guess you cant expect that much from a wallmart bike. Ill replace the wheels and derailers with the better shimanos off my trek. Ill keep that super low gear thought. 1st time experience with a shock fork and its real spongy. Ill probably replace the cheap RST with a rockshox eventually. Overall its a great economical platform for which to add better components too. Its perfect for the weekend warrior or financially chalenged student. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex Nghiem
a Weekend Warrior
from Austin, Texas, USA
Date Reviewed: May 29, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Barton Green Belt | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Good Frame and Appearance. Received unsolicited comments ranging from "Your bike is perfect!" to "Hopefully your bike payments don't exceed your car payments." | | Weaknesses: | poor assembly, gear components, kickstand, seat: The rear derailler was bent and out of alignment, the crank and front fork were loose, the kick stand broke, original seat hurts. | | Similar Products Used: | Also own Mongoose D70R dual suspension | | Bike Setup: | stock with a Mongoose anatomically correct seat | | Bottom Line: | No bike shop I visited in Austin is willing to sell or service a Mongoose bike. I am told there isn't anything wrong with the bike itself--the problem is the "kids" who assemble the Walmart bikes often mess up the assembly so badly that it is more trouble than its worth for a shop to tune up these bikes. The shifter and gear components are a lower grade than what is sold in a bike shop, don't hold their adjustments for long, and these bikes have kept coming back for adjustment. Moongoose recommends servicing the bike every 100 miles, but where do you go for service? | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ray
a Cross Country Rider
from Oregon
Date Reviewed: May 11, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | ALL | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Price,Frame,Weight,not a bad looking bike | | Weaknesses: | saddle,pedals well just about every thing but the frame,suspension, and brakes have to go. | | Similar Products Used: | Specialized,Trek,Cannondale | | Bike Setup: | Handle bars and a couple of wheels | | Bottom Line: | This is a very good inexpensive frame. I can't say it is a good bike because of the cheap componets. The frame is bullet proof so far and is a good starting point to build a pretty good bike. the way it is set up it is fine for around town ridding but if you plan on doing some off pavement of single track the tires have to go. Then as parts start to brake or bend (wheels) replace them. I will give Mongoose credit for making a bike in the price range were just about anybody can get started and enjoy the sport.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dale Smith
a Cross Country Rider
from Canadice, NY
Date Reviewed: April 10, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Harriet Hollister | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | The Frame is awsome, everyother cheap ass pieces must go. Everything is crap other than the frame. I bout this bike for the frame. I imedietly striped everything else off started over again | | Weaknesses: | Components, especially the derailers and rest of drive train | | Similar Products Used: | GT LS Treck 8000 | | Bike Setup: | Now i have lx and xtr derailers ad shimano hydrolic brakes mavic rims icon bar michilin tires maitou magnum r fork | | Bottom Line: | The bottom line is this frame geomitry is awsome the hard tail is so responsive it just needs a component upgrade. The bottom line is this bike is a great frame and a gtreat value if you are not hard core, but if you plan tgo go big upgrade the components. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jon Downey
a Cross Country Rider
from Norfolk, NE, US
Date Reviewed: April 4, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Yellowbanks/Wilderness Park | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Good frame, entry level compents with a good starter price. handles good. | | Weaknesses: | Pedals, wheels, tires | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale, Diamondback | | Bike Setup: | Kenda krisp tires, new wheels, new bottom bracket/crank/chain rings (20 tooth low gear), serrated pedals, Onza bar ends, 10° stem | | Bottom Line: | I like the bike, and will continue to upgrade it. The frame seems to be set up well and is a good foundation to start with.
It needs to be tuned before ridden and to have the reflectors and kickstand removed.
I also looked at other Kalloy suspension seat posts and the one that came with it seems to be mis-marked as far as the minimum insertion is concerned.
It is overall a good bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Captain Dave
a Cross Country Rider
from Parts unknown
Date Reviewed: April 3, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Chicopee | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Stiff Frame, cheap, not too heavy... the RST 281 forks are impossible to bash, I know, I've tried. | | Weaknesses: | Drive train is crap, wheels are really weak... | | Similar Products Used: | Cannondale, Santa Cruz, Trek | | Bike Setup: | Added grips, replaced rear wheel, chain, and other items as soon as they broke. | | Bottom Line: | Great bike for a beginner. I've bashed the sh*t out of this thing and it keeps coming back for more, after a few repairs. I've kept up with guys on Cannondale and lightspeed, and I havn't been able to do any serious damage to it so far. If you get into mountain biking you'll outgrow the goose in about 6 months or so, but it's a great cheap way to get there. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Z Dog
a Weekend Warrior
from Ruston, LA, USA
Date Reviewed: April 2, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Lincoln Park | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | rear suspension, nice touch with the rear climbing gear, alloy frame, nice weight,decent breaking. | | Weaknesses: | drive train, pedals, seat, damn reflectors,components,& derailer...front suspension could use a little work. | | Similar Products Used: | trek, conondale, giant | | Bike Setup: | stock so far | | Bottom Line: | it is true, you usually get what you pay for. Yet in this case, i was able to get a bike at a price unheard of fpr a full suspension. Worth shelling out a few bucks for parts...cause in the end i would still come out a head. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Justin S.
a Weekend Warrior
from Summertown,TN
Date Reviewed: March 29, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Any | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | It was Cheap, Really low geared and appears to be a good foundation to build on. | | Weaknesses: | Horrible Shimano Tourney Drivetrain, you jump from a 34T 1st gear to a 26T 2nd, there is no in between gear, and all around poor componets. | | Similar Products Used: | None (first suspended bike) | | Bike Setup: | All stock, RST 281 fork, Shimano drivetrain, SR cranks. | | Bottom Line: | It seems to be a good frame to build upon, and with a change of componets I think it would be a good bike. It works for me. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kevin burroughs
a Weekend Warrior
from atlanta, Ga
Date Reviewed: March 14, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | yellow river | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | I like the frame. It seems to do very well for a heavy guy like my self (230). | | Weaknesses: | The drive train is pure crap. I'm going to replace it with Deore XT. | | Bottom Line: | Not a bad first time bike for the money. I bought mine at wal-mart when I saw Bikes USA had the exact same bike for $500 befor they went ch.11. With the addition of clipless pedals, ball saver seat, riser bar, and other compents makes the bike an ok ride.
I recomend this bike for the begginer who is unsure if this going to becomem your passion. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joe
a Weekend Warrior
from Washington
Date Reviewed: March 12, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | price,great gearing,aluminum frame,good looks | | Weaknesses: | lousy saddle,mediocre albeit shimano,components | | Similar Products Used: | cannondale,trek | | Bike Setup: | stock except for a gel saddle | | Bottom Line: | I would never expect good setup,or support from wal-mart (who in their right mind would??)But after doing the math-$200(bike)+$40 (for a real tuneup)+$40(real saddle) I paid $280 for a bike that I couldn`t afford to look at in a "real shop" it rides and looks great.An outstanding value for entry level or financially challenged riders. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Paul
a Weekend Warrior
from ohio
Date Reviewed: March 11, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | any trail i find | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | aluminum frame,shimano gears,shimano v-breaks,low gear, great uphill,not bad down | | Weaknesses: | not as light as you would think,ummmmmmm not much elese but
most people complane about easly fixed problems like shifting note to them:learn how to adjust and rebuild yourself its not hard the bike must be customized to you no one rides the same!! | | Similar Products Used: | giant,trek and other bikes i also own | | Bike Setup: | all stock except, kool stop break pads, self sealing tubes and tube guards | | Bottom Line: | GREAT value for 300$ I love it | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chance Waite
a Weekend Warrior
from Mesa,AZ USA
Date Reviewed: March 5, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Arizona peralta trailhead | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Really low gear ratio, and Nice frame. | | Weaknesses: | Heres a list of things that suck: all components.
Ths derailer bites and is hard to really get a good adjustment out of. | | Similar Products Used: | Schwinn,cannondale | | Bike Setup: | Stock. I just pulled it off the walmart shelf and started to ride. | | Bottom Line: | This site contains the only information I could find about this cheap A50 series of Mongoose bikes. The seat feels like your riding on a pole. Really sore on the butt, but it looks so neato!!!:) Overall, I would not reccommmend this bike to anything but a week-end warrior.( I am surprised that Mongoose sells any bike at walmart, they must have been hard up for contracts this year. I can tell that the only reason walmart is able to carry a bike like this is because of the cheap parts that brought it's price down to a measly $250.00
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bryan Piersol
a Weekend Warrior
from Cullowhee, NC, USA
Date Reviewed: February 26, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | DuPont State Forest | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Relatively light-weight, good looks, real low first gear, and cost. | | Weaknesses: | Less than top-quality deraileurs, pedals, and that Walmart set up!!! Before I could ride it, I had to have it professionally tuned up. Non adjustable front fork. | | Bike Setup: | Rock Shox Judy XC, Hayes disc brake on the front (and soon on the back), Shimano clipless pedals. | | Bottom Line: | This is a great bike for the weekend warrior. With a few inexpensive upgrades, this bike can take you wherever you want to go. This is a bike that has great potential. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
charles carlisle
a Cross-Country Rider
from dallas texas
Date Reviewed: November 29, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
lake grapevine north shore | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
all aluminum frame,nicely polished.
despite being cheap, the gear train has performed nicelyinxpensive place to start, great potentional if you dig hard-tails. | | Weaknesses: |
cheap pedals, componets | | Bike Setup: |
added manitou sx-r forks
shimano XR 175mm crank arms, sealed bearing BB, off-road chain rings | | Bottom Line: | iam a heavyer rider (215 lbs), and have really
bashed this frame, and it seems to be really holding up well !!, the change to the sealed bearings, crank arms , and chain rings have REALLY livened up this bike. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
cha niner
a Weekend Warrior
from syracuse, ny
Date Reviewed: November 18, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
south quarry | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
good price, great overall performance, lightweight, shitty customer service | | Weaknesses: |
cheap parts- pedals, geard, shifers, handles and bar ends | | Similar Products Used: |
giant, trek, dimondback | | Bike Setup: |
front end suspension, and extra gel seat with internal shock... | | Bottom Line: | cool balls for what i use it for, weekend fun, but needs a step up in the cheap parts and customer service...my bike didnt even come with a manuel or anything-just the bike. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris Theyerl
a Weekend Warrior
from Santee, CA
Date Reviewed: October 20, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Santee trails | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Great looks, light weight, good components. | | Weaknesses: |
Cheesy peddles, mediocre shifting. | | Similar Products Used: |
Cannondale, Specialized | | Bike Setup: |
Stock | | Bottom Line: | What a great deal on a hot bike. This is my second bike, my former being a Cannondale and it beats the heck out of it. Plan to upgrade peddles and drivetrain. A steller performer. Great manuverability. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris
a Weekend Warrior
from R.
Date Reviewed: July 28, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Lynn Woods | | Duration Product Used: |
3 months | | Strengths: |
Inexpensive, light, maneuverable | | Weaknesses: |
Cheap components, awful customer service | | Similar Products Used: |
Trek, Cannondale | | Bike Setup: |
Upgraded drivetrain to XTR, Caramba cranks. Added Plasma shifters and XTR/Sun wheelset. | | Bottom Line: | This is an inexpensive, multi-functional mtb that should suit the weekend warrior just fine. However, you should expect absolutely awful customer service from Brunswick Bicycles (owners of Mongoose) should you need to deal with them. The quality of the bike is a somewhat seperate issue but I think customer service is an important aspect of the overall experience you have with a product. I had a simple question about a BB and when I called the Mongoose tech. support number I was put on hold several times, never to hear from them again. I faxed them and still no response. To call this poor customer service would be an understatement.For the price I can't really complain about the bike itself, but there are too many companies that work hard at good customer service for Brunswick Bikes to deserve the business. I'm glad I didn't spend more on a Mongoose just to have their customer service give me a slap in the face. If you choose Mongoose expect to be very much on your own should you have warranty issues. Four for the bike and zip for the customer service equals two chilies. | | Overall Rating: |
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