[smokehouse4444]

This would be my infamous Mongoose Blackcomb known as "The Tank". I bought this bike in 2005 and it was my first mountain bike. I LIVED basketball for years, but as I got into my 40's and couldn't compete well with the 20 year olds anymore, I was missing that "passion" sport for awhile. On a whim, I decided to try mountain biking. I don't even recall why, I just remember I was more and more interested in it, and I had seen some at WalMart. I went down and bought a Mongoose 250 or some crap like that. I knew nothing, but it took me about 1 ride to know that it was a horrible bike. I returned it and then upgraded to the Blackcomb...it was $350 and I thought I was throwing down some serious cash. There was a serious of trails in the met park behind my house. It gassed me just riding a few miles, but I ended up coming up with a good flow of trails that was about 5 1/2 miles. I couldn't believe how this bike would just romp over anything in it's path. I couldn't wait to get home everyday to try to beat my time. I couldn't believe someone would spend thousands of dollars for a "proper" mountain bike. I did, however, have a bike shop guy set it up the best he could, so it was better than your average Wallybike.

My dad and I went to Colorado on a trip and I talked him into renting some mountain bikes. He enjoyed it so much that he was interested in buying one. We talked about it and decided on a mid-level Full Suspension bike for each of us. Now I was starting to see why these bikes were so much better. That bike was night and day from the Blackcomb. It was SO much better in every way. But I can say this. That old Mongoose was built like a brick ****-house. While my other bikes were breaking, the 'goose was always there as a backup. I was talking with one of my friends at the local bike shop, complaining that my expensive bikes were breaking, but my old beater WalMart bike never had a problem. He said that was because it was made of iron, and couldn't be broken. Still like that line! I kept the old bike around and rode it on occasion to make things harder for myself, and to appreciate what I had. I have beaten the living stink out of this bike, and somehow it just keeps on going.

Everyone would call it "The Tank", so I went with it. I took the original stickers off, and some Tank stickers made that I applied. I put the heaviest and slowest Kenda Stick-E Nevegals on it to make it heavier and harder to pedal. I bought a dirt lid to wear while I rode that behemoth just for effect. When I barrel by on a rocky trail, it sounds like a garbage truck just rolled by. The brakes and suspension are atrocious. I ride it now and it is like a baseball player warming up with a fungo bat. He swings that heavy ass thing around for awhile, then when he picks up that regular bat it feels like bamboo.

It is for fun, agony, and nostalgia. The bottom line on this bike, however, is that I would not recommend it to a first timer trying to get into the sport. I would probably recommend a hardtail from one of the bigger company's that you can get for a very decent price...or search over Craigslist and you can find a lot of good, older bikes for a very decent price that would work totally fine for someone new to the sport.

 

[wmac]

Neat!

 

[WisdomWarlord]

Yup. I'm resurrecting this "dead horse" thread. If you can read thru all the elitist vs humble pissing contests, there's actually some good information in here about when to and not to upgrade components and frames. So, thank you for that.
I am picking up a Blackcomb for $50. I simply love the look of the bike, and for my skill set and future goals on a mountain bike, the Blackcomb will always be up to my riding.
My plan is to upgrade it as I find components that are high end, low cost, and great condition.
The plans are for BB7s, a good front and rear shock with as much travel as the frame can allow, and good dampening.
Deore XT or XTR and 8 or 9 Speed.

Mine and my girls favorite colors are royal purple and Hunter green, so the frame will get royal purple powder coat and Hunter green accents. It'll get fenders cuz I don't like spraying mud and water any more than needed.

When I'm done, I'll have a very distinctive bike that will forever be more capable than I am. I don't expect to invest more than $500 into it, including paint, powder coat, and decals.
As long as I maintain it properly, there won't be a need to ever replace it.

In my book, that formula adds up to a win.
As for you elitists who want to tell me and my kind what a waste this project is, keep running your mouth and screwing up the perception of the sport for newcomers. Those of us with a brain and a bit of understanding of a person's needs, desires, and pocket book, will keep doing our best to counteract the damage you do.

Now its time to see if the guy I spoke to last week still has the XT shifters and derailleurs for $60! Ah, shopping!

 

[bad mechanic]

Oh good grief.

When I'm done, I'll have a very distinctive bike that will forever be more capable than I am. I don't expect to invest more than $500 into it, including paint, powder coat, and decals. As long as I maintain it properly, there won't be a need to ever replace it.

If that floats your boat, enjoy. Just be aware you'll end up with less bike for your money upgrading it, as opposed to taking that money and buying higher end to begin with.

As for you elitists who want to tell me and my kind what a waste this project is, keep running your mouth and screwing up the perception of the sport for newcomers. Those of us with a brain and a bit of understanding of a person's needs, desires, and pocket book, will keep doing our best to counteract the damage you do.

Perhaps you should read this thread again. This isn't about elitist versus new people, or attitudes, or humility. This thread discusses the basic fact that while a department store bike is worth riding and maintaining, that you get significantly less value for your money upgrading one as opposed to just buying a higher end bike. The numbers don't lie on that one.

So instead of being condescending to us, maybe understand that a lot of us got into riding because of a department store bike, tried upgrading them, and learned some lessons the more expensive way.

 

[Glide the Clyde]

Lurker of the Decade Award goes to: WisdomWarlord!

Joined two years ago and saved up all his passion and pennies so he could post up this flame bait as his first. I'm surprised you remembered your user name and password.

And the train wreck rolls on...

 

[bikekid]

Does the Mongoose Blackcomb have trigger shifters? Also, what type of fork does it
have?

Thanks!

 

[wmac]

This is going to be amazing!

 

[someonec]

I am a noob. I have one of the later red Blackcombs. I purchased it complete, new, from wallyworld for 90 bucks a long time ago because it had light rust on the cheaper raw metal bits. Some steal wool took care of that.

I'm much more aggressive than your casual rider. I raced dirt bikes in a jr class a long time ago and I'm pretty hard on my equipment. I'm also do all of my own mechanic work because I enjoy learning and working on things (manual and youtube are great tools as well).

I do wish I could bring myself to spend 1000 or more on a bicycle I may ride on a trail once a month (more frequent of late seems how I now have many miles of trails to ride)... but the blackcomb has done fine. I've gone through everything, cleaned and greased and checked all the bolts when I first got it.

I have replaced a rim I tried to true myself (now I know how to do better, lmbo) and I'm replacing a derailleur I smashed.

My only advice, as with any other sport, make sure everything is in working condition, and wear your protective gear. Don't let people look down on you. They're not the sort of ppl you want to be hanging out with in the first place. And don't look down on others. We ride what we can, when we can.

 

[Cbrbear]

Reviving the thread.

About 6 months ago I took my 10 year old blackcomb for some trail riding. The trail had a pretty intense drop and with a stock bike things didnt end too well. I am 5'10" at the time 248lbs. After that near death experience I decided it was time to either rebuild or buy new. After reading several forums and articles of people bashing blackcomb owners for putting money into the bike I decided I would join the group of "fools".

First things first the bike has horrible geometry and crap componentry/suspension, basically all thats good is the frame so I stripped everything down had the frame powdercoated then built it back up.

I sourced a nice fox factory 6.5x1.5 rear 3 position shock with a remote and managed to get my hands on some nice fox 32 forks with 140mm travel which was also remote capable.

I installed a ks dropper post, cane creek head bearing, shimano xt 2x11 gear set with 11-42 rear gears and a 26x38 front gear, shimano saint pedals, mrp bash guard and chain guide, shimano ice tech 180mm front and 160mm rear disc's as well as shimano xt hydraulic brakes. I used race face carbon bars and race face stem and installed a wtb rocket race saddle. I had velocity build me some custom blunt 35 wheels so i could run the 2x11 set up with tubeless kenda nevegal pro tires.

The bike stock I believe was 42lbs. I weighed mine in at 35.6lbs. I installed a bontrager frame pump where the water bottle cage goes and I carry a camelbak.

First ride I still am fat and out of shape but over the past 4-5 months I have been losing weight and taking the bike on more serious trails. Currently I am 210lbs and have survived without crashing trips to Noble Canyon, Rockhouse Mountain, Otay Lakes trail, Snake trail with pablo shoot old mexico and the rest of the H street to bonita trails. The bike eats up everything and while my friends get flats and break their 5k carbon bikes my mongoose has yet to suffer a casualty.

Yes its heavy, yes geometry sucks compared to the latest and greatest but ive not had an issue tackeling everything my friends have traversed on their bikes. So stock yes the bike is horrible but you can source complete fox suspension for about 600 bucks and a good tune and it will make a great trail/all mountain bike or spend a little more and make it more extreme where its capabilities will probably never be exceeded by mine!

 

[alex.gomezmolina]

Has anyone tried or instales 27.5 wheels on the blackcomb?

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[Cbrbear]

27.5

Has anyone tried or instales 27.5 wheels on the blackcomb?

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No. I ran a velocity blunt 35 rear rim and barely had room, any larger diameter wheel would rub. In the front, if you put a fork on it that is meant for a 27.5 you can easily put it but due to the bikes upright geometry you may suffer clearance issues when compressing the suspension.