[84w40]

Hi my name is John and thank you for having me on your forum.
A little about myself, in my mid 50's always loved riding a bike even at a young age. Miss my Evel knievel and bmx bike good memories and lots of fun. As i got older mid to late twenty I had purchased a Trex mtb nothing exspencive just to have fun with and did have it until 15 years ago and gave it to a relative. I would go bike riding with my son when he was younger, but as he got older he would go with his friends.
What sparked my interest of riding a mtb again is what my next door neighbor gave me. Not sure if I should start a thread with pictures in another section of the forum or keep going here.
I did forget to mention I still have my Fox mini bike and my 1984 moped.

 

[KobayashiMaru]

Every bike that is new to you is an adventure. Enjoy it for what it can bring you, and if you run out of enjoyment from it, let the next guy have it. Super cool your neighbor gifted you a bike that got you excited about riding again.

 

[84w40]

It was very nice of my neighbor giving me her husband's bike. What she told me he had purchased it new back in 2004 and doesn't remember what store he purchased it from. She said he was on it less than an hour then put in the garage and sat in the corner since not moved until she gave it to me. He was trying to loose weight but the drive wasn't there.

The mtb is a mongoose and it looks brand new, he definitely did not ride this bike.
Its been a long time since i purchased a mtb many moons ago and they have changed from quality and how deep your pockets are.
Looking for information on this bike and is it worth keeping and can it be upgraded. Its a good looking bike. I could not find any info on the model number on line or a picture of the same bike.

 

[Reaperactual]

Hi John, welcome back. That bike looks brand new as you say. If it suits your needs then it's perfect as it is and no need to upgrade for the sake of it.

Maybe if something goes wrong or needs replacing from general wear and tear in future then think about changing/upgrading parts.

I had a Mongoose BMX when I was young, had endless fun on it and that was the brand to have in those days.

To be honest it is dated as things have obviously moved on with mtb but that doesn't mean it's not acceptable to ride, it's about you and not about comparing yourself or your bike to others.

Imo just enjoy it and don't worry about anything until it's necessary or maybe until the point your skills and demands grow and it's not capable of keeping up with you down the line.

If your mtb journey is the same as mine and most people's then you'll probably be wanting to treat yourself to a new modern bike at some point anyhow. 😉👍

 

[84w40]

Hi John, welcome back. That bike looks brand new as you say. If it suits your needs then it's perfect as it is and no need to upgrade for the sake of it.

Maybe if something goes wrong or needs replacing from general wear and tear in future then think about changing/upgrading parts.

I had a Mongoose BMX when I was young, had endless fun on it and that was the brand to have in those days.

To be honest it is dated as things have obviously moved on with mtb but that doesn't mean it's not acceptable to ride, it's about you and not about comparing yourself or your bike to others.

Imo just enjoy it and don't worry about anything until it's necessary or maybe until the point your skills and demands grow and it's not capable of keeping up with you down the line.

If your mtb journey is the same as mine and most people's then you'll probably be wanting to treat yourself to a new modern bike at some point anyhow. 😉👍

I agree 100% that the bike is out dated and better bikes out there.
So I had taken it for a ride today on road and into the woods small trail. I would have to say it survived a small punishment, didn't want to push it to hard dont trust original tires but nothing broke or fell apart. The bike felt very solid more so than my Trex I had. Can this bike handle a serious trail before the front forks explode not sure we will see i like pushing anything with wheels to its limits, one of my hobbies is drag racing.
If this bike falls apart thats when i will pull the trigger on a better mtb. It was fun pulling the front wheel of the ground Pop a Wheelie in front of my son his jaw dropped, priceless.

 

[Reaperactual]

Lol, 😆 okay. Just got more of a gauge on your level of riding and judging by your wanting to 'push anything on wheels to the limit,' drag racing and surprising your Son poppin' wheelies I reckon you'll need a new more capable bike soon if not straight away.

I doubt your current forks will explode but they'll suffer mechanically somehow with being pushed passed their designed casual riding or simple gravel track purpose. I'm also pretty sure those forks aren't performing as well as modern forks would and you've probably noticed that already. 🤔

So that's just the forks, you haven't even got into the endless comparisons with those rim brakes compared to hydraulic disc brakes, tyres, modern geometry, drivetrains, etc, etc, etc! 🤯

 

[Taroroot]

That bike should be okay for bike path, rails to trails kind of stuff, light gravel and dirt paths. If you start riding it heavily on rougher stuff, its not going to hold up. The suspension is not designed for real trail riding. Youll find pivots wearing out, possibly bend linkages, and the rear triangle “4 link” is not a true 4 link, it relys on flex in the tubing instead of having a actual pivot bearing.

 

[84w40]

Lol, 😆 okay. Just got more of a gauge on your level of riding and judging by your wanting to 'push anything on wheels to the limit,' drag racing and surprising your Son poppin' wheelies I reckon you'll need a new more capable bike soon if not straight away.

I doubt your current forks will explode but they'll suffer mechanically somehow with being pushed passed their designed casual riding or simple gravel track purpose. I'm also pretty sure those forks aren't performing as well as modern forks would and you've probably noticed that already. 🤔

So that's just the forks, you haven't even got into the endless comparisons with those rim brakes compared to hydraulic disc brakes, tyres, modern geometry, drivetrains, etc, etc, etc! 🤯

Just for the record, I'm not crazy just like going fast if its peddle power or behind an engine. I know my limits and as you get older you tend to slow down well just a bit for me.
You wont see me doing 60 mph down a hilly trail well maybe just one time but not with this bike i have just for the rush.

 

[84w40]

That bike should be okay for bike path, rails to trails kind of stuff, light gravel and dirt paths. If you start riding it heavily on rougher stuff, its not going to hold up. The suspension is not designed for real trail riding. Youll find pivots wearing out, possibly bend linkages, and the rear triangle “4 link” is not a true 4 link, it relys on flex in the tubing instead of having a actual pivot bearing.

Definitely agree with you, its made for light trail riding but I can see myself pushing it.
The 4 link rear, I did chuckle when i saw the sticker.

 

[rockcrusher]

Just for the record, I'm not crazy just like going fast if its peddle power or behind an engine. I know my limits and as you get older you tend to slow down well just a bit for me.
You wont see me doing 60 mph down a hilly trail well maybe just one time but not with this bike i have just for the rush.

This is what we generally refer to as a bike shaped object. It probably came from a big box store, target or walmart or something. it is outfitted with parts that are passable on roads and paths but off road it will suffer. The wheels tend to be poorly built so they lose true quickly, the shifting will be ok for a bit but the derailleurs tend to be built from soft steel instead of stiff aluminum so they bend easily and then it will be out of adjustment. The suspension is usually just a spring with little to no dampening so it is akin to riding a spring with no dampening which feels fine on the road but off road will tend to decrease your control of the bike.

After a short period of time the handlebars may rotate in the stem and no amount of torque you put on the bolts will keep it stiff. The bearings in the pedals will wear out and make then stiff and tough to keep your feet one. The tires, especially if they are old will be degraded by time and will start to fall apart. Finally it looks like either the fork springs have collapsed or there is very little travel to begin with. Either way that fork is terrifying with its stamped steel crown and compressed bellows of the legs.

I wouldn't spend a cent on upgrading, if you just want a jaunt around the neighborhood this will be fine, if you are intending to take if off road at all, then I would get a new bike asap, this thing could easily injure you (usually these bikes come with a sticker on them saying "Not for off road use" right from the store).

Edit: I would also share that the price for entry for good bike is pretty low now. A basic hardtail from a major brand or retailer, be it Trek, Specialized, Giant, etc or a from REI from their house brand is a great starting point. Most have hydraulic disc brakes, competent and wide range gearing, good front suspensions, and nice component picks for the other bits and are easily upgradable.

 

[84w40]

This is what we generally refer to as a bike shaped object. It probably came from a big box store, target or walmart or something. it is outfitted with parts that are passable on roads and paths but off road it will suffer. The wheels tend to be poorly built so they lose true quickly, the shifting will be ok for a bit but the derailleurs tend to be built from soft steel instead of stiff aluminum so they bend easily and then it will be out of adjustment. The suspension is usually just a spring with little to no dampening so it is akin to riding a spring with no dampening which feels fine on the road but off road will tend to decrease your control of the bike.

After a short period of time the handlebars may rotate in the stem and no amount of torque you put on the bolts will keep it stiff. The bearings in the pedals will wear out and make then stiff and tough to keep your feet one. The tires, especially if they are old will be degraded by time and will start to fall apart. Finally it looks like either the fork springs have collapsed or there is very little travel to begin with. Either way that fork is terrifying with its stamped steel crown and compressed bellows of the legs.

I wouldn't spend a cent on upgrading, if you just want a jaunt around the neighborhood this will be fine, if you are intending to take if off road at all, then I would get a new bike asap, this thing could easily injure you (usually these bikes come with a sticker on them saying "Not for off road use" right from the store).

Edit: I would also share that the price for entry for good bike is pretty low now. A basic hardtail from a major brand or retailer, be it Trek, Specialized, Giant, etc or a from REI from their house brand is a great starting point. Most have hydraulic disc brakes, competent and wide range gearing, good front suspensions, and nice component picks for the other bits and are easily upgradable.

Thats great information you had given me thats exactly what I was looking for and what this bike is capable of. I figured it was box store bike but wasn't sure and the person that gave it to me did not know where the husband purchased it. The only stickers or decal that i found on it was date of manufacturer , model number and one that said wear your helmet.
There was no sticker that said not for off road. Travel in the front is short.
What would you recommend for a full suspension mtb for a semi rough trail and a little air time and not jumping from boulder to boulder.

 

[rockcrusher]

Thats great information you had given me thats exactly what I was looking for and what this bike is capable of. I figured it was box store bike but wasn't sure and the person that gave it to me did not know where the husband purchased it. The only stickers or decal that i found on it was date of manufacturer , model number and one that said wear your helmet.
There was no sticker that said not for off road. Travel in the front is short.
What would you recommend for a full suspension mtb for a semi rough trail and a little air time and not jumping from boulder to boulder.

Oh man the options are boundless. I recommend checking out the What Bike to Buy Forum and the 50+ forum for some good info. Know that bikes are hard to come by right now, so your choices might be limited to what you can actually find. Good luck with the search and the riding from a fellow 50+ mountain biker!

 

[84w40]

Oh man the options are boundless. I recommend checking out the What Bike to Buy Forum and the 50+ forum for some good info. Know that bikes are hard to come by right now, so your choices might be limited to what you can actually find. Good luck with the search and the riding from a fellow 50+ mountain biker!

Will do and thank you