I knew that I couldn’t expect much for $212 and free shipping. I didn’t bother to read reviews and wasn’t ready to spend a lot more, not knowing if I would even like riding one. The Mongoose Argus Trail is most certainly a unique bike that meets the needs of an extreme niche. The component build is competitive, keeps cost down, and functions as needed. The wheels are built from Xposure rims and hubs. Those rims are paired with 24×4 Chao Yang tires.
See the glee he has as he bounces over embankments and boings over rocks. The Mongoose Malus 26-inch fat tire bike has arrived to save you from the doldrums and put a smile on the faces of all those you pass by. Built with 4-inch tires (earning the name fat) on a supersized beach cruiser frame and there is plenty of clearance to make it rideable on virtually any terrain.
Luckily, we have tow ropes to mitigate the complaints. My son has grown to like down hill riding better than cross country. When we climb he lets the complaining come flying out. Mongoose utilizes house branded parts to cover contact points like the grips, pedals and seat.
The bike has a clean, modern look thanks to internal cable routing and a short 40mm stem with medium-wide, 720mm bars. The geometry is fairly modern for a department store bike, with a 66.5° head tube angle and a 75° seat tube angle. We started Rascal Rides when Parker was born and we didn’t want to give up our passion for biking. Over the years, we’ve tested hundreds of kids bikes, helmets, bike trailers, and more.
The Mongoose Switchback Expert is capable of popping off small roots and rocks in the trail, and it has proven to be durable on the landings. I worried about flat tires so I added a bit more pressure than I usually run on my other bikes—about 20-25psi—and I recommend buyers do the same. The drivetrain is generally pretty quiet when pedaling on smooth surfaces, though things start to clang the faster (and rougher!) you ride. One of the selling points of the Mongoose Switchback Expert is the tapered head tube, which the Comp version does not offer. The idea is that a buyer could upgrade the fork down the road to something better, but honestly it’s not going to be worth the expense. The SR Suntour XCE coil fork is truly entry level, and while it absorbs bumps in the trail it’s heavy and harsh compared to a more expensive fork with an air spring.
Gradual climbing up our neighborhood trails was OK for a while. Eventually he would tire out and need the tow rope. As you can imagine, my 70-pound child really struggles pushing 50% of his body weight uphill with the Argus. The Trax tow rope was an absolute must with this bike.
Roll over all sorts of difficult terrain with ease on the mongoose racing bike Argus Sport fat tire bike by Mongoose. And the Argus’ Tectonic T2 aluminum frame makes it lighter and stiffer than ever. Fat bikes are easier to find and more affordable than ever before. The fat bike market has exploded in recent years.
At the current $549 price, I’d say it’s priced about right. Experienced riders may want to upgrade by adding a dropper post to the Mongoose Switchback Expert. The frame features internal routing so you could install a dropper post yourself for about $199 or so.
It’s rare to see a bike in this price range offered in four sizes—small through extra large—rather than just one or two sizes. Like more expensive bikes, the Mongoose Switchback Expert specs smaller 27.5″ diameter wheels on size small bikes and 29er wheels on larger sizes. To find the right size, check that you can stand over the bike with at least an inch or more between your crotch and the top tube. Then, check that the seat can be set about even with your hip while standing beside the bike.
In my experience, this is pretty common for bikes in this price range. Kristen is a USA Cycling certified coach and loves to share her passion for biking with other families. Blair is a bike geek, mechanic, and mountain bike junkie. The components all functioned well with minimal adjustments needed and served their individual duties. The traits of handling and stability will most certainly transition to snow riding as well. They slowed my son’s riding down when needed but functioned as any mechanical brake set would.