We’re talking Taiwanese production here, but how much different, really would these scenarios be for a frame made in, let’s say, Mexico ( Kastan and others), or even better, the US (Bill Bastian / FMF) for example? Would you say that anyone with mongoose fat bike a major monkey on his back (let’s just say, for instance a raging Cocaine addiction) would be able to do his very best work over and over consistently? Suffice to say, quality goods can and are produced in ways and places that would surprise us.
These are great to get a feel for the sport but would not be able to keep up in a competitive environment. For first time riders new to the sport our entry level bikes, priced from £200-£400, are perfect, most of these are made from high tensile steel which means they are still relatively strong, but can be slightly heavier than higher end models. You might find you’ll want to upgrade to something lighter sooner than you’d think. If you are planning on using the bike in rain or bad weather, we do strongly advise choosing a model with fully sealed bearings all round. Freestyle bikes are designed for the skatepark, the streets or the trails.
Typically, they are constructed from lightweight materials like aluminium and carbon fibre to keep the weight down and the rider at the front of the pack. These bikes are strong enough for smooth landings on race and pump tracks but will not take the abuse that a freestyle bike would in concrete skateparks. If you’re looking to set fast lap times or begin your mongoose racing bike competitive career on the track, a race bike is the right choice. If you are already confident on a bike and have some experience in skateparks or performing tricks and jumps then we would recommend choosing a mid-range bike, priced from £400 to £700, with a full Chromoly frame, fork, and bars. This will be lighter and stronger than an entry level model.
There is also an extra gusset above the bottom bracket. The Mongoose Legion L40 Bike is ready for the beginner to intermediate level BMX rider. Features such as a sealed bearing mid bottom bracket and s… I used to own and race on one of his personal aluminum Newman frame Californians, which was also made in Taiwan.
A friend of mine had a solution pro back in like 94-95,, that bike rode awesome and my other buddy had the first run of the Tim Hall frames in like 95 I think,, that was a great trail bike, that thing rode like a Cadillac. I dunno, I have a 2012 Mongoose Solution 24 as my race bike. Other than a couple of small niggles (pedals and bars – the same things most people change! I also changed the gearing, but again personal preference) I reckon it’s a solid bike and worthy of the Mongoose name.
From a design point, it’s kind of apples and oranges, really. From a weight, geometry and design standpoint it is a better frame. Build quality completely depends on other factors that are beyond our, or in fact Mongoose’s control… How much is the shift supervisor getting for running the production line 15% faster than it should be running? Did the tube fit finisher get laid the night before? Typically you see it when a frame tube ruptures or a weld breaks, but sometimes it shows up in odd ways, like a frame having the wrong brackets, etc.