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. I tested a size extra large and found it’s a pretty close fit, though even at full extension the saddle is a bit short for me. Given my profession as a mountain bike journalist and product reviewer, it’s not unusual for friends and neighbors to ask me for bike recommendations. To the uninitiated, a $400 mountain bike looks pretty similar to a $5,000 bike, so why wouldn’t you just get the cheaper one? Maybe even the Mongoose Switchback Expert, on sale at your local Dicks Sporting Goods department store.
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 competitive career on the track, a race bike is the right choice. A far-superior Mongoose line can be found on the official Mongoose website. These bicycles, which comprise specific models for BMX, mountain and urban biking, are offered with better-made frames and higher-level components. They are also much more expensive than the department-store Mongoose bicycles.
Get special offers, exclusive product news, and event info straight to your inbox. Buying a bike is all about finding the right mix of price, performance, and yes, style. The Mongoose Switchback Expert strikes a fine balance for riders looking for an affordable and simple entry into the world of riding bikes off road.
Pack extra water and a sandwich in case things go right and you’re havingtoo much damn fun to head home.Make epic happen. Felicia Stancil (Lake Villa, Ill.; Factory SSquared/Answer) mongoose dirt bike looked fast all day, finishing fourth in the main event. Carly Kane (Guilford, Ind.; Huffy Bicycles) had an incredible run making the elite main event and finishing in sixth.
If you just want a bike that you’re going to ride as-is for as long as possible, the Switchback Expert could be the right choice. The problem with a fork upgrade, aside from the expense, is that you’ll likely need to get a new front wheel too since the included fork features a 9mm, non-Boost, quick release axle. With the included flat pedals, the Mongoose Switchback Expert weighs 33.9lb (size XL) which isn’t too far off what a more expensive full suspension mountain bike might weigh.
Although BMX bikes can look very similar, under the surface components and materials used can vary greatly. The Mongoose Hooligan AL 29″ Bike is a lightweight cruiser. The frame and rims are made from a durable lightweight aluminum while utilizing a steel… Skip Hess started BMX Products, Inc. out of his home in Simi Valley, California in September 1974 with his first product being the famous Motomag One wheel.
Capable of high-end performance – a bike designed for riders with intermediate skills all the way up to pro – the Mongoose Title Elite Pro BMX race bike is a level above our popular Title series. Suggested rider height is 5’3″ – 5’8″.Professional-grade 6061 Tectonic T1 Biaxial Hydroformed and butted aluminum frame with 86mm BB shell, tapered headtube, 3D forged 10mm dropouts, and internal cable routing. Mongoose was born from BMX racing with products that push the limits of what a rider can do on the track.
The main difference between the two is the way the bike performs when going backwards. One of our most frequently asked questions in freestyle is, which rear hub do I want, a freecoaster or a cassette? Most experienced riders know their preference, but if you’re new to the sport it can be difficult to know which choice to make. If it’s BMX or multi-speed mountain bikes your kid wants, Mongoose kids bikes are the perfect introduction to cycling.
The Schwinn Axum is a bike that’s priced similarly to the Mongoose Switchback Expert (the brands share a parent company), though it weighs more and is only offered in a couple of sizes. However, the Axum comes with a dropper post and features wider and more stable 2.6″ tires. One of the selling points of the Mongoose Switchback Expert is the tapered head tube, which the Comp version does not offer.