In September of 1974, Skip Hess started BMX Products, Inc. out of his home in Simi Valley, California. His first bicycle was the innovative Motomag One Wheel, a cast aluminium mag wheel. Bell Sports bought American Group in 1995 and sold Mongoose to Brunswick Outdoor Recreation Group in 1997. There are many things to consider when buying a bike.
Bikes are expensive, you see, and there are just too many options. 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. The Schwinn Axum is a bike that’s priced similarly to the mongoose bicycle 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.
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. Not that I had many bikes to compare my ’96 to,(only my old huffy pro thunder), but it is so light and quick and really responds quickly to every turn when I ride it. I guess no one knows when they started making them in Taiwan and if mid school bikes are made stronger than old school bikes. I just gathered that they were from the hundreds of posts I have read here.
Some of the world’s finest riders ride Mongoose BMX Freestyle and BMX Race bikes. In the past, Mongoose bicycles were at the top of the class. If we want a realistic picture of quality and price, we need to look at the budget and high-end bikes. Their products are distributed worldwide, mainly through independent distributors and retailers. BMX Products Inc’s product range includes BMX Bikes, Dirt Jump Bikes, BMX Racing Equipment, and other Bicycle Accessories such as clothing and helmets. If you want to google for a term, look for clydesdale / athena riders; bikeforums.net and other places have sections devoted mongoose bicycle just for them (clydesdale being heavy men, athena heavy women).
While this is true in many instances, the fact of the matter is that proper inflation for optimal performance depends on the individual rider and his or her bike. There’s a slight wobble as the front wheel rolls, which I noticed right out of the box, and the wobble has become more pronounced over time. In my experience, this is pretty common for bikes in this price range. 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. Enhance your cycling experience with our comprehensive range of gear and accessories.
For that reason, it doesn’t make sense to run anything wider than the 2.25″ tires specced despite what appears to be plenty of frame clearance. I like the WTB Trail Boss tires so my advice is to just keep ’em. The rims aren’t taped inside, and they’re drilled for Schrader valves, so IMO going tubeless isn’t really worth the hassle, either. One of the selling points of the Mongoose Switchback Expert is the tapered head tube, which the Comp version does not offer.
GT Connect is a simple way to link you with local shops for professional bike builds, accessory sales, and service when needed. By signing up for GT Connect after you purchase a mountain or gravel bike over $1000 from GTBicycles.com, you will be eligible to have your new GT built for free. GT’s pedal-assist electric bikes are designed around going further and discovering new places.
It’s fine for most green- and beginner-rated trails, though when it comes to trail riding, I recommend choosing smooth ones. The 8-speed drivetrain with a single chainring up front promises ease of operation, though some buyers might find the gear range limiting, especially on steep or long uphill climbs. My chain fell off the chainring on one particularly bumpy descent, but otherwise, it held up pretty well despite lacking a narrow-wide chainring or a clutched derailleur. However, if you’re like many of my non-bike friends asking for a bike recommendation and want to ride on the road, and maybe off road a little, the Switchback Expert could be a good fit. The drivetrain is generally pretty quiet when pedaling on smooth surfaces, though things start to clang the faster (and rougher!) you ride.