According to Hess, at its largest stage of expansion, BMX Products, Inc. employed about 85 people. In its early years, Hess recalled that about 600 frames per day were produced at its Chatsworth, Los Angeles location. Some of the world’s finest riders ride Mongoose BMX Freestyle and BMX Race bikes. Founded in the mid-70s, Mongoose is one of the biggest names in bicycles. The company was founded by Skip Hess in Southern California and manufactured BMX bikes before quickly becoming one of the largest companies.
The Switchback Expert currently costs $125 less than the Specialized Rockhopper and is the better choice, in my opinion, based on the geometry and parts specs. If you’re willing to spend a bit more, the $739 Trek Marlin 5 Gen 3 is worth a look for its upgraded drivetrain, wider tires, and similar weight, though still no dropper post. As with any bicycle manufacturer who provides a wide range of products, it is important for the customer to know how he or she intends to use the Mongoose bicycle before purchasing it. If used within its design and limits, Mongoose offers very good bicycles. A buyer simply has to be aware of those limits, and for their own purposes, select the proper Mongoose bicycle whether it is for commuting or energetic cycling.
Instead, particularly for their price point, Mongoose’s department-store bikes are built for simple on-road commutes such as to school, work or the store. It offers you a modern equipment, which will allow you to learn your first tricks and fun at the skatepark. Freestyle bikes are designed for the skatepark, the streets or the trails. They are constructed from strong, hard wearing materials and usually feature Steel or Chromoly frames.
This beast of a bike is equipped with monstrous 4″ wide knobby tires. This is important because, as a rider, you should know which heavy bike you can handle. Heavy bikes have their advantages, such as stability, but they also have disadvantages because it can be difficult to transport them in areas with flat surfaces if you need to move them around.
Youth race bikes start from a Micro size for very young riders and offer a range of sizes through to expert XL. Pro size and upwards are considered adult bikes and are usually offered up to a Pro XXXL or larger for very tall riders. If used properly, the department store line of Mongoose bicycles can hold up very well. While these models may not offer the best components or stiffest frames, whether for on or off-road riding, it should be understood that the department-store Mongoose bicycles are not made for performance-oriented rides.
The Mongoose Legion L60 Bike is a good entry level BMX bike for someone on the slightly taller side. Over the years, Schwinn has empowered millions of people, earning a special place in the hearts and minds of generations of riders. We have spent over a century building the bicycle mongoose dirt bike industry into what it is today, and we’re not done yet. 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.