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 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.
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.
The Mongoose Legion L40 Bike is ready for the beginner to intermediate level BMX rider. Born out of a garage in SoCal back in 1974, Mongoose is synonymous with BMX. Mongoose designs BMX Freestyle and BMX Race bikes for riders of all ages and ability levels, and our bikes are trusted by some of the world’s best riders. If we want a realistic picture of quality and price, we need to look at the budget and high-end bikes.
Mongoose bicycles have at times been criticized for poor reliability and construction, however, many of these issues can be attributed to how and where the bicycles are used by their owners. The Mongoose Switchback Expert is an aluminum hardtail mountain bike with 100mm of suspension travel up front. The hydraulic disc brakes are a more powerful upgrade over the mechanical brakes on the Switchback Comp, though generally speaking they’re not as easy to maintain or repair. Compared to bikes from other major brands like Specialized and Trek, the Mongoose Switchback Expert offers a pretty similar value.
In collaboration with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, we have rated bike helmets using the STAR evaluation system. Our impact tests evaluate a helmet’s ability to reduce linear acceleration and rotational velocity of the head resulting from a range of head impacts a cyclist might experience. Helmets with more stars provide a reduction in concussion risk for these impacts compared to helmets with less stars. Explore trails that aren’t on the app but clearly existright here, right now, in real life.
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, mongoose fat bike 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.
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.
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.
At the time of publication, the Mongoose Switchback Expert was selling for $549 compared to $399 for the Switchback Comp. If you’re deciding between the two, the Switchback Expert is going to be the better choice for riding a bit more aggressively, thanks to the more powerful brakes and one-by gearing. At its full retail price of $949, the Switchback Expert is overpriced. I took the Mongoose Switchback Expert on a few test rides on moderate but not aggressive trails at a reasonable speed. Smooth trails are a better choice than rough ones, especially when it comes to rocks and roots. The coil fork isn’t all that responsive, and unlike a fork with an air spring you can’t adjust it to customize the feel for your weight and riding style.
Williams and Popovich finished third and fourth in a photo finish in their heat along with O’Brien taking third, making it into the semis. Williams got pushed out on the third straight missing out on the transfer spot. In the second heat, a huge pile up in the first turn gave O’Brien and Popovich a clear run straight to the finish line, putting both of them in the main event.