ajbird83

hey guys just getting into the world of mountain biking and recently purchased the 26" mongoose status 2.2 mountain bike for all terain, is this a decent brand of bike, it was on special offer at a good price.

SkyDog75

The Mongoose brand, nowadays, is generally associated with bikes you'd find at big box stores like Walmart or Target. They're on the lower end of the price and quality spectrum, but might be sufficient for casual riding. If you're going to ride a lot, or if you want to seriously get into mountain biking, you'll likely be looking to upgrade at some point.

fietsbob

Brands are Commodities, the Mongoose bikes of the 80's built up the brand-name reputation ,

which then had value, so they sold it.

rollagain

Something convinced you it was good enough to spend your money on, therefor the only opinion that matters is yours. Go find a trail and enjoy it.

rydabent

Remember they are about 5 bike frame mfg in Tiawan and China. They build pretty much the same frame for most name brand bikes. Just painted different is all.

mstateglfr 

Once again- this just isn't accurate.
There are more than 'about 5'.
Frames are significantly different in shape, both geometry and tubing shape, between brands and even models within brands.

Why even take the time to type this junk out when it is so clearly incorrect?

Oso Polar

Mongoose Status 2.2 is a full suspension mountain bike for about $180 dollars without any special offers.
Sorry, it is complete trash. it doesn't matter what is the brand, you'll not get a decent new bike for less than 200 dollars, much less a decent full suspension mountain bike.

If I'd were you, I'd return this garbage while it is new, went to local bike shop and bought some entry level hardtail (if mountain bike is what you want). It'll probably cost twice that much and many people will probably still argue that it'll still not be a good bike but it'll be way, way better than any bike sold by Walmart, Target and similar stores. Especially any sub-$200 full suspension mountain bike.

FlMTNdude

1500SLR

Your bike is a Dorel (used to be Pacific Cycles) they own/manufacture (among other things) Cannondale, Schwinn, and GT. Only really Cannondale is left as a premium manufacturer. None of these bikes are manufactured in the USA anymore. They come from the same factories in China or Taiwan these days. Mongoose in particular is considered a big box store brand these days. Something convinced you to buy it so its good enough for you. That's all that matters.

This does not infer anything but China started by brand names about 20-30 odd years ago when American brands started to collapse. What does this all mean? Mongoose as a brand is only worth something in desperately impoverished areas of Chindia where people don't know any better that its not the same company anymore. Unless or until there is another boutique brand that captures everyone's imagination this is the way its always going to be.

tagaproject6

Ride it. If you know anyone willing enough to let you try out their more expensive bike, do so. Then decide if you want to keep what's yours or not.

mstateglfr 

a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. The post above is an example of such.

fietsbob

The Big OEM Companies Do in deed make several brands, the fact that they look different is these companies make them look different as per the customer specifications is just part of the contract..

CNC Machines can make the production tooling for each client companies needs..

The Biggies Giant and Merida Got big by being the Go To OEM Companies for decades
before adding a line of bikes of their own & setting up their own dealer networks..

And promoting themselves with high profile team sponsorships, etc.

Bonzo Banana

Actually I think its your reply that is incorrect in many ways too. The different shapes, sizing, hydroforming and many other attributes of the frame are easily changed for different models and brands. These companies specialise in rapid prototyping but that is mainly for higher end models most importers suffice with cheaper existing designs. The biggest manufacturer is fuji-ta. See how many different frames you can see on the link below and then you realise they probably have 200 variations of the same frame including sizing, gender sizing, reinforcing, butting and even different materials. Fuji-ta not only make complete bikes but are a huge supplier of frames for Chinese assemblers, other assemblers in the far east (often to bypass EU surcharges) and assemblers in Europe and the US etc. They make 20 million bikes a year and a huge number of oem frames on top. It's a huge chunk of worldwide bike production. I've bought 2 new bikes in the last 2 years both have fuji-ta frames, one folding bike and one fixie bike. They aren't so big with chromoly frames but carbon, aluminium and high tensile they do huge numbers. From what I understand steel is a material that many companies can manufacture themselves even small manufacturers and easier to self-certify so fuji-ta really just stick to high volume robot welded high tensile steel frames. Smaller companies struggle to manufacture and provide required certification for their own aluminium and carbon frames so this is why they buy in their frames from fuji-ta who are exceptionally efficient and keenly priced. Great quality and fantastic value. On the video below you'll see them mention quite a few brands but these are only brands the company considers famous a huge number of other smaller brands are made there. Now that Taiwan is dearer to make frames than the past many more premium bikes instead of being made by Giant or Merida are now using mainland China companies like fuji-ta. I'm genuinely interested in bicycle manufacture so went out of my way to find out about who are the big players in the industry and the name fuji-ta just keeps coming up as the major player in the world. You can see the factory in the video is vast which is only one of many factories although I guess the others are likely to be smaller, this one being their most impressive. It's often over-stated for marketing purposes how much design goes in by the importer. That's not to say the aren't choosing the paintwork and geometry etc but the real engineering obviously goes on at the actual manufacturer which is very often fuji-ta.

I personally prefer it if companies use established, evolved bike frame designs. Fuji-ta has refined and improved its own frame designs over the years as feedback from importers has shown weaknesses in those frame designs. This evolved design I personally think is better than radical innovation which often leads to higher cost weaker frames and all the additional cost of prototyping and certifying that new frame design has to be passed onto the end customer.

Fuji-ta don't do the very low quality walmart grade dual suspension bikes or very low end bikes they tend to do a small step above those all the way up to carbon framed bikes costing many thousands. Most of the very low end steel bikes are produced in quite low tech factories that fight at the very bottom end of pricing some in China but many in Vietnam, Bangladesh, Cambodia etc. There is actually more diversity in suppliers for these bikes than higher quality models I guess because the skills required are less. I think if you have seen a walmart bike with missing paint in recesses, poor metal finish etc and rough assembly you will understand these are not going through much of a quality process and their manufacture is often a fully manual process of low paid workers.

I guess my point is a fuji-ta frame is exceptionally good quality for its price and certainly nothing negative about them, far better to get a bike with a fuji-ta frame than many others out there.

BICYCLE DISPLAY - Tianjin Fuji-ta Bicycle Co.,Ltd.

mstateglfr 

nope, my reply is correct.
i said there are more than 'about 5' manufacturers of frames. There are more than 5, so that is correct.

i said that franes are significantly different in both geometry and tubing shape between brands and even within a brand. That too is correct.

as for that novel you typed out...
- yes, you clearly love fuji-ta.
- yes, you are clearly interested in frame manufacturing, as am i(especially the history).
-no, none of that disproved my earlier post.

1500SLR

The above is a mater of facts. Yes Dorel is Canadian. I am aware of this it does not matter for the intent of this conversation the bike is still made in China/Taiwan. What does matter is your poor attitude and your over zealous ability to throw it around. The specifications may be variable but they are all much of a muchness excepting the facts of quality. You pay more you get a slightly better quality bike. However, it is a mater of sticker slapping these days.

Once you are talking decent quality bikes, they are much of a muchness and you could throw a sheet over them and not be able to differentiate the nuances. Since Cannondale and Trek started manufacturing in Asia in the mid 2000s since Pacific Cycles bought the collapsing GT and Schwinn in the late 90s American bikes haven't really been the same. The only way you get a bike frame that is not manufactured in Asia these days is by going to a Boutique brand or choosing a truly European brand such as Look. That wont get you away from groupset issues it just gets you a frame and some compoonents not made in Asia.

I did not intend for this conversation to diverge this way. In fact I have nothing against mainland China or bike island China (Taiwan) building bikes... I ride one. You are the one that seems to want to contest the issue of quality. What I inferred is that you spend money for what you get. The only half decent bikes that Dorell makes now are Cannondale.

sjf706

I used to have a mongoose as kid until some loser jacked it from our garage lol

mstateglfr 

the quoted paragraph below, which is unclear, is partly why i posted the dangerous knowledge comment. The comments below are fact?...hrmm...

1500SLR- - - -This does not infer anything but China started by brand names about 20-30 odd years ago when American brands started to collapse. What does this all mean? Mongoose as a brand is only worth something in desperately impoverished areas of Chindia where people don't know any better that its not the same company anymore.



Good to know that except for quality and specs, bikes are all the same. Thats a funny concession right there. Besides extremely important things like quality and geometry design, they are the same! Ha, funny.

I havent contested the issue of quality at all. I havent said(or even suggested) anything about quality as it pertains to country of manufacture. [Quote]

How have i contested the issue of quality?

1500SLR

[QUOTE=mstateglfr;20312610]the quoted paragraph below, which is unclear, is partly why i posted the dangerous knowledge comment. The comments below are fact?...hrmm...

1500SLR- - - -This does not infer anything but China started by brand names about 20-30 odd years ago when American brands started to collapse. What does this all mean? Mongoose as a brand is only worth something in desperately impoverished areas of Chindia where people don't know any better that its not the same company anymore.



Good to know that except for quality and specs, bikes are all the same. Thats a funny concession right there. Besides extremely important things like quality and geometry design, they are the same! Ha, funny.


I havent contested the issue of quality at all. I havent said(or even suggested) anything about quality as it pertains to country of manufacture. I'm tired of your agro, and I won't get involved in it... what I said i his bike is representative of the cheap stuff that Dorel tends to make. The only brand that is decent they still have is Cannondale. Your agro and ability to misconstrue things does not impress me and I will not be replying to you again. I don't care if you think you have to have the last word. As per my previous experiences with members such as Kontact. One of us got a holiday one of us is still posting here. Don't waste the energy it takes your fingers to respond.

Pizzaiolo Americano 

Correct. Much better to get a bike a few years older, build it up as a work of "art" (not just to upgrade it...that is wrong...) and look down your nose at everyone else on your favorite bike forum because they didn't do the same...

1500SLR

Pizzaiolo Americano 

And there it is...Your bike is "anti-elite" and that makes you superior to those who may have something newer...No ego here. Just can't stand a know it all that doesn't actually. Still looking for that ignore button...

1500SLR

I have never said or will ever say that I am superior to someone else. Please find a quote where I have said that directly or I'm gonna have to report you and this post to the admins here.

Pizzaiolo Americano 

Tattle away...I'm not spending any more time with you.

1500SLR

Thats good because I'm done with your child like drivel. I get it, I upset your sensibilities.about buying expensive bikes by telling you they wont make you faster. The thing with people is that they get so wrapped up in something they'll fight to defend it.


Now were you looking at me, or were you looking at the woman in the red dress...

Bonzo Banana

Clearly there are more than 5 manufacturer's of frames, hundreds if not thousands in China but when it comes to good quality manufacturer's that most importers use in the US and Europe there aren't very many that produce entry level and above for good quality brands and those that produce the mid quality and above for lower end brands. They have to be fully certified safe frames for both markets not something many Chinese manufacturers can do for aluminium and carbon frames.

I mean there are something like 130 million bicycles manufactured in the world per year. Most of those are low end bikes for the Chinese domestic market, India and many poor countries and wouldn't be fuji-ta mostly. With fuji-ta making 20 million complete assembled bikes and a huge number of frames on top for other assemblers. It would be hard to make an accurate guess on how many aluminium bikes are based on a fuji-ta frame in the US and Europe, at worst it could be 20% I would guess but could be as high as 80%. Most shop brands for their mid-level and upwards bikes, brands like Cannondale, Raleigh, Vilano, Mongoose etc. Many famous European and US brands. If you split the difference and say 50% it's a staggering statistic really. Fuji--ta's Battle brand while significant in China does not sell huge numbers compared to the competition because the market is price dominated most of their production is exported. It is the cheapest bikes that are most likely not to be fuji-ta in the US and Europe and at the very premium end there is more competition. Fuji-ta dominate in the middle of the quality spectrum for aluminium frames.

No I don't love fuji-ta, clearly like most people I would prefer these bikes were made in Europe or the US, far too much is made in China and both the US and UK are running a large trade deficit. Many great cycling brands have been reduced to importers or the company has basically died and the brand resurrected by a importer. I try when possible to separate the importers from the real manufacturers. Many companies claim to be manufacturers when you can see they have simply rebranded a generic Chinese bike. It annoys me when an importer manipulates consumers by linking their current Chinese bikes with their heritage of manufacturing in either the US or Europe and then charge huge money on top. Unfortunately making high quality products in the US or Europe is expensive nowadays compared to the far east but fantastic products are available at the premium end.

The brand I have most respect for is Giant the Taiwanese giant of cycling. An actual manufacturer which makes fantastic quality frames and bikes. They seem to have a no compromise approach to quality which means sometimes you don't get the best fitted components for the money but I feel there is little better in frame quality at their price points. Most of the bikes they will be competing with are likely to be fuji-ta for aluminium at least although Giant are still an OEM for some aluminium frames, Canyon I think. Where as their carbon frames have been priced out by cheaper Carbon frame supplier's like fuji-ta and quest. Canyon and Trek is quest.