Road Test/Bike Review (1985) Entry-Level Racing Bikes
12-09-20, 09:34 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Central Florida, USA
Posts: 2,005
Bikes: Litespeed (9); Slingshot (9); Specialized (3); Kestrel (2); Cervelo (1); FELT (1); Trek (2)
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 440 Post(s)
Liked 3,537 Times
in
1,011 Posts
Road Test/Bike Review (1985) Entry-Level Racing Bikes
Featured bikes are BIANCHI Stelvio, NASHBAR Sport EX, MIYATA 912, BRIDGESTONE 600, and MONGOOSE Mangusta.
__________________
WTB: Slingshot bicycle promotional documents (catalog, pamphlets, etc).
WTB: American Cycling May - Aug, Oct, Dec 1966.
WTB: Bicycle Guide issues 1984 (any); Jun 1987; Jul, Nov/Dec 1992; Apr 1994; 1996 -1998 (any)
WTB: Bike World issue Jun 1974.
WTB: Slingshot bicycle promotional documents (catalog, pamphlets, etc).
WTB: American Cycling May - Aug, Oct, Dec 1966.
WTB: Bicycle Guide issues 1984 (any); Jun 1987; Jul, Nov/Dec 1992; Apr 1994; 1996 -1998 (any)
WTB: Bike World issue Jun 1974.
Likes For SpeedofLite:
12-09-20, 11:41 AM
#3
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,703
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 124 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11048 Post(s)
Liked 7,595 Times
in
4,235 Posts
The Chrome Motobecane made Mongoose is really interesting. Rarely used tube joining, unique seat post size and seat tube butting, and just rare to see a Mongoose road bike.
The Miyata downtube is crazy thick. I wonder if they kept that butting profile when they used splined tubing or if they changed the profile.
The Miyata downtube is crazy thick. I wonder if they kept that butting profile when they used splined tubing or if they changed the profile.
12-09-20, 12:29 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,464
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1605 Post(s)
Liked 1,789 Times
in
1,004 Posts
Has anyone ever come across one of these Mangusta road bikes?
12-09-20, 01:48 PM
#5
Junior Member
I've see one of those Mangustas come up on Craigslist several years ago once when I lived in the Northeast, the post went down within a couple hours, if only I got a chance to check it out. I understand that Mongoose still make road bikes but they are nothing special.
12-09-20, 02:08 PM
#6
Drip, Drip.
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Southern Ontario
Posts: 1,575
Bikes: Trek Verve E bike, Felt Doctrine 4 XC, Opus Horizon Apex 1
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1034 Post(s)
Liked 193 Times
in
163 Posts
Its amazing how they can find such noticeable differences in ride quality between frames which literally look exactly the same.
Great find. Thanks for sharing
Great find. Thanks for sharing
12-09-20, 08:42 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Seattle
Posts: 1,072
Bikes: my precious steel boys
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 438 Post(s)
Liked 603 Times
in
359 Posts
MTB/BMX companies making rare road models is always fun. I mean, not counting the current Redline/Mongoose/etc stuff, but stuff like Yeti making the occasional road bike or that Mongoose is super cool.
12-09-20, 11:34 PM
#8
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,703
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 124 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11048 Post(s)
Liked 7,595 Times
in
4,235 Posts
I've see one of those Mangustas come up on Craigslist several years ago once when I lived in the Northeast, the post went down within a couple hours, if only I got a chance to check it out. I understand that Mongoose still make road bikes but they are nothing special.
The bike model was Selous and came in a few offerings. There were a couple generstions of it too. At one point a few years ago you could pick up a 105 hydraulic brake Selous on nashbar for I think under $1100.
Its tough to escape the name on the downtube.
12-10-20, 12:57 AM
#9
Ride, Wrench, Swap, Race
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Northern California
Posts: 9,203
Bikes: Cheltenham-Pedersen racer, Boulder F/S Paris-Roubaix, Varsity racer, '52 Christophe, '62 Continental, '92 Merckx, '75 Limongi, '76 Presto, '72 Gitane SC, '71 Schwinn SS, etc.
Mentioned: 132 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1566 Post(s)
Liked 1,303 Times
in
869 Posts
Yeah, there was a late-season online blowout of higher-end Mongoose full-suspension MTB's on Amazon four years ago, must have been a real cash flow issue at the time for Mongoose. I still somewhat regret not buying one.
This article clarifies for me what I have long wondered, why my Miyata 912 is so heavy at 24 pounds. Compare that to my Centurion Pro Tour's 23 pounds, or my recent Nishiki ONP Pro's 22 pounds (all weighed with SPD pedals).
I bought a lower-level, 1990-ish Mangusta road bike about 15 years ago, it had no chrome but had SIS and was a decent bike though just too small for me.
At that time, I was trying to figure out who Mangusta was.
This article clarifies for me what I have long wondered, why my Miyata 912 is so heavy at 24 pounds. Compare that to my Centurion Pro Tour's 23 pounds, or my recent Nishiki ONP Pro's 22 pounds (all weighed with SPD pedals).
I bought a lower-level, 1990-ish Mangusta road bike about 15 years ago, it had no chrome but had SIS and was a decent bike though just too small for me.
At that time, I was trying to figure out who Mangusta was.
12-10-20, 06:24 AM
#10
Senior Member
If I am reading that article right, the bike is called Mongoose Mongoose. Given that Mangusta is said to be Mongoose in Italian.
Likes For Shrevvy:
12-10-20, 07:24 AM
#11
Edumacator
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Goose Creek, SC
Posts: 7,012
Bikes: '87 Crestdale, '87 Basso Gap, '92 Rossin Performance EL-OS, 1990 VanTuyl, 1980s Losa, 1985 Trek 670, 1982 AD SLE, 1987 PX10, etc...
Mentioned: 59 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2520 Post(s)
Liked 3,300 Times
in
2,070 Posts
Motobecane internal external brazing once again...plus the Campagnolo 980 era!
Earlyish iteration of the Nashbar nameplate, I guess?
Earlyish iteration of the Nashbar nameplate, I guess?
__________________
1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super, 1971 Raleigh International, 1998 Corratec Ap & Dun, 1991 Peugeot Slimestone
1987 Crest Cannondale, 1987 Basso Gap, 1992 Rossin Performance EL, 1990ish Van Tuyl, 1985 Trek 670, 2003 Pinarello Surprise, 1990ish MBK Atlantique, 1987 Peugeot Competition, 1987 Nishiki Tri-A, 1981 Faggin, 1996 Cannondale M500, 1984 Mercian, 1982 AD SuperLeicht, 1985 Massi (model unknown), 1988 Daccordi Griffe , 1989 Fauxsin MTB, 1981 Ciocc Mockba, 1992 Bianchi Giro, 1977 Colnago Super, 1971 Raleigh International, 1998 Corratec Ap & Dun, 1991 Peugeot Slimestone
12-10-20, 10:24 AM
#12
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Central Florida, USA
Posts: 2,005
Bikes: Litespeed (9); Slingshot (9); Specialized (3); Kestrel (2); Cervelo (1); FELT (1); Trek (2)
Mentioned: 40 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 440 Post(s)
Liked 3,537 Times
in
1,011 Posts
Here's a two-page ad from the same issue.
There's a bit of unintended humor given the first two paragraphs written about NASHBAR Sport EX and its subsequent Handling Evaluation.
Note the further price slash, and that the alignment of the two pages in this photo is as good as the magazine binding would allow.
I can only imagine the conversations among the marketing guys before and after this issue went to print.
There's a bit of unintended humor given the first two paragraphs written about NASHBAR Sport EX and its subsequent Handling Evaluation.
Note the further price slash, and that the alignment of the two pages in this photo is as good as the magazine binding would allow.
I can only imagine the conversations among the marketing guys before and after this issue went to print.
__________________
WTB: Slingshot bicycle promotional documents (catalog, pamphlets, etc).
WTB: American Cycling May - Aug, Oct, Dec 1966.
WTB: Bicycle Guide issues 1984 (any); Jun 1987; Jul, Nov/Dec 1992; Apr 1994; 1996 -1998 (any)
WTB: Bike World issue Jun 1974.
WTB: Slingshot bicycle promotional documents (catalog, pamphlets, etc).
WTB: American Cycling May - Aug, Oct, Dec 1966.
WTB: Bicycle Guide issues 1984 (any); Jun 1987; Jul, Nov/Dec 1992; Apr 1994; 1996 -1998 (any)
WTB: Bike World issue Jun 1974.
Likes For nesposito:
12-10-20, 11:59 AM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Seattle
Posts: 1,072
Bikes: my precious steel boys
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 438 Post(s)
Liked 603 Times
in
359 Posts
Given that Miyata made it, I do wonder about the downtube on my Univega Competizione. It has that same slightly heavier but super stiff feeling as described, and it really really feels like it loves stiff power transfer. That combined with the shortish wheelbase and that thing is a crit machine.
How you can tell this is an old ass article: complaints that a 28 tooth cog is too low for a racing bike. You'd have gotten laughed out of the club ride for a 28 tooth cog back then.
"even a 13-18 would be suitable for flatter courses" God how did people's knees survive back then
How you can tell this is an old ass article: complaints that a 28 tooth cog is too low for a racing bike. You'd have gotten laughed out of the club ride for a 28 tooth cog back then.
"even a 13-18 would be suitable for flatter courses" God how did people's knees survive back then
Last edited by sheddle; 12-10-20 at 12:05 PM.
07-26-23, 10:35 PM
#15
Newbie
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Mangusta
This was my first proper road bike. In fact, I was swayed by this very article to purchase it back in 1985. It was very much an entry level road bike, nothing extraordinary - a mish-mash of parts from various countries. I do remember getting a lot of second glances as it had a bit of flair with the chrome finish.
Likes For oltenia12002:
