This men’s & women’s BMX bike has a Mongoose full 4130 Chromoly frame, removeable brake mounts, and mid BB shell. The Mongoose Legion L60 Bike is a good entry level BMX bike for someone on the slightly taller side. For over 45 years, Mongoose has been in the dirt, at the park, and on the street. Ranging from your first true BMX bike in the L18 to the full 4130 chromoly pro-performance L500, the Legion series was designed to withstand the punishment that takes place as you progress your BMX skills.
Coming only a year later was the 1983 Australian film ‘BMX Bandits’, arguably resulting in an even more significant impact on BMX than ET. The film is famous for being shot in the northern beaches of Sydney (primarily Manly), featuring Nicole Kidman in one of her first ever acting roles and for its portrayal of BMX in its freestyle form. Originally written with 9 year old characters in mind, the lack of finance meant that the script was re-written by a different team, this time pivoting to teenagers as the central characters. This was a crucial shift, and one which ultimately led to the success of the film and in turn, the cementing of BMX in popular culture. Inevitably, wider society was sooner or later going to come into contact with BMX. A significant milestone in this regard was the release of the 1982 film ‘E.T.
We think that this offers our customers the chance to celebrate and embrace the nostalgia of Mongoose, while moving forward in the modern BMX world with taste, style and strength. Hop on the Mongoose MXOne BMX race bike and you’ll be ready to take the track by storm. The MXOne features a durable steel frame with BMX Race geometry and BMX Race bar with Taper leg race fork.
Modeled after the iconic 1984 Supergoose, this BMX bike is sure to turn heads around the neighborhood or at the track. Just like it’s predecessor, it features a durable 4130 Chromoly Supergoose loop-tail frame with retro-style top tube pad for ultimate radness. The single speed drivetrain is simple to use and maintain, while the DiaCompe MX brake kit delivers super-fast, reliable stopping power.
Fittingly, this article starts with Skip Hess, the founder and brains behind Mongoose until his directorship ended in 1985 (to which it was sold to American Recreation Group). Born in 1937, on the back of his fathers untimely death, Skip and his mother moved to California where a love for all things mechanical and speed were fostered. Skip spent his days hanging out at a local body shop, immersing himself in the track community as well as racing track and road bicycles, not to mention picking up a mechanical engineering degree from San Diego State University.
The Extra Terrestrial’ – directed by Steven Spielberg and featuring a young Henry Thomas as Elliott Taylor. Featuring the iconic scene in which the boys are being chased by cops on BMX bikes, pedalling at speed, tearing around the neighborhood, jumping and eventually taking flight. For BMX to be shown in this light was a landmark moment – a demonstration to the general public of how rad BMX can be. The beauty of mongoose bmx bike this situation is made further profound in that Skips contacts in the automobile industry meant that he had an understanding of how the production process worked, including local die shops who assisted with the very expensive moulds (i.e. $65,000 each). Skip Hess started BMX Products, Inc. out of his home in Simi Valley, California in September 1974 with his first product being the famous Motomag One wheel.
Don’t miss your chance to enjoy a ride on the legendary California Special by Mongoose. With the continued development of quality products and a vision to grow the sport of BMX, the crew at LUXBMX are super excited to now stock a bunch of Mongoose products. This is the first time that the Mongoose brand has partnered with LUXBMX, a momentous occasion and one driven by our desire to support a brand that has literally been there from the start, a truly original company. It was also near impossible to look past the incredible product offering for 2022 and 2023, including a massive selection of all bike formats, a variety of new products such as the ‘Legion’ as well as reimagined classics such as the ‘Hooligan’ and the ‘Supergoose’. These bikes will act as a well-rounded addition to the LUX selection, providing a range of sizes (16 to 20 inch) in the ‘Legion’ model, a 29 inch option (in varying colours) for the ‘Hooligan’ as well as 20 inch options for the old-school classics.
From CW racing, the excessively talkative Magoo made the move to GT, starting off in administration and ending up in advertising and team management capabilities. Eventually managing to muscle his way into the product development realm of the business, Magoo had found his calling and wanted to refine and progress these skills. After a couple years at the company and having progressed as far as the role would allow, a resignation was in order and the scene was set for Magoo’s next move, taking up a marketing and product management position at Mongoose. Nonetheless, the popularity of the ‘Mini Scoot’ meant that the company was able to strengthen and consolidate its vision, the Mongoose brand continues. Another character falling under the ‘iconic’ umbrella is the infamous Harold ‘Magoo’ McGruther. With a BMX resume like no other (stemming from the early 1970s in which BMX was emerging), ‘Magoo’ arrives at Mongoose headquarters after having diversified and finessed product development knowledge at GT in the years prior.
The California Special is the more affordable option, retailing at $449.99 USD where the bikes are officially released on the 18th of October this year. We’re an independently owned bike shop serving Canterbury since 2000. Need a gift for your cyclist friend but not sure what to get them? It is perhaps overdue at this point to mention that the name Mongoose was the result of Skip, and interestingly, was taken from 5 x national drag racing champion Tom ‘The Mongoose’ McEwen. Pretty awesome to think that the very early roots of BMX have drag racing ties, as well as a more obvious association with motocross and skating (which was also taking off at the time, and also in southern California). The Legion L40 uses a 20.5-inch top tube, ideal for riders around 5’6”.
Whether you’re a heritage BMXer or a young ripper on a rideout, you’ll be right at home on Hooligan® big wheel BMX bike. Available with either steel or aluminum frames, the Hooligan features 29″ wheels and modern geometry for the perfect fusion of stoke and comfort. After a profoundly successful, yet abrupt time at Mongoose, it was Magoo’s sense of humour which spelled his demise. Funnily enough, after making the mongoose bike decision to use a black transvestite on the cover of the 1990 Mongoose BMX catalogue, the executive took a different view and forced Magoo out of the company. Shifting back to Skip, with his mechanical engineering knowledge and in working as an automotive rim designer at the time, the design and production of the first BMX specific wheelset (i.e. ‘MotoMag One’), the aforementioned problem had met its solution.