They are constructed from strong, hard wearing materials and usually feature Steel or Chromoly frames. This means that the bike can stand up to a certain amount of impacts and hard landings, but remember no bike is indestructible. For riders looking to learn tricks and stunts, then a freestyle bike is the correct choice. If you’re a little older and are looking for something less agile than a 20-inch ride, consider Stolen’s Saint 24.
The 80’s are back, baby – live it up on the iconic Mongoose Supergoose. For almost 40 years, Mongoose has been in the dirt, on the trails and off the ramps. Founded in 1974 in a Southern California garage, Mongoose has always been an aggressive brand with products that push the limits of what a rider can do. From the biggest hits on the mountain or in the park to the urban jungle, Mongoose is an authentic brand that produces durable products built for real riders. For first time riders new to the sport our entry level bikes, priced from £200-£400, are mongoose fat bike perfect, most of these are made from high tensile steel which means they are still relatively strong, but can be slightly heavier than higher end models. You might find you’ll want to upgrade to something lighter sooner than you’d think.
Race bikes feature 20-inch wheels on all models, but the components and frame are sized dependent on age and height. 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. Mongoose was born from BMX racing with products that push the limits of what a rider can do on the track.
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. Most 20-inch BMX frames have the bottom bracket higher than the axles, for purposes of ground clearance. This leads to the feeling of sitting or standing “on the bike” rather than “in the bike.” Novice riders will likely find this feeling to be remarkably uncomfortable. When in doubt, gravitate toward one of the 26-inch offerings or even a 29. BMX is arguably the most diverse and inclusive form of cycling, encompassing coastal cultures, urban stunt riding, and hard-nosed rural competition in a single, loosely drawn concept. Freestyle bikes are designed for the skatepark, the streets or the trails.
Some of the world’s finest riders ride Mongoose BMX Freestyle and BMX Race bikes. 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. If we want a realistic picture of quality and price, we need to look at the budget and high-end bikes.
They are also much more expensive than the department-store Mongoose bicycles. Freestyle and/or recreational riders have a wider range of options. Manufacturers like Sunday offer skatepark-specific bikes with wheels from 12 to 22 inches and a diversity of frame sizes.