The Mongoose Switchback Expert is capable of popping off small roots and rocks in the trail, and it has proven to be durable on the landings. I worried about flat tires so I added a bit more pressure than I usually run on my other bikes—about 20-25psi—and I recommend buyers do the same. The drivetrain is generally pretty quiet when pedaling on smooth surfaces, though things start to clang the faster (and rougher!) you ride. One of the selling points of the Mongoose Switchback mongoose dirt bike Expert is the tapered head tube, which the Comp version does not offer. The idea is that a buyer could upgrade the fork down the road to something better, but honestly it’s not going to be worth the expense. The SR Suntour XCE coil fork is truly entry level, and while it absorbs bumps in the trail it’s heavy and harsh compared to a more expensive fork with an air spring.
Plus, the Malus has 7-speed twist shifters and front and rear disc brakes so it still has its vein of practicality. Fat tires are all the rage and the Malus is a great bike to add to your stable, and to get out there and have a little fun on. There is nothing you can’t do on a Mongoose and almost nowhere you can’t go on the Malus. Their fat tires do an exceptional job of dispersing weight and maintaining balance, making them perfect for snowy winter rides.
In my experience, this is pretty common for bikes in this price range. Kristen is a USA Cycling certified coach and loves to share her passion for biking with other families. Blair is a bike geek, mechanic, and mountain bike junkie. The components all functioned well with minimal adjustments needed and served their individual duties. The traits of handling and stability will most certainly transition to snow riding as well. They slowed my son’s riding down when needed but functioned as any mechanical brake set would.
If you want to ride trails as fast as possible, you’ll likely progress beyond the Mongoose Switchback Expert rather quickly. Tires are usually an inexpensive upgrade that can make a huge difference in the way a bike feels, but here again, buyers likely won’t want to bother. The included wheels feature narrow, 18mm rims that are even narrower than what you might find on a gravel bike today. For that reason, it doesn’t make sense to run anything wider than the 2.25″ tires specced despite what appears to be plenty of frame clearance. I like the WTB Trail Boss tires so my advice is to just keep ’em. The rims aren’t taped inside, and they’re drilled for Schrader valves, so IMO going tubeless isn’t really worth the hassle, either.
The Mongoose Switchback is best for riding pavement, bike paths, and gravel roads. It’s fine for most green- and beginner-rated trails, though when it comes to trail riding, I recommend choosing smooth ones. 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.
This is one change that could make sense for some buyers, though percentage-wise, it’s a big addition. The weight of the bike is nearly 34 pounds (15.04 kg) and it shows. That is almost as heavy as MY full suspension fat bike. Most mountain bike steerer tubes are designed for tapered headtubes.
The rigid frame works well for snow and sand riding but loses ability in comparison to a suspended mountain bike. The Argus just so happens to be capable enough for trail riding too. In addition to their superior traction, versatility, and safety features, Mongoose fat tire bikes are also known for their endurance and resilience. These bikes are built to withstand heavy usage and challenging environments. Their frames are typically made from tough materials like steel or aluminum, ensuring that your bike can handle long rides, rough trails, and adverse weather conditions.
The stock seat/torture device was replaced with an XL wide seat before it was even assembled. Replaced it with a Sunlite Cloud-9, Bicycle Suspension Cruiser Saddle, Cruiser Gel that you can see in the first photo. The first thing I noticed was that braking pulsed because the rotors were not ground properly.