Moreover, the fat tires kind of drag in the dirt, a shorter stem could slow down the steering too much, so maybe we will try it out and test for the long-term review. Really, this frame is most likely a back up bike for a family of enthusiasts that want their child to join the fat biking they do in the winter. While the Mongoose Argus Trail is trail worthy, there are other bikes that do trail riding better. Being the most affordable and easily installed on a wide variety of bike frames the BBS02 fails on many fronts when it comes to being installed on fatbikes. Despite these issues though, I did find myself enjoying the Beast far more than I would have expected.
Hopefully some training will allow him to be able to climb on his own for some of the ride. Sticking to flat nordic type trails for fat biking in the snow might be our best bet. Taking the Argus out was a different experience than the norm and we both had fun. Mongoose has given the “go-ahead” to do a long term review to assess the handling and function of the Argus once winter comes. So if you’re curious about how the bike performs in the snow, stay tuned….. With just a little extra effort you can mount the king of middrive units to almost any fatbike and have a grin permanently attached to your face.
I am excited to take my son fat biking this coming winter and provide a complete review. Kid sized fat bike frames are rare so taking him out this winter will be a unique experience. With that said, it was fun seeing my son experience something truly different on the dirt. If you want to ride groomed trails in the winter, fat tires are required – narrower tires sink into the snow and leave ruts that ruin the experience for other riders. My son was able to adapt his riding to match the needs of the machine. My son is also still a child and I don’t want to torture him too much.
The Mongoose Argus Trail is most certainly a unique bike that meets the needs of an extreme niche. The component build is competitive, keeps cost down, and functions mongoose bmx bike as needed. Mongoose’s website just says “aluminum” for their unbranded brakes. Get special offers, exclusive product news, and event info straight to your inbox.
The electric motor delivers consistent power, and the bike can reach decent speeds effortlessly. The battery life is excellent, allowing me to go on long rides without worrying about running out of power. I don’t know of many that go smaller from there either. It could be swapped for a shorter stem to add some downhill stability.
Sure, its big, heavy and ponderous and yes it lacks any kind of amenities that I’m use to on a bike. But in spite of all of that, it is still fun to ride, and isn’t that one cycling should be all about? Sometimes in our rush to get the lightest, fastest and most tricked out bikes, we forget how important it is to enjoy riding just for the sake of riding. The Beast strips away all of the features typically found on a bike and just gives you pure two-wheeled experience. There is something to be said for that and I think a lot of riders will have the same experience with this bike that I had. And since it only costs $198, you won’t break the bank adding a Beast to a garage already filled with bikes.
Clearly Mongoose didn’t have high performance in mind when they built the Beast, they were simply looking to create a bike that is fun to ride. If that was indeed their aim from the outset, I’d say they succeeded. While riding the Beast I found myself pleasantly surprised with how enjoyable it was to roll down a trail with relative ease. I’m sure that on more than one occasion I pedaled along with a goofy grin on my face as my big, oversized tires crushed everything that dared to get in their way.
Reliable braking performance and adjustable braking distance, providing sufficient braking forces even in harshest conditions, providing strong stopping power even in loost terrain. The Mongoose Argus Trail handled my excursions with ease. The bike carried my body weight well, did not flex, and is durable. This bike will outlast my son’s use because of it’s strength and componentry. As you can imagine, my 70-pound child really struggles pushing 50% of his body weight uphill with the Argus. Mongoose utilizes house branded parts to cover contact points like the grips, pedals and seat.
It is a single speed bike with 26″ wheels and cruiser brakes. I haven’t rode a bike that didn’t have hand operated brakes since I was a kid and actually momentarily wondered how I was going to stop the Beast once I got it going. It didn’t take long to adjust to the old school breaking system, but I’ll admit there was a moment of panic before it dawned on me how the brakes worked. With its 4-inch thick tires and reputation for stability, our P6 e-bike is perfect for off-road adventures, weekends spent wandering the backroads, and everything in between. The components all functioned well with minimal adjustments needed and served their individual duties.