I bought a low end Mongoose MGX (probably from Target or WalMart) about 6-7 years ago and have used it off and on, although I'm riding quite a bit more lately, and hope to continue to do so. If I continue, I'll definitely need to upgrade.
Pros of the MGX
-I like dual suspension (the look of the bike and the functionality of the front shocks). I don't do much trail riding, but would like to give it a shot.
-The steel pieces pointing upwards at each end of the handlebars. On my bike, the mfg is Kalin, and for the life of me, I can't find out what they are called... they really help me leverage when climbing on a tougher gear.
Cons of the MGX
-Made of steel- it is really heavy
-Just feels off-brand, has a couple of odd squeaks that I can't diagnose (or haven't reached w/the WD40).
I'm in the market for a mountain bike only (and probably won't pay more than $400 or so). I've been looking quite a bit lately, and have seen a ton of bikes in that range. Dual suspension appears common, but I haven't seen a picture of a bike with those handlebar devices...
-Are those handlebar extensions (?) out of style now?
-Is it possible to get a bike made in the USA in my range?
-In reality, is there any difference in brands of bikes in that range? I imagine they're all made in the same factory in China and given different brand names... I know Pacific owns Mongoose, Schwinn, and a bunch of others... are there any brands in my range I should look into (higher quality, etc.)?
Pros of the MGX
-I like dual suspension (the look of the bike and the functionality of the front shocks). I don't do much trail riding, but would like to give it a shot.
-The steel pieces pointing upwards at each end of the handlebars. On my bike, the mfg is Kalin, and for the life of me, I can't find out what they are called... they really help me leverage when climbing on a tougher gear.
Cons of the MGX
-Made of steel- it is really heavy
-Just feels off-brand, has a couple of odd squeaks that I can't diagnose (or haven't reached w/the WD40).
I'm in the market for a mountain bike only (and probably won't pay more than $400 or so). I've been looking quite a bit lately, and have seen a ton of bikes in that range. Dual suspension appears common, but I haven't seen a picture of a bike with those handlebar devices...
-Are those handlebar extensions (?) out of style now?
-Is it possible to get a bike made in the USA in my range?
-In reality, is there any difference in brands of bikes in that range? I imagine they're all made in the same factory in China and given different brand names... I know Pacific owns Mongoose, Schwinn, and a bunch of others... are there any brands in my range I should look into (higher quality, etc.)?