Mongoose Commuter Bike RESCUED and REVIVIED! New shifters, chain and freewheel and it's good to go!

A BikeMobile customer is moving out of the state and wanted to get his bike in good working order to be ready for service at his new home. At first glance, things look pretty bad, but with regular maintenance, he's been keeping this one alive for decades, so why stop now! A few easy replacement parts and some basic loving touches and he's good to go for another 30 years!
BECOME A MEMBER OF THIS CHANNEL!
/ @bkefrmr
My Wife's AWARD WINNING DEBUT NOVEL! (print, kindle and audiobook!)
STILL TRUE by Maggie Ginsberg - amzn.to/3uSBGbn
Park Tool AK-5 Advanced Mechanic Tool Kit - amzn.to/3S0oeLZ
My favorite TOOLS and JUICES and stuff!
Hozan JIS Drivers - amzn.to/3TqIqYj
Hozan BB Pliers - amzn.to/3REHMFb
Hozan Cable Cutter - amzn.to/3tc2zH1
Pledge Polish - amzn.to/3TiI0TV
Dawn PowerWash - amzn.to/4ak8KJS
Tri Flow Bottle - amzn.to/41lHxST
Tri Flow Can - amzn.to/3REsJvc
Finish Line One-Step - amzn.to/3uWkWjH
Finish Line Speed Degreaser - amzn.to/3GDNxga
Bondhus Allen Keys - amzn.to/41jd9Zo
Park Tool Grease - amzn.to/4afWbz7
Hozan Spoke Threader - amzn.to/3TF3s5R

[@thatcarguy1UZ]

Bike Farmer: the Bob Ross of bicycles.

[@spektrumB]

Watching BikeFarmer restores an old bike, while building a new wheel set in front of my TV.

[@kippywylie]

2011 As a total rooky to road bikes I purchased a Cervelo R3 from Craigslist. Immediately on test ride I noticed the chain & cassette making a lot of noise but assumed it was simply out of adjustment so I took it to the local high-end quality bike shop where they informed me my chain was stretched and this toasted the cassette. All they had was Dura-ace so I had both chain and cassette replaced. The bike was magic for a couple weeks and the I rode in the MS 100 Charity Ride. I was still a noob and at a hill I was distracted and shifted the chain up too far into low and into the spokes. The GD bike shop did not inspect or set the derrailer limit screw which sent the chain into the spokes, broke two spokes, and sent me flying do into a very deep roadside culvert. I tore my right shoulder rotator cuff full tear with now 12 years of almost constant pain. All for want of a quarter turn on a tiny little limit screw. I'm now 74 years old and powering through the pain. I wish BikeFarmer and KZbin were around in 2011

[@senorspiegel]

700c canti steel frames are almost always worth saving!

[@gusnuk68]

i'll second to that

[@romanmentor9238]

And 26 inch as much

[@senorspiegel]

@@romanmentor9238 no way! Way more random 26" bikes running around, also im 6'3" sou just like 700c more haha

[@hankmcdavid722]

Nice to see someone that rescues these bikes, its a shame we have become such a throwaway society, and there are many in the bike community that would say a mongoose wasnt worth saving.

[@whazzat8015]

But the value is still nill. I donate what I fix / restore. Bike get stolen, so it's like giving a bike to 5 kids.

[@whazzat8015]

@@blancobasnett Putting $75 and 2 hours into a $50-100 bike is not an economic issue. It is about putting a resource back into play. Yello bike and others tat keep cheap rebuild parts out there make it a gift that costs me less to give and extends my ability to give

[@jeremyking6146]

glad I stumbled across this channel. it's awesome. love the down to earth honesty and wrenching on old bikes bringing them back. excellent work and enjoyable watching!

[@AndrewSmyk]

Have the same "one less car" sticker on one of my bikes. The burgundy frame is sweet.

[@bkefrmr]

I wanna put one on my Sprinter van

[@samblenkharn8099]

Nice work. Good to see a simple bike getting enough tlc to keep doing its job. Nothing wrong with it.

[@RidingBikesinSanDiego]

There's something peacefully Bob-Ross-esque about this channel. Thanks for showing us the work!

[@Papaladin]

Really appreciate the honesty in the video. Both the "i'm not doing how-to's, you are just there to watch me doing my things my way", but also being totally transparent about the fact that this a job and you expect to get money out of your time & answers. The delivery of that second message was a bit more elegant than in the last video though, glad you found a way to be explicit without sounding harsh !🙂

[@marta150]

I made a coat tree out of an old microphone stand with stacked bar ends. I like it.

[@godfellas483]

The Bike Farmer diligently pulls another classic bike from the clutches of oblivion, and relegation to the future of "barn find" discoveries in 25 years. Thanks BF, I had some Am Java and watched this to start my day...😎

[@BruceChastain]

I've used these same sifters. People, well enthusiast, seem to really hate grip shifters, but these really do work good and fine for normal riding.

[@bkefrmr]

most of my customers are completely baffled by trigger shifters...well, most of them are baffled by shifters in general, but especially the trigger shifters.

[@jeffandersen6233]

I saw that Eric from Wheels to Wander uses them for world touring.

[@Miniscapes515]

Never stop doing videos this way. I love the Bob Ross atmosphere. I come here to learn. But getting relaxed is an awesome bonus.

[@seraphan6]

Really enjoyed the background music on this one. Soothing.

[@redrep13]

Thanks!

[@cjwatson2445]

Dawn powerwash is on sale at the Costco. A big trigger bottle and 2 big refill bottles for $7.99. I had to pick one up. Thanks for the tips bikefarmer

[@613.Rooster]

Canadian Costco, too! $9.99 I did the same thing 😂

[@matthewstephenson155]

Thank you enjoy watching so much

[@johnhufnagel]

personally, not a grip shift fan, and wife's bike came with them. after 15 years she decided she wanted something else. put on a set of Shimano ST-EF500 ( 3x8, under $40 for the set when we got them in 2020). IMO a great budget friendly alternative to grip shift, if anyone wants one.

[@claudiofiero8523]

I can only confirm what you said about the st-ef500 No doubt it's not the betterest of the market or the top of the range, but after using it for 3 years on my 300$ bike I can call it a big improvement over the older bike with an older (and muuuch cheaper) gripshift system, I guess not even indexed (it has something like 20/30 clicks for each side) A shimano/sram/microshift gripshift would have been a better comparison, but that's what i have lol

[@brennangandy]

Music choice has certainly improved 👌

[@b.r.3232]

Nice save!!

[@joemastro4695]

your the Bob Ross of bicycles

[@Bikemaddad]

Love your videos buddy. That's so cool the way you do it. I'm a mobile mechanic myself and we both work old Skool. Keep em coming man.

[@robertmcfadyen9156]

I had a major haircut and with short hair for the first time in 20 years , I was quick in a group of friends tonight. We have had hot humid weather .

[@arleydial1124]

It is satisfying to “watch you work”, but I’m learning a lot too. Keeping it up!

[@waktosha7378]

I just got done refurbishing my 90's mountain bike, or atb, spent more money and time than it was really worth. It rides beautifully, but then I discovered Christmas tree cracks in the base of the 7005 aluminum head tube!😢 Now the only thing I can do is strip it down and toss out the frame! I am still in morning of my old bike of my past! I do believe that I will not buy anymore aluminum bikes! I'll still keep the ones I have, but only cromoly bikes for me for now on! Aluminum bikes are not lifetime bicycles!

[@drrrrrrrt]

Literally my first time seeing a dork disc put ON a bike. See something new every day.

[@bkefrmr]

I never even knew it was this big of a thing until I started this channel. I guess I've seen so many bikes with bent hangers and the drive side spokes all ground up that I just have a totally different perspective than the average joe consumer cyclist out there. Mechanic first, cyclist second!

[@senorspiegel]

@@bkefrmr NERD ALERT

[@bkefrmr]

@@senorspiegel I’m definitely not a cool guy cyclist. But I can fuckin’ ride, man.

[@paulaspinall919]

I had the same issue with the front derailleur on one of my bikes. Kept adjusting it like the ‘book’ said and it would not work properly. In the end I just adjusted it ‘to make it work ok’, and it has been fine ever since. Sometimes the lesson isn’t in the book. 🍺

[@CrazyCranker]

Best part of the video is @39:21 where I see my 1974 Schwinn Sting-Ray on the wall. :)

[@inaheap7172]

That is most definitely worth saving. Especially if the owner already really likes riding it.

[@richardchaney6990]

Just love hanging around the bike shop! 😊

[@evanswinford7165]

I started using Dawn Power Spray because I saw you use it here. I still use the hose and brushes as I always have. Yesterday I covered my project bike in Dawn and let it sit for about 15 minutes. I came back and hit it with my handheld Bissell Steamshot steam cleaner. The combination of the two really took it to the old grunge on the frame and the steam can get into tiny spaces to get the springs hidden inside. Another coating of Dawn with scrub brush and a wash. Bike looks fantastic. Trimming cables is often the very last thing I do along with ferrel placement. Get some colored ferrels from Wish for pretty cheap. Ads a degree of snappiness to the bike.

[@emilycs8823]

These old mongoose's from the 90's are pretty under rated. Way better frame quality, and parts than cheap diamondbacks, and a lot cheaper to find than a trek or specialized. People probably aren't going to bother cutting a decent lock to steal them either.

[@davelangfield3804]

Enjoy watching your bicycle maintenance videos. I am a big fan of hub gears. (Probably the only one in England)😁🤣 I like the way you make the bikes comfy. I think too many cyclists here in the UK will have back ache and neck ache! I am inspired by the culture of cycling in the Netherlands, with handlebars higher than the seat making a comfortable position, similar to your bikes. Do you have many bikes with hub gears in the USA. I love them, so easy to ride with very little maintenance, especially with a Gates belt drive. Hope you can find some and show us plenty more videos.

[@AmusedDaffodils-mz5rw]

Your a good bicycle mechanic I like your work

[@marcusathome]

A Hybrid Bike! How can you... Let people make fun about those bikes, but in terms of usability, versatility they are unbeatable. Nice to see that some people, mechanics, still care for them. Also love the grip shift shifters, although they have totally fallen out of fashion.

[@paulcasey4935]

awesome video bikefarmer. love watching you fix and make bikes better

[@chuffa1130]

That mongoose is worth saving it's such a great frame and setup even the fork with it it's nice, such a great commuter set up or cruiser, I love these chromole frames I particularly always pick up Gary Fisher from the '90s late '80s if I'm lucky

[@Hyungbu]

Personally,Ilove learning while watching other people...I just replaced the shifters and cables on an old Sirrus. I had trouble adjusting them and now I see this slack in the cable video...I'll be fixing my cable tension tomorrow. Thanks.

[@ericsande5345]

Big fan of twist shifters. They just work.

[@Brother_Pugz]

Very relaxing and chill video! I love steel bikes! My wife picked a steel Univega bike out of the trash for me to refinish, some time ago.. This is a wonderful vid to get me in the mood for some restoration work. Thanks!

[@SeaCowsBeatLobsters]

Solid bike. Love to see it

[@AmusedDaffodils-mz5rw]

Solid forks are my favorite

[@johnnydoe66]

You're not the only one who has trouble with front derailleurs, triples are the worse.

[@joelweinberger3695]

Nice job working with an old bike. Williamson Bicycle Works went out of business in 2015. So yea, a tuneup was due.

[@paulnam4488]

Thanks for the good time in the garage.

[@rodrod5000]

Just a good old bike. Gotta love it.

[@No_ReGretzky99]

Hairspray teick with grips looove it im 38ndid that in all my gt performers and mt bikes gonna buy me a new mt bike aince hetting aober 5 YEARS ago looking at thr ozark trail at walmart i can work on bikes so ill run through it before def riding anywhere lol 🤣

[@brucejanson2849]

Good God! The handlebar extensions and the bike lock thing were way more dreadful than any d-disk.

[@bkefrmr]

lol, no doubt

[@tvsmed]

A tip to get rid of the stickiness of old plastic /rubber. I got an old nikon SLR a few years back. The top digital model 20 years ago: D70s. I put some isopropyl alcohol on all the surfaces just to clean it. Lo and behold, the stickiness was gone. Try it.

[@HappyCricketHelmet-pz5dg]

I spray Dawn Power wash on anything that hurts after a ride - makes me smell better at the same time

[@todddudgeon2320]

It’s not just a dork disk, it’s a Fresh dork disk.

[@georgemartinezjr]

Great Job

[@lauro195]

swag like always >:) love seeing Someone's bike get taken care of like hell yeah we appreciate the things we have

[@NKopp714]

I love how your stand (right around 23:30) just locks the bike from a downward angle to horizontal with a one handed "lift and lock" technique.

[@mattgies]

Most stands can do that, unless they're super cheap (his is not--a Park Tool PRS-3 with an EVT Right Arm Clamp upgrade). The entry level PCS-9 can do the same trick.

[@derpface1239]

They don't really make mongeese like they used to. This would be a great thing for us to tune up at our shop and would be around $265 before tax. We'd use SRAM grip shifters instead and replace the brake cables and housing as well since the front brake hous is kinked and they're just as old as the grip shifters, but as you said, if the customer wanted to keep cost down we wouldn't. We scrub the wheels down over a big garbage can, but if you like to get your workshop wet and sudsy I'm not one to judge! Also, Shimano makes a 7sp freewheel that has a built in dork disc, might be something to consider.

[@FuchsHorst]

ONE LESS CAR 🥰

[@LukeRichardson1981]

Some good bones on this bike, and a very nice colour as well. Definitely looks like it'd be a good commuter bike, and I rode something very similar when I was younger. However, if I was doing this rebuild I'd have trashed the grip shifters and gone with thumb trigger shifters - Microshift makes very nice trigger shifters as well. I'm also no fan of those old style bar ends, and use lock-on ergonomic grips with integrated bar ends instead, which look better and are just as comfortable. Love watching your videos, though - I do all of my own installation / maintenance work, and often learn something new by watching you work.

[@nicksfishroom915]

I've been removing spoke protectors from my bikes since the 80s. Love your channel but those things scream "I can't adjust a derailure and should go back to training wheels" 😅

[@philipsmith7662]

I always have problems with indexed shifters on front mech.The indexing won't allow you to trim the mech with the shifter to take the rubbing away. I use old friction left hand thumbshifters. That does it.Lov e the channel and your attitude to bikes.I might even try a dork disc one day

[@thesouthbaybikerider]

Tri flow and Dawn power wash are two products I’m going to use…thank you again for another wonderful episode.

[@bkefrmr]

Affiliate links in the description!

[@thesouthbaybikerider]

@@bkefrmr very cool! Thank You…love your channel.

[@synack42]

I've got a slightly older Mongoose Crossway in my fleet, just with cantis. Picked it up for $20 and basically needed the same upgrades. It turned into my default workout ride bike. Decent steel frame, 700C and suburban camouflage if you need to stop at the store on the way back...

[@frankieboie]

26:12 OPE!

[@myshihtzudontstink]

This is my zen

[@davidhakes5141]

For those bolts that are just a frog's hair too long, a washer usually does the trick.

[@No_ReGretzky99]

Cn u make a video on where u gt your tools?? Also how to do that link set after measuring chain?? Ghanks amazing videos

[@WildcatCougar]

Really with the hairspray still? This isn't 1995. I have a 3 gal compressor and a blow gun. No drying time needed. Sometimes the hairspray doesn't always dry or leaves the grips semi lubricated and they still can move.

[@robertmcfadyen9156]

Bottle of warm water is adequate .

[@mattdesmondwashere]

Water mixed with isopropyl alcohol works great also and evaporates quickly.

[@No_ReGretzky99]

Doesn't matter it's a oldie but goodie what he likes to do and how u like to do it as long as u get same experience 😁😂

[@tomrichards6207]

Greetings from Colorado, Bike Farmer. I've been rescuing and refurbishing bikes for the last 10 years. But it's gotten too expensive for me to continue. I've mainly concentrated my efforts into collecting/rescuing Made in U.S.A, early 1990s mountain bikes. Currently have a dozen or so mountain bikes, high end kids size frames, a cruiser or two, a couple road bikes, and a few other miscellaneous bikes. Wondering if you or someone you know, perhaps in Colorado, would be interested in trying to get these bikes back on the trails where they belong. Most of these bikes are of the V-brake and front suspension era. Or anyone reading this in Colorado give me a like and contact info in your comment to discuss details. Great opportunity for someone to help a bunch of kids, friends, neighbors, etc... I've been building and riding mountain bikes since 1985. Unfortunately my current budget is not allowing me to continue getting these vintage bikes back to people who could use and appreciate them.

[@04658IFH]

Fit is a great reason to save a bike like that. If the owner is comfortable on it, why risk buying a new one that might not fit as well?

[@awzonomous]

Do you have any recommendations for finding a color matched set of bike parts, beyond ebay, LBS, etc?

[@craigpuetz7020]

How about listing some of the replacement/upgrade parts you use as replacements along with the tools? You might even make a little affiliate cash!

[@johnhufnagel]

bikes, once you've ridden them for a while, are like a nice set of broke in shoes. you're better off keeping them in working condition than starting over.

[@cubo55]

Mr BikeFarmer! Im looking for a 90s/2000s mountain bike to restore and ride as my main bike! Prefer a hardtail, what would you recommend me to look for???

[@SeaCowsBeatLobsters]

What’s your opinion of the thick tri-flow?

[@user-lj9tk7ji1c]

Hello, bike farmer love your videos. I have been going through some health issues and getting back up. But being on disabilities having limited income. I have a Trek Fx1 that has been sitting in a basement for years and needs a tune-up. But I can't afford the 100-plus dollars it costs to get one. It is an upgraded bike with a Shimano Ultegra drivetrain triple-ring front crank. The bike looks pretty clean and it's one of the first Fx1 Trek models. I think it has a carbon fiber front fork too. Did Trek make those with that fork back then? Any advice you can give would help a lot thanks.

[@ClintDowd]

Keep using the dork disc!

[@peterbaskind9872]

Can I make a respectful suggestion? I don’t think you need the music. Natural sound might work better. Bob Ross didn’t use a music track (I don’t think, anyway.)

[@johnbutler2231]

How do you get enough slack in cables to get full serial number on the bottom bracket? There are cables through the frame

[@lorenwarren2097]

Just an odd question, What is your apron? It looks good heavy duty and well built. Thanks.

[@tonyjennison3199]

You could strip that frame to bare and spay it to new, of course it's worth it

[@marta150]

I did that once on an old trek rigid mountain bike. Painted it Robin's egg blue. Asssinine thing to do.

[@georgemartinezjr]

Does the Hair Spray help keep.them from.slipping??

[@DM-yh6ok]

You’re own guitar music?

[@xaviermann9963]

Where did you buy that Tri-Flow applicator?

[@OjStudios]

Any supplier for the Microshift stuff or do you order that stuff online where ever?

[@bloodonthesnow]

Spoke protectors wouldn't be so bad if they weren't made of cheap plastic that looks terrible and turns yellow in the sun and gets brittle. Metal ones are totally fine.

[@staticdisaster]

I would get one if they came in purple, to match my grips 😊

[@sklegg]

Are the big bike companies still putting grip shifters on commuter bikes? If they aren't, then why not?

[@hufnaglep]

Per the yoush... 😀.. I just got a single speed road bike off facebook 100$ good condition . cant wait to slowly upgrade it. Has blue tires i want black i think there 29inch . what's a good site to buy tires. Im in pa.

[@AmusedDaffodils-mz5rw]

I usually throw those bars away to I don't care for them

[@bradbell4055]

You put the rear tire on backward you must be watching me to i do something wrong on everything i touch

[@danger8430]

I'm sure that rear tyre is mounted backwards

[@bkefrmr]

I’m sure it really doesn’t matter

[@danger8430]

@@bkefrmr if it's good enough for who it's for, it's good enough. My eye for detail just couldn't ignore it.

[@ironray123]

Wisconsin=Wischeesecin=Cheesewhizcin=Geewhizcin

[@danovee9580]

Where can we get those micro shifters?

[@marta150]

Amazon

[@AmusedDaffodils-mz5rw]

The older bikes are built better they last longer to all my bikes are older and I've had them for years

[@mowglivapes7887]

It's taco time!

[@bkefrmr]

Thanks hey!!

[@bootchop88]

that saddle looks a little " farted out ".

[@whazzat8015]

Trouble with working on all these Walmart bikes is the parts fall apart and are not serviceable , so replacement is needed often in bulk. With a source of cheap replacements it then is just a lot of time spent. Waiting on cheap chinese parts is a burden, Available quality parts are 3X in cost. $300 to fix a $150 bike puts it on the curb for non hobbyists with lots of storage or inventory or for idle pros. Tune up can turn into a curb case fast, where decent parts need little. " the quality is the same as day one." huh , yep

[@pentiuman]

6:09 - Now quit goofing off, and get back to work!

[@ewenwilby6495]

23 minutes into the video and the front wheel is in the wrong way, I'll edit this if he spots and corrects this by the end of the video, I do love these restos he does though.

[@kenlang6672]

And with the way the world has gone you just might need to get another forty years out of it. I'm still finding too many good bikes at the curb on trash nights. Why send them to the landfill when all they need is some TLC?

[@ironray123]

And in today's episode of This Old Bike......another cheap 90's bike that was cheap even when it was new.....stay tuned for more hilarious hijinks.