The worst budget mountain bike I've tested - Mongoose Ledge X2 review.

I've been gone a while but now I'm back! This week, we're taking a look at the Mongoose Ledge X2 and why cheap bikes can get expensive fast.
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#Budgetbikes #mongoosebikes #MTBupgrades

[@GlorifyGodInEverything]

Please please new bike people, before spending your money, read this post so you can understand the reality of buying cheap with intentions on upgrading vs. buying a more expensive bike. I, like many of you, ran into a sinkhole as I got more into mountain biking with my new shiny red GT that I thought I could conquer the world on... Gt aggressor pro 499.99 at the time of purchase UPGRADES Fork 299.99 Dropper post 120.99 Seat 69.99 Stem 40.99 Handlebar 30.99 Headset 59.99 Stem spacers 9.99 1x drivetrain (crankarms, bottom bracket, chainring) 65.99 Pedals 35.99 Group set with clutched derailleur 135.99 Tires 180.99 Fatter tire tubes 30.99 Hydraulic brakes/rotors 109.99 Brake pads 24.99 Chain guide 35.99 Lock-on Grips 30.99 (Total cost of bike minus tools, tax, time and bike shop costs... $1,784.83 and 1,900.84 with 6.5% tax rate and this is still not including tools or bike shop trips) (Total cost of bike with tools and bike shop costs is probably around the $2,200+ USD mark-This includes brake bleed kit, pipe cutter, multi-tool, grease, cassette tools, drive train tools, fork tool, chain tool, fork pump, tire pump etc.) AT THIS POINT - I am so deep and I am still not satisfied with the XL Gt frame because of it's stand over height limiting me on more aggressive riding that includes jumps and deep descents literally because I cannot get the seat post any lower, and at this point I have already cut down the seat tube of the frame.... So here we go New XL frame with lower stand over height (at this point I have already regretted not buying a better bike) 300.99 for frame 59.99 for new headset 35.99 Swapped handlebars again for 780mm 40.99 New stem again because a bolt snapped in my old one that I couldn't get unstuck (was not lubed from factory, new one is lubed lesson learned) 10.99 Chain slap protector 12.99 Seat post clamp In conclusion... Ya.... Mountain biking is a cheap hobby once you get over the hump of actually buying what you need to start off with, which will include a helmet, gloves, tire pump, spare tubes, and a way to stay hydrated. Something to take away from this, to be completely setup and ready to ride with ease of mind, put away 1500$ to include the price of the bike and the essentials you need to have. If you want to see if you like mountain biking, this is the only time I would suggest buying a cheap bike with the intentions that you will buy a better bike if it's something you like, or sell the walmart bike if you decide it's not for you. There are also places that will let you rent good bikes which is a super cool way to get on the trails, you might get spoiled though lol.

[@TrailFeatures]

This.

[@guitarlessonsnow3431]

I would generally agree, but last year I was looking for a winter/beater bike to put my studded tires on and came across the Schwinn Boundary. I rode it for a season as-is but liked it enough to upgrade headset, fork, bars, stem, grips, seatpost and rear wheel (so I could run a cassette). Being taller, the 19” fits me well and some of the upgrades like bars and pedals, are things I would change on any bike, (I keep a bunch of spare parts for projects/upgrades). Trick is, learning when to stop upgrading, as now I’m thinking of swapping out the drivetrain…

[@t_c5266]

Or you could buy a $2000 bike that has the Same basic issue, worse or equal parts in all categories, and has just a fancy branding name on it.

[@GlorifyGodInEverything]

@@t_c5266 I would be curious as to what 2k bike and cheap bike you are comparing to have that mind set

[@GlorifyGodInEverything]

@@guitarlessonsnow3431 there is nothing wrong with that, I built a Schwinn that my wife liked and she has been having fun on it. There is no right or wrong when it comes to spending money on bike stuff. I just point out the easiest, most stream lined, cost effective way to end up with a good buy for the longer run. Least amount of headaches, most peace of mind, less money spent overall etc.

[@SkillsWithPhil]

But if you simply changed out the frame, suspension, the drivetrain, wheels it would be perfectly fine!

[@TrailFeatures]

This isn't wrong.

[@Spindatt]

I've done this: it does work.

[@thomasjanssen3643]

Dont forget about the brakes!

[@TrailFeatures]

Brakes just slow you down.

[@jasoncarli2617]

🤣

[@pipermoonshine]

for me the upgrading of a big box bike is part of the fun. I learn how to maintain a bike, I learn how to build a bike and I don't expect the bike to do anything more then what it will do on its own. I don't plan on going on major trails or down hill major rock structures. I love the idea of working on things seeing what I am capable of doing with tools and what not. While I don't have the ledge I have the Al Comp I am learning so much about myself and my abilities as an amature bike mechanic. that is what the appeal is to me and that makes the cost worth it to me. I don't see it as wasting my money I see it as an investment in myself and learning what is and is not possible. That being said, I still have to choose my canvas cuz if you have a bad canvas to begin with it does not matter the medium you use.

[@matthewtubbs1068]

I have this bike and it has been a champ on trail, it has hundreds a miles on it and continues to perform. I really enjoy this bike, it did need some tuning when I bought it.

[@firecrackerg60]

The bikes perfectly adequate, I've had crappier bikes and they've been fine, i find most of these channels over exaggerate a lot of things that a competent person could easily overcome, mountain biking has turned into a hobby for a lot of weirdo people recently.

[@dannyv5317]

I'm glad my first mtb was the Mongoose Ledge X1. It was a love/hate relationship. In stock, it was always breaking down (derailleur, BB, wheels, etcs). The good thing about it, I was able to replace it with affordable components from Amazon/Craigslist. It also taught me how to work on my mtb. After upgrades, it rode alot better than stock. I trashed it hard, it took it like a champ. Of course, it's ain't no enduro mtb, but I didn't fork out thousands of dollars to have a blast. It earned my respect that you don't need to be a snob to have name brand mtb to enjoy the sport. P.S. My 2nd mtb is a Specialized Status 160 LOL-can't have one mtb. My modified Ledge x1 is now my backup mtb-never forget where I started from.

[@NovaBlade926]

Same here, I got a brand new X1 for half the price, started upgrading it little by little, basically turned it into the X2, and it rides so much better than stock, a new Front & rear suspension is a must, plus decent shifters & derailer, then comes the weight cut phase where you get rid of the heavy parts, like the Steel Handlebar/stem & even the wheels

[@connorwetmore5404]

i’m looking at doing that, would you recommend building for cheap? cause i am on a budget

[@MtbLoner]

Everyone please note this is a full suspension bike for under $500uSd. You can't ruly expect golden performance with bike that cost so little. I've own and truly ride very hard my mongoose ledge x2. My bike was bought from Walmart and I just upgraded the drivetrain, and rear shocks. Bike performance really well. So please be mindful that it's a full suspension for under $500. Perfect for getting into mtb without breaking the bank Great video!!

[@PHFishingBiking]

I agree I own the ledgeX1 did a little to I ride it hard no problems at all have video to show.

[@pcdude2394]

I grew up in the 80s. Mongoose and Diamondback were the dream bike for BMX teenagers. At least Diamondback is still making very good mountain bikes.

[@MrHunterseeker]

Same. I grew up riding Huffies and BMX's. We all had them in my area because the closest bike shop was hours away at the closest major city, we didn't even have a bike shop in my states capital city back then. We all had big box store bikes and those things were freaking tanks. These youtube influencers are infomercial actors trying to sell everyone dentist bikes. The same factories that build all the name brand bikes build wal mart bikes, they are just built to different specifications. These guys don't take their bikes and tighten everything down on them after buying them, which they leave loose in the store on purpose to keep people from riding around on them in the store.

[@clark6667]

I remember my chrome Supergoose.

[@danp2509]

the quality of DB mountain bikes is good, shame the release hasn't had a refresh for at least 4 years

[@destinhook3826]

Mongoose has pro racers and has quality bikes on their website. Price to spec is not ideal though.

[@jared8530]

Yes cannot go wrong with Diamondback...GT makes a great bike as well.

[@DailyMTBRider]

I can't like this video enough - great job portraying the truth behind budget bikes Joe!

[@TrailFeatures]

A lot more nuance to dive into also. Follow up video is gonna be packed.

[@cooloutac]

This whole video is complete f****** b*******. Let me guess you run a bike shop too? Hahah

[@thiosemicarbizidebenzoylal2921]

You guys are way behind the times. That frame fully built in the cheap aftermarket would humiliate some 5k trail bikes with ease for less than 1,200 bucks guaranteed.

[@midodeeb6546]

Bro if you didn’t post your video about the gt bike I would have been perfectly fine and not complaining about how many problems my ledge x1 has

[@hansonwang2121]

He’s back! Trail Features is back! Tell a friend!

[@TrailFeatures]

Hahaha! Indeed!

[@EPR1994]

I’m $2k into my Ledge X1 but she have never disappointed me. Have take it out to a few trails and rip it without any issue.

[@PHFishingBiking]

Cool! I put a little in my X1 and I ride it super hard in all rocky conditions it held up fine the shifter stunk on it I recently replaced mine with a cheap shimano rapid fire shifter and now it shifts way better and don't pop into other gears anymore when riding.

[@daviddehass6877]

Some folks just don't understand there are a lot of folks that can't just 'buy a better bike' to begin with. I can afford to buy an Axum now and update it over the next couple of years. During that time I can figure out what works for me and what doesn't. Or, I can sit on rear and do nothing for the next couple of years while I save up my money to buy a finished bike that may not even work for me. That said, I really enjoyed the video and made sure to give it a thumbs up.

[@unlimitedpower0]

@@daviddehass6877 yeah I have to agree, it's a bit of weird price gatekeeping in mountain biking. Like I get that a 1500 dollar bike is going to be better than A 500 bike but folks gotta start somewhere and telling people the entry into your sport is 1500 bucks is a good way to literally turn normal people away. Then since your sport always stays niche, those 1500 dollar bikes stay 1500 dollars because only the most dedicated or wealthy are buying them.

[@TrailFeatures]

The message here isn’t buy $1500 bike, it’s that if you’re looking for your first bike, or on a tight budget, you’re gonna get a much better value (and safety) from a $500 Hardtail than a $500 full suspension bike. There’s a reason why I really emphasize people look at the Schwinn Axum, it’s a great value for the money.

[@elwoodkotil2538]

April 1 this year my cardiologist said to ride a bike! My local bike shop assembled my Ledge X2 and I loved riding it. Put a set of RockBros pedals on it and eventually in the next 30 days I upgraded everything but the frame, wheels, tubes, and the 180 rotor which I moved to the back. Rockshox Recon, DNM, Maxxis, Avid BB7, Funn bars, seat, upper and lower headset, IXF, Sram NX Eagle, etc... Loved it and the knowledge I gained building it with bike shop help was invaluable! They told me I should have got a HT first so I built a total upgrade Kent Trouvaile similar to the Ledge. I also loved it and I was now prepared to buy and build my Ibis Ripmo AF which is beyond description as to performance, appearance, and value! Because of my Mongoose and my Kent I would not have known why MTB's cost so much. I still love all 3 of myMTB's

[@TrailFeatures]

That's the hardest part about this: Assumption everyone has the time, interest, and money to upgrade these bikes. Some pro riders don't even have a desire to learn more than the basics. Not for ego, but just not their strongest skill. Moreover, it's just a tricky topic to cover. When you see every comment that gets dropped on my budget videos you see everything from people saying they would never spend more than $100 for a bike, to people laughing at anything under $5k. Many people just want to get out on a bike, which is why I think the Axum is the best overall option. It's still got some janky parts that may break, but they spent less on the bike upfront, and have less that can go wrong. I mean, shoot. The Axum is on sale for less than $300 right now. Hard to argue with that: www.walmart.com/ip/Schwinn-Axum-Mountain-Bike-8-Speeds-Large-19-Inch-Men-s-Style-Frame-29-Inch-Wheels-Black/288838682

[@elwoodkotil2538]

@@TrailFeaturesBeing 75 my back really appreciates those air shocks. The DVO is incredible!

[@chrisjones7281]

100% agree. I bought a mongoose Ardor for my son as he needed a bigger bike than his small 26er he was growing out of.. Good Geo was the driving force. The Bike cost 298. I scrapped EVERYTHING except frame. Now it was a 300 Ardor frame. For 100 more and could have got him a Ragley MMM bop with better geo and boost spacing .. So it was a fun expensive project that aside from the joy of building bikes I wouldn't recommend either. Glad to see you back!!!

[@TrailFeatures]

Yeah... I get the draw of having a project bike and really pushing a cheap bike to the limit. But that's only viable if you have the means and desire to invest into a project like that.

[@GrnArrow092]

I once bought a Mongoose full suspension mountain bike from Walmart. This had to be more than 10 years ago. Anyway, I can say that I'll never buy another Walmart mountain bike. One time I was riding my bike down the road and somehow, the deraileur got caught and was actually bent 180 degrees backward. It bent the chain and deraileur. I also got sick of the bouncy rear suspension and it squeaked when the rear shock was compressed. I stopped riding it after more than a year and eventually got rid of it when I bought a better hard tail mountain bike. That was my first and only Mongoose that I have ever bought. Every bike since then was an entry level Gary Fisher or Cannondale because I used my bike for transportation and never rode it on trails. That experience did teach me one thing. I prefer hard tail bikes better than full suspension bikes.

[@echobenav8]

Welcome Back! Great to see you making videos again. Your original Axum video got me started in mountain biking. Rode mine for 800+ miles and learned a lot from it. Now I'm on a Ripmo AF and love it. Thanks for getting riders like me started on this awesome hobby.

[@keosoutdooradventures]

the Polygon D5 at $800 right now is hard to beat for budget full suspension. the Axum imo is still a decent deal as most other bikes has gone up in price

[@TrailFeatures]

It's better, but I'd still argue that a hardtail is a better bang for buck since you get better overall components.

[@mrvwbug4423]

By the time you've added passable upgrades to the D5 you've probably exceeded the cost of the D7, adding good upgrades and you might as well just get something like an Ibis Ripley AF. In the sub 2k price range I would definitely go for a good hardtail like a Trek Roscoe

[@Bengy22]

Axum is even more so a decent deal when you realize the price has gone down to currently being on sale for $228

[@aslmx1918]

I just ordered the Axum. Starter bike for me at 53 years old. If I stick with it I’ll upgrade a long the way.

[@aslmx1918]

I looked at the d5 but it’s not a 29 and to get a large it was $1000 with shipping.

[@Bobo-ym1df]

3:40 I work at a trek store and we had a boxed up rail 9.8 around 9,100$ ebike that arrived at the store and ups during shipping folded the box on one end and destroyed the rear wheel.

[@TrailFeatures]

UPS heard “If it fits it ships!” And misunderstood the assignment.

[@km006]

Been rewatching multiple videos of yours for some time now, we're glad to have you back Joseph!

[@dylan-5287]

Good to see you back man! Always really enjoyed your videos. Hopefully it's not just a quick visit!

[@RealDorianGray453]

Hey man, it's good to see you back!!! Great video: funny, interesting and informative! Keep going, looking forward to seeing more.. :)

[@ariusbarraknovoaarias5531]

happy to see you again after a long time I really missed seeing one of your videos, I hope you can continue with the good content and above all the good video format, the best of blessings for you. greetings from Chile 🙌💪💪

[@CaliradoKid]

This bike disappointed Joe more than a Calirado Kid KZbin video! 😂

[@TrailFeatures]

💀

[@iffy_too4289]

Awesome video. So happy you're back!

[@mkgearhead5151]

I bought a used Schwinn Boundary a few weeks ago with the same broken B screw mount on the Pro Rush derailleur. I was able to use a mount from an old Shimano derailleur that I had in the parts bin and make it work. Also, the Schwinn Axum is on sale at Walmart for $228 right now.

[@jsrocker248]

Just a bit over a year ago, I bought a used Hardtail (2019 Marin Nail Trail 6) for $500, which at retail cost about 1300 that came stock with sram NX derailleur, shimano brakes, and the entry level rockshox recon fork. Today, I have upgraded almost everything except the frame, derailleur, rims, and brakes at least to a point where I think the bike keeps the same tech level it was at, just with better components that make the riding experience better and is great to look at. Even found a fox 36 kashima and converted it to a 140 travel for 300 before shipping (I know its overkill but if you were the one riding with the recon fork, you would definitely be looking for anything else to ride, which I was but then stumbled upon said fork). Other things here and there have probably made the bike at least worth 2000 with added brand new components except fork. That being said, since this was my first true mountain bike that had great components to work with and a frame that is really light in my opinion and could tackle DH like nothing, I still would do it all over again just for the fact of the learning experience I went through with it. Learned so much from maintenance to assembly to even the rare or uncommon practices that one tends to go with the bike and yet have to have the right tool(s) to even consider getting the job started. I have no plans in selling it since I love the color scheme, the way it shreds, plus all the added components were literally bought from far off distances when I travelled that would've probably been hard to come by online in the first place. Even so, think thats as far as I'm willing to take the plunge for new components (although a brand new brake set and rims have been whispered to me and still on the fence about it lol). But might as well start raising up for a full sus since I've been wanting one for a while now, looking at that santa cruz tallboy, maybe stick with a marin rift zone carbon, canyon spectral or neuron, or commencal meta or clash. So in the meantime Ill ride my zombified bike like it was meant to.

[@MattyActive]

The man is back! Awesome video, haven’t missed a beat

[@TrailFeatures]

Only took me a year. 😅

[@CPsGarage]

I bought the X1, Lucky for me I only paid $200 for it because Walmart screwed up. I basically stripped it down to the frame and restarted. But I'm also mechanically inclined. Save a ton doing my own work. Was able to find a bunch of higher end new take off parts for cheap on eBay. Kept the total price below $1000. I had a out the same problems. My derailleur exploded it's self and rims were bent in shipping. But I like building and tinkering with stuff so building it cheap was my goal. I was able to do and now it's rides great.

[@goldzeriteminer]

Love the video. Great to see someone riding around in my backyard. Cherry Creek has a decent park that could use some more love. Can't wait for more local content in the future.

[@theshonen8899]

FYI the people who assemble the Walmart bikes aren't Walmart employees, they're independent bike mechanics on contract. I met a lovely bike mechanic couple that did an incredible job setting up my Mongoose XR-Pro back in the day.

[@TrailFeatures]

I’ve heard mixed information on this. I wonder if they lean on employees if there aren’t any LBS mechanics locally available. 🤔

[@NonLegitNation2]

is that how it is nowadays? Way back in 2004 I worked at Walmart, as a Walmart employee and my only job back then was to build bikes with another guy, it was a great job.

[@thinkingagain5966]

@@NonLegitNation2 that's why I wouldn't buy a Walmart bike

[@russscott8650]

Walmart corporate tasked many a different vendor with the assembly of their bikes. These people get paid per bike. So, the faster they assemble, the more money they make, plus Walmart does NOT care if the bike has small issues. They have mandated that these assemblers watch basic videos on assembly consisting of "install tires, seats, pedals and handlebars." That's ALL they do.

[@im_illegal]

honestly a trek marlin 5 is a really good beginning trail bike, i’ve been able to ride mine on really technical black diamonds and it’s still alive.

[@RunBikeMike]

A lot of very solid points. The best thing we can do as consumers is be educated on what we are buying. If the manufacturers won’t take your advice of making a single good product in a category we can learn what is good and what isn’t and refuse to buy the brands that only make junk. As for budget bikes becoming more popular it is really only because bikes that would have been $700 are now $1500. So the consumer hasn’t changed its mind that an expensive bike is $700. They go to a bike shop and only see 4 digit bikes and look else where. Like you said there are some good budget bikes but you have to know what to look for and sadly most don’t. Great video.

[@jaywolff16]

I've been riding a Ledge X1 for over a year now with great success. I'll send this bike down anything within my riding abilities just as hard as my $4000+ trail bike. However, I did replace every single component on the bike. These bikes just aren't meant to be ridden off-road stock. I never even bothered test riding it while it was stock. Most people buying budget bikes already know they have crap components from the factory and are upgrading them. Every single complaint you had about the bike is due to the cheap components. The frame itself is not bad (assuming you replace the pivot bearings as you mentioned). If Mongoose sold the bare frames and you installed your own preferred components I guarantee your review would not be as harsh. If you are mechanically inclined and are willing to upgrade the bike yourself then the Ledge X1 or X2 are great options for beginners or even intermediate level riders. If you just want a bike that performs well out of the box, you shouldn't be looking at bikes in this price range. Mongoose, if you're listening.. My only complaint is the 27.2 inner diameter seat tube, would love to run a 150mm or 175mm dropper post but due to the skinny seat tube best I can get is a 125mm PNW Rainer dropper.

[@TrailFeatures]

I think that last part is really the issue. Those looking for a bike ready to go are often those on the tightest budget, or don’t understand just how limited most Walmart bikes are out of the box.

[@elwoodkotil2538]

@@TrailFeatures Being totally new I did not know anything but my Walmart big box bikes put me in a good place inexpensively! I have no complaints and thank you Walmart!

[@iffy_too4289]

What has the total cost been to get your Ledge to where it is now?

[@mrvwbug4423]

But what's the point, by the time you've made that bike safe to ride you could've probably bought a Trek Roscoe or Giant Fathom or any number of other decent hardtails for the same money. Even with semi-decent budget full sus like the Polygon D7 or Giant Stance, by the time you've addressed the weak points you're in the price range of something like a Ripley AF and still don't have the geo or suspension kinematics to go full send.

[@jaywolff16]

@@mrvwbug4423 Ngl, i view the ledge x1/x2 as a $400/$500 project frame. The stock components are trash. Name a single other $500 "full suspension" frame that can compete with it. Nothing comes to mind. Yes, Polygon has decent options but its going to cost a couple extra hundred for the frame. Sure the components are a bit better, but I'm not going to run for example a 9 speed microshift drivetrain even if it has a clutch or mt-200 brakes. All the parts are still going to be replaced at the end of the day. So for me the best value of budget bikes is 100% in the frame. The title of this video is 100% accurate. Don't expect to pay $500 and have a good time. Building up a proper mtb is going to be costly. Everyone is complaining that upgrading to nice parts isn't worth it for some reason, but if you have nice brakes, wheels, fork, drivetrain, etc, all these parts can be transferred from this bike to your next bike. Yeah, you might not be able to transfer the dropper or shock to your next bike, but pretty much everything else can be transferred over so most upgrades are future proof. I do agree the geo / limited suspension travel isn't ideal and that's why I can't recommend it for pro riders or any discipline other than xc

[@techjeeper8800]

This video explains why I bought a base model Vitus Sentier rather than a Wally World bike and building etc. It has had zero issues for 12 months. Air fork, 1x10, boost frame and fork, actual tubeless wheels AND tires, etc. Haven’t spent a dime on it for repair, even the tires are factory still. Pedals and a seat is all I bought for it. It’s a little over the $1000 number you talked about but it’s a frame that truly good parts could go on.

[@mrvwbug4423]

Same, when I got back into biking in 2019, I opted to get a Giant Talon rather than a big box bike. While the Talon is nothing special as just a basic entry level XC hardtail, I still have it, and it will legitimately ride real trails without breaking, albeit at a much slower speed than my Ibis Ripmo AF does. It was a great purchase to get back into the sport after not having been on a bike since I was a teenager.

[@Graeleaf]

I have a Ledge X2. I wanted to see if I could do a bargain bike build with it. I stripped it to the frame and rebuilt it with modern components, like a Box three by nine drive train and DUB bottom bracket and Sram NX cranks. It has become my go-to XC/gravel bike. Works great in this role. I had a lot of fun doing it, but it's no longer a bargain build. 😁🤘

[@TrailFeatures]

Hi.

[@Mike22313]

Sorry but you wrong. Mongoose not really manufactured this bikes, they order it OEM, and pre assembled it at best (oftenly not, work time not cheap at US). So they not beneficial for streamlining they prodaction line, they dont realy do much. So diversity is beter solution to lure new less experienced owners. Its make more money

[@cletusowns]

hi

[@yuechenli2131]

Good to have you back!

[@Bartekelk5]

Welcome back to the Internet! 😁

[@ChannelZeroOne]

There is no such thing as a reliable bike. They are all money pits. There are memes on this. My dumb ass buys the most expensive bike in 2020, and I can tell you it was a pos.

[@simonm1447]

A couple of years ago I was looking for a MTB, at the end I chose a Scott Aspect, a beginners XC hardtail I rode during vacation from a bike rental. It's just a hardtail, but it offers brand components (Shimano) and it never suffered from the problems of this Mongoose. It brings hydraulic brakes with it, and a Suntour XCR fork. The shifting offers a Deore derailleur and Acera 9 speed shifters - this combination works pretty good, for not that much money (I later upgraded another bike with the same shifting).

[@JRvillablancademendoza]

You’re back!! That makes me happy! I watched a TON of your videos before I bought my own hardtail bike from REI. Learned a lot of technical tips from you and now riding my MTB is the best time of my week, almost every week. I agree about Mongoose. My friend has one but it has too many issues. I would spend another few hundred bucks and get a much better built bike and ride with confidence the bike won’t fall apart!

[@theodoredobrowolski8525]

Here In Canada Diamondback bikes are sold in department store I have a Hardtail it is one of the best bikes I have had and maybe worth upgradeing for me.

[@brycebonilla4288]

I’ve been mountain biking for 3 years and I was 12 when I started to get into it. I didn’t have a bike at the time and the search for a good bike would lead me to videos saying “here is this super cheap bike that’s only $1200” Of course I didn’t have a job and my parents couldn’t pay for it, so I started reselling electronics for profit to try and save up for a bike. I went with a GT Aggressor I bought used for $250. Over time I scrounged for super cheap upgrades and ended up with a decent mountain bike. In fact when I went to sell it I actually made about $200 from what I payed for it. But buying my next bike, a specialized rockhopper elite opened my eyes to a whole new world. I now race very competitive xc and am saving for an S Works Epic, at over $8000. To any beginners reading this, SPEND THE MONEY ON A GOOD BIKE. I was in your shoes, when it was atrocious to spend more than 700 on a bike, but it will be the greatest purchase you ever make, I promise.

[@adan7949]

The GT aggressor! such a fun bike for beginners, I still have mine from the early 2000's, I had a ton of fun with it as a kid

[@1pho3nixmatt]

Brilliant video as always.

[@NaZ-rs1dd]

man I take my hat off to you for having patience. i would have lost it and ended up in the loony home

[@mrguppy1016]

I like the last advise great clip

[@pondgators]

Awesome video! Your channel seems really cool! Just subbed too👍

[@1taylorrg]

On the $600 to $1000 range bike. I just bought a Trek Marlin 7 in the price range. I absolutely love it. Love your channel

[@TrailFeatures]

Matty would approve.

[@trailsdetails4061]

This was extremely well done, I love that you didn't just take it down a double black trail, it broke down and therefore said it sucks. You went on a trail that someone who actually buys this bike would go to, and man it didn't hold up well. Full sus is all the rage, but any sensible person should go out an buy a hardtail. I started on a $700 hardtail and that thing was still super fun to ride, AND it held up really well with how much abuse it saw over the years.

[@TrailFeatures]

That was really how I wanted to show this. In fact, I cut out a lot of riding footage talking about how even if someone bought this for riding on rough roads it would still be more harsh than a budget hardtail.

[@Tommyg884]

Glad to have you back joe! Hope you stay happy and healthy! Cheers man!

[@Tommyg884]

Yeah right

[@TrailFeatures]

These scam comments are endless…

[@Tommyg884]

I know right!

[@User-gy9ho]

I got this bike for $100 on marketplace and it still had the tags on it from the store, after tightening everything up and tuning the derailleur after many failed attempts, a little bit of lock tite, cleaning, and lubing it shifts pretty good now, just waiting on some cheap hydraulic brakes to come in and a cheap rear shock and I will be in $180 total, really only using to it commute so this is more than enough for what I need

[@wolkuz]

Welcome back!

[@vitoonto]

Nice to see vids from you again!

[@TrailFeatures]

Hey, thanks!

[@johnb9005]

I have a 2014 Mongoose Switchback 29er mountain bike with about 9,000 miles on it. It is my main mode of transportation. I ride some easy to moderate dirt trails, and it performs fine. The bike has been very reliable. I have always been able to ride it even when the seat post bolt broke and the rear derailleur cable broke. The retail price is $350.00. I bought it new on clearance in 2019 for $170.00. It has front suspension and front and rear quick releases for the axles.

[@brockweaver8476]

I got lucky. I’ve only had hardtails for years and finally splurged on a nice full suspension and I see why it’s worth spending the money

[@330_Crew]

After your hiatus and return I've been going back and watching your older stuff. Your cinematography and story telling is so good. If it weren't for your hiatus, I'd bet you'd be at 100K+ subscribers by now. I hope your back now for good and keep on producing content. I'm looking forward to it.

[@czechnolike]

Man, I remember when mongoose was high end. However, their BMX bikes, direct buy, at my local BMX tracks are decent! But, my nicer hardtail, $2k, has been very good. Really don't care for the suspension when everything works all the time. Great video.

[@destinhook3826]

Mongoose has pro racers and they sell quality bikes on their website. Price to spec isn’t that great tho.

[@KyleKnoblauch]

Mongoose did make a good entry level mountain bike, it was 2008 Amasa Comp.... Mine still runs like a dream with a trip to Bicycle Village every 6 months for a tune up. For anyone that doesn't know, that frame comes with a Sram XS rear derailleur paired with an SR SunTour front derailleur, 180 mm front Tektro disc and 160 mm rear, as well as an SR SunTour X100 front fork. Also came with Alex Wheels and Kenda tires. I'm currently rolling on Continental Cross Kings. You can find one of these bikes in good shape for less than $200, which makes a helluva lot more sense than wasting $500 at Walmart....

[@TheFreshPeddler]

geometry of the amasa looks short and tall even for 2008 standards.

[@aaronbehindbars]

Yes! He's back at it! I love how videos like this are very much a counter-point to Kev Central's videos. I think there is some merit to buying what you can afford and upgrading as you go. I don't think a big box full suspension frame makes the best platform for that sort of thing. Looking forward to the Axum's finale.

[@TrailFeatures]

I'm a big fan of Kev! I think he's a good reminder that not everyone wants to send 5ft drops. Many people just want to get out and enjoy nature. That said, I think the Ledge x2 just tries too hard to be everything to everyone without the budget to back it up.

[@aaronbehindbars]

@@TrailFeatures Kev makes it very clear he is an average rider who isn't into hucking off drops and such. Different horses for difference courses, as they say. The variety of bicycle content on youtube makes for a very fun time seeing all the different viewpoints that exist. Love seeing two different people tackle the same bike and coming away with very different opinions.

[@paths2go]

great honest review!

[@alanpilibosian1979]

Really enjoyed this video Joseph! Subscribed!

[@alanpilibosian1979]

Joseph, I received a message from someone claiming to be you saying that I won a giveaway. Is this legit?

[@TrailFeatures]

NOPE! These are those scam comments that have been plaguing KZbin for the past year.

[@alanpilibosian1979]

@@TrailFeatures Thanks! I thought it was too good to be true. Freakin scammers....Go earn an honest living!!!

[@adamdavis354]

He’s back! Good to see you on here man!!

[@kingdomculture5743]

"A metal so strong, it's used in spacecraft!" I remember that my second bike as an adult was a Mongoose from Walmart. Took it home and excited to ride it. I discovered the front wheel had the bearings fall out. Took it back and got my money back. Being a kid I wanted a Mongoose back in the 80s. Finally got one as an adult, and it did not work out.

[@sburton015]

I remember when I bought a similar bicycle for a similar price of just under $500 from Wal Mart. It was the Mongoose Blackcomb bicycle that I remember buying back in 2006. I remember that I rode it for a few months, but I remember some issues such as the pedals hitting the ground everytime I turn due to them being too low and then one day, I remember that the derailer suddenly get twisted into the spokes and thats what ended it for me. Me, I haven't bought any bikes from Wal Mart for the past decade, I now buy them from a local bike shop called Steve's Bike Shop which sells good brands like Felt, Fuji, Cannondale, Giant, Trek, and also Schwinn (before 1990 bicycles only). The "mountain" bicycles that you find at Wal Mart might be ok for very light use such as occasionally riding a smooth short trail in the back yard or riding to a neighbor's house but thats about it.

[@volli56]

What is the brand of the shifters derailleurs, cassette sprockets and gear levers

[@daltonramsey9585]

Back around 2015, I really wanted a Kona Unit. I ended up buying a Gravity 29er Singlspeed from Bikes Direct. I put qr wheels on it and set it up tubeless, a surly cog, a new crankset, raceface bars and grips, hussafelt stem, avid speed dial levers, and bb7 brakes. I ended up spending more on that build than the Kona unit. I sold it and bought a bike I really wanted. Lesson learned. Buy once, cry once. I did end up buying another gravity ss later for a beater bike/loaner. Prior to the pandemic, I got great deals on bikes that cost way less than trying to turn cheaper bikes into bikes I wanted. I got a jamis dragonslayer 26+ on close out for around $900, 2018 Marin pine mountain for $730, a Raleigh Willard 3 for $780, a Bianchi Lupo for $550. Any of those bikes were bikes I’d be happy to own for the rest of my life. They’re an investment.

[@DeeEight]

15 years ago, a full suspension at this price point could be had with a plain old 3x7 drivetrain but the coil shock would have an actual damper at the center of it, and linkage would be equipped with rubber sealed cartridge bearings. Raleigh Canada had a model sold thru Canadian Tire that was essentially the same frame as a KHS XC 204 from a couple model years earlier, with a pretty basic suntour coil-elastomer fork. But the frame was good enough to be worthy of upgrades as it was essentially identical to one KHS sourced from the same factory in Asia, and just hung better parts on. But these days, consumers are too easily convinced that you HAVE to have a 1x drivetrain of some kind for the bike to be "cool", and so we get stuff like this Mongoose with a crappy rear derailleur, unlubricated bearings, cheap shocks which are little more than a guide for a coil spring, and so forth.

[@mountainbikingwithalan]

Mongoose: shit we just fucked up Joseph:no shit But it's great to have you back🤟🏽🤘🏽

[@olinek-sp1dh]

Amazing!

[@noejuliansaavedra]

In my country, Walmart no longer sells bicycles due to the enormous number of lawsuits that the store has accumulated in the last 5 or 6 years. All these flaws that you listed in your video made bicycles a danger to the public. Walmart simply does not want to pay an extra salary to an expert bicycle mechanic, nor does it want to be held responsible for the damage or poorly assembled bicycle equipment of the brand owners. It is reasonable from the point of view of your walmart sales policies.

[@mellissanash7517]

Excellent video!

[@TrailFeatures]

Glad you liked it!

[@CheeZyNutZ]

Idk man a simple derailleur and rear shock upgrade doesnt sound too bad to me. I got the ledge x1 today and yea the derailleur is junk and my rear shock squeaked pretty bad too but its a $400 bike that has alot of value for that price and even more potential for that price

[@adamrodriguez1532]

glad that i did not experience what you went through but I have since replaced the wheelsets and gone tubeless along with a full microshift drive train (gears, derailleur, shifter, chain). I do hear some slag in the frame along with the rear brake cable. While the brakes do bite well, they squeal like mad, guess I don't need a bell when I'm behind someone, they already know.

[@wish2fish37]

Recently got a beat up mongoose ledge 2.1 and the rear wheel wobbled and took it off and I see there is slop in rear hub.Alsosee there is ball bearings only on one side of the bike.Is actually possibly only to have bearings on one side of an axle.Haven’t worked on bikes much and trying to figure out what the deal is and if I am missing parts on the axle?.

[@briannewsome9038]

The Mongoose Title and Title Elite BMX Race bikes are on point.... they nailed it in that category

[@camilosixtino]

Hi from Mexico, what are your thoughts on low level or entry level good brands like Giant, Trek or Spz? I mean those 500 dollar are better spent on a good low level entry brand?

[@jamespond260]

I would highly recommend searching in the used bike market, especially if you know how things are supposed to be on a bike. If not, find someone who does. If you have to pay them, it's still going to be cheaper.

[@RichardTanimal]

More power man

[@jbstillman]

I have a Schwinn ascension i bought for the frame... until i have money to put into it, I've taken it out a few times (after a complete disassembly and rebuild of course, since they're never put together right)... it's actually done really well. I took it out the other week while my nice bike was getting some upgrades done and it did well on a 12 mile single track ride with some moderate technical terrain. The shifting has yet to fail or drop the chain (it has the 1x8 pro rush) and my only major complaint is the stock tires are not aggressive enough (i slipped in a few spots that 2 of my other bikes never had issues with). After buying this bike, I do fully understand everything in this video, what you're getting, the bad assembly you get, the shortcuts that were taken, etc. It will make for some good upgrades later on though :)

[@mrgaminduck5544]

i got a bike from canadian tire for around $550 and it is amazing weirdly enough. I have had some issues with it after over a year of use. those being brake pads and derailleur. but those were easy to fix, even for someone like me

[@Thatdudedoes]

Such a thorough and honest review. Well done Sir! I just pulled the trigger on a Diamondback Sync'r for $750.00 during their black Friday sale. I think it was a great deal but I would love to hear your thoughts on it.

[@EBikeBuilder_]

i put a 750W mid drive on a "Pro Rush" derailleur equipped bike, where it promptly dropped the chain into the chainstays, completely jamming between the frame and the wheel, going 30 mph, twisting up the derailleur all up and over itself, and that was it for the Pro Rush, Rest In Peace. It seemed like the clutch made it shift worse.

[@MFfrost85]

The Cherry Creek Trail is one of the funnest trails! I ride it from downtown to the reservior once a week!!

[@Frdd2290]

Wow I have the mongoose ledge X1 I been slowly upgrading it. I have had zero issues. Also I still have the same drivetrain. No problems here at all works fine. Not the the best but works fine.

[@PHFishingBiking]

I have one also and upgraded a couple things on it and I ride it in rough rocky conditions it works fine... best upgrade cheap $20 shimano rapid fire shifter makes it work so much better than the stock one!

[@hariman7727]

My big issue right now is that my back tire keeps popping inner tubes at a ridiculous rate. It's getting to the point that if the last few inner tubes I have pop at anything less than 5 or 6 months total, I'm just going to get a solid tire so that I have something that will never pop.

[@SemiSendy]

Sketchy at best, but honestly just plain hazardous for a bike like this to be labeled for off road use, yet alone being commissioned for a casual cruise down a local greenway. Great video front to back, Joe. Well worth the wait on this one!

[@skinnyslide]

From someone who has built up a mongoose full suspension bike with good parts with good results it can be a capable bike on a budget but you have to be mechanically inclined enough to do all your own work and shop smart..some budget new parts and some used parts and your buddy's take offs are the way to go Then you could edges your way into a cable bike while still being able to ride and build your skills in the meantime also while figuring out what you like and don't like that way you actually know what you want when your ready to spend big money

[@skinnyslide]

I bought a mongoose blackcomb off marketplace for $25 built it over time like 2 years while I rode the crap out of it and upgraded things as they broke and shoped smart. all in I had about $500 in a very capable bike and and was able to build my skills until buying exactly what I wanted (stumpjumper) now all of those parts except the rear shock are on a Cannondale hard tail frame I saved from a trash pile so I have a nice hardtail and a nice full suspension

[@maysgt500]

He is back. Missed u bro. Lots of love from Kenya 🔥

[@TrailFeatures]

🙌

[@JoshuaDomoslai]

The only Walmart bikes I’ve gotten were for my kids who are just gunna ride it around in front of our house and end up trashing them and end up getting tossed. But my local Walmart in socal actually has a legit bike shop come in a big work van and assemble the bikes. Every so often I see them out back assembling bikes on stands and they look quite professional. But either way the old saying: “buy once cry once” Its always best to just hold out and save money and get something quality.

[@iamme3364]

He. Is. Back!!!!

[@Kaspurr84]

This is the kind of bike I feel steers people away from actually becoming a passionate rider and progressing themselves

[@randabuffer6562]

Thanks for this vid, I’ve always wanted to try a x2 even though I own a much higher dollar bike, I guess I just like the frame.

[@TrailFeatures]

Much better frames out there.

[@mattyfrommacc1554]

How can my 40-year-old XT rear mech on my retro bike still fully working and a brand new one is broken already, terrible

[@letour32rr]

I thought it’d be a fun “parts bin upgrade” frame until I saw that the main pivot was behind the bottom bracket, meaning pedal bob city on the climbs.

[@TrailFeatures]

It’s definitely an issue with a coil shock that has zero rebound or compression damping. I was not exaggerating that it took way more energy than it should’ve to climb up even basic hills.

[@letour32rr]

@@TrailFeatures I had a Titus Motolite that had a similarly placed main pivot that had terrible pedal bob (Squat) even with a freshly rebuilt Fox Float RP23 in firm mode. Extremely active on the downhills though.

[@mrvwbug4423]

Yeah that rear suspension design looks like somebody ordered a Horst Link off of Wish, I was surprised it wasn't single pivot

[@330_Crew]

Walmart Goose or bike shop brand, I never recommend buying an entry level full suspension bike. Just way too many sacrifices made to offset the additional cost of a full suspension frame/shock with cheaper components. Your almost always better off with a hardtail at the same price point with better OEM components.

[@mrvwbug4423]

For full sus, I wouldn't seriously look at something under 2k, and for the 2-3k range it better be something with a good frame with upgrade potential like a Giant Trance, Trek Fuex EX, or a Stumpy. Those entry level builds aren't great, but they're usually fine for someone's first full sus, they tend to at least have reliable components unless they specced with SX or NX eagle, but better components can be added later on like upgrading the RS recon or 35 to a Pike, and swapping the SX or NX derailleur for GX, and Deore 4 pots.

[@adamkuehn1733]

What are some good budget full suspension MTB. I was considering the ledge x2 or the impasse. I think since mongoose went with Walmart they went cheaper with quality.

[@TrailFeatures]

For full suspension, budget would be between $1,500-$1,900 new. There are a lot of great options from Polygon, Marin, and GT. A lot of bike shops are having some major fire sales right now because they are so overstocked, so hunt around locally and you may find some awesome deals.

[@cameronbarber3768]

Man I had the same issue with my pro rush derailleur on my Schwinn Taff, the chain kept slipping between the cage and the jockey wheel. Was really frustrating for sure, though I haven't seen the same issues with the micro shift systems

[@mrleo2364]

I bought a mongoose bike xrpro and after a year i start replacing pretty much everything then i was looking for upgrading my ride and i bought a yt decoy and i know the different on price is huge but it worth it.

[@HeroinesHeroH]

The topic of "bike worth upgrading" is overall very interesting. I just bought a Fuji nevada 1.7 from a good sale. I decided to throw some sale Deora components at it and -while the internet thinks I should've saved for a more expensive bike- it transformed the bike for the better. Now should I continue making this -non tapered headtube, etc- cheapo better for my everyday +trails? Idk.

[@SmokeyVlogs]

hope they constructively use the feedback instead of judging on it

[@brettn4337]

G'day from downunder Joseph, good to see you back. Question for you, do they sell Merida bikes in the US ? Although they aren't "big box" bikes they seem to make really good value for money trail bikes

[@mtb_alan]

Great review! NGL, I keep hearing "Footprint in the sky" being sung by Norman Greenbaum.

[@TrailFeatures]

That would be an interesting cover.

[@mtb_alan]

@@TrailFeatures 🤘🏾🎸

[@anorak_2902]

Are those rock gardens new its Ben awhile since I've ridden there because last time I died

[@dillonbailey7791]

whats a better option for the same price