I don’t know of many that go smaller from there either. Hopefully mongoose fat bike 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. 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. There is a low level shimano hydraulic disc brake kit that is SO NICE compared to the cable disc brakes.
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, mongoose bicycle 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.
They are not hydraulic and even I could feel that when testing myself. The job is getting done but there is more arm pump and fatigue when wrestling more weight with a lower grade brake system. Mongoose’s website just says “aluminum” for their unbranded brakes.
Bikes are expensive, you see, and there are just too many options. To the uninitiated, a $400 mountain bike looks pretty similar to a $5,000 bike, so why wouldn’t you just get the cheaper one? Maybe even the Mongoose Switchback Expert, on sale at your local Dicks Sporting Goods department store. Moreover, the stability isn’t just about the ability to stay upright over rough terrain; it’s also about the confidence that these bikes instill in their riders. With the superior grip and balance, even novice riders can venture off-road and tackle trails they would never have tried before. Very few bike companies build 24-inch fat bikes.
Mongoose offers an array of models that are specifically designed to suit different riders and terrains. Here are some top models in the Mongoose fat tire bike series that you might consider. With that said, the bike handled as a fat bike should.
Brands include Specialized, Mongoose, Polaris, Kona, Gravity, Kawasaki, Borealis and more! Manufacturers are creating frames out of tons of different materials including aluminum, carbon, titanium, bamboo, real steel, and Wal-Mart steel. Most fat-bikes that you will come across have a fully rigid frame. However fat bikes with front fork suspension and full-body suspension have started to emerge. Compared to bikes from other major brands like Specialized and Trek, the Mongoose Switchback Expert offers a pretty similar value.
When break-in didn’t help, I installed Shimano SM-RT56 Disc Brake Rotors (6-Bolt, 160mm) and Shimano BR-M375 Disc Brake Calipers. Was tempted to go hydraulic, but didn’t want to spend the money for possible over-kill. My son was apprehensive to let loose with the rigid platform. He did say that he noticed a difference in the handling with the big tires and it felt kind of like his Kawasaki KLX 110.
Roll over all sorts of difficult terrain with ease on the Argus Sport fat tire bike by Mongoose. And the Argus’ Tectonic T2 aluminum frame makes it lighter and stiffer than ever. Fat bikes are easier to find and more affordable than ever before. The fat bike market has exploded in recent years.