Mongoose Fat bike: Review and Upgrades
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- Here's a video of the Mongoose Hitch fat bike. It's a cheap bike that starts out pretty sad, but has plenty of potential. This bike has rapidly become one of my absolute favorites!
Here's the bike:
amzn.to/2DBY8Jx
Upgrades made to the bike:
•Shimano SL-M310 Rapid Fire Shifter: amzn.to/2FUu3Do
•GT DOHC Dual Comp Slip-on Grips: www.the-house....
•Shadow Consipiracy Bar Ends: www.albes.com/...
•Shimano M315 Brake Lever/Caliper Kit: a.co/0tz5ctF
•Shimano SM-RT66 SLX Rotors: amzn.to/2EWY0Bw
•YST Sealed BSA Cupset Bottom Bracket: amzn.to/2Dl9Ftk
•Suntour XCT Crank Arms and Sprocket: www.srsuntour....
•Animal Steven Hamilton Pedals: amzn.to/2EUf2jS
•FMF Sport 28.6mm Seat Post: amzn.to/2DlIaQJ
•Corki Quick Release Seat Post Clamp: amzn.to/2DgKW9B
My other bikes:
•Diamondback Mission: amzn.to/2BntzSK
•CO-OP DRT 1.1: www.rei.com/pr...
If you liked the video, you may like some of my others. There are "how to" videos for bike repairs and upgrades, fun trail riding on my bikes, and reviews of bikes that wont break the bank!
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Budget friendly biking so all those upgrades were about 200? I get mine tommorrow lol
How did you get the stock seat clamp off without beating the frame up?
BFB, when you replaced the neck on Malus, did you add spacers or cut down the fork tube?
Nice end result. Friend of mine did nearly the same thing with his Dolomite....
6 years late, sorry.
My son found a Mongoose Malus that was like new, someone was throwing away, with a bent crank, no chain, broken gear shift and missing a handle grip. We have replaced most of the parts you recommended and he has a new and improved bike for only $160.00! Thank you for the video and parts list...definitely needed your help. His buddies gave him a hard time and laughed cause he grabbed it...now, he is the one smiling ;). Thank you again for the videos!!!
Really appreciate this video. I've decided to increase my budget a bit as I want to buy a bike and ride it without going through all this but I'm very appreciative to have this info.
what fat tire bike did you buy thhen
Very nice video. I am also a Mongoose upgraded fatbike guy. Has been a great way to learn about basic bike mechanics. Started with a steel frame Dolomite and then stepped up a bit to the original generation Vinson. Did pretty much the same/similar upgrades to each as you have done to yours except on the Vinson I also went with an FSA sealed headset. One thing I found on my Dolomite, with the YST BB, a standard garden hose washer fits over the spindle perfectly. I butted it up against YST cup as an added seal to help keep the grit out. Again, your videos are very nicely done. Looking forward to more.
Todd Pollock thank you! I have several videos in the works currently. Keep your eyes peeled for more of the Mongoose. Nice tip with the garden hose washer!
Creativity adds meaning to our lives and have appreciated the creativity of this video series. Keep up the good work.
Again, I appreciate your video and I am happy to say that I finished the build on my Mongoose Hitch for my girlfriend and her daughter. My girlfriend is happy with it and says that she feels more stable on this while trail and off trail riding than her Giant mtb.
A concern for me as she isn't a truly avid rider was weight and the following upgrades took it from a delivered weight of 44.6lbs to 38.0 (without accessories like lights, bottle cage and frame bag.) Also here's the Ebay prices including shipping for anyone else looking to upgrade. (ordered within the US only)
Tires $63.78 Panaracer FatBNimble (dropped weight 3-4lbs alone)
Bottom Bracket $21.65 Yst sealed
Shifter combo lever $15.01 Shimano St-Ef500
Left brake lever $13.55 Shimano Sora
Handle bars $15.39 700mm unbranded carbon fiber
Headset $16.40 FSA the pig
Crankset $35.00 SR Suntour XCR-6
Seatpost $12.89 Unbranded aluminum
Grips (from LBS) $11 Generic ergo grips
Total $204.65
I didn't change the seat clamp out as she isn't a heavier rider, although I could see that being necessary as my confidence in the stock one isn't high. I did however add carbon compound to the upgraded seatpost for both added grip as well as antiseize. The mechanical disc brakes were challenging to true and set, but was done with stock rotors and calipers. They felt very spongey and were noisy when I test rode the bike but after 10 miles or so of in town stop and go they have settled in to where they are not great still, but acceptable and quieter.
So thank you for the video, without it I most likely would have gone with a bottom end bike from bikes direct but with this helped me decide to go this route where I'm confident in all the components.
+chris usher this is so awesome dude!!! I'm glad I could help out!
Also, thanks for sharing your build and prices! This'll be very helpful for folks looking to do the same with alternative parts to mine.
Love the build, and I'm glad your girl is now rolling in style on a decent bike!
I didn't know anyone else had modded a hitch..I padded quick-release front axle, upgraded rotor bb7 caliper XTR housing shimano xt combo brake shifters. Bottom bracket was swapped over for one out of specialized Fatboy. With small ring from a deore XT Hollow crank , deore LX front derailleur, 2 speed . Rear Freewheel replaced with Shimano wide range and deore LX derailleur wellgo aluminum pedals aluminum Riser stem aluminum Riser bars, setback aluminum seatpost origin8 saddle, removed all Mongoose decals and reapplied vintage Redline head tube decal and frame tube decal.. really happy with the way it turned out and it has really super granny gears
+For The Love Of Tools this sounds like an awesome build, with some good choices on parts. I assume the bottom bracket is a cartridge? Any info you can provide on that, or the rear derailleur would be super rad!!! I'm stoked you checked out the video and shared your build!
Budget friendly biking the bottom bracket is a hollow bottom bracket I got it for $29 on eBay it was removed from a specialized Fatboy I think I am using a 6mm spacer
Great Video. Thank you! The SPOILER is don't buy this bike. You've basically replaced just about everything. Genuinely helpful
Just picked up one of these to day for $75 and in great condition. For the price I think it's amazing but I'm defintely going to change out the shifter for the one you recommended.
$75 is an amazing deal! After the shifter, that'll be a great bike!
Thank you for the video and all the links! Exactly what I needed. 👍 The cable operated brakes on my new bike are terrible. Even after adjustment they just don't cut it. Have an Amazon order on the way to make it better!
Agreed same on my Mongoose Malus.
Quick cheap tip: upgrade junk stock pads to metal ones, center rotors (by adjusting brake mount OR slightly bend rotor) and Bed Pads In / Break in Rotors, by repeated hard stops on biggest hill you can find.
After that routine, my Malus stops very well - so well I'm not stressing over 'upgrading to Hydraulic' - which eventually I may, but not required unless I bike big mountains like Colorado, etc.
Thanks for all of the details on upgrades. Very helpful and I am about 60% through upgrades on a 2019 Dolomite.
Great video. I just picked up a Dolomite at offer up for $100. The bike is practically new. I will definitely change the shifter and the brake.
Thanks for all the videos you did on this bike. I will be starting my E-bike build soon using this same bike. Getting a look at the stock parts that came with this bike and what you replaced was valuable info. I'll be adding the build videos to my channel as I proceed with the build. I'll give credit to your channel here in my videos. Thanks again
@Aditya Wardhana. Not with the biggest 52v battery pack that Luna makes.
I've had my hitch 2 months and all I've changed is the shifter, bars, seat and the bb. The stock bars snapped and the stock bb turned to cookie crumbs. So if u want to or have bought this and don't know what to get rid of first, I'd recomend shifter, bb (along with sprocket/cranks if u want to be able to ride comfortably in 6th&7th),breaks,bars, and I changed the seat bc it just flat out sucked. But even with the few changes I've made it's a very fun bike and I can hold a wheelie on it for forever and it simply makes a good/fun froject.
Raymond Fitzwater I agree. Not perfect out of the box, but good potential and fun after upgrades!
Thank you for the list of your upgrades and the review!
I just bought this bike today Mongoose Malus. I hear you on the shifter part. Never Owned a mountain bike but I can tell the stock shifter sucks. It does get in between the gears. Chain actually came off while down shifting to 1st because of the shifter went too far past 1st smh. I love the feel of the bike tho. Very good video man. I’m taking the bike to a bike shop to get that replaced. Really does suck.
Thanx for the vid, I just picked up a Dolomite cheap as a E-bike project and are looking at the same mods, plus an air fork and mid-drive kit. should be a fun cheap fatty!
Before you change the bars out...change the tires to 120tpi tires. I went with a cheap pair of Fat B Nimbles for $65 on Ebay. I also went ghetto tubeless. Much better ride on my Dolo then the stock tires with tubes. I dropped 7 lbs in just doing that and it made the bike much more fun to ride.
Thanks for the advice. I'm definitely planning on a tire swap prior to snow!
@@budgetfriendlybiking207 Thanks, I added those tires to my wish list on Amazon
Took your advice, I greased and changed shifter. Since I'm an older rider I also changed the seat and put taller handle bars. I was hoping not to have to do the brakes...but no such luck ...they are terrible.
Thinking of going ebike conversion, since I'm looking at back surgery.
Very good videos, are you a teacher?
I have been eyeing one of these for a while. I just don't have enough money to make it a decent bike
I recently made a follow up video covering all of the upgrades I've made to the bike. I came in under $500, which is pretty steep for a Mongoose Hitch, but it performs the way I want now. I think one of the best things about it is that I can replace the entire bike for less than the price of some high end wheels, or even a fat bike fork!
I think the real decision point needs to be in the upfront: Do you already know if you like fat biking, and how hard do you ride? If yes and you ride hard, starting with a better bike is probably the best answer. If yes, but you ride less grueling trails/two track/gravel road/etc, this will probably work. If unsure, this is a great option to help figure it out.
The way I look at it is this: You can buy a Hitch, Dolomite, Malus, etc for around $200, which is a very low price tag to get into an entry level fat bike. After a shifter and brake levers, it'll actually perform pretty well and still be under the $250 price point. This makes for a bike that non-riders, or price sensitive riders can get on cheap and try it out to make sure they are truly into the fat bike idea. It's an added bonus that the bike is cheap, but can be upgraded. That's why I bought it to begin with... to see if I actually liked the whole fat bike thing.
I now have just under $500 into it, but I also have a lot of upgraded components. Many of which (but not all) are much higher end than what you'll find on a gravity bike in the same price range. The $500 gravity bike, plus the price of tires and decent pedals puts you somewhere between $625 and $750 (depending on the parts and where you get them), so really bumps it into a whole new bracket of budget bike.
If nothing else replace the shifter. That is single handedly the weakest part on the bike. The shifter makes it hard to get a good tune on the derailleur and for a few bucks can make a big difference. The rest can be upgraded as it wears out.
My bike shifts very nicely, the only thing I upgraded was the headset. Rides great now. BUT it would be nice to have different handlebars and trigger shifters
Helpful video especially since I will be picking up one of this soon.. looking forward to my own mods
How'd that go? I'm looking to get one myself
VaNdaL PiR8 got my bike but haven’t done anything to it. Been dealing with some running injuries
Just bought mongoose trx aluminum fat bike for 250 n loved it 35 lb weight
Great video. Unfortunately the YST BB isn't available anymore. Does anyone know if any 68mm - 110mm square taper bottom bracket will work in the hitch?
Nice Job!! I have one and am looking into that crank set you have very cool thanks for the ideas!!
Great work on the upgrade vides. But is the Mongoose Malus, Dolamite and Hitch all the same bike and parts? What's up fellow bike enthusiasts. I'm new here and am just stopping by to say hello. As well as get some help with a recent used bike purchase (Mongoose Malus R5714A fat bike) issue. I'm looking to grease the headset, hubs, bottom bracket, etc. I know I'll need a freewheel/cassette puller, adjustable wrench, cone wrench, standard wrench(s), socket wrench(s), allen key(s), crank puller, pin spanner, etc. What I really want help with is figuring out which size tools I need? Or which bike repair tool kit(s)/set(s) are recommended for this bike model? I'm starting out with zero tools but only want to start my collection with these specific tools.
P.S. I believe the bike to have all its original parts (as per the first and only owner).
Friend of mine had the Dolomite. Truly horrible in stock form. Close to 70 pounds!!!
Nice :) Mongoose Malus for me, Seems I've rebuilt the whole thing. It's fun to build something out of such a basic fatbike.
I couldn't agree more. I love the look of the bike, and in my opinion, it's always more fun when you can get something cheap and build it up.
Ah I see you are a man of malus as well!
So basically, save up and buy a decent bike from the get go...
Thanks I was actually considering a bike like this
Picked a hitch up tonight for $250. Already has the rapid fire shifter, grips, bar ends, and a different gear set with a lower 1st gear. Next will be breaks. The stock ones suck horribly.
Installed hydraulic rear brakes last night and WOW what a difference!! The front will be getting done next. Got the rear setup for $27 off of Amazon. Came with a new rotor, caliper, pads, brake hose and brake lever. Awesome upgrade imo.
Very cool. I bought the Mongoose Vinson last year pretty much for just the frame. I rode it all last winter and it was terrible! I'm upgrading EVERYTHING for this winter riding. All XT groupset and raceface, so I think it will be decent. The frame is pretty solid being 6061 AL butted and strong. I'm trying to decide wether to bite the bullet for studded tires or do the grip studs on a cheaper set!?
Things to consider:
1.) It's a turd in a box. But if you throw a bunch of upgrades into it, making the price tag increase to the price of a regular fatbike, then it'll become satisfactory.
2.) If you want to install racks of any-kind, you better start thinking zip-ties & pipe clamps.
3.) I can understand when things like budget, desire, etc. are in the mix when it comes to wanting something so bad, yet while trying to maximize quality. My advice for that? ...since most people are on Facebook, there's going to be a marketplace, especially for certain actual types of bikes ...ex. Surly Bike Trader. I would go that route and try to find a local deal, because there's always people looking to upgrade to something new/better. And even check out local shops and look at what they have to offer as far as used bikes.
JUSTIN, one challenge to that is that Fat Bikes are very rare in some locations so finding a nice clean used Fattie LOCALLY can be hard or impossible.
I called every bike shop in DFW Texas and none of them even carried ANY Fatties, in any grade / price range.
These bikes are plentiful but clustered in the Nortern US or near Ski snow areas but rare in the South.
And the cost to drive can outweigh the savings.
Fortunately we have Academy Sports here in East Texas (they're in many states primarily Southern & Southeast & Midwest) and I was able to see / inspect / buy my Malus in person.
But I agree wholeheartedly that if you're in a Northern state where Winter Sports are a thing, check Craigslist.org locally or FB Marketplace & try to score a sweet deal on a Fat "garage queen" !
Great video! You mentioned the cost of the first two upgrades, can you list the costs of all of them? Thanks!
+David Sprogis thank you! I actually did a follow up video with some additional upgrades. I cover the prices of each upgrade made in that video. You can find it here: ua-cam.com/video/FkEwOaYAq5M/v-deo.html
Great video, I own a Malus for just over a year with mods to improve my ride but mainly street. I find amid priced suspension fork you may find interesting. Its by Luna Cycles for 200 ( a Bluto cost 600) air with no dampening (video on yt). The rear casset I changed to a shimano MegaRange 11-34 7 speed for 15 $. I should post a video soon, I plan to upgrade soon and keep as a second as well
Just thought these items in particular, would interest you
+n8tvbrn ed a thanks, and great info. I haven't had the desire to go suspension yet, but I'm sure it'll happen in the future. I'll keep this in mind!
The chainring is on the wrong side of the spider. Was that necessary for proper alignment? That could be a safety issue. There are spacers out there to dress up that spider. They come in a four pack. Nuts and bolts sold separately.
Mongoose fatbikes fun to upgrade but not many straight steer quick release susp forks available...any plans to try a Bucklos air susp fork or similar? price is affordable but what about quality and performance?
Few of the links are not working and out of stock could you send me some more ??? Or updated wanna do this same set up
i hope you're still checking your video. I was wondering if you happen to know the widest sized tire that you can mount on this bike? Do you know if a 4.8 will fit? Thank you for the series, i'm in Alaska and was on a budget when this came, waiting for my nursing license to get endorsed by the state, and i have a pretty GT niner for the warm months but I really wanted to get out on the snow and ice. your build inspired me and I followed it and did the same with great results as i'm still riding this bike and now the local bike shop says there are at least 4 other guys up here in the valley who have built similar bikes using your info. Good on ya, man.
I have similar Mongoose Malus and no 4.8 require more clearance & wider rim, so no go.
BUT, if you get this 26x4 Fattie you can go tubeless & drop your PSI down way down in the 5-10psi range & you'll have PLENTY of snow traction !
Nice upgrades and I am wondering how well this bike would work in a hybrid motor type of hunting bike with both a mid mount electric motor and a 80cc 4 stroke gas engine installed for pedal assist with bot a trailer hitch and small trailer for hauling both game and accessories ( gun/bow tree stand , ECT )
Nice! just did a similar build video with my diamondback el oso gordo
Collin Buth nice. How do you like that bike? I've considered the DB fat bikes, but never had the chance to ride one yet.
so far so good. I got the bike with only a few miles on it for $100 so I cant complain. put about $300 into parts and it goes pretty decent. the gearing still isn't quite where I would like for snow but it will get there
I have a brand-new Dolomite ... upgraded with the Shimano hydraulic brakes/ calipers kit and the RT-66 SLX 160mm rotors. Question: Which Shimano adaptors (front and rear) would be required to upgrade the rotor size from 160mm ... to 180mm? Thanks for the assistance.
Well if the frame is good and the forks are good than why can't you turn it into a great quality bike? Looks to me like you can replace the bad parts with good ones and your good to go.
Would you consider this bike build well suited for the beach. My goal if I got something like that is to hit some of my local 16ft dunes, as well as cruise the shoreline
Can you tell me a model# or part # for the yst bottom bracket you installed?
So mines almost done...
Set up tubeless with vee rubber tires.
Shimano mega range cassette
WTB saddle
WTB seat post clamp
Xlc post
Fsa headset
Easton stem
Dmr bars
Avid bb7 levers,calipers,and rotors
Rapid fire trigger shifter
Origin8 clamp on grips
Set of rock Bros pedals
Next up is crank and I'm done
I've seen this video 30 times throughout my build.
I'm using xlc 170 mm crank arms and a 32 tooth ring with bash guard. Just need to order the bottom bracket.
My Malus should be arriving today, appreciate the video with some good ideas for upgrades. I don't do a ton of trail riding but my wife runs long distance on dirt roads so this will be my chance to spend time with her without having to run. You didn't mention the factory seat, is that something you upgraded as well?
Upgrade the seat!!! I have ordered a three inch rise handlebar also. I do not ride as much or as far as some people...but the seat HAD to go.
Great video and information. I just purchased a Malus that is literally in process of being delivered and want to buy the hydraulic brake setup. I see there are a few different hose lengths I can purchase. You said you had to shorten the rear hose about 8 inches. What size hoses did you buy?? I see theres 1350mm, and 1450mm. Id rather not have to cut the hose if possible. Thanks.
+David Miller thank you! I actually got the 1650mm rear. The others were unavailable in the US spec (left=front, right=rear). The 1450mm are about 7-8 inches shorter than what I got, and should be a perfect length if you can find them!
Thats good to know. I really appreciate the help. I will be using your video to help me out with a few other upgrades also...lol Thanks again
Another question, as I am def looking to change the crankset and bottom bracket. Can you give me the link to the bottom bracket you bought. What size was it also. I am actually going to get the Shimano equivalent to the XCT that you got, the M361.
David Miller UA-cam won't allow me to share links until the channel hits 10k views, but you can locate it on Amazon but searching for:
YST sealed BSA cupset w/bearings english threads
It's a big improvement over the stock bottom bracket.
I have the same bike (bought new) . I went through and did the same as you with the twist shifter. I even went to the same trigger shifter. But when I replaced the grips I ran into a problem. The left fit fine. But the right grip was way too loose. So what I did was wrap the end of handle bar with some duct tape ,,, making it a more snug fit for the new grip. Why did I have this problem ???
Awesome video been wanting this bike but heard many horror stories you cleared up with fixes, thanks! But my question is how you get that awesome paint job?! Would love to know the details. Thank you
The Armored Mind thank you! That red is actually the stock color of the hitch with the decals peeled off. It's a really nice red!
Are you using the factory crank spindle or did a new one come with the Suntour crank arms?
The link for the chain ring is not working also were there any specific tools I will need to replace mine.... Contacted manufacturer as mine chain ring came damaged in shipping now I have to wait over 2 months as a new one is on back order. ... Please help
How did you get the seat post clamp off the frame? I bought a Hitch, mine looks permanent.
Awesome video. Has helped a lot
Thanks a lot! So glad it helped out!
I appreciate the video as I have been shopping for a affordable new fat bike for my gf and her daughter to share after the trek fatboy from my local pawn shop didn't check out when I went to register it with the local pd. (Always recommend having used bikes checked at the pd as pawn shops will lie about running serial numbers.) I just pulled the trigger on this bike and ordered it, then went ahead and followed suit with most of the upgrades you performed here. (going to try the mechanical disc brakes over hydraulic, as I have parts from other bikes I've upgraded) I am curious what the diameter of the handlebars are as I don't have the bike in hand yet and would like most of my parts to arrive around the time the bike does.
Awesome, this will be a fun bike for them! The bars are 25.4mm (older standard size). There are still several options available in lighter/wider/taller variations that fit the 25.4mm stem size though, so it shouldn't be too hard to find replacement parts.
One piece of advice on the brakes: the mechanical calipers and rotors work alright, but the levers are awful. The rotors tended to warp easy, and were never quite true from the factory. I got them close, but was never able to get perfectly straight rotors. You might be able to get away with a simple lever swap, and truing the rotors. There are plenty of options for slightly better rotors on the cheap if you can't get them to true up.
Awesome, thank you for the quick reply. I have Shimano St-Ef500 combo lever for the right side coming and an older Sora brake only lever for the left. I have other 160mm rotors that are an option but was worried about the calipers, Although those are replaceable able as well.
Good stuff! I'm intrigued to see how the combo lever works out.
The calipers were actually not too bad. If I had stayed with mechanical, I would've kept them and just changed out the levers and rotors. They adjusted pretty easily, and worked good enough.
Crank arm and shaft link info not active. Can you please specify the model and a suggested rear derailer?
I just ordered this bike, what's the detailed parts list? (Crank length, part numbers, ect....) I'm just getting into biking so not much knowledge yet. Thanks!
pretty reasonable upgrades. i'd do the same if I encounter those same issues with the bike.
They've really made the bike a decent ride!
When you say flip the spindle “end to end” what do you mean? Sorry I’ve not messed with square taper before and am not sure lol great video!
That's what I'd like to know. And are you using the factory spindle and just the new CrankArms and Sprocket??
Hello
I just bought the Hitch but i cannot seem to find shimano slm310 rapid fire shifter 7 speed anywhere specially the right side.
Would you recommend any other shifter please and also what brakes do you recommend or just change the brake levers ?
Great video review! Are the shimano 315 hydraulic brakes holding up pretty good? Im interested in getting these for my bike.
Did the crank sprocket upgrade make hills manageable?
Thanks for the video! I just got an Mongoose Juneau, where can I find a better Bottom Bracket? It’s 120mm x175mm. Any advice would be great, thanks!
What hose length do you suggest for the hydraulic brake set? I have just bought the same mongoose dolomite fat bike. The 800mm/1500mm or 800mm/1650mm?
Hi great video. I just had a question about the sprocket, crank arms and crank. The link provided takes you to the site, but just not sure which one to select. I am about to order the hitch. My amazon cart with all the upgrades I want to do will actually cost more then the bike. I just need those last things.
Great vid..i may get one
Hi this is great info i recently bought a mongoose mushaboom already made many of the upgrades except bb. Could you tell me the part number for the yst sealed bb and the crank arms please where did you get them from?
So I ordered the YST bearings, then noticed afterwards the thread style was "english" I checked on the link to the break levers and noticed now they specifically go to the EU model not the US. Did I order the wrong version for north american Mongoose Hitch?
Did you go with 170 or 175 for crank length? Found an acera square taper crankset with a 30t middle chainring, but only comes in 175mm. I know people sometimes run into toe overlap with front tires on some fat bikes.
The ones on my bike are 170mm. I got them as a freebie, so I didn't have a choice, but I would have chosen 170's anyways since I'm good at pedal strikes on roots around turns :) The 170's have plenty of clearance, but I think you'd probably be OK with a 175mm. The 30t chainring would be an awesome upgrade, and would probably really help with climbing and top gears!
I looked up the corki quick release. Which size (31.8 or 34.9)?
Seems like you changed out the complete bike....what’s the use in buying one?
To create content and to warn people that they will need to do lots to this bike to get it tongs the best it can.
What's the simplest upgrade to make the bike rideable on hills? I was intending to get a smaller front sprocket. If I need a crankset, is SR Suntour XCT Jr. Crankset, 9-speed 44/32/22T, 152mm, the right one?
hi I was looking for the same shifter is it acera or altus ,don't want to get the wrong one.Your doing a Gr8 job thx.
Thank you! It's the Altus. Model # SL-M310.
thank you so much love the CH.
Dave Heaps my pleasure!
How much was the bike and how much did the upgrades cost?
BTW steel is an alloy ☺️
Hello, I wanted to ask you a question please. At the end you mentioned that there is no amount of upgrades that would make it a decent quality bike. Could you clarify what that means exactly please? I mean if over time you put the best rims and tires, the best handle bars and handles, the best shifter, the best thudbuster, the best seat, the best suspension fork, the best drivetrain and the best possible brakes, how in the heck can it not be a quality bike? The reason I ask is because I plan to do exactly that, get a donor frame and DIY build it up over a period of months with the best quality parts possible. Also what model is this Mongoose and is it steel or aluminum? I hope someday you see this message. Thank you...
He didn't exactly say that. He meant that this is a budget Fat Bike & if you're gonna ride it EVERY DAY & EVERYWHERE then you will need to upgrade so many parts you should begin by buying a $1000-3000 Super Quality Fattie straight away.
Fyi, I have a 6 month old Mongoose Malus with similar mods & am loving it I ride about 2-3x per week @ 30miles on paved & forest dirt roads.
Fun, Fun, Fun !
Now it's still a 40# budget Fattie but perfectly great - besides my goal was to burn calories / get a great workout & the greater weight actually helps achieve that !
I DO dream of getting my dream Fat Bike, a Fully Built Full Carbon ICAN Hardtail 1×10 Shimano, Carbon Rims & bars, sealed bearing hubs, Bottom Bracket, all set up in a box.
And that is a very reasonable deal at just $2,200 shipped to my door.
But I'm going to ride the Mongoose while saving for the ICAN FULL CARBON FATTIE. Once I get it, I plan to keep the Malus as a 'loaner Fattie' to help my friends join me on my Fat Ride Adventures.
Kinda long but hope it helps !
I'm a new rider and will mainly be on paved roads, I am a little heavy as well at 350lbs would you recommend this bike?
I started using mine with 340 lbs and mine Handled me fine, I already lost 40 still working good.
Great review. Do you know if the hub will take anything wider than a 7 speed cassette? Hoping to re-use a sram x4 (8 speed) group I have. Any idea if this is any lighter than the dolomite since it has the drilled out rims?
M. Alan Wilcko thank you!
The hitch uses a threaded freewheel, as compared to newer cassette. If your x4 cassette is splined, it won't fit the hub.
I am pretty confident the hitch is lighter than the dolomite. Everything I've read indicates that the dolomite is 50lb even. I weighed my Hitch bone stock and completely assembled and it was roughly 43 lbs.
So you had the 3 spd crankset and you made it into 1? You use the 32 what were the other numbers on front crankshaft and is it 175mm or 170mm?
I'm curious to know if any Hitch owners out there are 6'2" and what their opinions are on the bike. I'm also 260lbs at the moment, wanting to add trail riding to my exercise regime. There's a trail a stone throw from my house. My goal weight is 240lbs, maybe lower this time around. My area is pretty flat, and I don't plan on any jumps and such. Any advice?
I hope to buy this bike and do some of the same mods, however I would like to use the Shimano Alivio M4000 groupset, do you think it would work well for this bike?
How did you remove the seat post clamp? You mentioned it was tack welded but did you happen to film replacing it?
you may have answered this already but what was the final cost of the upgrades? i have a borealis yampa and dont want to rip it in half on my local trails. ive been considering doing nearly the exact same thing on a dolomite. thanks!
Aaron Hoberman I actually just posted a follow up with prices on all the upgrades yesterday after all the upgrades were installed (some new ones that came after this video too). See it here: ua-cam.com/video/FkEwOaYAq5M/v-deo.html
Rad thanks a lot! ill check that out now.
Except the components... how good is the actual frame!?
I can replace the fork, handlebars, stem seatpost and seat, new shifter and hydro brakes... I have these already as spare parts and decent parts.
The frame will be my ONLY concern... is it any good?
mrN3w7 I ride pretty hard, and have put several hundred miles on mine at this point with no frame issues. It's a bit heavy, but that's to be expected from a steel fat bike. I can honestly say I have no concerns with the frame though.
Is good to know is not a bad frame.
So I guess your only concern when you say "is not good enough not matter the amount of modifications you do to it" is the weight (which doesn't bother me) and nothing else.
Thanks! :)
Weight is a pretty big factor, however in hindsight, I should've said it'll be difficult to get this type of bike on par with current higher end bikes, and not impossible to make a good serious trail bike. Thanks for pointing this out.
It uses quite a bit of old technology that can only be upgraded to a certain point before it falls off. Steel frame, straight headtube (non-tapered), non-serviceable derailleur hanger, old style drop outs (no through axle options), non-serviceable cable guides, etc. You can definitely install high end components and make this into a high end bike, but I'd suggest weighing the price options. There may be better equipped bikes that come stock with higher end components and all the new technology (and a warranty) that fall into the same price range as this bike after substantial upgrades.
Thank you for the extra details!
This does help my decision on what to get. Like I have said, a lot of the parts I already have (I'm a monkey wrench that builds its own custom things and so ends up with a lot of spare parts over time). The only extra thing I would of purchased is a better BB with a 2 piece crankset. The frame was my major concern...
But, after your additional details, I'm kind of put off a little into buying this... the RD non serviceable hanger is a major worry for me right now... (the rest not that much).
Thanks a lot!! Really appreciate your time to reply to my questions.
mrN3w7 my pleasure. This is an awesome second bike, especially if you want to keep riding through a snowy winter. For those reasons though, it'll probably remain as a second bike and never be my only one.
Can you Please update your links? I would love to add all of them.
So, you used the stock Mongoose spindle with the new crank set?
That is not the Mongoose spindle. I am looking for one now for my crank arms. My dust cover wont fit and make the bike look incomplete. I need spindle with hole in it so I can install dust caps with allen wrench.
Being super cheap myself I really like what you're trying to do with this project. But this is one of those cost of bike + cost of upgrades is more than it would've cost to buy a decent bike in the first place situations. I just bought a Vinson off Facebook for $200 and I don't have to upgrade anything, brakes aren't all that great, but fine.
If you're on a budget best thing to do is look for a good quality used fat bike like a Vinson or and Argus which are both real Mongose's not Wal-Gooses, yes Mongoose still makes good quality bikes. Diamondback is another budget friendly company that makes good budget fat bikes. That being said if you can get one of these Wal-Goose's for sub $150 I wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger.
I kind of agree with you, and kind of don't. I truly love high end bikes, and know the value of buying a pre-built ready to rip machine! Now... side by side the Vinson and Argus are both nicer bikes than the Hitch/Dolomite/Malus/etc. Problem being, the Argus is 5x-6x the price new and although the Vinson is only 2x the price new, it comes with fairly low end components and still weighs a ton when compared to higher end bikes. Used prices are subject to location and availability, so I don't really consider them to be the norm, but more so happenstance.
I don't have any intention of a fat bike being my primary ride, so spending the money on the Argus is a bit overkill. The Vinson would require upgrades in my opinion, and I'd probably still do a stem, bars, pedals, tires, brakes, etc...
I've already put several hundred miles on this Hitch, and it's been paid off for a very long time. I bought it on Black Friday for $174 a few years back, and I'm upgrading as I go. I may end up spending the same price as a new Vinson, but overall I'll have a bike that's setup in a way that I like where I get to choose the components. Not to mention, I genuinely like to work on bikes, especially in the fall season when it rains non-stop and I have nothing else to spend time on!
Stem and bars are personal choice. Stock pedals on pretty much every bike at every price pint suck. Sub $1000 the manufacture is just trying to eek out every penny of profit. $1000+ the manufacture figures you know what type of pedals you like so they put the junk ones on knowing you're going to put your own on anyways.
The tires are Kenda Juggernauts and I have zero complaints. They have tons of grip yet are okay on pavement as well.
The 3x8 SRAM is the best shifting drive train I've ridden on a sub $1000 bike in a very long time. I don't like the shifters though. I'm a Shimano fanboy.
The breaks are all that great but they are fine if you know how to adjust them. The suit my needs just fine.
I ride this bike 35 miles a day in a very hilly area of Michigan on both paved and dirt roads. This bike isn't heavy, by fat bike standards, at least. It weighs 32.8 pounds which is on par with so called entry-level fat bikes costing over $1000 you could drop a few pounds by changing the stem and converting to a 1x which is what a lot of guys do but I'm a commuter so I'm not all that concerned with weight. And to be honest the 3x setup is why I bought the bike. A fat bike with a 3x8? Who's heard of such a thing? And believe me I use ever gear.
My summer/fall bike is a steel frame touring bike with 700X32 wheels. Believe it or not when I have my panniers installed and loaded on the summer bike the the vinson is lighter than my summer bike. Not as fast though...lol
My point was there are always good deals on used bikes to be had. If you want a high quality bike, in my experience, you're better off just buying a used bike. I've went the "diamond in the rough" route before and it ends up nickle and dimming you to death.
But each person is different with different resources and needs. And as long as someone is actually ridding the thing who cares what the name on it says. Plus the knowledge you learn from building a bike isn't a bad skill set to have. Derailleurs on expensive bikes fail to. Shifter cable's get old, pedals brake, chains get rusty. It's good to know how to fix them.
will the crack set, bottom bracket, and chainring from this video work with a mongoose impasse?
Would it be better to get a one piece sealed bottom bracket ?
I want to get a seat clamp for my malus. The seat post OD is 28.6 which size corki clamp should I get, there are two sizes on eBay and Amazon.
The Hitch uses the same size seat post (28.6mm) and the correct corki clamp is the 31.8mm. To be completely certain, measure the frame seat tube O.D. but I'm pretty sure it'll be 31.8mm.
Budget friendly biking Thanks for the quick reply. I like your Mongoose Hitch, I have a 2017 malus and the only part I haven’t upgraded is the frame 😂. I love the bike and I learned a lot while upgrading it. I think I have the most personalized bike ever. Subscribed
Luis Figueroa in my opinion, these are great bikes to learn on for both riding and repairs/upgrades. Yours sounds like a great ride! Thanks for the sub!!!
How much have you spent overall to do the upgrades
You bought the wrong bike. You should have just spent more money and bought the bike you really wanted. I loved my Mongoose fat bike even though it was really heavy. I swapped some junk crank arms on it just to get lower gearing and rode it for 2 years that way . I have since upgraded to an SE f@e for $1200 , but I have no regrets buying the Mongoose.
Great video...I’m looking at a budget fatty...How. Talk are you and what size did you end up getting?
What is the weight limit on this bike?
what size are the rotors?
Check where the brake pads are hitting the rotors. You may not need those OEM spacers.
I know there are a few sets of calipers that will direct mount, or use lower profile brackets. I had hoped I wouldn't need the caliper mounts, but unfortunately the pads come to low on the rotor and hit the non-braking center.
I was able to toss those spacers on mine.
Is the frame aluminum ??
Have you looked at the Mongoose Ripsaw?
Can all or some of these mod's apply to the Dolemite?
From my understanding they are badiccaly the same bike I believe rim design and color is the on 2 main differences from what ive read
So you went to a single ring setup did you use a narrow wide to keep the chain from jumping. You put $450 into a 7 speed. Since you were upgrading it why at least go 8 spend to get better gear options
The bike came originally as a 1x7 setup, so I decided to stick with that for now and go from a 36 tooth front ring to 32. It's the stock second ring from the XCT group, so not a narrow/wide, but I don't really have issues with chain drop. In the future I'll likely go to a wider range of gears (possibly an 8 speed) once the freewheel is worn out, but it's working good now and I don't tend to struggle to keep pace with my riding buddies, so I'm in no hurry to change it.
Can I buy it from you plz am not joking
It looks like the hydraulic brake kit in the list is for rear brakes on the left. Can it be changed so that the rear brakes are on the right? It looks like that is how your brakes are. Also, the rotors are no longer on Amazon. I saw Shimano SM-RT(5)6 SLX Rotors. Will those work.?
Mantul...😀