Conference noted::bicycle

Dave,

It sounds like you are rushing into a purchase without doing your homework.
This notefile can give you some information, but it can't substitute for
your own personal knowledge base.  

First, you say you're not sure if you will like it (mountain biking?).  I would
suggest that you go to a bike shop and test ride some of the bikes.  If you
have a friend who will loan you one for a 1 hour ride, do that.  Do your
homework to see if what you want is a road bike, mountain bike, or hybrid. 

Second, you are considering a used Mongoose.  Have you been to the Mongoose
dealer to see how the new ones ride and to see what the price of a new one is? 
Have you tested the new Mongoose vs other brands to see if the Mongoose feels
good to you?  Only after the above can you make an assessment as to the
condition and value of the used Mongoose.

Finally, you asked for the components on the bike.  A trip to the new bike
shop or the WWW will tell you what they are.  They are most likely Shimano and
here is the quality heiarchy for Shimano: 

                Top ------>  XTR
                             XT
                             LX
                             STX-RC
                             Alivio
                             Acera X
                Bottom --->  Altus/SIS

Note that there is a large price difference as you go from the LX up to the
XT and then another large one from XT to XTR.  I find LX to be your best
value if you can keep your ego out of the equation.

Jim

You are rushing.  Don't do it.  Jim's advice is sound.  I know next to nothing
about mountain bikes but I know enough to really shop before even considering
used.  A good shop will let you take the bike out for a while.  Don't go through
mud or anything, but some sort of trail ought to be a requirement if you're
buying a mountain bike.

You ought to ask about the components.  Most production bikes have models to
meet price points, i.e. that mongoose new was $699 and they put the best
components (which may be a combination of grouppos) they could on the bike to
hit that price point.  I can speak from experience with road stuff -- My $999
Cannondale had a mix of RX100 and 105SC components in '95.  In '96, it was all
RX100, but the frame was a little better and the price went to $1099.  It's like
the PC business.  A $3000 machine stays $3000 but every month the drive gets
bigger or the CD-ROM gets faster or whatever.

In general, get the best frame you can in a line.  You can upgrade components
bit by bit.  I bought a '95 Cannondale R600, which had RX100 and 105SC
components.  Over two years, very little of the bike remains.  Through a
warrantee claim, I got a new frame and fork (upgrade to carbon fork!!)  When
9speed Dura Ace was announce, the 8speed prices fell so I got 8spd D/A shifters
and a derailleur.  I broke the RX100 cranks and now have Ultegra(600) cranks. 
The bike is essentially a $2000 bike (i.e., close to the R2000) now.  Oh, and I
got some nice hand-built wheels to race on.  This was the best upgrade I made.

Fit is THE MOST important thing.  A fully suspended carbon XTR equipped bike
that is the wrong size is not worth any price.

Tim

    Thanks Jim,
    
    I did try out the bikes at a bike shop. I rode the Lower level
    Mongoose. Its called the switchback. Its about 3 levels down from the
    Hilltoper Sx. I really liked the Hilltoper but I just couldn't afford
    it. They are $625.00 new. I called on the bike in question and the
    components are as follows;
    
    Quadra 5 fork. (I think this is the lowest in the line)
    Alivio and Stx components. I don't know which components but those are
    whats on it.
    
    Keep the info coming! Thanks! 
    
    Also what should I look for in a used bike? (what problems)
    
    Dave

My gut says, dont buy it.

I will echo .1 and .2, plus add another tidbit:

Since you are new to biking, could you tell if the components are worn?
(BTW, my answer to the question about what to look for is unusual wear
and tear.)  Are you confident you could tell poor shifting from good
shifting?  How about good from bad braking?  Could you diagnose on the
spot what the problem was?  (Components that are good indicators of a
crash or hard use are: 1) seat 2) bar ends/plugs 3) pedals)

I would *strongly* reccomend taking along a friend with good bike mechanic
skills, ie someone who you would trust to fix your potential purchase.


.02
--roger

                    What to look for in a used bike
                    -------------------------------

1. Make sure the gears shift cleanly and precisely.  This is the best 
   indication that the bke was well maintained and not abused.

2. Check the frame for dents, bad gouges, and bent sections.  Carefully
   check out the front fork and the area around the headset (steering part)
   for accident damage.  Check to make sure the fork/handlebars swivel without
   binding.  Immediately walk away from any bike that has heavy gouges, 
   frame dents, and/or bent frame parts.

3. Make sure the wheels are relatively true.

4. Make sure the wheels rotate smoothly

5. Most important, make sure the frame is the correct size for you.  DO NOT
   buy a frame that is too big.  You will regret it off-road.

6. Brakes can be fixed easily and cheaply so don't be too concerned with
   braking problems now.

7. Make sure the bike feels good to you on the road.  Get the seat and
   handlebar height adjusted correctly for you before you test ride it.

8. Make sure you can live with the color and the level of scratches and 
   chipped paint on a used bike.

Jim

    >>I will do a lot of road riding and also some off road.
    
    Sounds like a road (or hybrid) is your best option.  Mt. bikes are 
    very inefficient on roads (smooth tires help alot but you'll have
    to buy them too). Mt. bike handle bars are also not the best for
    road riding ... less positions for hands.   All depends on how much
    riding you really think your going to do though.  A lot of us end up
    buying both kinds!  
    
    In general I think buying used bikes is a great thing to do.
    So many people buy them and hardly use them.
    If you do feel the need to buy the Mongoose then take an
    experienced rider with you to check it out.
    
    my 2 cents,
    Larry

    I bought a Mongoose Hilltopper about 4 years ago without knowing hardly
    anything about mountain bikes. I was fortunate, since it turned out to
    have been a good move on my part. I ride about 70% on the road and the
    rest on dirt. Some of the tires have been relatively non-agressive and
    therefore relatively smoothe on the road, and since, at 59, I'm not the
    most radical, gonzo mudslut on the hill, they have performed to my
    needs even when I'm out there humping up and down the hills with my
    teenage sons. I recently went to more agressive tread, and after a few
    miles was able to adapt to the vibrations and the need for a little
    more power from the old legs. Since the bike came with a rigid front
    end, I put a Rock Shox on last year (used), some bar ends and toe clips
    for the pedals.
    	I guess my point is that unless you're a gear-head, focus on the
    bike's condition, its fit (most important), and try to compare price to 
    comparable bikes around town. Have a bike shop look at it before you buy 
    and ask for any recommendations and estimates of work needed.
    	And finally, if it sounds like a good idea to you, buy a bicycle
    repair book. It'll save you tons of money if you do the tune-ups
    yourself. 
    	Good luck. I suspect you'll enjoy MTB'ing.
    
    Fred
                                                  

    Thanks to all that replied. I took the advice and applied it well. I
    did go and see the bike and It was in good shape but it was not
    comfortable AT ALL! 
    
    I went out this afternoon to another bike shop in Merrimack and tried
    out a Jamis Durango. I loved it. It was comfortable and has all top of
    the line components. (well top of the line for me)  ; )    It has
    Alivio rapid fire shifters, And the rest has STX components.
    
    Thanks Again
    Dave