The Beast is built like a tank and its steel frame feels incredibly solid. That means it can survive just about any road or trail conditions that you can throw at it. In my time with the bike I didn’t get the sense that it was in danger of falling apart or that Mongoose had cut corners on its construction. The rigid frame works well for snow and sand riding but loses ability in comparison to a suspended mountain bike. The Argus just so happens to be capable enough for trail riding too. I am excited to take my son fat biking this coming winter and provide a complete review.
The Beast strips away all of the features typically found on a bike and just gives you pure two-wheeled experience. There is something to be said for that and I think a lot of riders will have the same experience with this bike that I had. And since it only costs $198, you won’t break the bank adding a Beast to a garage already filled with bikes.
Likewise, this isn’t the most agile of bikes either. Those big tires won’t turn on a dime and they certainly wont take the sharpest of corners. But then again, when they are capable of simply rolling over just about anything that gets in their way, the point is mostly moot anyway. The most notable feature on the Beast, at least from a visual stand point, are the massive 4-1/4″ tires.
After all, I own helmets that cost more than most of the bike sold in the big box stores. So when I was asked to test out the the Beast from Mongoose a agreed, although with a bit of mongoose mountain bikes trepidation. Despite my reservations however, I ended up having a great time on this bike, proving that when you put aside your preconceptions, even a $200 bike can surprise you.
The new seat is about 13.5″ inches wide and the horn is a lot shorter. It is a lot more comfortable. As far as I can tell, the Malus and Dolomite are essentially the same bike, just with different rims mongoose mountain bikes and colors. I have been looking at high rise handlebars or bar risers to help with the riding position. I had one for awhile that I didn’t ride very much, turns out I hate riding in the snow anyway.
Very few bike companies build 24-inch fat bikes. I don’t know of many that go smaller from there either. In addition, with 24-inch wheels, my son’s bikes are getting big enough that I am able to ride them without damaging anything. I’m not taking them off jumps or going for sustained rides, but just trying to get the feel and experience of the machine.
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. Mongoose made a sound decision considering the weight that a child must pedal. Having a wider gear range makes for a versatile bike that can conquer the terrain.
The drive train is setup for either snow or sand riding and my son seemed to ride comfortably. Taking the Argus out was a different experience than the norm and we both had fun. Mongoose has mongoose mountain bikes given the “go-ahead” to do a long term review to assess the handling and function of the Argus once winter comes. So if you’re curious about how the bike performs in the snow, stay tuned…..