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Kid sized fat bike frames are rare so taking him out this winter will be a unique experience. With that said, it was fun seeing my son experience something truly different on the dirt. Given my profession as a mountain bike journalist and product reviewer, it’s not unusual for friends and neighbors to ask me for bike recommendations.
GT Connect is a simple way to link you with local shops for professional bike builds, accessory sales, and service when needed. By signing up for GT Connect after you purchase a mountain or gravel bike over $1000 from GTBicycles.com, you will be eligible to have your new GT built for free. Buying a bike is all about finding the right mix of price, performance, and yes, style. The Mongoose Switchback Expert strikes a fine balance for riders looking for an affordable and simple entry into the world of riding bikes off road.
In my experience, this is pretty common for bikes in this price range. Kristen is a USA Cycling certified coach and loves to share her passion for biking with other families. Blair is a bike geek, mechanic, and mountain bike junkie. The components all functioned well with minimal adjustments needed and served their individual duties. The traits of handling and stability will most certainly transition to snow riding as well. They slowed my son’s riding down when needed but functioned as any mechanical brake set would.
He did a good video recently on some more budget parts (including hydraulic disc brakes) as well as he has been playing with a Walmart MTB recently. I have a 7 speed Shimano thumb shifter and aluminum mountain bike pedals on the way. The stock brakes kinda suck too so I was thinking about upgrading to Shimano hydraulic brakes in the future. From the world cup racer, to the bike park ripper, the Fury is tunable for any type of gravity rider.
The Mongoose Switchback Expert is capable of popping off small roots and rocks in the trail, and it has proven to be durable on the landings. I worried about flat tires so I added a bit more pressure than I usually run on my other bikes—about 20-25psi—and I recommend buyers do the same. The drivetrain is generally pretty quiet when pedaling on smooth surfaces, though things start to clang the faster (and rougher!) you ride. One of the selling points of the Mongoose Switchback Expert is the tapered head tube, which the Comp mongoose dirt bike version does not offer. The idea is that a buyer could upgrade the fork down the road to something better, but honestly it’s not going to be worth the expense. The SR Suntour XCE coil fork is truly entry level, and while it absorbs bumps in the trail it’s heavy and harsh compared to a more expensive fork with an air spring.
The Mongoose Argus Trail frame is comprised of 6061 aluminum. There is also a steel version sold at a slightly lower cost. That is the seat I bought to replace the stock torture device. 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 and colors.
The Switchback Expert currently costs $125 less than the Specialized Rockhopper and is the better choice, in my opinion, based on the geometry and parts specs. Exploring the great outdoors is truly a treat with a Mongoose fat tire bike. This type of bike is designed with the adventurer in mind, providing numerous benefits that make for a superior cycling experience. Seasonality is a common problem for cyclists, with many finding it challenging to ride in snowy or icy conditions. These bikes are designed to conquer any terrain, in any season.
It’s rare to see a bike in this price range offered in mongoose dirt bike four sizes—small through extra large—rather than just one or two sizes. Like more expensive bikes, the Mongoose Switchback Expert specs smaller 27.5″ diameter wheels on size small bikes and 29er wheels on larger sizes. To find the right size, check that you can stand over the bike with at least an inch or more between your crotch and the top tube. Then, check that the seat can be set about even with your hip while standing beside the bike.
If you want to ride trails as fast as possible, you’ll likely progress beyond the Mongoose Switchback Expert rather quickly. Tires are usually an inexpensive upgrade that can make a huge difference in the way a bike feels, but here again, buyers likely won’t want to bother. The included wheels feature narrow, 18mm rims that are even narrower than what you might find on a gravel bike today. For that reason, it doesn’t make sense to run anything wider than the 2.25″ tires specced despite what appears to be plenty of frame clearance. I like the WTB Trail Boss tires so my advice is to just keep ’em. The rims aren’t taped inside, and they’re drilled for Schrader valves, so IMO going tubeless isn’t really worth the hassle, either.