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1979 Mongoose Motomag

#1 2009-02-02 11:01pm

zeekle
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1979 Mongoose Motomag

http://bmxmuseum.com//image/bmxmuseumcomp.jpg http://bmxmuseum.com//image/winbmx.jpg http://bmxmuseum.com//image/bikems_bmx_1.jpg http://bmxmuseum.com//image/mongoosebmx1.jpg

1979 Mongoose Motomag

Weighing in at 34 pounds (15 kilograms)...
...this was BMX before the "lighter is better" arms race began.

This bike has the totally unnecessary and insane distinction of completing RAGBRAI XXXVIII's century loop TWICE in one day.

From 1987 to 2008, this bike's head-tube held the crown for "World's Raddest Wasp's Nest" but those days are over - this bike is a rider!

Many thanks to the 1977 Mongoose Manual provided by vintagemongoose.com, where I learned how to properly adjust my axles, headset and bottom-bracket - and many thanks to bmxmuseum.com for their invaluable BMX Restoration forum.

Bike blog: BMXmongoose.com
http://www.bmxmongoose.com/php/phpDraw/small_Mongoose-BMX.jpg
BMXmongoose.com - Park tools, precision bearings and mayhem.

http://www.bmxmongoose.com/images/bikeMS_pics_2010/winBMX.jpg
"Prepare to eat my dust!"

http://www.bmxmongoose.com/images/bikeMS_pics_2010/ridingBMX.jpg
"Okay, one more pose before I beat everyone."

http://www.bmxmongoose.com/images/BMX_RAGBRAI_1.jpg
For those who don't already know, RAGBRAI is a 7 day bicycle ride across the entire state of Iowa where you will be pursued by a horde of giant robots that are trying to kill you. Riders that make it to the end will receive a big-prize: their lives.

http://www.bmxmongoose.com/images/BMX_RAGBRAI_2.jpg
The release waiver mentioned something about dinosaurs.

http://www.bmxmongoose.com/images/BMX-Mongoose-Motomag.jpg
Bike MS

1623 2/2/11


http://bmxmuseum.com/img/view-bike-in-museum.gif

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#2 2009-02-02 11:15pm

MADDAWG
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Re: 1979 Mongoose Motomag

Cool , but aren't you afraid of the neck stripping and going head over bars ?

.                       IL/WI Border area O.G.O.A.R.                            
                                         
                     

      Rule #9 :If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.

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#3 2009-02-03 5:31am

zeekle
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Re: 1979 Mongoose Motomag

Yeah, I was wondering about that too. 

The forward position of the bars "feels" right for my size.  Can a double-clamp i.e. gold stem successfully hold handlebars positioned that far forward or is it bad practice to have them that far forward regardless of what kind of stem you have?

Currently, I've got it tightened down to the point where it no longer slips, nevertheless, I bought some old Tuf Neck shims just in case and if it starts slipping again I'll give them a try.

What's the word on shims?  Will they do the trick?  I read on the internet that aluminum cut from a beer can makes the best shim.

Thanks! :D

Last edited by zeekle (2009-02-03 8:19am)

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#4 2009-02-03 5:50pm

blindfaith420
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From: Seattle, WA 98178
Signed up: 2007-07-23
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Re: 1979 Mongoose Motomag

I'd probably put em back where they belong and get a laid back post... Not original but it will feel better to you, look better, and be safer... I have a CYC in my bikes that has nearly the same tight geometry... Hard to ride hard or far

Last edited by blindfaith420 (2009-02-03 5:51pm)

Always buying 80's & 90's Mountain bikes and parts
- Mountain Goat, Fat City, Grove Innovations, Eastern Woods, Ritchey.
- WANTED 56cm(ish) Chris Chance "SLIM CHANCE" or "CHRIS CROSS"
- Boutique vintage MTB parts: WTB, Ringle, Syncros, Phil, Kooka, Caramba, Bullseye, Salsa, etc... $ ready to spend

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#5 2009-02-03 7:03pm

Freestylin & Ridin
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Re: 1979 Mongoose Motomag

Nice having your old bike still.  Great piece of BMX history!  Ride on

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#6 2009-02-04 5:46pm

zeekle
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Re: 1979 Mongoose Motomag

Thanks for the advice.  I'm looking at 3 different kinds of laid back posts.  One is slightly angled at about 45 degrees, the second one is about 70 degrees with a support post and another is about 90 degrees with a support post.  Is one better than the other or is it just personal preference? 

Thanks again :D

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#7 2009-02-28 1:54am

zeekle
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Re: 1979 Mongoose Motomag

UPDATE:
I got a really nice chrome lay back seat post and it makes all the difference in the world.  Now the handlebars are in factory position and it feels like a much bigger bike. 

Thanks for the great advice! :D

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#8 2009-06-27 2:18pm

redneckbmx
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Re: 1979 Mongoose Motomag

dude you can use that same stem, cause the other day i had an oldschool one bolt goose neck, and it kept slipping, so i just put a high quality nut on it, and it held perfect once torked siriusly. basicly, make a visit to the hardware store.:cool:

...

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#9 2009-07-23 5:15pm

zeekle
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Re: 1979 Mongoose Motomag

Thanks, redneckbmx! 

So far, mine's been holding so good that I'm more worried about crushing the handlebar joint - but that's holding up too. :cool:

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#10 2009-07-23 5:18pm

zeekle
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Re: 1979 Mongoose Motomag

I think the secret is to know the difference between a bolt stripping "Death Grip" and just "really good and tight".

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#11 2009-09-16 8:06am

big pimpin
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Re: 1979 Mongoose Motomag

Best of Luck on Your 100 mile cruise.  :)

How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours.

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#12 2009-09-30 11:39pm

flyinhawn
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Re: 1979 Mongoose Motomag

Your the man!! you make all of us proud to be old school mid school and new school bmxer's!!
I would dread being in the same moto with you on a lighter bike after your 100mile ride.

Aloha
Flyin -ha wa in

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#13 2009-12-30 2:21pm

cnc6306
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Re: 1979 Mongoose Motomag

very cool bike :cool:

TOPHER

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#14 2010-02-26 2:51am

BMX JUNKIE
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Re: 1979 Mongoose Motomag

Baddazz bro!!!! :cool: 181 miles now thats ols school dedication. RIDE ON!!!!

                                                                      Frank.

I HURT MY SELF TODAY, TO SEE IF I STILL FEEL...ACTUALY I FORGOT TO TENSION THE CHAIN......


You know damn well that neither of us knows what the hell you are talking about.

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#15 2010-10-06 4:30pm

zeekle
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Re: 1979 Mongoose Motomag

Thanks, BMX JUNKIE :D

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#16 2010-10-06 4:37pm

krankyankee
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Re: 1979 Mongoose Motomag

I'm speechless, this is so frickin' cool. Tell me you rode across Iowa in that Scott facemask breathing your own breath, awesome!

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#17 2010-10-06 4:47pm

zeekle
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Re: 1979 Mongoose Motomag

Thanks krankyankee! - yeah, I wore the mask the whole way (except for one day that was really hot) but it wasn't that bad :lol:

Here's a pic:
http://www.bmxmongoose.com/images/RAGBRAI_pics_2010/9.jpg

And here's a link to more pics and the story behind my RAGBRAI ride.  Overall, it was pretty cool and at times funny as hell: http://www.bmxmongoose.com/BMX_RAGBRAI_2010.php

RAGBRAI is great - lots of really awesome people riding bikes :cool:

WANT TO BUY:
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#18 2010-11-19 3:49pm

catspat
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Re: 1979 Mongoose Motomag

Man I love that pic of you in amongst all the Lycra ppls, fantastic concept mate, performance art.

The one who tastes, knows;
The one who explains, lies.
Rabia.
Those that know, know not and those that know not, know! GG

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#19 2010-11-20 9:55pm

zeekle
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Re: 1979 Mongoose Motomag

Thanks, catspat - your pic is pretty cool too! :D

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#20 2010-11-21 7:00am

jhammons01
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From: Irvine, CA
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Re: 1979 Mongoose Motomag

^^hilarious how the Lycra crowd is trying to become invisible while that photo is being taken.....I had to think about it for a moment, but catspat is correct, it is performance art.....

The old school trick on the single nut gooseneck was that, You had to pick the right spot to clamp your bars and then tighten the crap out of the nut......and that was it....no other adjustments could be made....the bite made by the neck crimped the bars is a way that if you tried another position....slippage was imminent. At least that is what I believed as a kid racing ashtabula components....remember...there was a time in life when Ashtabula was the top of the line.....then someone (Cook Bros) invented the double clamp stem.......

I've got one of those around here somewhere

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#21 2011-11-27 9:58am

cuttykev
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Re: 1979 Mongoose Motomag

Ha-ha LOVE IT! Now I'm lookin for my yellow Scott mask, around here somewhere. Keep ridin Zeekle!!!

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#22 2011-11-27 10:49am

zeekle
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Re: 1979 Mongoose Motomag

Thanks, cuttykev! :D

WANT TO BUY:
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#23 2011-11-27 10:54am

johnng23604
U seen my "baseball"
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Re: 1979 Mongoose Motomag

zeekle wrote:

Thanks krankyankee! - yeah, I wore the mask the whole way (except for one day that was really hot) but it wasn't that bad :lol:

Here's a pic:
http://www.bmxmongoose.com/images/RAGBR … 2010/9.jpg

And here's a link to more pics and the story behind my RAGBRAI ride.  Overall, it was pretty cool and at times funny as hell: http://www.bmxmongoose.com/BMX_RAGBRAI_2010.php

RAGBRAI is great - lots of really awesome people riding bikes :cool:

What's up bud, how's the long distance riding going on your goose?

I'm looking for the following frames, frame & forks or completes by BMX products:
MotoTrac (nickle or chrome), Racer-X or a Super-X (with the double gussets).
Thanks ;)
I'm also johnng23604 at "Retro-goose", "VintageBMX" & "RADbmx"

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#24 2011-11-27 11:36am

zeekle
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Re: 1979 Mongoose Motomag

It's going great, thanks!  I rode RAGBRAI again but this time it was on the new 26" KOS Kruiser: http://bmxmuseum.com/bikes/mongoose/52497 (it was a lot easier on the knees) This year I'm going to put together my '82 Mongoose "Two Four" for RAGBRAI and whatnot !! :D

WANT TO BUY:
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#25 2011-11-27 4:46pm

johnng23604
U seen my "baseball"
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Re: 1979 Mongoose Motomag

zeekle wrote:

It's going great, thanks!  I rode RAGBRAI again but this time it was on the new 26" KOS Kruiser: http://bmxmuseum.com/bikes/mongoose/52497 (it was a lot easier on the knees) This year I'm going to put together my '82 Mongoose "Two Four" for RAGBRAI and whatnot !! :D

Cool RD,  I checked it out! :cool:

I'm looking for the following frames, frame & forks or completes by BMX products:
MotoTrac (nickle or chrome), Racer-X or a Super-X (with the double gussets).
Thanks ;)
I'm also johnng23604 at "Retro-goose", "VintageBMX" & "RADbmx"

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