wheels, seatpost and saddle as well as stem.

Picked up the Ritchey WCS Carbon Stem and Seatpost off ebay for less than 1/2 price new in boxes. Also snagged the Fizik Arione Carbon/Kevlar weave saddle with ti rails.
And put the new Easton EA90 SLs on the bike as well.
The weight for complete bike with pedals/cages/computer is in upper 15 lbs range (a hair under 16). Not too shabby for a complete build price of $2600 (pedals, cages, computer etc).
If you can put aside the Mongoose monicker, you cannot beat the value of this thing. The ride is sublime for the price I paid or 3x the amount for that matter.

Nice! You ought to consider putting some CF stuff on it. :-)

Looks good. The Force goodies would CF it more. ;)

Lookin' good, man. I have that stem too. I like it a lot.

Enjoy it!

I really like this Ritchey stem. It is beautifully made. Picked it up on Ebay for a great price and am very happy with it. The cheap Kore components that came with the bike were fine and looked good, but I had a plan to upgrade to carbon stuff. Next are carbon handlebars, but I will wait.

Lookin' good, man. I have that stem too. I like it a lot.

Enjoy it!

It really is a nice looking bike and there sholud be no question it rides great. However, $2600 seems like a lot to pay for it IMHO. If you are looking for Value and CF, The BD Immortal series is much cheaper and by all accounts rides just as good. The Immortal Force (http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/immortalforce_08instock.htm) has a better build and at $1600 leaves a grand to upgrade Saddle, tires, etc.

I just have a totally different perspective on bikes. All of mine have been bought used and I don't have more than a $1000 in any of them. At 250lbs I don't give a Rat's A$$ about weight and I don't think I'm that sensitive (or critical maybe) of how bikes "ride". From this perspective I'm more concerned the name on the down tube. Right or wrong, there are certain names brands that project "quality".

For $2600 I want hand crafted, I want to know the name of the person that designed/built it and I want to think that I would keep it for life. I don't mean to imply that my bike would be better, it would just be my preference.

A used, Dura-Ace 9 speed, custom built Serotta Legend would rate much higher.

I didn't pay $2600 for the bike in its original form. I only paid $1500 which was a bargain. I upgraded the following for less than the retail price on the bike.


2007 Mongoose Bosberg ($2700 retail)

Upgrades include

Easton EA90 SL wheels ($750 retail)
Ritchey WCS Carbon Seatpost ($220 retail)
Ritchey WCS Carbon Stem ($200 retail)
Fizik Arione Carbon Seat ($270 retail)
Speedplay X5 pedals ($115 retail)
Forte Carbon Cages, Pair ($80 retail)
Cateye Astrale Wireless Computer ($60 retail)

Total potential MSRP is $4395
and my total out of pocket was $2600 by using the internet and ebay to build this bike. Trust me, it is a bargain.


It really is a nice looking bike and there sholud be no question it rides great. However, $2600 seems like a lot to pay for it IMHO. If you are looking for Value and CF, The BD Immortal series is much cheaper and by all accounts rides just as good. The Immortal Force (http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/immortalforce_08instock.htm) has a better build and at $1600 leaves a grand to upgrade Saddle, tires, etc.

I just have a totally different perspective on bikes. All of mine have been bought used and I don't have more than a $1000 in any of them. At 250lbs I don't give a Rat's A$$ about weight and I don't think I'm that sensitive (or critical maybe) of how bikes "ride". From this perspective I'm more concerned the name on the down tube. Right or wrong, there are certain names brands that project "quality".

For $2600 I want hand crafted, I want to know the name of the person that designed/built it and I want to think that I would keep it for life. I don't mean to imply that my bike would be better, it would just be my preference.

I used, Dura-Ace 9 speed, custom built Serotta Legend would rate much higher.

Nice upgrades, I like Ritchey's stuff.

Nice dining room table chairs too.

I didn't pay $2600 for the bike in its original form. I only paid $1500 which was a bargain. I upgraded the following for less than the retail price on the bike.


2007 Mongoose Bosberg ($2700 retail)

Upgrades include

Easton EA90 SL wheels ($750 retail)
Ritchey WCS Carbon Seatpost ($220 retail)
Ritchey WCS Carbon Stem ($200 retail)
Fizik Arione Carbon Seat ($270 retail)
Speedplay X5 pedals ($115 retail)
Forte Carbon Cages, Pair ($80 retail)
Cateye Astrale Wireless Computer ($60 retail)

Total potential MSRP is $4395
and my total out of pocket was $2600 by using the internet and ebay to build this bike. Trust me, it is a bargain.


It certainly did a great job with the parts. The bike looks Hot!

Pottery Barn. Most of my stuff is or looks like it was from there. It is the only stuff that matches my older home (1897) without having to buy antiques. I like old furniture but it takes a hell of a lot more work to furnish a home by driving around for one piece at a time than opening up a catalog and dialing the phone. :)

As far as the bike goes, it has been a permanent piece in my dining room. The other half just accepts it.

Nice upgrades, I like Ritchey's stuff.

Nice dining room table chairs too.

any sweet jumps yet? I wanna see pix of it all table topped out

Well done! It looks nice. Ought to lose the valve cap though.....

Mongoose I owned as a kid. That is part of the appeal for me that it is such a sleeper and unexpected. Kinda proves my point about generic made frames and the effect of name brand labels on perception. Proof is in the spinning up and all I can say NICE!!!!

any sweet jumps yet? I wanna see pix of it all table topped out

Red valve caps I like.

put them on but now that you mention it.


Well done! It looks nice. Ought to lose the valve cap though.....

Merry Christmas to you. Sometimes bargains are worth hunting down. Good work.:thumbsup:

to you too. Yeah, between Performance coupons and credits and the ebaying, I never put together such a good bike this cheap.

Spent well over $4k on bikes that don't come close to this bargain. Even if I didn't do the upgrades, the bike was stellar. The wheels did cut down a pound almost.To be honest carbon parts are overrated as far as weight because the aluminum stuff is just as light.


Merry Christmas to you. Sometimes bargains are worth hunting down. Good work.:thumbsup:

You should look for one more bargain-- a carbon fiber crankset-- that silver one is sticking out pretty hard in the pic! :ihih:

still- bike looks outstanding-- how does it ride?

there isn't a real weight savings with brands like FSA. If I upgrade to the SRAM Force carbon crank, I would save 100 grams but most other carbon cranks with BB weigh same or more than the Rival I have on the bike. Unless you want to donate a carbon crank?


You should look for one more bargain-- a carbon fiber crankset-- that silver one is sticking out pretty hard in the pic! :ihih:

still- bike looks outstanding-- how does it ride?

Very nice looking bike! I am especially surprised how nice the Forte cages look.

and I got them on sale for $25 each plus 20% off that. You have to figure that Performance has these made my another company that probably makes the same cage with a different name and charge 2x the price.
thanks, this bike has surprised me from day one. My friends look at my Litespeeds that cost much more and say this is the nicest looking of them all.

Very nice looking bike! I am especially surprised how nice the Forte cages look.

Dude!

You took off all of the sweet reflectors!

I just got my own Bosberg and had to joke with the salesman about the cheapness of the plastic wheel reflectors compared to the rest of the bike.

This forum helped me to make my decision. I had been set on buying a Giant OCR C2 for $2300 when I saw the Mongoose on sale at Performance for $1800. It seemed I couldn't go wrong at that price. I'm very pleased so far, although I might get the bike serviced at a different bike shop based on the relatively poor fitting they did. I'll take the bike back to Performance for the break-in adjustments and we'll see how they do from there.

for bike shops to sell on bikes. Even my Litepspeeds had reflectors if they were shipped from the factory built up. It is the law in my state and most states that bikes be sold with them on. LBS will remove them from high end/race bikes once they pull them out of the box.

I paid $1899 minus 10% when I got mine. Plus $190 in credit to buy the pedals/cages and computer for a total build price of $1710. I was totally blown away by the quality of this bike. Even the decals are under the clearcoat.

If you would have ordered it on Christmas Day you could have snagged this for $1799 minus 20% for a total price of $1439. Seriously, this bike if it had a Cervelo on the downtube would go for $4k +. And the Mongoose was made in Taiwan and not in China for that matter. Let me know how you like it and post a pic.
Lazy


Dude!

You took off all of the sweet reflectors!

I just got my own Bosberg and had to joke with the salesman about the cheapness of the plastic wheel reflectors compared to the rest of the bike.

This forum helped me to make my decision. I had been set on buying a Giant OCR C2 for $2300 when I saw the Mongoose on sale at Performance for $1800. It seemed I couldn't go wrong at that price. I'm very pleased so far, although I might get the bike serviced at a different bike shop based on the relatively poor fitting they did. I'll take the bike back to Performance for the break-in adjustments and we'll see how they do from there.

You need to get axle pegs front and back so you can use it to freestyle.
Nice bike. I'm sure the thing is laterally superstiff yet vertically compliant.

aske Pedro....... You ever take it off any sweet jumps?
:) :) :)

Yeah, it is a surprisingly comfortable ride but accelerates really well. This is the lightest bike I ever built up and that includes my Litespeed Vortex with Dura Ace. This bike is smoother although my Litespeed Solano is a really nice riding bike.




You need to get axle pegs front and back so you can use it to freestyle.
Nice bike. I'm sure the thing is laterally superstiff yet vertically compliant.

I bought your wheels last week. They are VERY stiff. I need to get used to them.

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm146/Brent_hstn/IMG_0913.jpg

They're actually the SLX. I'm 150 soaking wet.

Stiff wheels? Sounds like the pressure in the tires is too high, especially when you consider that even bad wheels only flex a few parts of a millimeter in the plane of the wheel.

Search the forums for "mavic wheel stiffness test" or summat, and find out how even Mavic's test riders couldn't reliably determine whether the wheels they were riding were stiff or not.

Oh crap. Its Forrest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just kidding

So if the ride seems to be bumpier and I'm using the same pressure, then its all in my head?

Oh crap. Its Forrest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just kidding

So if the ride seems to be bumpier and I'm using the same pressure, then its all in my head?

I think so.

I've switched between Rolf Sestriere's and record/open pro 32 hole wheels, reputed to have a difference in "stiffness"...

I just feel the difference between my 25c Conti 4000's and my 23c Michelin pro race 3's and different tire pressure.

Note to self:

Why am I aiding the resurrection of this thread?

and you will be pleased. I like all of my Easton wheels. The hubs spin up nice, smooth and quiet. Bike looks good.

As far as stiffness, they are definitely responsive. I don't get any flex issues and I am a bigger guy (I am 190lb but all my weight and muscle is in my legs. I am a medium in my shirts but an XL in pants which gives you and idea of how I am built). Point being that I can flex wheels and frames more than these lighter guys by the nature of my build. I have not issues with the Eastons. I have had issues with other wheels flexing and rubbing on the brake pads when I was out of saddle but not these.
As far as the ressurection of this thread LOL, thanks, I think my bike deserves some more attention.

I bought your wheels last week. They are VERY stiff. I need to get used to them.

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm146/Brent_hstn/IMG_0913.jpg

They're actually the SLX. I'm 150 soaking wet.

What is a 'Bossberg'?

I bought your wheels last week. They are VERY stiff. I need to get used to them.

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm146/Brent_hstn/IMG_0913.jpg

They're actually the SLX. I'm 150 soaking wet.


nice wheels...



(o ya..flip it)

Is a killer and pivotal climb in the Tour of Flanders race. It usually decides the winner of this one day race. Amazing to watch. Oh, and it is also one killer carbon road bike. LOL

What is a 'Bossberg'?

A climb in a bike race. wow... how original.

at least it is in the race at Flanders.

but my bike is actually a Kinesis KR810. People tend to like things with numbers as names. Make them seem high tech or something. This is the exact frame as mine. I like my set up better.

I agree that thing above, looks like they were designed using Microsoft Windows For Workgroups Version 3.11 .

but then again, I despise most graphics nowadays...

thus all my road bikes have the majority of the offending graphics removed..

...however... nothing matters as long as you ride your bike. so go ride it.

the decals cannot be removed as they are painted and under the clearcoat. This actually impressed me as $6k frames have decals that peel off. I love the looks I get at the bike shop when guys gawk at it thinking it is some really fancy brand and then say "Mongoose?"
Then the look closer and pick it up and almost crap themselves over how light and well made it is. They still wouldn't dare ride a Mongoose though. I love their reactions.


I agree that thing above, looks like they were designed using Microsoft Windows For Workgroups Version 3.11 .

but then again, I despise most graphics nowadays...

thus all my road bikes have the majority of the offending graphics removed..

...however... nothing matters as long as you ride your bike. so go ride it.

Clearcoat?

That has never stopped a determined owner.

Sand off the clear coat, to get to the decals, and just sand them off.

Then simply re-apply the clear.

At this point it would also be a good time to use a higher quality final layer.

Tada.. no decals!!!

... and now it is CUSTOM.

the decals cannot be removed as they are painted and under the clearcoat. This actually impressed me as $6k frames have decals that peel off. I love the looks I get at the bike shop when guys gawk at it thinking it is some really fancy brand and then say "Mongoose?"
Then the look closer and pick it up and almost crap themselves over how light and well made it is. They still wouldn't dare ride a Mongoose though. I love their reactions.

still with the same old schtick....:mad2:

just aside which 6k frames have decals on top of the clear?

I mean frames that are NOT Ti.

...seriously.. I am curious.

blah blah blah blah blah, is all I hear. I am brutally honest and that is the reaction I get. I have owned NUMEROUS bikes, enough to know the special ones, and the Goose is one of them. Blah blah blah.

still with the same old schtick....:mad2:

have decals as does my 5500. In my many visits to shops, I have seen others but cannot recall the frames off the top of my head but they exist. Personally I don't mind under or over as long as they are durable but it was nice to see that my frame had them under considering the price I paid.

just aside which 6k frames have decals on top of the clear?

I mean frames that are NOT Ti.

...seriously.. I am curious.

blah blah blah blah blah, is all I hear. I am brutally honest and that is the reaction I get. I have owned NUMEROUS bikes, enough to know the special ones, and the Goose is one of them. Blah blah blah.

Let me offer you a quote from a very wise person...

I'll say what your obviously looking for... your ability to find a bicycle that, even though it's only cosmetically different than more expensive bicycles, is unique and amazing. The fact that you can put parts on a bike that you found at a discount, coupled with the fact that they're also expensive not only increase the retail cost of your bike, but make you that much more of the quintessential savvy shopper, who just happens to be an artist whose media is bicycles, and the art of bicycle shopping/purchasing.

You have singlehandedly convinced me that bicycling is nothing more than marketing, and should I put my personal preferences and biases aside, I too can have a race/pro level bike at a fraction of the cost. Naysayers can say what they want- after all they are jealous, 'cause god knows that the Kinesis that the Mongoose is based from, is financially out of reach for most, and we're getting the same thing for less money. We understand this (*wink,*wink), and until we convince the masses of our (apparent) superiority (based on a shared value system), we shouldn't back down defending our decisions.

/snip

We get it. We get you. Congratulations. You have proven yourself not only worthy, but superior to most cyclists as a whole. Your financial acumen is unprecedented. Your eye for aesthetics is uncanny. Your ability to see past the "hype" is apparent.

Good fcuking job. Should your shoulder hurt from your twisting to pat yourself on the back, please be advised that I offer you unlimited "atta boy"s.

Notice that I didn't comment on the wood laminate flooring or the Rooms To Go couch! :D

between Red Oak and Laminate. Now, why would I put laminate down in an old house like mine? You cannot use laminate in your parent's basement where you reside, too damp. Trust me, I am OK with where I live, let's see your hovel.

Let me offer you a quote from a very wise person...



Notice that I didn't comment on the wood laminate flooring or the Rooms To Go couch! :D

i like the look of the straight fork that's on the Kinesis.

You know, the only thing missing from your house is this...

http://www.redriderleglamps.com/images/products/Deluxe%20Lit%20Leg%20Lamp%20medium.jpg

Oh, and you can use laminate in basements. It's real wood, or an engineered wood that you wouldn't want to use. But since I don't have a basement, it's all a moot point.

Why don't you take off your headset, let someone else handle the IT calls and pedal that beautiful Performance bike!