I picked up this frame for free recently, and thought I’d try to build something up using only parts from my parts bin. In the end the only thing I had to buy to make the build work was the seatpost as it’s some weird Mongoose size. The bike rides really well! I have no intentions of keeping it though, got way too many bikes, so this one’s going straight to FB Marketplace.

1997 Mongoose IBOC Comp SX Small 16″

Fork RST Delta Comp (1850g)
Shifter: microSHIFT Advent Trail Trigger Pro (119g)
Rear Derailleur: MicroSHIFT Advent X + Pass Quest jockey wheels (313g)
Headset: (83g)
Handlebar: Nitto Moose Bars (806g)
Stem Spacers: Ritchey (8g)
Brake Levers: Litepro (68g)
Brakes: Deore V-Brake (227g)
Brake Pads: Koolstop Salmon: (124g)
Crankset: IXF 170mm (726g)
Chainring: Pass Quest 36T (61g)
Pedals: DMR V12 (415g)
BB: IXF
Chain: Shimano 10-Speed (252g)
Cassette: ZTTO 10-Speed 11-46T (330g)
Lockring: ZTTO (6g)
Grips: ODI Ruffian (100g)
Wheelset: (888g/1083g)
Front Tyre: Maxxis High Roller 3 26″ x 2.3″ (863g)
Rear Tyre: Kenda Small Block 8 26″ x 2.1″ (619g)
Tubes: Maxxis Flyweight (96g/96g)
Quick Release Skewers: Shimano (g)
Seatpost: Tranz X suspension 31.4mm (551g)
Saddle: WTB Rocket V SLT Ti rails (223g)

Weight: 12.22kg

Finally caved and decided to remove the 10-Speed Microshift and other AliExpress parts and source more period correct parts for the bike, namely an XT groupset, half of which I stole off my Cannondale Super V (which I’ll upgrade to XTR over time), and the rest I sourced on eBay bit by bit.

Really happy with how it’s turned out! Shifting is so much better now, it all just looks and feels so much more right (to me!).

Factor One spotted at Jet Cycles.

I got a Loftus e-MTB segment KOM by 18 seconds! Let’s goooo Amflow!

Haha, this bike is wild!

Hills? What hills?!

Nascence. I’ve seen the light. Mind blown, hype is real. I’m converted.

So much to like, so little to dislike, but if I had to list the negatives:

– The bike is speed limited to 25km/hr and you’re always going 25km/hr so the on again off again is a major drag.

– It’s light for an e-MTB but it’s heavy to load and offload.

– Not sure I’d swap the rear wheel to a 27.5 as even with the 29″ rear wheel and 155mm crankarms I had some pedal strikes on techy uphills. I thought the weight would make for a sluggish bike in switchbacks but nope, changes direction amazingly well!

– Grips are a bit thin, will swap them out for something chunkier ASAP.

If you can’t beat ’em, join em?! 120Nm of torque and 1,000W of peak power in boost mode. Cheat code enabled!

Much thanks to PedL for getting the bike to me so quickly. Cant wait to hit the trails!

Shot on film (!) by Nick!