Bought the frame new back in '98 and put all the bits I liked on it. Rides well. Strong bike, taken a lot of punishment...including massive falls!!! No dents in frame. Luv this bike.

None really.

The bike has live a long hard life. Difficult in getting parts for it now. Poor thing. It needs wheel and forks. Managed to get 2nd hand Judys and had to modify the new air shock I got for it.. Thinking of getting a new bike but its hard to depart with this excellent steed.

Seriously great bike. I have a new Cannondale Duel Suspension and purchased this bike recently. Got it for a quarter of its price when new. It was over $1000 when new.
Love the ride and all components are still in great condition.

Nothing that I can think of. This bike is nearly 15 years old so it hasnt got the latest specs, but works great.

A great bike at a great second hand price

Similar Products Used:

Mongoose Teocali Elite
Cannondale V400

they are good bike but for a guy who ride it day after day and who ride it like it had to be ride.... will know that it's not the good bike for it...

the frame look like to be hard but a rider who ask to much will know from is own experience that the aren't really hard !

Got 2 nx 8.1
the first : a 1998, very good bke for jumping, very fun to ride, but the parts are a bit bad, I broked the frame 2 1/2 years later under the b.b
the second : a 2001 Good bike but a bit too long, very bad parts when you buy it from store but I had My own part so it changed up the entire bike but I just Broked the frame just before the place that keep the 7mm axe after 2 years of riding...

Hope to have an other one from mongoose

Similar Products Used:

n/a

This is a follow up...I changed the front fork to a used
Marzocchi Z.1 Drop Off I bought from a friend. Its a 5" travel fork and you can tell the difference from 100mm to 130mm. I highly suggest a Z1. I also put Deore disc brakes/ Deore Disc hubs/Mavic 222 wheels on the bike. It also sports a 100mm Specialized stem and Kore downhill bar and a pair of "Tenderizer" Primo flat pedals. I must change the seat, it sucks but I have no money left. The bike went from a XC oriented bike to an all-purpose trail bike. Kind of like the Kona Dawg or Kona Bear was. Its cool. But if anything, change the front fork to a Marzocchi Z1, it will change the bike's handling dramatically.

Rear shock--I have no money, but if I did, a Romic or
Fox Vanilla will be a bit stiffer.

The frame being a 4 link, really helps this bike handle.
The pivots are high quality with a sealed bearing on the main pivot. It helps control that rear wheel bobble when
braking on singletrack descents. Yet, as I mentioned before, it does have some bobbing when pushing it uphill. But I paid $600 for the whole bike, and when it was first introduced in 2000, it MSRP's for $1000.
If you see one new at a bikeshop, snatch it up, but don't pay over $900 for it.

Similar Products Used:

Kona Bear

After over 2 years, the frame hasn't cracked or has creaks
anywhere. The bike was the last f/s trailbike designed by the old Mongoose company, so its pretty decent. No warrantee
now, but after many many rides, it still rides/looks good.

There are so many parts that are crappy, where do I begin? The wimpy fork, rear shock, seat, brakes, crankset and shifters.

If you are doing some fireroads and riding on asphalt,
keep the bike stock.
If you are a serious dirt freak, get a new fork w/ at least 100mm travel,
find an old RockShock CoupeDeluxe rear shock and 4"
long spring (it will fit like a glove) or a Fox Float shock.
Also utilize the rear disc brake tabs and put on some disk brakes. I know its a Mongoose, but it has a very nice 4 bar link rear (Specialized patent) and it will be a
totally different bike. I am broke myself and can't afford
a $3000 dream bike, so with some used parts from mtbr.com and bay and new disc brakes, I turned this
low-buck thing into a decent 33lb, 5" x 4.3" travel bike.
It rolls over ruts and rocks like butter and climbs like a goat, thanks to the 4 bar link and new stiff 700 lb rear spring and shock.

Similar Products Used:

Kona Dawg

they are good bike but for a guy who ride it day after day and who ride it like it had to be ride.... will know that it's not the good bike for it...

the frame look like to be hard but a rider who ask to much will know from is own experience that the aren't really hard !

Got 2 nx 8.1
the first : a 1998, very good bke for jumping, very fun to ride, but the parts are a bit bad, I broked the frame 2 1/2 years later under the b.b
the second : a 2001 Good bike but a bit too long, very bad parts when you buy it from store but I had My own part so it changed up the entire bike but I just Broked the frame just before the place that keep the 7mm axe after 2 years of riding...

Hope to have an other one from mongoose

Similar Products Used:

n/a

Strong light xc frame with little horizontal movement, ballbearing pivot, great sellection of parts

The shocks I first had were Magnums which are a very recreational shock.

A solid bike for beginers which is good for advanced riders it is a fast fun machine

Similar Products Used:

Specialized FSRs Scott

great

none

this bike is a legend it performs well and kicks arse. I would highly recomend this bike to anyone who wishes to purchase it race it or dont, its great

Similar Products Used:

specialised fsrs scott

Good component mix for price.

Shape make it difficult to shoulder if needed. Front end is a little difficult to control, particularly up hill.

Good first full suspension bike. Deore components are great, could do with better front suspension than the Manitou Magnums.

Similar Products Used:

First full suspension bike.

Excellent frame. Beautiful and smart designing. The Deore components are great for the price. The tires, Maxxis Krakken and Calibos, are in a word, amazing. Great stem, seat. Rims are nice.

Magnum fork, rear shock. Awkward bottle holder placement. STX front derailleur.

This bike has been absolutely perfect. I've had no problems with anything (except the STX derailleur), and there is always room for upgrades. Light frame, very agile. I get looks everywhere i go. For the price i dont think you can beat it. i had compared this to a stumpjumper comp, and the stumpjumper didnt even come close to matching the specs on this one, and it would've costed $200 more. If youre looking for a great trail rider bike, this is the bike. If you're looking for a XC racer, here ya go. This bike will do whatever you want it to.

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this is my first dual suspension bike. Before this I had an Iron Horse MT 100R complete hardie.