Mountain Biking - Mongoose Question

Has anyone had any problems with the rear suspension on a Mongoose Xr200? I need to know because my rear suspension completely seperated from the frame on my bike and sent me flying, and they say humans can't fly. I looked at the area where the frame and suspension link up and it appears to be a clean seperation. The frame compacted, meaning the seat dropped and it now looks like a 21 inch, used to be a 26 inch.

The only question I have been asked, and this I ask as well, about 6 months ago I put a longer seat rod on the bike and the question that was asked of me after the accident: Could putting the longer rod on the bike change the schematics of the bike and thus change the set up of the suspension? Any help would be greatly appreciated in this matter. Thank you

Bike in question:

http://i.walmart.com/i/p/00/03/86/75/45/0003867545208_500X500.jpg

I have not had issues with it. But that is mainly because I wouldn't touch that piece of ****.

The frame compacted, meaning the seat dropped and it now looks like a 21 inch, used to be a 26 inch.


You landed so hard that the wheels compacted as well as the frame?

I don't know exactly what would cause it other than being poorly constructed. Which those bikes are. Where were you riding it? Markham? Oleta? Quiet Waters?

Save up a few $$ and get a decent used hard tail for around $150. A $600 new bike going used @150 is a good way to go.

If you want full suspension then look to spend around $400-500 for something decent and used. Check out http://www.clubmud.com/ and register there. Good South Florida mountain biking group. Excellent advice there and you can even get some great deals there.

There's a reason those bikes are sold in the toy section.

Looking at the design of the frame, it doesn't surprise me that it failed like that. The top, down, and seat tubes do not form a triangle, leaving a weak point in the middle of the seat tube to fail and allow the top and down tubes to fold together. Put the stress of the rear suspension directly on that weak point in the frame, and I'm not at all surprised it broke. It's a lousy design, regardless of materials. The longer seat tube shouldn't make much difference, unless maybe if you moved the seat way further to the rear (putting even more stress on that joint due to the extra weight on the rear suspension). Even then it would just have contributed to the main problem, which is the design of the frame.

EDIT: I just noticed that according to the picture it has a disc brake in the front and a V-Brake in the rear...

i hate to say it, but you're not gonna get much love or sympathy in this forum; i know my bike costs probably 20x what yours does.

we had one of those in the shop the other day, and i realized why i had spent so much on a bike.

your frame broke, it's cheap, just go get another bike.

EDIT: and the disc front, v-brake rear isn't that uncommon, even on nicer bikes.

If you read the owners manuals that come with those POS Wally World bikes, it tells you within the first couple pages, "This bike not intended for off road use." They are only ment to look good for those who dont have a clue about real bikes, and to ride in the park once or twice a month with your kids. Honestly, there should be a law making them put on a huge flag type thing on the assembled ones in the store stating that. You take those POS bikes on the wrong trail, and you will get your self hurt bad or killed. It is not a true MTN bike!!!