Hello. Im new here. I just started mountain biking the Sunday that just pasted(I dont remember how I got into it) Anyways I was wondering if anyone knows how to adjust the forks of a Mongoose MGX. I know its not good, but its all that I have.
Adjusting my suspension
- Thread starter I R Ron
- Start date
Hey I R Ron,
Just make sure you don't have one of these....
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/recalls/by_us.html
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 2001 -- By Us International Co. Ltd., of Taiwan, is recalling about 40,000 Ballistic front suspension forks installed on certain mountain bicycles. The forks on these bicycles can break apart, causing riders to lose control and fall.
By Us previously announced the recall of 13,500 of these forks in May 2000. The firm has since disclosed that more of these forks are included in the recall.
There have been 26 reports of forks on these bicycles breaking resulting in nine riders, including teenagers, suffering serious head and bodily injuries, abrasions, bruises and chipped teeth.
The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
The recalled forks were installed on Mongoose S-20 and MGX S-20 bicycles, which are orange, and the Roadmaster Ridge Rider bicycles, which is red. The forks on these bikes are black with decals that read "BALLISTIC" and "105" on the sides of the suspension fork legs.
Discount department stores, including Wal-Mart, and toy stores sold the bicycles with these forks nationwide from June 1998 through June 2000 for between $125 and $150.
Consumers should immediately stop using these bicycles and call the firm to determine if the fork on their bike is part of the recall. Consumers should have the serial number of the forks available. The serial number is located on the inside of the suspension fork leg. Consumers with recalled forks will receive a free replacement fork and free installation. For more information, call (877) 211-3525 toll-free between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit their web site at www.mongoose.com.
The recalled bikes have the following serial numbers.
98025001 through 98030000
98031051 through 98033050
BA10021201 through BA10029200
BA10044001 through BA10049000
BA10050001 through BA10051000
BA10052001 through BA10053000
BA10054001 through BA10058000
BA10059251 through BA10067750
BA10067791 through BA10069390
BA10069703 through BA10077102
BAX0001251 through BAX0006750
BAX0006781 through BAX0007080
Just make sure you don't have one of these....
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/recalls/by_us.html
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 2001 -- By Us International Co. Ltd., of Taiwan, is recalling about 40,000 Ballistic front suspension forks installed on certain mountain bicycles. The forks on these bicycles can break apart, causing riders to lose control and fall.
By Us previously announced the recall of 13,500 of these forks in May 2000. The firm has since disclosed that more of these forks are included in the recall.
There have been 26 reports of forks on these bicycles breaking resulting in nine riders, including teenagers, suffering serious head and bodily injuries, abrasions, bruises and chipped teeth.
The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
The recalled forks were installed on Mongoose S-20 and MGX S-20 bicycles, which are orange, and the Roadmaster Ridge Rider bicycles, which is red. The forks on these bikes are black with decals that read "BALLISTIC" and "105" on the sides of the suspension fork legs.
Discount department stores, including Wal-Mart, and toy stores sold the bicycles with these forks nationwide from June 1998 through June 2000 for between $125 and $150.
Consumers should immediately stop using these bicycles and call the firm to determine if the fork on their bike is part of the recall. Consumers should have the serial number of the forks available. The serial number is located on the inside of the suspension fork leg. Consumers with recalled forks will receive a free replacement fork and free installation. For more information, call (877) 211-3525 toll-free between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit their web site at www.mongoose.com.
The recalled bikes have the following serial numbers.
98025001 through 98030000
98031051 through 98033050
BA10021201 through BA10029200
BA10044001 through BA10049000
BA10050001 through BA10051000
BA10052001 through BA10053000
BA10054001 through BA10058000
BA10059251 through BA10067750
BA10067791 through BA10069390
BA10069703 through BA10077102
BAX0001251 through BAX0006750
BAX0006781 through BAX0007080
Apperantly there are a lot of MGX versions 
Which one do you have...what fork?
Mountain Bike Action Review
http://www.mbaction.com/detail.asp?id=207
Mongoose MGX D-50
Date: November 1999
Price: $259.95
Purpose: Department store, dual-suspension
Home phone: (800) 257-0662
C Value
F Weight34 pounds
C Frame design
D Fork performance:1.25 RST 281-R
C Rear suspension:DMN coil/over shock, monoshock type, 2.5" travel
D Component selection
D Climbing efficiency
C Cornering ability
D Descending prowess
Teachers notes: You get what you pay for with this inexpensive dual-suspension bike. You should probably spend your money on a lighter, more dirt-worthy hardtail. The Mongoose MGX D-50 is exciting to look at, though, and performs well enough for a beginner to have fun in the dirt. We thought it was a pilebut a lot of mountain bikers will get their first off-road thrill on this department-store cheapie.
Which one do you have...what fork?
Mountain Bike Action Review
http://www.mbaction.com/detail.asp?id=207
Mongoose MGX D-50
Date: November 1999
Price: $259.95
Purpose: Department store, dual-suspension
Home phone: (800) 257-0662
C Value
F Weight34 pounds
C Frame design
D Fork performance:1.25 RST 281-R
C Rear suspension:DMN coil/over shock, monoshock type, 2.5" travel
D Component selection
D Climbing efficiency
C Cornering ability
D Descending prowess
Teachers notes: You get what you pay for with this inexpensive dual-suspension bike. You should probably spend your money on a lighter, more dirt-worthy hardtail. The Mongoose MGX D-50 is exciting to look at, though, and performs well enough for a beginner to have fun in the dirt. We thought it was a pilebut a lot of mountain bikers will get their first off-road thrill on this department-store cheapie.
Odds are there isn't anything you can do to the fork...maybe adjust the preload. I don't think you can go out and buy different springs...or if it would be worth it.
What do you want to adjust? What is wrong with it?
What do you want to adjust? What is wrong with it?
Well there isnt really anything wrong with, but some of my friends, Ive tried their bikes thiers are way softer then mine. I probably sound stupid, but I just liked the feel of going over stuff, because sometimes going over rocks and such really can hurt my @$$.I have this other problem, its a real problem. My bike doesnt go into first. I thinks that first gear is third, second is founth, third if fifth, fouth is 6th, and that gears 5,6,7 are all on the 7th gear(like thats the gear it goes to when I shift there. Anyways I wanted to fit it, because the only way I can get into first gear is if I pull the grip past the First Gear mark, and I wanted to fix that and what I think I should do is increase the tension of the wire so that it can go on lower gears. Does that sound right?RhinofromWA said:
Frankly, forks off bikes of that quality cannot be adjusted. Many bikes under $600 have a small dial, but lacks the adjustability of the better forks (forks which cost over $400).
Of course, after the Mongoose Ritual kid, it is hard to take these questions seriously...
Of course, after the Mongoose Ritual kid, it is hard to take these questions seriously...
The cheapest way to make crappy suspension ride smoother is putting the fattest tires that will fit on the bike. For your bike there's no point in buying bling $50 tires. A set of cheap panaracer megablasters (2.5) or IRC trail bears 2.5 (on sale at www.bikeroom.com for 18.50 Canadian) should do until you get better.
Just about everyone that has ever rode a MTB like suspension so you don't soud stupidI R Ron said:
As far as the shifting goes....I have no idea how it was set up before. Odds are your cable has stretched but to only make it to 3rd gear makes me think a couple things happened. 1) the cable slipped 2) the derailer hanger is bent 3) it wasn't set right in the first place.
I don't really feel like instructing someone over the internet on how to adj their shifting ....it really is better shown in person for the full effect. Try loosening the cable clamp at the derailer and pulling the slack with your bikes shifter in 7th and the chain derailer in the smallest sprocket in the rear. That should get you close....fine tune the shifting with any adjustment your system has at the shifter and at the derailer.
Good luck....just be patient and you will be able to get it close. Practice adjusting it and you will become better at diagnosing the problem.
I worked on it 2days ago, so now I have gears one and two now, but now gear 5 dissappeared. Oh well, missing one gear is better than 2RhinofromWA said:Just about everyone that has ever rode a MTB like suspension so you don't soud stupid
As far as the shifting goes....I have no idea how it was set up before. Odds are your cable has stretched but to only make it to 3rd gear makes me think a couple things happened. 1) the cable slipped 2) the derailer hanger is bent 3) it wasn't set right in the first place.
I don't really feel like instructing someone over the internet on how to adj their shifting ....it really is better shown in person for the full effect. Try loosening the cable clamp at the derailer and pulling the slack with your bikes shifter in 7th and the chain derailer in the smallest sprocket in the rear. That should get you close....fine tune the shifting with any adjustment your system has at the shifter and at the derailer.
Good luck....just be patient and you will be able to get it close. Practice adjusting it and you will become better at diagnosing the problem.
Keep at it. Study what it is doing and not doing and you will be able to dial it in.....I R Ron said:
Though you could have a bent hanger....a shop could tell you real quick if it was bent. All the adjusting in the world will not fix the shifting if your hanger is bent....it will be close but not quite right.
Don't give up...you are learning something that is pretty std in bike maintentance and yet tons of riders are clueless about.
Hi, I have another question. When do I want a stiffer suspension, and when do I want a softer one.
I R Ron said:
I guess it is rider preference. You want to use all of your travel....on your bike I would suggest jsut running it until you decide to buy a better one. Make sure it is running shifting right and the brakes work and then ride the piss out of it.
If you bottom out your suspension HARD like a metal to metal clank it is to soft but I don't beleive your fork has much adjustment. If your fork barely moves while riding then it is probably to stiff.
I assume you aren't Jumping HUGE or Droping off things....because your bike would not be long for this earth. For general riding just make sure that the bike isn't sqauting down more than 30-50% of its travel while you sit on it and ride the piss out of it.
It is really hard with the lack of info you have given to suggest much .....especially with the bike you are riding. I think you have a coil over shock ....so if it feals to soft or sinks into the trvel to much....you would hav to get a new spring....but I will say you shouldn't, instead just turn the spring coller and preload the spring enough to get by. That is the wrong way to address a soft spring but I don't want you spending big $$$ on this bike...jsut ride and enjoy it.
SOrry for being so vague. Have fun and ask as many questions as you want.....
The Begginer Forum on here often has people looking to help out newcomers. Check it out.
Rhino