Mongoose Ledge 2.1 Mountain Bike Review

Overview

Brand: Mongoose

Frame: Full suspension alloy main frame

Wheel Size: 26" and 27.5" models available

Shifters: Twist shifters

Brakes: Linear Pull

Derailleur: Rear: Shimano TZ-30

Tires: 26" Model: - 26 x 1.95 MTB

Crankset: 3-piece crank

Quality

Design

Price

Total Score

User Rating

423 total ratings

Pros

Affordable mountain bike that has not sacrificed on quality

Cons

Some issues with the brakes but these can be replaced

Final Verdict

The Mongoose Ledge 2.1 is an inexpensive mountain bike that can be used for casual and social riding. It comes in 2 different frame sizes, a 27.5” and a smaller 26” frame. The Mongoose Ledge 2.1 is a great mountain bike for riders that love to push the limits on all trails.

Posted by Blake

Full Article

If you are looking for an inexpensive mountain bike that can be used for casual and social riding, you may have already come across the Mongoose Ledge 2.1 mountain bike. Mostly sold in your bigger discount department stores (think Walmart in particular), we often get asked about these cheap and cheerful mountain bike options, so we’ve done a bit of mountain bike testing and present the results in our in-depth Mongoose Ledge 2.1 mountain bike review. No doubt one of the best value for money mountain bikes under $300

Mongoose Ledge 2.1 – Pros

There is no doubt that the Mongoose Ledge is one of the cheaper mountain bike options on the market, but the real question is whether quality has been sacrificed for price. For adults, the Mongoose Ledge 2.1 comes in 2 different frame sizes, the 27.5” Mongoose Ledge 2.1 Men’s mountain bike, and for shorter adults (or even teenagers would be suited to this model), the 26” Mongoose Ledge 2.1. Both versions come with the four-bar linkage and full suspension frame which provides a somewhat comfortable ride (but don’t expect this frame and suspension to deal with the extremely rough terrain). With its 21 speeds and, intriguingly enough for a budget mountain bike, a Shimano rear derailleur, the Mongoose Ledge 2.1 does offer precise gear shifting for the casual mountain biker (PROVISO: IF it has been assembled correctly). The Walmart Mongoose Ledge 2.1 model that we reviewed needed some tinkering as the gears kept on slipping, but once the adjustments had been made it was all good. For consumers ordering the bike online, one benefit is that the bike comes mostly pre-assembled and finishing off the assembly would take no longer than 30 minutes even for an inexperienced bike builder, and then you’ll be up and riding.

Mongoose Ledge 2.1 – Cons

Look, for a budget mountain bike at this price point, you’re not going to get great components and a super light frame, but what you definitely want is a mountain bike that is solid and that gives you minimal problems. Straight off, what we didn’t like about the bike was the brakes, obviously at this price point a cheaper option was used, and with all our tinkering the brakes continuously kept squealing and squeaking, which initially was bearable for the ride, but then became quite unpleasant whenever we were on an extended ride and specifically when going on a long downhill run. It became so bad that you basically become embarrassed at the loud sound it made every time you were approaching a turn on the downhill, basically forcing us to slow down even if it was a perceived issue. Another issue is the handlebar post and its adjustment mechanism which was quite loose initially and no amount of tightening got it the way that we wanted – i.e. firm and sturdy and in place.

Mongoose Ledge 2.1 – Overall Review

No doubt the Mongoose Ledge 2.1 is an inexpensive mountain bike, but with many MTB manufacturers bringing out some very sturdy and well specced budget mountain bikes, the question you need to ask yourself is this – “Is the initial budget price enough to lure me to purchase the Ledge, and am I prepared to then have to pay to fix up all the little niggling issues that MAY arise on the bike?” There is no doubt that in our view, the brakes would need to be changed. The seat is not for everybody, but that is personal preference and may need to be replaced on any budget mountain bike that you buy, so it could suffice for your needs. Nonetheless, with the issues we faced, we recommend extending your budget that tad bit more if you can afford it, and looking at bikes slightly more expensive than the Ledge 2.1 but that are built solidly and will more than likely not give you as many hassles.