Is my bike worth re building?

Twelly
Twelly Posts: 1,437
edited April 2012 in MTB workshop & tech
Hi everyone, first post on this forum and its a long one..

I have a 2004 Mongoose Wing Pro FS which although it isn't the most exotic of bikes, has done me well the last few years blitzing round the trails at QE Country Park.

Last week, the rear shock gave up (pretty impressive it has lasted 8 years with the amount of abuse I have given it). It was only the standard RST 22 which came with the bike, nothing special. I have looked around and it seems no where sells these shocks or any cheap, similar ones and I am looking at splashing out many gold coins on a Fox or Rock Shox number.

This got me thinking about stripping the bike down and re building with a hardtail frame. I have been looking at buying a hardtail recently (Cube LTD 2012 is top of my list) but when I have a bike with a fairly decent spec sat doing nothing, it seems like I am wasting money buying another.

Anyway, the Mongoose spec is as follows:

Fork: Rock Shox Judy TT 100mm
Drivetrain: Shimano Deore mechs/shifters (brand new cassette/rear mech and chain fitted 2 months ago)
Brakes: Hayes Sole Hydraulic with Superstar Kevlar pads, 160/160
Headset: Not sure (whatever was standard)
Stem, Bars, Cranks, Seatpost: Truvativ
Rims: WTB Dual Duty
Hubs: Formula Disc
Grips: Clarks lock-on
Pedals: Shimano M250 SPD
BB: Not sure (standard)
Tyres: WTB Stout/Prowler 2.3"

So I'm thinking of buying a decent, lightweight HT frame (budget £200) and transferring everything over. I'm willing to buy a new, better BB and headset but everything else would be from my Mongoose. Is it worth it? or should I just save myself the hassle and go and buy the £850.00 Cube LTD.

Second question... because even if I do buy the Cube I will most probably end up building a hardtail from the Mongoose anyway as a side project... any recommendations for a lightweight, well made HT frame for under £200?

Cheers

Comments

  • buy the cube un-less you have a particular love of the mongoose or cant really afford the cube

    i personally would get a new bike, why the cube? have a look around you may get better specs for the money


    soles are not great the drivetrain is hoplessy outclassed by the newer ones and judys are not great by modern standars
    worst moment ever...
    buzzing down twisting single track then.... psssst BANG!!!
  • Twelly
    Twelly Posts: 1,437
    Thanks for the advice, I was kinda hoping someone would slate the bits on my bike so I had no excuse but to buy the shiny new toy! Off to Hargroves on Saturday I think...

    I've chosen the Cube after lots of time trawling through the internet reading reviews and comparing specs etc. As far as I can tell the Cube is very well spec'd for the money (Some may disagree!) compared to offerings from Specialized and others (I have a Specialized road bike and I have been very impressed with it so I am a bit biased towards Spesh). The LTD seems like a good deal plus Cube do make the best looking bikes ever... The website is better than porn.

    I think with my Mongoose, where it is 8 years old and I have ridden nothing else in the last few years, the technology has moved on without me realising. At the moment, in my head, I think my forks, brakes and drivetrain are pretty good and do the job very well but I reckon half an hour of singletrack on a 2012 bike and my mind will be changed completely.
  • 1mancity2
    1mancity2 Posts: 2,355
    TwellySmat wrote:
    Thanks for the advice, I was kinda hoping someone would slate the bits on my bike so I had no excuse but to buy the shiny new toy! Off to Hargroves on Saturday I think...

    I've chosen the Cube after lots of time trawling through the internet reading reviews and comparing specs etc. As far as I can tell the Cube is very well spec'd for the money (Some may disagree!) compared to offerings from Specialized and others (I have a Specialized road bike and I have been very impressed with it so I am a bit biased towards Spesh). The LTD seems like a good deal plus Cube do make the best looking bikes ever... The website is better than porn.

    I think with my Mongoose, where it is 8 years old and I have ridden nothing else in the last few years, the technology has moved on without me realising. At the moment, in my head, I think my forks, brakes and drivetrain are pretty good and do the job very well but I reckon half an hour of singletrack on a 2012 bike and my mind will be changed completely.

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