1987 Mongoose ATB - Vintage Mountain Bike Restoration - Part 1

One of my first ever Gib's Bike Shop custies is moving out of town and dropped off an abandoned vintage mountain bike project! This is a very cool, very original Mongoose ATB from back when ATBs were actually ATBs! No conversion necessary. This one is already what you want! Old school mountain bike tech at it's finest. A very fun project from a box of parts to a really funky all-rounder, practical bike. This is part 1 of 3. Enjoy the ride!

[@lkflrs]

I loved this whole thing but "Papa don't preach, I'm keepin' that baby" was the peak of the production!

[@Coastal_Cruzer]

Love how mongoose just made the exact same frame for all their hardtail mountain/gravel bikes for like 20 years. I have a threshold that I've kitted out for trail use. I've seen two other 80's/90's mongooses on my rides and the frames are identical in shape

[@trishaleaver3581]

I always liked their BMX bikes in the early days.

[@caotropheus]

I clean chrome in my bicycles with fine steel wool + car wax/polish. Thanks for your videos

[@davidcrowson4745]

This was pleasant to watch... I've always been a sucker for mongoose❤

[@yy4u2h8me]

For the chrome you can use a crumpled up aluminum foil to shine and get rid of those rust stain spots.... Love you show...

[@jayknibbs8413]

I love going through frame bags!

[@sveablu]

@BikeFarmer Cool bike! I have an all original 1987/88 Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo also with the U brake. It was garaged and almost never ridden, had the original tires and everything. I put 2.1" brown wall Gravel Kings on it, but the rear clearance was abysmal. With all the air let out and with the U brake released I could barely get the wheel on and off. I have 1.9" Specialized Crossroads on it now that I swapped with another bike with more tire clearance. Not as sexy of tires, but the right width for this bike. Looking forward to seeing your finished bike.

[@wileycoyote9201]

I've got the same stem and cable hanger on my vintage Schwinn Cimarron, really cool components

[@genestanbrough7766]

Awesome!! I had one back in the 90's. I should have never got rid of it. :-(

[@bkefrmr]

I can ship you this one!

[@Coastal_Cruzer]

Luckily 80's/90's mongooses are pretty common and inexpensive. Which is only made better by how solid they are

[@danmackintosh6325]

at 39:31 is that a Rene Herse decal on the tool wall? Just noticed that. Are you on the RB forums at all? Someone's literally just yesterday rescued a late '40s Herse from the tip (UK speak for dump), It's rough but all the same it's an amazing find & his plans are to clean it up and make it safe to ride once more. BTW new subscriber here, that Mongoose frame looks like it could've come out of the Giant factory, super similar to my '89 Escaper. Keep up the good work man and congrats on the channel taking off.

[@richardreiter66]

I still have my Ross chrome Mt. Whitney ATB and still ride it.

[@bkefrmr]

I just got an '84 Mt. Hood in very original condition. I want to do an ASMR restoration video on it. I wanna strip it down to the bearings. Buff everything. Probably next week's project!

[@user-lx6oj4mx3i]

This was a pre cow patty mongoose

[@Tightt88]

What a cool bike.

[@adammackenzie]

Awesome !

[@nickylazer]

Love it!

[@lescook354]

Tom Ritchey did not use the name MTB as Charlie Kelly and Gary Fisher used it for what they sold and attempted to sue anybody who tried to so the other makers used ATB even Tom Ritchey who all the frames for Kelly and Fisher followed treats. Read The Birth of Dirt by Frank J. Berto and refer to Morrow Dirt Club 1972 to 1973

[@wattsdronewilltravel3881]

SOS pads are steel wool with soap and it works great on chrome

[@Kelekona_808]

Would you ever consider recovering a saddle like this ATB one? Not even sure if it is a thing. If it is, it seems like it might be worth it if you're going for an time appropriate build.

[@lordandladyvintage]

aluminum foil soaked in some Coke (or any other light acid like vinegar) is perfect for taking the surface rust spots from chrome components (including frames and forks)

[@fatrobdouble]

Diet coke and aluminum foil is awesome on rusty chrome

[@originalchristianvogt]

40:58 did he just react to his own silent fart?.

[@markschmalenberger8301]

Always try cleaning chrome with clay bar first. There's no abrasive, you may be surprised.

[@nightpups5835]

modern mountain biking seems more like dirt course biking, I don't follow the scene much so could be off on that.

[@user-op3jf1tn2g]

Gr8 videos Añdi

[@tonyrosario5745]

I have an 83-84 mongoose ATB, it came with the 26” mongoose pro class wheelset. Not sure about your 87?

[@irondistance4313]

Cool bike, did you wind up keeping it?

[@matthewbourne659]

Do you need a license to ride a bike in california ? Or is it like a car number plate for a bike ?

[@romanmentor9238]

Are 90's mtb the same as atb?

[@AliHAfshar]

Me: WD40? Bike Farmer: real men use furniture polish

[@mekstro6290]

Off-road bike maybe would be an accurate name?