Author Topic: Whats the difference between a mongoose and a supergoose? (Read 33787 times)

rad1972 · « **on:** October 17, 2011, 09:49 AM »

Guys,

please excuse my ignorance as allthough i love the old skool bmx scene my actual knowledge of technicality of the bikes is not very high...

Can you please help me out as I am thinking of building a mongoose or a supergoose......

Basically what is the difference between the 2 and why is the SG better?

also why is there various different models mongoose (old skool)?.. they all look fairly similar and do the same thing.. Unlike say a ripper and a quadangle (same make but different bikes)

Please educate me...

Thanks for reading

Peter J · « **Reply #1 on:** October 17, 2011, 09:57 AM »

Hi Bud

Welcome along

Best person to ask is Bobafett, he's a Mod on here

One of the best goose experts EVER

speaks a bit funny and spends a fair bit of time hanging around men’s toilets

But he's a lovely man

Send him a PM

xGoose · « **Reply #2 on:** October 17, 2011, 10:14 AM »

Yeh Johngoose Bobafett will be along soon!

I'd be able to tell you that a Super has 2 extra holes on the brake bridge whereas John will be able to tell why it has 2 extra holes on the brake bridge!

Spen69 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 17, 2011, 11:30 AM »

You need to be more specific with the question mate as there are three generations of old school Supergoose, the first two have a gusset and the post '83 doesn't. They get harder to find as they go backwards, and finding any from the late 70's when they first came out is getting tough now. I just sold a complete high-spec 1979 survivor for £550 and the bloke had me send it all the way to Hong Kong as he couldn't find one.

But basically they are 100% chromo tubes, where as a normal Mongoose (or Californian) is only chromo on the main tubes, not the back end and often not the forks. They also usually came with better components when bought complete as well, but Johnnygoose (Bobafett) will no douby correct me on that

Hope that helps get you started - if you ask a bit more about what you are thinking of building that usually gets a better more concise answer

Spen

kdw712 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 17, 2011, 11:36 AM »

and dont forget the UK spec supergoose is different to the US spec

think we discussed that briefly some where ...

so now your at four super goose models

Spen69 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 17, 2011, 12:11 PM »

Yeah, how long did that "what's a UK Supergoose" thread run in the end

kdw712 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 17, 2011, 12:17 PM »

Quote from: Spen69 on October 17, 2011, 12:11 PM

Yeah, how long did that "what's a UK Supergoose" thread run in the end

about 59 years. i think - may be more ...

rad1972 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 17, 2011, 01:06 PM »

many thanks for the responses guys.....v much appreciated not as simple as I thougt lol....

Ive seen a possible project on ebay..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/mongoose-bmx-old-school-bmx-vintage-retro-race-/230686964742?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item35b603bc06

any ideas what it is and how much I should pay?..(I was thinking calafornian)

mattuknc · « **Reply #8 on:** October 17, 2011, 01:17 PM »

A Cali is a good place to start to get the ball rolling back into this fine 'hobby'.

The was a nice candy red on here, did that sell?!

Good luck with your search, I can't see ebay at work so can't comment on that one.

kdw712 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 17, 2011, 01:44 PM »

Quote from: rad1972 on October 17, 2011, 01:06 PM

many thanks for the responses guys.....v much appreciated not as simple as I thougt lol....

if you haven't been here already

www.vintagemongoose.com

its def worth spending some time on

esp under products and Info / catalogues

bobafett · « **Reply #10 on:** October 17, 2011, 04:31 PM »

Basic rule of thumb is that the supergoose were always full chro-mo and none supergoose models tended to have a hi tensile rear triangle with a full chr-mo main frame (later versions of the cali were full chr-mo though) All the supergoose models also had chro-mo forks whereas for the main part the cheaper models didn't.

Parts spec also played a part too - the supergoose having chro-mo cranks and alloy rims etc. etc.

Good luck, have fun

bobafett · « **Reply #11 on:** October 17, 2011, 04:45 PM »

Bottom to top - Supergoose 1,2 & 3

(Haven't finished my UK Supergoose 3 yet

)

xGoose · « **Reply #12 on:** October 17, 2011, 04:56 PM »

One more difference I remember is that the rear tubes on the SG3 are thicker than on a Cali.

Heres my US Super 3 (same as Johns top Goose).

kdw712 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 17, 2011, 05:22 PM »

Quote from: x-600se on October 17, 2011, 04:56 PM

One more difference I remember is that the rear tubes on the SG3 are thicker than on a Cali.

Heres my US Super 3 (same as Johns top Goose).

on the US spec models thats true

but on the UK spec on its not $:-\$
the UK ones have a "skinny" full chromo rear triangle

think after much talk we worked out that the UK SG3 and the "all chromo" cali's and expert's were the same frame

bobafett · « **Reply #14 on:** October 17, 2011, 05:41 PM »

Quote from: kdw712 on October 17, 2011, 05:22 PM

think after much talk we worked out that the UK SG3 and the "all chromo" cali's and expert's were the same frame

Indeed, but with chr-mo forks

We love talkin about this stuff don't we

kdw712 · « **Reply #15 on:** October 17, 2011, 06:22 PM »

Quote from: bobafett on October 17, 2011, 05:41 PM

Indeed, but with chr-mo forks
We love talkin about this stuff don't we

rad1972 · « **Reply #16 on:** October 19, 2011, 11:59 AM »

I could listen to you chaps all day ................ carry on....

theRuler · « **Reply #17 on:** October 20, 2011, 12:39 AM »

Quote from: kdw712 on October 17, 2011, 05:22 PM

think after much talk we worked out that the UK SG3 and the "all chromo" cali's and expert's were the same frame

I remember that thread.

I ended up weighing an expert frame . . . ?

I should have put Supergoose stickers on it

The Supergoose 3 has a thicker rear end, and different geometry to the cali/expert.

rad1972 · « **Reply #18 on:** October 20, 2011, 08:24 AM »

why all the different geoms?.. what is the purpose?....what does one mongoose do that anthother cant....why the different variations?

Genuinely interested

theRuler · « **Reply #19 on:** October 20, 2011, 11:38 AM »

Quote from: rad1972 on October 20, 2011, 08:24 AM

why all the different geoms?.. what is the purpose?....what does one mongoose do that anthother cant....why the different variations?

Genuinely interested

The higher end Mongoose frames (Supergoose, then Pro Class) had some different tubes - bigger o/d yet still light (and cromo). Made the frame marginally stiffer / stronger, for heavier older riders.

A small change in geometry, bottom bracket height etc can make for an easier to ride bike for older kids / adults.
The Supergoose 3 rides lovely. I rode on a Super3 frame at Bones Skatepark a few times, back when we were going regular.

Also the different variations thing was to cover the whole market.

The second (or third, if you count the hard to find gusset cali frame) generation californian was all chromo (HT forks though) and was only about £150. A bargain.

Also these later calis (the ones in that period) used the "expert" frame.

The expert / cali frame is nice to ride too.

Spen69 · « **Reply #20 on:** October 20, 2011, 01:19 PM »

And as far as I know, only the DeCoaster and the rare as fook '76 shorty don't have an 18.5" TT length and good rideable angles, so once you ride one Goose, they all have a familiar "feel" about them. Rode my '83 Cali off every ramp iaginable as a kid bitd and raced my '78 Team at MK a few times, so the good old 'Goose is a cracking place to start as it's good at most things.

Just my opinion and I still have a couple of mk1 'Geese in my collection as they are my favourite of all they just scream old-school with the front gusset and the box and scrap bits in the rear triangle....

xGoose · « **Reply #21 on:** October 20, 2011, 01:30 PM »

What do you lads reckon this is while were on the subject? Ive been doing some work on it for a mate who reckons its either a really early 79 Supergoose, or a Team. Neither of us are sure but the decals look original but the brake bridge only has one hole?

It also has nice but much skinnier forks than say an 83 Super.

(btw Sam Meticus dont look at the pics, it has all 4 parts on it that you've been searching for for the last 100 years!!)

mattfx81 · « **Reply #22 on:** October 20, 2011, 01:37 PM »

What shop is that in the background? Nice racey fingz in there, um...

rad1972 · « **Reply #23 on:** October 20, 2011, 01:50 PM »

this is like porn...im not even joking

kdw712 · « **Reply #24 on:** October 20, 2011, 02:17 PM »

Quote from: x-600se on October 20, 2011, 01:30 PM

What do you lads reckon this is while were on the subject? Ive been doing some work on it for a mate who reckons its either a really early 79 Supergoose, or a Team. Neither of us are sure but the decals look original but the brake bridge only has one hole?

whats the serial number on that ?