Blast from the Past: Mongoose Minigoose Memories
Originally posted on July 17, 2014 at 6:26 am
Vintage product review shot from Dirt Rag #39.
One of the star attractions at Dirt Rag’s Dirt Fest is the fleet of Franken-bikes built by long-time Dirt Rag contributor Lee Klevens. One such contraption is a “mini-tall-bike” that the mad doctor built by welding a high-rise extension onto a 12-inch wheeled Mongoose Minigoose. This particular bike has an interesting backstory that begins 20 years ago.
Dirt Rag reviewed the Minigoose in 1994 in Issue #39 and called it, “one hot 12-inch wheeled bike.” The product review made note of the coaster brake, radial-laced wheels and chrome finish. Dirt Rag proclaimed, “it’s ready to race with one small modification: toss the standard upright kiddie handlebar for a real mountain bike bar, just because it looks cooler.”
The Minigoose was the first bike ridden by Maurice #7, the son of our esteemed publisher. He shared fond memories of his days shredding the Minigoose, “That was the first bike I can remember. I was about 2 or 3 years old. It came with training wheels on it, but I remember almost immediately taking them off. The tires had paw prints that it would leave in the mud. All I can remember of riding it was on a small hill in the back of our Verona house; I would ride down and crash at the bottom on purpose over and over again. I remember riding it the way it came for more than 10 years, just for fun around the neighborhood.”
Truth be told, Maurice #7 is shredding the Minigoose to this day, albeit with some modifications courtesy of Dr. Lee:
