My Favorite Bike: GMC Topkick Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike Review

My Favorite Bike: GMC Topkick Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike

I have been into bicycles and mountain biking since I was a little kid. Boasting a full-suspension, extra-strong aluminum frame, the GMC Topkick mountain bike is an ideal choice for both trail riding and rough city riding.

The frame employs a floating beam suspension design mated to a Zoom suspension fork with elastomer/spring technology. This gives the bike a smooth, steady performance even on rough terrain. The Topkick's drivetrain, meanwhile, is outfitted with Microshift push shifters that control Shimano's tried-and-true TZ-30GS derailleur. The drivetrain also offers a strong aluminum wheel set with a V-shape rim profile and high-flange alloy hubs.

To keep you stopping smoothly in any circumstance, the Topkick boasts front and rear Promax disc brakes. Disc brakes are vastly superior to rim brakes, especially under adverse road conditions. Disc brakes are nice to have, on front and rear – work much better than rim brakes. To adjust them hold the brake lever in and tighten them down via a hex wrench on the opposite center of the disc brake until the pads are flush against the disc, then turn back until the brake lever has enough play in it.

It has the following features:

  • It is built around a 26 inch full suspension aluminum frame for extra strength without lots of extra weight
  • 21 speeds with a Shimano rear derailleur and Microshift shifters – able to handle any speed and any climbing difficulty as long as the rider is able to keep pedaling.
  • Frame utilizes a floating beam suspension design.
  • Up front suspension is handled by a Zoom suspension fork with 65 mm of travel, which is enough for most situations
  • Aside from the floating beam design, the heart of the rear suspension is the Kind shock which is adjustable up to 650 pounds.
  • V-shaped alloy rims and alloy hubs work together to provide lighter weight wheels that will be very strong.
  • Disk brakes from Promax installed in both the front and rear. Disc brakes have made the transition from motocross to bicycles and they have proven to be very effective in all conditions. They days of older brakes that squeezed tight on the wheels to slow you down are over.

Considering all the features that this bike has, with the full suspension, the disc brakes and the Shimano parts, it is a steal at this price point. A shopper would be hard pressed to find all these features in a similarly priced bicycle from any manufacturer. True to its GMC roots, the Topkick mountain bike is rugged, good looking, and built for the long haul.

You can buy this bike cheap online through Amazon.com here.

One recent purchaser, Jimmy K from Boulder Colorado, had this to say: “Great bike, real happy with both the full suspension and the price. Much more comfortable than my old non-suspension bike.”

 

Kent Dual Drive Tandem Bike Review

If you've never tried one, a tandem bicycle can be loads of healthy, good old fashioned fun. Kent's Dual Drive Tandem Comfort Bike is a great model for tooling around town with a friend or a significant other. It's stylish, but most importantly it's extremely comfortable. Not that you'd take it on a cross country tour or anything, but these cruiser style tandems are all about feel. Good news for those looking to buy this bike. It is currently on sale at Amazon for over $35 off through this link.

Kent Dual Drive Tandem Comfort Bike Review: Fun activity for two

The first big plus is durability. The Kent Tandem is solidly built without being too heavy or unwieldy, surprising for a two seater. Sailing on beefy 2 inch wide tires, its a stable and smooth ride but still responsive enough so that you don't feel like you're trying to steer a shopping cart while you're biking.

Thankfully, Kent didn't skimp on components and kept quality in mind when they put this model together. The Shimano drivetrain and Revo shifters make it a breeze to switch gears. The brakes are also firm and capable without jolting you to a halt to quickly. Light alloy wheels trim overall weight and are guaranteed to last a long time without rusting.

The Good
  • A very comfortable tandem bike – you don't see that often in two person bikes.
  • One of the smoothest rides you can get from a tandem bike.
  • Very easy to put together.
The Bad
  • I have heard people saying there were problems with the gear shifter. It tends to be hard to get it to pop into the highest gear.
  • Hard to find depending on the season.

Another big plus is the easy assembly right out of the box. Not that putting a bike together is exactly rocket science, but the instructions are clear and easy to figure out. Kent has a great reputation for customer service and support, so if anything is amiss they handle the problem and ship you missing or replacement parts right away. Add to that the wide array of options for customizing it the way you like and you're looking at a winner of a leisure bike.

Want to buy this bike? You can get this tandem cheapest at Amazon here.

Although more of a secondary plus, the Dual Drive Tandem just looks great as well. It's easily one of the nicest looking bikes I've seen in awhile, with a classic, vintage layout that somewhat reminds you of the kind of thing people would ride in the 1950's down to the ice cream parlor. It's surprising how many people comment on it pedaling around the neighborhood. It's tough coming up with anything bad to say about it, in fact. All in all, it's a tremendous deal for a solid, quality bicycle you'll have for years to come.

 

Mongoose Maneuver Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike Review

Mongoose Maneuver Mens Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike Review: Great Value

The Mongoose Maneuver Mountain Bike is an excellent choice for someone who is into the sport of mountain biking because it has all the components you need to maneuver in difficult off road courses and it is one of the most comfortable you can find in its price category. While you are riding on the comfortable seat of a bike that has a top of the line crank set, you will enjoy the smooth ride it has to offer. You can buy the Mongoose Maneuver on sale on Amazon through this link. It also comes with free shipping.

Mongoose Maneuver Tech Specs

This is a bike that has 21 different speeds, SRAM and a double suspension frame and will give you the speed and flexibility you need to get through your course and the smooth acceleration and shifting you need to swiftly and safely switch gears. The swift and sharp design makes it a great shock absorber therefore you are less likely to wipe out because this bike will smoothly get you over bumps while sparing your body the wear and tear you would get from other mountain bikes, and when you need to stop in an instant the front and rear pull brakes will be there when you need them the most.

The lightweight frame helps you maximize speed and spare your strength while walking or transporting your bike.

  • Mountain bike with alloy dual-suspension frame
  • 21-speed Shimano shifters and SRAM drive train
  • Responsive and smooth design absorbs harsh bumps
  • Sure-stopping front and rear alloy linear pull brakes
  • Alloy forged 3-piece crank set; comfortable saddle

You can get this bike cheap on Amazon Here. Comes with free shipping.

Perfect for the experienced mountain biker looking for a cheap bike

Overall, the Mongoose Maneuver Mens Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike is a perfect choice for an experienced mountain biker looking for the grace, style and flexibility needed to conquer tough and advanced courses and enjoy the outdoors comfortably and safely. If you think you have had good mountain bikes in the past, you are sure to love this bike and all of the great features it has to offer. You will feel exhilarated and care free as you ride on a bike that is built for safety, maneuverability, and endurance on the off-road.

 

Mongoose Spin BMX Freestyle Bike Review

Mongoose Spin BMX (20-Inch Wheels)  – Good Entry Level Tricking BMX Bike

BMX biking can be fun entertainment for people of all ages and sizes. The Mongoose Spin BMX Freestyle Bike has a classic BMX styling, and is combined with a host of quality safety features making this a great bike for both track and street riders alike. It is the perfect bike to learn freestyle riding, show off your skills, or just to have fun with. There is a huge sale at Amazon for this bike. You can buy this bike for $140 off through this link.

When it comes to the Mongoose brand name, you expect nothing but the best. Every component on this bike is of the highest quality. The Mongoose Spin BMX Freestyle Bike is crafted around a Hi-Ten Boy's Team series frame and a handcrafted Hi-Ten jumping fork, the Mongoose Spin BMX bike is strong enough for trick riding, dirt jumping and off-road cycling.

This legitimate freestyle bike with its light frame has all the components to give it the street credential it deserves. The bike features a shiny chrome finish and colorful graphics, lifetime warranty on frame and fork, Mongoose jumping large saddle with stitches, and mini-mag style wheels with puncture proof tires. The bike stops securely thanks to dual braking system, which includes rear hand brakes and a rear coaster brake.

Let's take a look at the specs of the Mongoose Spin

  • 20-inch BMX freestyle bike with handcrafted Hi-Ten Boy's Team series frame
  • Handcrafted Hi-ten jumping fork; sure-stopping front and rear U-brakes
  • 3-piece tubular crank set, alloy 48-hole hubs, and A-head machined stem
  • 4-piece Knee-saver handlebar; 20-by-2.125-inch black Jumper K-Rad tires
  • Mongoose Jumping large saddle with stitches; lifetime warranty on frame/fork

If you want to buy this bike, you can get it cheap at Amazon through this link.

Whether it is your first BMX and you’re excitement about the possibility of making a living out of becoming a BMX pro, or you have been smashing concrete for awhile, and your looking for the right BMX setup to suit your needs, the Mongoose Spin BMX Freestyle Bike could easily be the sporting equipment that you are looking for.

 

My Bike Reviews and Tips

I have owned a Mongoose BMX bike for a couple of years. It was great for beginning tricking, although quite a heavy bike.

Fortunately for me, a good friend introduced me to downhill mountain biking. To me, downhill biking is a great rush and is partly the reason I like it so much now. The other reason I like it is I have some friends who I can bike with which makes it a lot more fun. None of my friends were into BMXing so I ended up practicing by myself, which is one reason why it was so hard for me to stay motivated. But I will start my bike reviews with my favorite Mongoose BMX Bike.