Tested: 2008 Mongoose Teocali Super

MONGOOSE TEOCALI SUPER $2,300

The Teocali Super and I got off to a shaky start. From the get-go, the bike stabbed hard, tight corners with all the authority of a cafeteria spork; the fork quickly revealed its budgetary disposition; and even the powerful new Shimano XT brakes failed to inspire confidence after more than enough rides than it should have taken to bed in the new pads.

But what do you expect? An all Shimano XT, all-mountain bike with a Fox RP23 and a respectable spec from Easton and WTB for a measly $2,300 just sounded too good to be true--something had to give.

However, over the next several months, most of my initial skepticism faded. The Goose and I were able to iron out nearly all of our issues, starting with the brakes.

A close look at the rotors revealed a “Resin Pads Only” inscription. Turns out, someone along the line substituted lower-grade Shimano rotors on this early test sample. Swapping them for bona fide XT discs and throwing sintered pads into the mix made for a night-and-day difference. (For more on the brakes, see page 154).

Next up: the flexy cockpit. After deeming the Easton EA50 stem to be the culprit, I switched to a Titec Hellbent with a four-bolt faceplate. The result was immediately improved confidence when it came time to stuff the bike into a hard corner.

With the noodley cockpit straightened out I realized just how bad the fork’s small-bump compliance was. After months of flogging the entry-level Marzocchi XC600, its seals still retained some of their new-bike stiction. However I did make ample use of the fork’s slow-but-effective wind-down feature and, all told, sticky seals and a flexy stem are a small compromise when you’re talking about a $2,300 trail bike.

In all my fussing with the bike’s peripherals, the Teocali’s frame just did its job, quietly dishing out nearly 6 inches of rear travel independent of whatever the drivetrain was doing. The Fox RP23, coupled with Mongoose’s Freedrive Suspension (like GT’s i-Drive but with smaller diameter bearings and less anti-squat), made for compliant traction when climbing, reliable plushness in rough terrain, and virtually no pedal feedback. The only downside of all those little links is that when hard, g-out force was applied to the rear suspension, things sometimes got a little squirrelly.

This ’08 frame has been totally revamped: It’s a pound lighter, with wider bearing placement and more forged pieces. The only thing unchanged is the geometry, and I’m glad for that. The 69-degree headtube angle (with fork fully extended) and 71.5-degree seat tube angle make for a nimble, all-around trail bike. I like. -CHRIS LESSER

HIGHS: Superb value; fierce black finish; thoughtful cable routing on inside of downtube

LOWS: Cheap fork stiction; puny frame bearings; flexy stock stem; XT freehub body didn’t last (covered under 2 year warranty)

MORE INFO: 800-724-9466; MONGOOSE.COM