Mongoose Bikes
Bike Pictures > Mongoose BikesBMX Products Inc. designs and manufactures the Mongoose brand of bicycles that are world renowned for their high performance level, unique design and light weight. After merging with Pacific Cycle in 2001, the company is now based in Madison, Wisconsin.
Skip Hess, the man behind BMX Products Inc., founded the company in September 1974 in a So Cal garage out of his home in Simi Vally, California. Motomag One was the first and most famous products from BMX, which got a lot of popularity. For about one and half years, Hess had managed everything by himself from his garage. During that period the casings were made and heat-treated in Cragar and then transported by Van for shot peening and machining. Afterwards the wheels were to be boxed and shipped. Then he leased a small industrial place in Chatsworth and started manufacturing frames and complete bikes. There he used to produce around 600 frames per day. But within two years, the company had to move to Irondale, because of the rapid growth and increased demand. Finally the BMX Products Inc. settled in the Moorpark factory there in April 1984. This 105,000 squre-foot facility was wholly owned by Hess and was big enough to accommodate the ever-growing demand of the company. This was the peak years of BMX Productions Inc. employing around 85 people.
Later Skip Hess created another manufacturing division named racer Engineering Company (RECO) for insurance and marketing purposes. This division was completely independent of BMX Products Inc. and was headed by Hoopy Brooks, the vice president of manufacturing. However this venture was not a very successful one.
But the year 2001 proved to be lucky for Hess when he decided to merge with Pacific Cycle. Since then the company is developing a wide range of Mongoose Bikes and it’s performance parts including skateboards and electric scooters. BMX is also involved and sponsors professional bicycle events such as X Games, Dew Action Sports Tour etc.
The Mongoose Bicycles are essentially sold in two lines. One is offered as discounted bikes through mass-merchandisers like Wal-mart, Sears and Kmart. The other line is made up of the high-end models sold through speciality shops.
