Adjustable Seatpost Thread

[Lelandjt]

I want to make a database of the adjustable seatposts on the market. Please write your post's weight, adjustment travel, strong and weak points, and a photo.

Joplin L, 461grams, 3"
Strong Points: Available in a lever version cuz I don't want a remote and cable clutter. Easy to operate lever and the post functions well.
Weak Points: Needs to drop 100grams. I wish it had 4" of travel and a non-setback clamp.

[CharacterZero]

Here is a rudimentary spreadsheet I made. I focused on getting them all in there, and seeing if they fit my trailbike (hence the 27.2mm column).

If you are so inclined to update/revise any discrepancies you see, feel free to change it up! Go to this link then email me and I will re-publish a snapshot of the page here. You can email me thru the site.

EDIT: Added Sette SP
EDIT: Changed pricing on GD, but I would suggest contacting Red Barn if you want a deal (on anything).

[Supple1]

Added the Fezzari to your spreadsheet (although doesn't come up in your image), I think it is one of the best deals around at $199

[Jim311]

Why are these damn things so expensive? I saw a Sette knockoff on Pricepoint for like 30 bucks. I'm sure you get what you pay for but daaaaaaamn it's hard to drop 300 bucks on a friggin seatpost.

[CharacterZero]

Originally Posted by Supple1

Added the Fezzari to your spreadsheet (although doesn't come up in your image), I think it is one of the best deals around at $199

Right, got it. I cannot paste a live version in my post, so I will grab a snapshot when people let me know they have altered it.

[mtrider857]

do these seatposts also have any suspension action in them or are they locked solid where you put them?

[CharacterZero]

Originally Posted by mtrider857

do these seatposts also have any suspension action in them or are they locked solid where you put them?

Locked solid.

Suspension seatposts are a different category. These are to allow you to run mutliple seat heights. Their pneumatic adjustment look certainly implies suspension in some cases.

[Bikinfoolferlife]

CZ--not all gravity droppers have 3 detents, base model is just 2; drop is customizeable too (for example I have one with a 1" or 3" total drop)...and why not just put the list of $275 in the price for the GD? Or does Chad at Red Barn have the killer deal? Nice spreadsheet, though!

[primefocus]

I've had the sette monstrosity for about 6 months. I love dropping my seat but i couldn't risk $200+ so i gave this thing a shot and my thompson has seen a serious drop in PT. Yes its heavy, yes it's got play, yes i had to practicly dip it in fox suspension lube to get it smooth, yes it probably doesn't get full compression but it serves the purpose ridiculously well for $30. My riding buddy had to get one too after riding mine and agrees completely. I thought i would put my lighter post back on to race but i even left it on for an 8 hour oktoberfest race. There is a technique to smoothly lowering the seat, you really have to think about moving your hips toward your bars while pressing down to reduce binding. I use the thing without thinking now, dropping it for any descent/drop/stair set/rockgarden/jump etc and it quickly and easily pops back to full height. It does prevent completely slamming the seat all the way to the collar when i want all the room i can get, this is when the thompson goes back on. I would def buy it again, there's just no reason not to get one.
Cutting off the nasty red plastic on the handle makes it look slightly less silly as well.

Did i mention that it's infinitely adjustable?

[LegsAndLungs]

+1 on the Sette dropper. Once WELL lubricated it works. I can live with shifting my weight forward while I pull the lever to save $200

[chris_nor_cal]

I've only used the Turbo Dropper. Love it! it works great!

[CharacterZero]

Originally Posted by Bikinfoolferlife

CZ--not all gravity droppers have 3 detents, base model is just 2; drop is customizeable too (for example I have one with a 1" or 3" total drop)...and why not just put the list of $275 in the price for the GD? Or does Chad at Red Barn have the killer deal? Nice spreadsheet, though!

Updating spreadsheet to reflect pricing.

I would suggest calling Chad for about any part. Yes, I have heard good things about his GD pricing.

[windhoar]

Spread sheet indicates Joplin comes in 27.2. Is that accurate?

[el saltamontes]

Originally Posted by windhoar

Spread sheet indicates Joplin comes in 27.2. Is that accurate?

it's on the net for a while - google will help and provide pics - but i think it's not officially anounced yet, even though some shops already have it in stock (but i don't know what happens if you actually hit the "order" button) - seems like the clamping has been revised and the travel is now 4" - sounds kewl, i'd go for the black mamba instead, just because of the name

sample

[CharacterZero]

Originally Posted by windhoar

Spread sheet indicates Joplin comes in 27.2. Is that accurate?

It was "pending" when I made the xls.
Yeah, they announced it the same day that Turner announced the change to a larger diameter seat tube. Funny that they weren't in communication on this, as I think there are very few remaining mfgs adhering to such a skinny standard.

Originally Posted by el saltamontes

it's on the net for a while - google will help and provide pics - but i think it's not officially anounced yet, even though some shops already have it in stock (but i don't know what happens if you actually hit the "order" button) - seems like the clamping has been revised and the travel is now 4" - sounds kewl, i'd go for the black mamba instead, just because of the name

sample

Thanks el saltamontes - I hadn't actually tried to track one down yet!

[Jim311]

Primefocus- thanks for the review of the Sette. I figured for 30 bucks it wouldn't be flawless but paying 10 times as much doesn't seem reasonable to me. Thanks!

[Bikinfoolferlife]

Originally Posted by CharacterZero

Updating spreadsheet to reflect pricing.

I would suggest calling Chad for about any part. Yes, I have heard good things about his GD pricing.

Maybe make the GD drop info 2,3,4" too (maybe with a footnote that it's customizeable for multiposition). Per the website the lengths available are 275-400, and post sizes are 26.8, 27.0 or 27.2 and larger sizes are via shim...

I was wrong on the msrp, its 250, I was thinking about the Turbo version (then there's the Descender version at $200 with no handlebar control).

Yes, am a fan of the GD, plus I've met Wayne and his familly, very nice folks.

Where's Red Barn?

[KRob]

It should be noted that the "Fezzari" seat post is the relabled Kind Shock Kobra and is available in 30.9mm and 31.6mm according to Torpedo 7 a New Zealand online parts seller.

Maybe Fezzari is only importing the 31.6?

[ozzybmx]

I have a CB joplin in 30.9 on my current bike and have just bought a new frame that needs 31.6 . Its the best addition i have done to my bike and will never ride without one again.

I will probably get the RS i900 this time though.

[Znarf]

I´ll probably buy the new version of the Fezzari/Kindshock post.
It´s called i950 and has a better, non-setback clamp and comes in 400mm and 30.9 and 31,6dia.
Now the question is:
Wether I should get the remote or the non-remote version.

I think I´ll get the non-remote because:

-pro: no clutter on the bars, seatpost can be taken out easily for transport in the trunk, no additional cable rubbing my precious Heckler paintjob

-con: need to take the hand off the bar (I am not a racer, therefore not having to get off the bike is probably enough "flow" addition)


What do you guys think. Does one need the remote?

Greetings Znarf

[ozzybmx]

The "no clutter , no cable" did it for me initially + it was $70 cheaper , i bought the CB lever model .... BUT since buying it there has been a few times when i had started on a decent and it was too hairy to even take a hand off the bars to drop the seat

I will also add at the start the joplin was slipping and i did the seat clamp up progressively tighter... this must have slightly squashed the outter sleve and the joplin got sticky , having the lever pulling up on the seat helped it up if it was going too slow,

All in, i will still go for a non-remote lever post with the new one.

[Nsynk]

anyone know the total length of the rase black mamba when fully extended.

9 inch drop sounds great but I need a 400mm length post

[Lelandjt]

If you have been riding for years you'll have no problem taking your hand off the handlebar and grabbing the nose of the seat for a moment. Totally beats the cable.

[nightnerd]

To your information, I called Fezzari and they do have the 30,9 version of the seatpost. They just don't show it on their website. But since I found the kind shock version at xxcycle( they are in France) for cheaper than the fezzari, I ordered it instead. That was 3 days ago. Will let you know when I'll get it.

[nightnerd]

I got the kindshock i900 yesterday. Was pretty happy with the look of it until I install it on my bike and realized that there is a lateral play of about 5mm at the end seat. Is this normal? If so, I really don't like it. I will call the only store tomorrow and see what they'll say about it. Disapointment.

[KRob]

Originally Posted by nightnerd

I got the kindshock i900 yesterday. Was pretty happy with the look of it until I install it on my bike and realized that there is a lateral play of about 5mm at the end seat. Is this normal? If so, I really don't like it. I will call the only store tomorrow and see what they'll say about it. Disapointment.

Hmm. One of their selling points is that there is no side-to-side play in the seat. The one I looked at at I-bike was solid. If that's a big deal to you, I'd send it back, or contact them.

To Znarf.... you probably don't "need" the remote and there are some arguments against it, but you don't "need" an adustable seat post either. It's about having it as automatic and easy to use as possible. I say it's a no brainer. Get it.

I wouldn't give up the remote. I have been in situations where even taking my thumb off the grip to find the remote lever was a bit sketchy (eight inch wide wall ride)..... but you may be a less spastic rider than me or ride in less sketchy situations than me so YMMV.

[Missing in Action]

Originally Posted by Nsynk

anyone know the total length of the rase black mamba when fully extended.

9 inch drop sounds great but I need a 400mm length post

There is 100 mm of post which fits into the seat tube, and 280 mm of post at full extension out of the seat tube, as measured to the seat rails. So really, it's 380.

[ancientwisdom]

I agree, but is this a claim of all of there adjustable seatposts? In my research I have found these claims of the I950 but have found no such claims of the I900. Is the 950 model the "new and improved" version of the 900? If so maybe this explains the difference.

[Bikinfoolferlife]

Originally Posted by Lelandjt

If you have been riding for years you'll have no problem taking your hand off the handlebar and grabbing the nose of the seat for a moment. Totally beats the cable.

I've been riding for many many years and have been in situations where there's no way I'm taking my hands off the bars, the handlebar mount is the way to go IMHO, not just for the hairy moments but to keep flow up and for frequent up and down changes. Why go half-assed just to save a few bucks?

[LowLow]

Originally Posted by nightnerd

I got the kindshock i900 yesterday. Was pretty happy with the look of it until I install it on my bike and realized that there is a lateral play of about 5mm at the end seat. Is this normal? If so, I really don't like it. I will call the only store tomorrow and see what they'll say about it. Disapointment.

Can you tell when you're riding? If not, who cares?

[remybigtime]

I just got the fezzari which is, I believe, the same as the i900. My initial impression is that the post and clamp are very well designed and built. The drop and return are fast, but not immediate - which is good because the adjustment is continuous so it can be stopped at any height in its range. This is great for the roller coaster twisty single track I ride a lot and I expect to use it about as much as my shifters. The remote works well so long as the turns in the cable are gradual. Having the remote does prevent you from separating the seat and post from the bike, but with a quick release, you can still drop the post all the way into the seat tube. All-in-all I don't think I could be any happier with it.

[remybigtime]

FWIW: I started getting a little binding in the cable so I decided to grease it. I ended-up changing out the cable and housing (went to a little larger id) as well as lubing it. All's well.

[nasai]

Originally Posted by Bikinfoolferlife

I've been riding for many many years and have been in situations where there's no way I'm taking my hands off the bars, the handlebar mount is the way to go IMHO, not just for the hairy moments but to keep flow up and for frequent up and down changes. Why go half-assed just to save a few bucks?

+1... I wouldn't want to live without my remote. Adding one to my new Mission 3 next week, as well.

[Lelandjt]

Bucks has nothing to do with it. I could have gotten the Joplin remote for $25 less than I paid for the lever version. It's about not having another lever on the bar, not having a cable running to your seat, and being able to remove the seatpost. This is all dependant on your ability to quickly adjust the seat with one hand in all situations.

It also saves 50 or so grams.

[Bikinfoolferlife]

Originally Posted by Lelandjt

Bucks has nothing to do with it. I could have gotten the Joplin remote for $25 less than I paid for the lever version. It's about not having another lever on the bar, not having a cable running to your seat, and being able to remove the seatpost. This is all dependant on your ability to quickly adjust the seat with one hand in all situations.

It also saves 50 or so grams.

I don't find the lever on the bar any more intrusive than any other control on my bar. The cable runs just as easily as those for my brakes or derailleurs. I can remove the seatpost very easily, although I don't usually remove my seatpost in any case. I was riding today thinking about your post; most of the time I was changing my seat height it would have been impossible without the remote (without stopping or slowing significantly and ruining the moment). 50g is negligible, I wouldn't even notice 50g on or off me/my bike, what's that, a couple gulps of water? YMMV

[nasai]

...and it's all ultimately personal taste, so no point in arguing. I say tomato!

[joelsman]

I would get the remote, why get a quick adjust seat post that you can't adjust easily while riding every time.

and lets not forget grabbing the seat and accidentally raising the saddle, especially while jumping(superman seat grab or toboggan) then cracking your nutz upon landing.

[nightnerd]

To all Fezzari/kindshock i900 owners. I ended up returning my ks i900 to xxcycles in France. There was the lateral play and the post was slowing lowering down just by siting on it. They emailed me back today offering me to send me another one that was tested on a bike before. They say it has a "normal" lateral movement of 1mm-2mm at the tip of the saddle. Is this acceptable? Have you guys noticed the same thing on yours? The cost of shipping to France is so expensive that sending back the post for services in the summer will simply be out of question...

[rideitall]

Originally Posted by nightnerd

To all Fezzari/kindshock i900 owners. I ended up returning my ks i900 to xxcycles in France. There was the lateral play and the post was slowing lowering down just by siting on it. They emailed me back today offering me to send me another one that was tested on a bike before. They say it has a "normal" lateral movement of 1mm-2mm at the tip of the saddle. Is this acceptable? Have you guys noticed the same thing on yours? The cost of shipping to France is so expensive that sending back the post for services in the summer will simply be out of question...

nightnerd, any update on the i900. I am about to pull the trigger on one and wonder if it's worth going to the i950 model. I too will be ordering from xxcycle as that is best pricing I could find.

Cheers

[nightnerd]

That's where I'm at right now, kind of hoping would let me know if the rotational play is normal and to be expected. xxcycles really has the pricing for the i900 right now, as it come to about 50$ less than if I was ordering the fezzari post. The problem is if I need to send it for service, its 50$ shipping it to France. Way too much... But if everyone experience that 1-2mm play at the front end of the saddle, then I'll go ahead and will ask them to ship the one they have tested for me.

[KRob]

Originally Posted by nightnerd

But if everyone experience that 1-2mm play at the front end of the saddle, then I'll go ahead and will ask them to ship the one they have tested for me.

I have 2-5 mm of side to side play on my Maverick and I don't notice it at all while pedaling. In fact, I'm wondering if having the saddle move a bit with my cheeks may even save a little friction/wear-and-tear on the nethers.

Someone came out with a left side (non-throttle) grip for motorcycles awhile ago that rotated on the bar a small amount for this very purpose. It reduced arm pump and blisters. I never tried one but it made sense to me and I have noticed that my left arm is more prone to pump and my left hand more prone to blisters.

[derby]

The AMP post is not infinite adjust as currently listed in the spreadsheet. It drops 1 inch and either 3, 4, or 5 inches.

http://www.precisioncyclingcomponents.com/amp.aspx

Mine's a year old now, a 1/4 version, and has worked perfectly, only giving it a drop of oil in each of the guide grooves under the neoprene dust cover every few months. It now has no more than 2 mm side to side and fore aft slop which I cannot feel when riding, but no seat alignment slop at all. All in all it's very precise and durable.

[Kyle2834]

My Sette just failed, after a short half season of use.

Whatever mechanism the lever pushes on seems stuck. Now, the adjustment lever has no resistance against it.

End result = post not able to stay in down position. I'm trying to figure out what happened, but the post was lubed. It had never been taken apart, but I'm sure it will be soon.

That said, if you get a properly functioning unit, it's still the only budget option.

Edit: Took the post apart, still can't tell, except that it should have been disassembled and greased when I first bought it. Waiting on email from Sette.

Still no email from SETTE....lame....

[Taylor_Made]

Hi guys maybe you can help me...

I bought a Joplin for my Giant Reign 1 (30,9mm) and now I've just sold the bike and got a Remedy 9 (31,6mm)... Do you know if there is any kind of adapter to avoid purchasing a new seatpost. The truth is that the Joplin works fantastic and I don't wanna get rid of it (and put another 285€ on the table)

Your help is much appreciated!

[moshelove]

awesome thread. Thanks.

where can I order the fezzari online for international shipping? or any of these for that matter?

I seem to be having a hard time finding a place that will ship to Taiwan!

Specialized dealers here said that the command post will not be brought into Taiwan for retail sale. boooo.

[john85D]

Originally Posted by Taylor_Made

Hi guys maybe you can help me...

I bought a Joplin for my Giant Reign 1 (30,9mm) and now I've just sold the bike and got a Remedy 9 (31,6mm)... Do you know if there is any kind of adapter to avoid purchasing a new seatpost. The truth is that the Joplin works fantastic and I don't wanna get rid of it (and put another 285€ on the table)

Your help is much appreciated!

You can order the outer tube from Maverick. This is what I did when I switched from Marin to Knolly. You can get in touch with them through their site.

[ozzybmx]

Originally Posted by john85D

You can order the outer tube from Maverick. This is what I did when I switched from Marin to Knolly. You can get in touch with them through their site.

Hmmmm ..... i am in exactly the same situation going from Specialized (30.9) to Nicolai (31.6) , i contacted CB and thet said they didnt have the bottom tube as a spare part.


So i bought an i900 and the joplin will get ebay'd .

[L. Ron Hoover]

Great thread and timely....

I've been thinking about an adjustable seatpost for my Uzzi. What I'm curious about is how low can you actually get the seat on the various ones. What got me thinking about that is that on the AMP website it says that the minimum seatpost extension from the collar on the frame to the seat rail is 7.25" for the 4" model. I understand that this means that the seat rail will be 7.25" above the collar with the post in its lowest position. Am I understanding this correctly?

That's not much of an issue for AM riding, but I also use the bike for fairly serious lift-assisted/shuttle DH riding where I'd typically have the seat slammed as low as possible with no need to adjust it. I'd like to avoid having to switch seatposts to get the seat to DH height. So which of the adjustable posts allow you to get the seat really low? It looks like the Joplin and the Black Mamba will allow slamming the seat almost to the seatpost collar. What about the others?

[MaddSquirrel]

The Ferrazi is on sale right now for $169, which is a great deal.

[Ray Lee]

Where?

Originally Posted by MaddSquirrel

The Ferrazi is on sale right now for $169, which is a great deal.