Ridden And Rated - Six Dropper Posts
 |
Do you remember when high-end trail and all-mountain bikes didn't come equipped with dropper seat posts straight from the factory? That feels like it was sometime after the Middle Ages and before the industrial revolution, but it was probably more recent than that. Sure, there will always be riders who will never be convinced and who don't need a dropper post to have fun and feel confident on the descents, but they're probably in the minority these days.
Thankfully, there are now a boat load of different dropper posts to pick from, some of them better than others, and all a bit different in design and function. While almost all of them depend on an air spring to bring the seat back up, companies have come up with all sorts of different ways to control their post's travel: some depend on a purely mechanical design, while a bunch of others employ hydraulic cartridges to get the job done.
No one needs a dropper seat post, but there's no arguing that they can add an immense amount of fun and flow on rolling terrain.
We can now just pedal up to a steep roll-in and, with the push of a button, drop in without any hesitation.
Regardless of how a dropper post works, the bottom line is that it simply needs to work, which is apparently something that took some figuring to do. Many early designs were about as reliable as a Ford Pinto, but to be fair, dropper posts don't burst into flames (just picture how bad that would be.) Durability has improved greatly over the past few years, although it always could be better, and there are now more options than ever to choose from when it comes to dropping your seat and upping the fun factor. Below are six choices that each have their own merits, as well as their own drawbacks.
Proven Contenders
The lineup of seat posts below is by no means an all-inclusive list of every model out there, but rather a round-up of the droppers that we've spent enough time on to provide some real-world feedback. I'm talking multiple years with some of these droppers under us, not just a three-ride "test" that you might read elsewhere. We've taken them completely apart to learn how they work, and then we put them back together to see if they still worked - most of the time they actually did.
There are some exciting new seat posts that we can't include simply because they're too new to make a call on yet, including the new Race Face dropper that uses technology from 9point8, and yet to be released models from Fox, Gravity, and even Crankbrothers.
Perhaps the most interesting up and comer is the wireless electronic Vyron eLECT seat post from Magura, a dropper that could be one of the few fresh products worthy of the cliché ''game-changing'' tag line. A lot of the mountain bike community sure seems hesitant about batteries, but I can come up with a handful of reasons why this would be a worthy place to use one.
Magura's Vyron seat post is controlled via a wireless remote.
There are also a few that have been out in the wild for awhile now but that we just haven't ridden enough to judge, Giant's Contact post, the GravityDropper, and X-Fusion's Hilo included, although you can expect to see full reviews of those and others in the near future. In the meantime, here are six dropper posts that we have spent a hell of a lot of time on.
9point8 Fall Line
The Fall Line seat post can be summed up in two words: reliability and options. It's expanding brake, dubbed the 'Mechanical DropLoc', holds it in place anywhere in its stroke, and 9point8 has also built-in a nifty quick-disconnect feature that makes removal a cinch. More importantly, it has proven to be extremely trustworthy, more so than almost any other dropper on the market, making it the one I'd recommend to anyone who's bike accepts an internally-routed post. Which brings me to my one quibble: the Fall Line isn't available with external cable routing, meaning those who own certain bikes won't be able to use it unless they change to a different frame, or they're confident with a drill and don't mind voiding their frame's warranty. Riders can choose from many travel and length options, and word is that 9point8 will also soon offer 175 and 200mm stroke models.
Fall Line Dropper Full Review
Fall Line Details
• Total travel: 75, 100 ,125, 150mm
• Travel type: infinite
• Routing: internal only
• Mechanism: mechanical
• Spring: air, adjustable for rebound speed
• Weight: 507 - 605g (incl. remote and cable)
• MSRP: $379 USD
• www.9point8.ca
• Total travel: 75, 100 ,125, 150mm
• Travel type: infinite
• Routing: internal only
• Mechanism: mechanical
• Spring: air, adjustable for rebound speed
• Weight: 507 - 605g (incl. remote and cable)
• MSRP: $379 USD
• www.9point8.ca
• Great, positive action
• Impressive reliability
• Remote can be configured to your liking
• Tricky installation
• Internal routing only
Fox D.O.S.S.
While the Fox seat post's ungainly remote made it the butt of a lot of jokes when it was first released, the dual-lever design is intuitive and ergonomic when mounted on the underside of the handlebar in place of a front shifter. Run a front derailleur on your bike? Then it needs to be mounted on top where it's exceptionally annoying to use. Remote aside, the D.O.S.S. never did top a lot of people's lists due to its weight and head-mounted actuation cable, but it has also been by far the most reliable dropper post on the market. If you ask me, that last point in itself makes the D.O.S.S. worth considering. I'm also a fan of its lightening quick rebound that gets the seat back up with zero delays. It looks like Fox is close to releasing a new design, so here's hoping that they've been able to carry over some of their original post's dependability.
Fox D.O.S.S. Full Review
D.O.S.S Details
• Total travel: 125, 150mm
• Travel type: indexed w/ 40mm stop
• Routing: external only
• Mechanism: mechanical
• Spring: air, adjustable for rebound speed
• Weight: 620g (incl. remote and cable)
• MSRP: $299 USD
• www.ridefox.com
• Total travel: 125, 150mm
• Travel type: indexed w/ 40mm stop
• Routing: external only
• Mechanism: mechanical
• Spring: air, adjustable for rebound speed
• Weight: 620g (incl. remote and cable)
• MSRP: $299 USD
• www.ridefox.com
• Unbeatable reliability
• Quick rebound and smooth operation
• Remote can be mounted top or bottom, left or right
• One of the heavier options
• Massive remote doesn't play nice with front shifters
• External routing only and cable attached to post's head
RockShox Reverb
The Reverb has been around since 2010, which is hard to believe given that its hydraulic actuation still makes it seem ahead of the curve - many options employ hydraulic internals, but not actuation. This layout means that the RockShox dropper is based on a relatively complicated design that can make it more prone to failure, and when it does fail, it's sometimes not a simple repair job. The pluses? Non-indexed travel that can be stopped anywhere through its stroke, a quick turn of a dial can adjust its rebound speed, and it's basically impervious to the elements - no rusty cables or much maintenance required. That final point makes the Reverb ideal for someone who spends a ton of time riding in the rain and mud. There are also two versions to choose from: the standard Reverb with an external hose, and the Stealth model that features internal routing.
RockShox Reverb Full Review
Reverb Details
• Total travel: 100, 125, 150mm
• Travel type: infinite
• Routing: internal or external
• Mechanism: hydrualic
• Spring: air
• Adjustable rebound speed
• Weight: 520g (external), 560g (internal)
• MSRP: $400 USD (external), $471 USD (Stealth, internal)
• www.rockshox.com
• Total travel: 100, 125, 150mm
• Travel type: infinite
• Routing: internal or external
• Mechanism: hydrualic
• Spring: air
• Adjustable rebound speed
• Weight: 520g (external), 560g (internal)
• MSRP: $400 USD (external), $471 USD (Stealth, internal)
• www.rockshox.com
• Infinite height adjustment makes small changes easy
• No cable and housing to get contaminated
• Easily adjustable rebound speed via dial on remote
• Isn't as reliable as some other options
• Slow rebound speeds in cold weather
• Not as easy to work on as a cable operated post
Specialized Command Post IRCC
The Command Post probably doesn't get as much aftermarket action as other droppers from third-party companies, but it's priced competitively and works well. It uses a collet design that locks the post into position, and the IRCC features a three-stage travel system. The top 25mm of travel is non-indexed, but below that is 45mm of micro-adjust with ten different positions to choose from in that 45mm. The bottom 50mm of travel is non-indexed, so you're either running the post fully lowered or up 50mm so that it locks into the lowest micro-adjust position.
Command Post Full Review
Command Post IRCC Details
• Total travel: 75, 100, 125mm
• Travel type: indexed
• Adjustable air spring
• Cable operated
• Routing: internal
• SRL and grip-mount remotes incl.
• Diameters: 30.9mm, 31.6mm
• Weight: 586 grams (post and SRL remote)
• MSRP: $350 USD
• www.specialized.com
• Total travel: 75, 100, 125mm
• Travel type: indexed
• Adjustable air spring
• Cable operated
• Routing: internal
• SRL and grip-mount remotes incl.
• Diameters: 30.9mm, 31.6mm
• Weight: 586 grams (post and SRL remote)
• MSRP: $350 USD
• www.specialized.com
• Includes two great remotes
• Quick rebound speed w/ audible top out
• Partially indexed travel
• Internally routed only
• Partially indxed travel
Thomson Elite and Covert Dropper
The Thomson name is one that's often associated with high-end aluminum components that are manufactured in the United States, and that also is true of their externally routed Elite and internally routed Covert dropper seat posts. Both are controlled via a pint-sized remote that sits up against the grip, and both employ the same hydraulic cartridge that allows the seat to be positioned anywhere in their 100 or 125mm of stroke. Thomson is also one of the few companies to offer a 27.2mm diameter dropper post, a big deal for riders with older bikes or steel frames.
Thomson Elite Dropper full review
Elite and Covert Details
• Total travel: 100, 125mm
• Travel type: infinite
• Routing: external (Elite), internal (Covert)
• Mechanism: hydraulic
• Spring: air
• Weight: 592g (incl. remote and cable)
• MSRP: $449 - $479 USD
• www.bikethomson.com
• Total travel: 100, 125mm
• Travel type: infinite
• Routing: external (Elite), internal (Covert)
• Mechanism: hydraulic
• Spring: air
• Weight: 592g (incl. remote and cable)
• MSRP: $449 - $479 USD
• www.bikethomson.com
• Tiny, thumb activated remote takes up next to no room next to the grip
• Internal or external routing options
• Reliable
• Non-serviceable hydraulic cartridge
• Cable attached to post's head on external routed version
KS LEV Integra
The internally routed version of KS' LEV dropper post has a lot going for it, including ultra smooth operation and it's Southpaw remote that mimics the position and action of a front shifter, and it's also available in a 150mm travel option for those who need some extra length. A hydraulic cartridge is used to control the post's stroke, allowing the seat height to be set anywhere in the post's travel, and an air spring brings the seat back up when it's time to pedal. Early models were far too finicky when it came to cable tension, and the design of the actuation assembly meant that even the smallest change in tension could keep it from doing its job. Thankfully, KS has rectified this with an updated design that presents no such issues, and the latest LEV Integra has proven to be reliable.
KS LEV Integra Full Review
LEV Integra Details
• Total travel: 100, 125, 150mm
• Travel type: infinite
• Routing: internal
• Mechanism: hydraulic
• Spring: air
• Weight: 550 - 635g
• MSRP: $395 - $450 USD
• Total travel: 100, 125, 150mm
• Travel type: infinite
• Routing: internal
• Mechanism: hydraulic
• Spring: air
• Weight: 550 - 635g
• MSRP: $395 - $450 USD
• Infinite travel adjustment
• Creak-free two-bolt head
• Super smooth travel
• Not the best reliability record
• Plastic OE remote is prone to cracking
Dropper posts get a lot of heat for not being as reliable as other components, which is still largely true, but things sure have gotten better over the last few years. Yes, the D.O.S.S. has always been close to indestructible, but its odd remote made it a no-go for many people, while KS, Specialized, RockShox, and Thomson have all been improving on the durability front. I might sound a bit optimistic when I say that while we used to just hope to end up with a dropper that worked well for a bunch of rides only a few years ago, now we're looking for the dropper the best suits our needs.
Do you like infinite travel adjustment, or do you prefer indexed height settings? Mechanical versus hydraulic? Is 125mm of travel enough, or do you need 150mm to feel comfortable? As with anything, you need to pick the right tool for the job if you want the best results.
My needs, in order of importance, look like this: it has to be reliable, of course, and I need to be able to work on it when the time comes. I want a remote that I don't ever need to think about, and it also needs to have 150mm of travel and not cost as much as a decent aluminum wheelset. With all that in mind, I would spring for a Fall Line from 9point8 if I needed to purchase a new dropper post tomorrow. It's durable, offers the infinite travel adjustment that I prefer, and it even costs less than most of the other options.
My needs, in order of importance, look like this: it has to be reliable, of course, and I need to be able to work on it when the time comes. I want a remote that I don't ever need to think about, and it also needs to have 150mm of travel and not cost as much as a decent aluminum wheelset. With all that in mind, I would spring for a Fall Line from 9point8 if I needed to purchase a new dropper post tomorrow. It's durable, offers the infinite travel adjustment that I prefer, and it even costs less than most of the other options.
9point8's Fall Line seat post.
Author Info:
Must Read This Week
What about the 2016 Giant Contact 150mm ?
Only post where it's mentioned is a company i that I will never even give 1 cent. #f*ckspecialized
Positives:
- $299 new ($240 with coupon)
- New version has 0mm offset
- Can be purchased in multiple lengths
- Can be routed internally or externally very easily
- Infinite position adjustment
- Sealed cartridge is cheap to replace and very easy to replace
Negatives:
- Only comes in 30.9mm diameter
- Cartridge is non-serviceable (but as mentioned it's cheaper than most services cost to replace)
Replaced with a Reverb - loved the ability to dial in how fast it rises, loved the smooth adjustability. Never failed on me in well over a year, despite being ridden in both dusty (traveling in the summer) and sloppy (any other time of year here in the PNW) conditions, and despite me being a big guy (230#). Just started developing a little sag (you get it all the way extended, and it would "give" up to 1/2" when you sit down on it) - my girlfriend's Reverb is doing the same, and I'm told that's common and not a big deal, just needs a bit of a rebuild similar to how shocks do. Oh well.
My new bike came with the KS Lev Integra. So far, it feels smooth, although the remote doesn't have that magic feeling of the hydraulic Reverb remote of course. Noticed that sometimes it doesn't want to come back up, it's like it's stuck at the bottom (I press the remote, and clearly it's releasing as I can give the seat a little nudge and it's coming right back up as it should - but if left to do it on its own, it just stays down). I'm guessing that's just an adjustment issue. Looking at the clamp mounting the remote to the bars, I'm shaking my head. Seriously chintzy. Not sure why they couldn't spring for a regular ring-style mount instead of that split affair on the "Southpaw" lever - this piece must have been more expensive than just reusing something that's already available, and it's just waiting to break.
Exactly. Bought a gen 2 Reverb and have had it for over two years with not a single issue and its only been bled once at install. I will bleed it for the 2nd time soon as it might have some air in the system. Other than that, not a single problem.
Lovin' the Reverb so far.
Then I had a KS Supernatural and LEV - pretty good, but the cable performance is nowhere close to how well Reverbs hydraulic actuation works.
Ps not sure why your getting some neg props for providing neutral consumer feedback??
I figured out a procedure to do it on my own. But it took me whole day getting a porcedure to achieve reproducable results. Now it takes about 30 minutes for one post. So, no, you needn't send it to RockShox if you're very patient ;-)
But I hate riding a post, knowing I have to rebuild it a few weeks later. :-/
- extend post completely
- depressurize the air spring
- open top valve, take it out
- pump a litlle amount of pressure again on the air chamber, just enough the divide-piston between air an oil chamber comes up to the upper position
- depressurize the air chamber
- fill the system with oil to the height, where the o-ring from the topvalve takes place in mounted position
- knock gently to ensure a cpomlete air removal
- remount the top valve
Now the most imorptant step to avoid the need of a special tool:
- open the valve by pushing it in manually and drop the post about 10mm (this step ensures, that the post will be able to fully extend after procedure)
- pull the post back to fully extended position manually
- redo the procedure of filling oil and knocking bubbles out
- remount top valve and close the system
- refill remote system and remove air with standard procedure
- repressurize the air chamber to recommanded pressure
Done.
The main idea of this procedure is to adjust the position of the air-oil-piston (in image "IFP") hydraulicly:
ep1.pinkbike.org/p4pb7346907/p4pb7346907.jpg
Yea okay, try my six month old Reverd on a cold day. A 70 year old who forgot to take his Viagra rises faster.
Edit: I didn't read the thumb up / thumb down where the cold issues is mentioned.
Riding in a car park before setting out, snagged the trigger on my shorts (very lightly) and trigger snapped clean off
luckily my buddy had a spare bike with a Thomson Elite post the right size for my Devinci Dixon, we swapped it out and off we rode...
Also, why doesn't specialized use the "cold weather" grease by default? There must be a trade-off in durability or performance.
All that said, the post has lasted 2.5 years with minimal maintenance. I expect it'll start rebounding vigorously to full height once the weather warms.
One last note: for folks with externally routed droppers, go with the Hope seatclamp with the dropper cable stop over the Promax version.
When topped out it would "click, click, click " when I was climbing or shifting my weight while in the saddle.
I sold it and bought a Reverb stealth
The reverb was broken right out of the box, so I sent it in for a repair, it worked well until the temperature dropped below freezing;
Now it works when it wants, I need to bleed the lever every other week, and it freezes.
Fox FTW so far.
We ride in bellow -10 C (14 F) and the only posts working were the Reverbs.
Any other cable actuated got frozen (the cable inside the mantle).
One Reverb refused to get up in cold weather, but it only needed a bleed, no more issues afterwards.
EDIT: MADE IN AMERICA!!
When it starts to get sturdy: open it, clean it and close it.
Easy serviceable even on the trails.
Only the remote lever broke but i replaced it with a KS one, works like a charm.
.
GD are awesome to deal with too, need one bolt because you dropped it and lost it? All the details are on the exploded diagrams on their website. Or they'll just sell you that one bolt.
I have 3 gravity droppers, the oldest one a '07, and have never serviced any of them. No need! It's amazing to me that people buy the newer posts.
For an even sweeter setup, spend an extra $15 or so on a remote made for Giant adjustable posts - they're one of the few remotes compatible with a GD and have a nice and small profile.Giant make at least two types of cable remotes - it needs to be the one with the ability the bolt the cable at the lever end.
The first had a few teething problems, but the rest have been great. Infinite travel, cable actuated, comes in 4, 5, and 6" versions. 30.9 only. Cheaper than all the above.
Action’s great, lever is nice as well, and love the company. Kills my previous Reverb by leaps and bounds.
I began installing mine 30 minutes before a ride and it went fast and easy, even with trimming the cable twice. They are absolutely a piece of cake to remove and reinstall on the bike as well. Love the whole design of the Fall Line, and the service model 9point8 has set up with their online store.
I can also attest to their ability to function in Very cold weather. Have had mine out a few times in -10 to -20F for about 2-3 hours, and though it slowed down, it always came up and locked just the same. They are Very solid in every position, and you can pick your bike up by the saddle!
All the Reverbs I've had (4) have totally shit the bed at about +20F. And just above or below freezing the Reverbs Barely function, but once it gets into the mid to low 20's they crap out and lose all air and can no longer stay up, and later develop play in the top inch of stroke, and fairly quickly develop play in the bushings as well.
My Only quibble about the fall line for me has been the remote. It is versatile and functional and very configurable, but I was not a fan of the "out the front" style of the cable routing. Left a big loop of cable sticking straight forward, and the remote sat a bit too high above the bar for my liking in the vertical orientation that I found most comfortable and easy to reach. But this is all very easily remedied with a front shifter conversion since it is cable actuated. Perfect setup. Very stoked on the Fall Line and 9point8 as a company.
Nice summary of lengths for some posts. If you're wondering whether a dropper will fit your frame (standover height, max extension...)
30.9 only. 440mm 150mm infinitely adjustable travel user can switch from internal or external cable routing fairly easily with basic tools. Has a nice secure 2 bolt thomsonesque saddle clamp.And it's not too heavy.
But best of all they can be had online for £100 ($140 US)
This is what dropper posts SHOULD cost.
Can anyone (who rides a lot) reccomend me a dropper seat post which lasts 2 years without problems?
Just my 2 cents...
A larger stanchion will allow larger diameter bushings & seals, which will help prevent bushing & seal wear, which cause play & leakage. I think we're going to see a push to larger seattube diameters in the next few years, along with everything else. There's already a standard, 34.9, & Scott was even using it, but I'm sure we'll have a completely new diameter because that's what we do in the MTB industry these days.
@skelldify Of course, but those are momentary loads. The seatpost sealing surfaces have to stand up to you actively weighting, as well as pushing & pulling perpendicular to the interface(unless your seattube angle is 90 degrees, & your pedal stroke is completely vertical, with no side to side hip movement.)
Before anyone says anything, I have/had 3 Command Posts, never a GD.
30.9
140/170/200 mm
Mechanical, easy to service
Not cheap
The 9Point8 is 499 € (554 $) in Germany, you get a decent aluminium wheelset for much less.
The X1 adapter only costs 38 €, thats 2,6 times the price in US/Canada.
Yay corporate donations!!
Way drop the ball once again PB.
I'm really happy with my dropper post choice
Now that manufacturers are kinda getting these things figured out...
When I was originally bought my dropper, I did my research and read a million horror stories about people getting some really bad service and long repair times
So I went with Thomson because of their great reputation only , because back then all droppers besides Gravity were failing eventually ...that was my point..
but you are correct, and if my current post doesn't hold up as long as I expect it to?
then I will admit I made a mistake..
For the past 6 months it's been flawless..
fIngers crossed ..
I have faith in the Thomson...
Wifes bike has the KS Lev Integra. Works not bad. Sticky in the top portion of the stroke, have to tap it to make it go down sometimes. Finnicky to set up, once set up works great.
Wifes previous bike had an Xfusion Hilo. Excellent always. Always worked no matter what - and the remote was easy to use and very universal.
I have had two remotes break in crashes, and while they aren't cheap to replace, they are cheaper than buying a whole new post. The remotes I broke were mounted on the top side of the bar. The latest is mounted under the bar, which might help.
I hope the post continues to hold up, because at $400, the price has gone up considerably since 2011 -- about $150! Holy cow!
"Partially INDXED travel" (indexed)
"its LIGHTENING quick" (lightning)
"Mechanism: HYDRUALIC" (hydraulic)
"and IT'S Southpaw" (its)
Binned the thing and got a reverb, which also broke but at least they fixed/replaced it for me
I'll buy a Vyron when available.
I literally bought a reverb for 1st time a few days before decathlon selling ones that looked the same but with cable operated lever for just £30 well not true actually £29.99!
My bro was gonna buy one but missed out as they sold out within days of their entire stock available as a one lot jobby type buy they did iirc.
The exact same post is sold by Raleigh in the UK and another company in europe for around £130.
Message me if interested.
Gravity Dropper makes the Turbo LP in a 27.2. Nice dropper post with very good reliability, dead simple to service, and the appearance of some abandoned military x-project prototype covert rocket launcher. lol.
Really though, if you can get past the appearance, the cable sticking out the back, and the slightly odd actuation, it's an undeniably damn good post that's not going to give you any headaches or break your budget. And the cable out the back isn't really that terrible at all since it is static, rather than attached to the head of the post like most other externally routed options. The remote is delicate, and really just not all that great, but you could substitute it with another suitable cable actuated remote.
My Thompson Stealth, KS Lev ext., Command IR, and DOSS all have been good for me, with only the DOSS returned for warranty, but it was a "known issue". That said, I am careful not to put excessive load when going down because the mechanical internals will take a beating.
We're a group of riders who've designed bikes for years and decided to split off to start our own company. Many more parts to come but our droppers are legit, PM me if you have questions. Thanks y'all!!
forums.mtbr.com/shocks-suspension/kindshock-lev-seat-clamp-coming-loose-846454.html
They're junk.
I'm a big guy, 6'1, 220lbs and the post has zero play-no side to side at all.
Great customer service answered all questions quick. Hands down better then the only other posts I've used (Lev and Reverb)
£28. I do like the look of the Thompson should I need s new one, does the the winner have uk stockists?
@SpillWay Cold weather makes the grease thicker. Service techs at "S" told me to try putting a bit (3-5 ml) of fork oil in the post when servicing with the grease.
I had to warranty my IRC command post for not holding air after 6 months. It started doing the same thing recently, so I tried float fluid to help seal up where it leaks (mast head). Holds air now only if I store the bike upside-down. Buying the 9point8 ASAP!
we always use Finish Line carbon paste and torque wrenches on single bolt seat post clamps, but sooner or later they always shift when you hit a pothole on your road bike, or a bump on the trail. You can try increasing the torque setting 10-15%+ above factory spec. but its really the design of the clamp that is an issue
Had this happen too many times to ever consider buying a single-bolt seat clamp seat post - this also includes some bikes with proprietary posts that have this single bolt -whether side load or "ritchey" style vertical
I've got a reverb off Ebay, no warranty, had to service myself, it took some time to kit up the parts and tools but now I can get it back on the trails within one lost evening. Would like to have a more simple design but at this point I would not want to spend the money to cross over.
So yeah, which one of these posts wins on serviceability?
I've had the Thomson for going on three seasons, twice I've had to send it in: once for a defect in the mfg setup that caused a minor issue when they were just getting them out and a second time to change a membrane that they found did not perform well in all temperature ranges (the post would intermittently not return to full height). Both times I sent the post in and they immediately sent me a new copy. The post does not twist and feels solid, and the Thomson service is exceptional.
Now if only the 9point8 was available in europe for a normall price. 400€
And I really like the approach that you only compare products which you've tested long-time.
What bothers me about the posts is that the best you can get is 150mm / 600g. That is three times the weight of a normal fixed post and SIX TIMES of the lightest posts available! People got used to this, but come on, this has to be better. There are entire road bike frames with that weight!
Its / It's
Whose / Who's
www.pinkbike.com/video/392398
See at 3:13. Air miles for style.
Done
If a shop can't do it, they are straight morons. I can understand a guy without a vise being intimidated but any half stocked shop should be able to do it. It requires 1 specific tool, a dental pick, some oil, and some vise soft clamps. The video they have really overplays how it works, and you don't usually need to do the full service for the "squishy at the top of the travel" failure.
Edit: It's like saying a FIT damper is bad because it can fail and it requires an hour to rebuild and a few specific tools.
@mikelevy
9Point8 Fall Line is $399 now.. no big deal but letting you know