Crankbrothers Release Highline XC/Gravel Seatposts

Oct 27, 2020 at 7:09
by Daniel Sapp  
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PRESS RELEASE: Crankbrothers

Crankbrothers are expanding their Highline dropper post range to better meet the needs of riders with the addition of their Highline XC/Gravel posts. The posts are available in shorter travel options with a 27.2mm diameter post that fits most cross country, gravel, and cyclocross bikes.

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Now more riders can utilize the post to manage steep terrain and descent faster with more control. The Highline XC/Gravel post comes in a 60mm travel length with both short and long post insertion lengths to accommodate varying rider heights and frame designs, as well as an 80mm, 100mm, and 125mm travel options with a long post insertion length.

The post is equipped with a hydraulic IFP cartridge for smooth actuation and durability. There is a two-bolt standard head, a machined alloy quill, and a four-year warranty. The post sells for $249.99 USD and, like the rest of the Highline range, comes with Jagwire premium cables and housings for internal routing.

The post uses a linear actuator, which provides a fast return speed and light feel on the lever, along with a simple installation process. Like the post, the new Highline Drop-Bar remote is optimized for, you guessed it, drop bars. There is a single mounting bolt for left-hand actuation and two-way drop actuation for use in multiple hand positions from the drops or hoods. The Highline Drop Bar Remote is sold separately for $49.99.
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The Highline XC/Gravel post joins Crankbrothers' existing Highline post range of the Highline 3 and 7. The Highline 7 comes in 30.9 and 31.6 diameters with four lengths of travel. The post utilizes an IFP cartridge and a two-bolt quick-connect head, a machined alloy quill, and comes with a four-year warranty, selling for $299.99. The Highline 3 comes in 309, 31.6, and 34.9mm diameters and five lengths of travel. It utilizes an emulsification cartridge, a two-bolt head, alloy quill, and comes with a two-year warranty, selling for $199.99.

For more information, visit www.crankbrothers.com



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106 Comments
  • 118 1
 forget gravel, more 27.2 options to help homies revive their cool old hardtails are always welcome
  • 55 0
 Forget hardtails, about to put a dropper on my BMX bike lol
  • 49 0
 Forget BMX, I want one for my unicycle
  • 39 0
 @Mattin: Forget unicycles. I want one for my...I don’t know where else to go with this.
  • 35 0
 @Tyhoneyman: sofa, definetly sofa.
  • 11 0
 @Mattin: you can have one for the unicycle, but you are not allowed to put a seat on, deal?
  • 7 0
 @Tyhoneyman: forget that, I want one for my fish tank
  • 3 0
 @Tyhoneyman: tricycle . . .
  • 3 0
 @noplacelikeloam: big wheel
  • 19 0
 @man-wolf: Office chair... so I can drop out of Zoom calls like a boss.
  • 4 0
 @Tyhoneyman: Toilet! "Drop a post"
  • 8 7
 Their products tend not to work with the common tolerances - you want CB to be the ones designing an even thinner post...? Risky...
  • 1 0
 @Mattin: Oh yah baby
  • 3 0
 Forget that pick a dropper size and be a dick about it
  • 10 1
 @foxinsocks:
So you look at a gravel bike and think the highest level of risk is the thin material of the dropper post? How about the whole bike and concept? LOL
  • 2 0
 @Mattin: I need one for my rollerskates
  • 2 0
 Dropper for the Kicker M8
  • 1 0
 @Mattin: Forget unicycle, I want one for my handcycle
  • 1 0
 @FastRiding: Dropper for the dropper man...
  • 1 0
 Any idea of where to find a list of 27.2 internally routed current/modern frames? XC mtb and Gravel. I'm really curious how big the market is for this product.
  • 26 0
 Should probably mention if the cable clamps at the post or the lever. For true gravel compatibility clamping at the post would let folks use a modified front shifter as a dropper lever. A huge PITA for install and maintenance but much cleaner than putting a dropper lever on a drop bar bike. For those hating on gravel bikes try riding an XC trail on one. Being forced to manage line choice and lack of traction really improved the MTB skills. Passing roadies and MTB riders on a bike that is sorta terrible at everything is pretty fun too.
  • 11 0
 Dude, yes. Exactly my feelings. Railing single track on a gravel bike has made me an all around better cyclist.
  • 7 0
 @man-wolf @Will1848 - Add in the fact that a gravel bike can make more tame single track into an absolute blast. I have some local trails that would be dull on my full suspension but is horrifyingly fun on a gravel bike.
  • 4 0
 @neologisticzand: And that riding to and from the trails is substantially more enjoyable.
  • 2 0
 Agree with all your statements. GRX front dropper lever for me so it has to clamp at the post. Also was riding my gravel bike on the local mtb trails lately. Takes me back to my early days of riding when the equipment was something that held you back.
  • 3 0
 Piling on... I really like my gravel bike as a comfortable, beastly road bike for riding my gross chicago roads, but I also like to drop the saddle and hit the same single track I do on my Knolly. Variety, makes everything look VERY different, and builds skills. I ride the same local trails on a gravel bike, fat bike, plus bike and for a while rigid mtb... And a modern full suspension trail bike. All fun, just different challenges, speeds, etc. Makes me a better rider and I just like it.
  • 1 0
 I'd be curious to the answer here. I'll see what I can dig up. I love my hooligan road bike, and using the GRX brifter dummy lever is so damn good. Needs the cable to clamp at the the post, which the 27.2 125mm PNW post I've been using does.
  • 1 0
 @brianpark: Try using a KS cable clamp in the Highline actuator? Not sure if it will fit, but may be worth a try. In-line barrel adjuster would be handy for that setup, I think.

www.worldwidecyclery.com/products/ks-lev-dx-int-272-cable-clamp?variant=16886165897338&gclid=Cj0KCQjwit_8BRCoARIsAIx3Rj5GSEuvLxvCS9rRlfyZLbYBZp182zEOcovxZs4UbNHtPBZnXg0VziUaAniqEALw_wcB
  • 2 0
 @man-wolf: That is a huge plus as well! In my case, I have an amazing unpaved canal path that links together numerous smaller segments of singletrack. A gravel bike is way more fun between the transfers.
  • 18 0
 I knew 27.2 would make a rise again!
  • 2 0
 Looks like the front derailleur is making a comeback too.
  • 1 0
 Any idea of where to find a list of 27.2 internally routed current/medern frames? XC mtb and Gravel. I'm really curious how big the market is for this product.
  • 12 0
 About 80 percent of gravel bikes come with setback seat posts for compliance, therefore the frames are designed with geo for a setback seatpost. Yet almost 100% of dropper posts come with a straight haft and head. This simply does not make sense. Surely someone in the gravel market will step up and make a setback head? 9POINT8 are you reading this?
  • 1 0
 this, 100%
  • 2 0
 @boomforeal: meant to say shaft - multitasking. You can get a real cheap 600 gram one ETEN for something from KS. Weights more than some frames with all the cables and levers...
  • 3 0
 Doesn't 9point8 already make a setback mount compatible with their droppers?
  • 1 0
 They do but not in 27.2. @hardtailparty:
  • 1 0
 I could see a set back design binding more often when trying to lower the post while sitting on it. For example Reverbs can sometimes be picky about the rider sitting to far forward or rearward on their saddle and they aren't even set back.
  • 1 0
 @jubs17: Hint - got a Hightower 3 years back. Took the Reverb off right away and traded it for a OneUp. Never ever had an issue with a 9point8 setback post binding on the way down. The way up was another story....
  • 9 1
 Either road bikes need to get with the 30.9mm seat tube or dropper manufacturers need to make more 27.2mm posts.
  • 11 1
 More 27.2mm!
  • 1 1
 My gravel rig has a 31.6 seat tube, cuz mountain bike. I of course put in a 100mm dropper, cuz mountain bike.
  • 4 0
 More 27.2 for sure. 30.9 is too stiff and uncomfortable. Heck, Cannondale has 25.4 on some models just to make the seatpost flexier.
  • 1 0
 Lots of road and gravel bikes use seat tube flex for comfort, and if you went with a bigger post you would lose a lot of that flex. Probably most gravel riders are doing long miles on rough surfaces, not shredding single track. For them, the comfortable post is more useful than a dropper. More 27.2 droppers are great though for the few of us who do use our gravel bikes on singletrack.
  • 1 0
 No need for more 27.2 droppers. My 2 Tranz-X work beautifully.
  • 8 0
 XC oriented and no mention of weight?
  • 41 0
 This is for gravel bikes. Gravel bikes are like a road biker's dh bike...
  • 4 0
 very light, light as a feather, light of the lightest.
  • 9 0
 @kcy4130: I have to disagree. Gravel are like a downhiller’s road bike
Wink
  • 2 0
 They're relatively heavy... The lightest one (60mm drop) weighs 410 grams... My BikeYoke Divine SL weighs less than 385 grams for a 30.9mm post with 80mm drop.
  • 2 0
 @billreilly: to be fair divine sl is the lightest post on the market. Vecnum Nivo and d232 one are also up there. For the price I actually think that it is very reasonable.
  • 1 0
 @kcy4130: more of a light duty down country rig, really.
  • 3 0
 I've been riding my gravel bike a lot lately. It's fun and super fast on the tame singletrack near my house that's boring on a real mtb. My gravel bike has one of those oval carbon flex seatposts and it does seem to noticeably reduce vibrations on rough sections, but it would be cool to have a dropper too. Jumps and drops are a bit sketch with a saddle all up in your business. I'd like to see someone make a dropper that has a bit of flex or small amount of suspension built-in for gravel riding.
  • 5 0
 PNW makes the Coast. 40mm of squish and 100mm of drop in a 27.2. More drop in the larger diameters
  • 3 0
 Buy a reverb, push the saddle down, and pull up on the saddle. Suspension seatpost!
  • 1 0
 @laksboy: reviews of the PNW Coast don't seem great, plus I think fore-aft movement might be more beneficial than up/down for a gravel bike.
  • 3 0
 Gravity Dropper has been making a 27.2 for over ten years. I have a 27.0 and 27.2 on my and my wife's bike respectively. I have had to rebuild mine twice since 2010. Cost me the price of a cable and housing, and 20 minutes. they might wiggle a bit more than other options, but you cannot hold a candle to their tough as nails quality and super cheap maintenance. the lever sucks balls though
  • 1 0
 @ridintrials Agree completely. I actually just sold both my GD Classic and Turbo posts, but they were bombproof and low maintenance for years.
  • 1 0
 I also agree with you. I have one on my current gravel bike, also 27.2mm. I threw it on just because I had it sitting in the garage for a few years. I've had it for 15 years and only had to do a few rebuilds on it. Super simple design. But I think they might be out of business now. Looks like their site is under construction. I think the best thing about it was that I could use it on my fat bike and not have any issues that my buddies had with posts that would slow down due to oil slushin up, or due to seat posts losing pressure in the cold. Gravity Dropper posts are consistent as hell.
  • 1 0
 @Leppah: Once I did the V-brake noodle mod on my Turbo seatpost, it was solid. Never had an issue with it, even in the winter in CT.

Newer frame styles dictated I get longer-drop seatposts for my bikes, but otherwise, I would probably still have them.

I hope they are able to re-launch and come out with an updated (but still similar) design!
  • 2 0
 @KavuRider: you noodled your cable too? I thought I invented that all by myself...
  • 1 0
 @ridintrials: Sure did, after I crashed and had my foot hook that loop of cable and pull it out of the seatpost.

Worked so much better!

You can still take credit for it!
  • 4 0
 Are these still using cartridges from Wintek? A 27.2 dropper with a Wintek sounds pretty sweet.
  • 5 2
 So they tried it for about 10 years to produce a woriking dropper for mtb now they moved on verry clever
  • 1 0
 No external options? Many gravel/adventure bikes do not have internal routing. ie the Salsa Cutthroat didn't get internal routing until the current 2020 model.

The lever...that looks nice.
  • 2 1
 2008 comment about CB product: "They break all the time, but they have GREAT customer service!"

2020 comment about CB product: "They break all the time, but they have GREAT customer service!"
  • 3 0
 Anyone know if the post will mate a GRX hood?
  • 1 0
 do you mean mounting the lever on the shifter body or using the shifter as the lever?
  • 2 0
 it’s for the drops. the drops. THE DROPS.
  • 3 0
 I have one of these arriving on my doorstep in the next week or so (cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0061/0022/2050/products/MCR-9-RDO---4S---GRX800-1x---Green-Orange_1300x.jpg?v=1598307555). It's got a Trans-X mated with GRX hood. I'm sure this post would be the same.
  • 13 0
 @bsedola: You went full gravel, man. Never go full gravel.
  • 6 1
 @bsedola: Oh god my eyes!!! I thoght that was a photoshop joke until I Googled it. Jayyyzuzz.
  • 5 1
 @bsedola: What the f*ck is that!!??
  • 5 1
 @MaN-oF-STeEL: I think the question is Why the f*ck is that!!??
  • 4 0
 @bsedola: I feel like I just clicked on a link to the darkest corner of the dark web.
  • 2 0
 @pmhobson: using the dropper-specific GRX hood as a dropper lever for this post.
  • 2 0
 @MaN-oF-STeEL: KILL IT WITH FIRE!!!

Always hated on Niner, mainly because I was an early 27.5 adopter, and they were literally dicks about it...

Now this.
  • 1 0
 whose hood
  • 2 0
 Look at that action shot! Better get a gravel bikes to aggressively ride trails! wait.
  • 2 3
 Came to read the barrage of attacks on "gravel grinding" .... but was bitterly disappointed!!! I had a gravel bike for a month, was not for me. A wallowing slow pig on the road, worthless trash on the trail. Every time I rode the thing I wanted to be on a different bike.
  • 1 0
 Did you try riding it on any actual dirt (gravel) roads?
  • 1 0
 "worthless trash on the trail"

Sounds like user error to me tbh.
  • 1 1
 Has everyone forgotten about Joplin reliability? I expected the top comment to be a snarky 'never again' remark.

What's next? Zzyzzx forks making a comeback? "We've fixed the issues, we swear!"
  • 1 0
 I have one dropper 27.2 sized and different seatpost adapters on my others 3 bikes, so why have 4 droppers when you do that with only one?
  • 1 0
 I'd give it a try. I love the 30 mm dropper on my graveler now but maybe a bit more travel would be a bit more fun.
  • 2 1
 27.5 still a thing for a lot of gravel / road bikes; so far pwn only acceptable choice
  • 4 2
 Gravel news filter please...
  • 1 0
 long live 27.2
  • 1 1
 Comments section needs to be set to overflow = hidden.
  • 2 3
 Just buy a mountain bike if you are doing mountain biking.
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