9Point8 Fall Line Dropper Post - Sea Otter 2015
Mechanical, Stealth Routed Dropper Post
The Fall Line is 9Point8's newest creation, a stealth routed, mechanical dropper post that's been certified to the rigorous EN seatpost standard. This isn't the Canadian company's first post - we previously spent time aboard the Pulse model - but there are a number of smart new features that make the Fall Line a competitive addition to the market.
Reliability is still the biggest issue that plagues seat droppers, and even though things are much better than they were a few years ago, that doesn't mean that smooth sailing is guaranteed. For that reason, 9Point8 chose to go with a mechanical brake to hold the seat securely in place at the desired height, which means that even if for some reason the post lost air pressure, the seat height wouldn't change. The brake works via a spring loaded plunger that enters a fluid filled chamber, causing it to expand and lock in place against the inside of the post. Depressing the remote lever reduces the pressure, allowing the post to move freely. The remote lever is cable actuated as well, and can easily be removed by unscrewing it from the base of the post.
Several different remote lever styles are available, including a nicely shaped under the bar option that takes the place of a front shifter for riders on 1x setups. The return speed of the post is dependent on how quickly the cable actuated lever is depressed, and an infinite number of positions are possible before reaching full extension. 30.9 or 31.6mm diameters will be offered with either 125mm or 150mm of drop, and it's possible that an even longer version will be released in the future. For riders who are seeking less travel, the post can be shimmed internally. Expected weight for the 150mm version is 579 grams including the lever, cable and housing. MSRP: $379 USD.
Ti bolts are used in the seatpost head, which also houses the air valve for the return spring.
The thumb remote doesn't take up much room on the bar, and even has small dimples for extra traction.
A look at the Fall Line's internals.
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Basically, 50mm dropper post is sufficient to put your ass behind the saddle, 100mm is for extra comfort or for big guys.
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Besides, you don't look down at your crotch when you're riding, so who cares what the seat post looks like?
Love the fact it's a local ( Ontario ) company but have not had the chance to ride one yet.
I bought the 9point8 Pulse seatpost a couple of years ago and I can tell you it is BOMBER. I'm definitely not worried about breaking it. I love the post, for me the downsides are weight (although this new post is much lighter) and the fact that both of their remotes are awkward. I run older Saint brakes and I can't find a good position for either style of remote and they take a LOT of pressure to activate the post. Still, those are fairly minor compared to having a reliable post.
i've had 3 failures on 2 posts from them. like i said, the reliability sucks. and i can't recommend them to anyone, nor would i have got a 2nd one by choice. it came on a bike i bought used. that's not a great track record. the best thing about KS is the actuator, being a grip clamp, and small and discreet it's the best part. but you don't buy a car with a blown up engine just because you like the steering wheel diameter.
I hear the GD is stupid simple to maintain, so could I run it without the boot and just service it more frequently? Function should always come before form, but that boot is just so damn ugly.