Staran FSM-140 – Review
Staran, let’s be blunt, is not a household name. Not by a long shot. Then again, neither was YT not so long ago. The consumer-direct sales model is opening the door wide for a whole raft of fledgling bike companies who promise to deliver riders more bang for their buck by taking the middle man out of the equation.
The middle man, for clarity’s sake, is your local bike shop. Whether or not you think taking bike shops out of the equation is actually a good thing is purely a personal call. You can’t exactly stroll on over to Chain Reaction and snag replacement spokes the same day you taco your wheel. It’s hard to place a dollar value on a local institution that will bail you out in a pinch in exchange for a six-pack of beer.
The middle man, for clarity’s sake, is your local bike shop. Whether or not you think taking bike shops out of the equation is actually a good thing is purely a personal call. You can’t exactly stroll on over to Chain Reaction and snag replacement spokes the same day you taco your wheel. It’s hard to place a dollar value on a local institution that will bail you out in a pinch in exchange for a six-pack of beer.
Staran FSM-140 Details
• Intended use: trail
• Rear wheel travel: 140mm
• Fork travel: 140mm
• Wheel size(s): 27.5
• Tire Clearance: 27.5x2.5
• Internal/External dropper post routing
• BB92 press-fit bottom bracket
• Boost 110/148 hub spacing
• Sizes: S / M / L / XL
• 6066 aluminum front and rear triangles
• 28.4-pound/12.9kg complete bike (size Large)
• MSRP: $3,950 CDN
• www.staran-cycles.com
• Intended use: trail
• Rear wheel travel: 140mm
• Fork travel: 140mm
• Wheel size(s): 27.5
• Tire Clearance: 27.5x2.5
• Internal/External dropper post routing
• BB92 press-fit bottom bracket
• Boost 110/148 hub spacing
• Sizes: S / M / L / XL
• 6066 aluminum front and rear triangles
• 28.4-pound/12.9kg complete bike (size Large)
• MSRP: $3,950 CDN
• www.staran-cycles.com
Staran offers the FSM-140, dressed in two build kits. We tested the top-end "Prime" version, which sports a $3,950 CDN price tag. You can get the same frame, kitted out with Staran's "Select" build, which includes X-Fusion suspension, Shimano SLX 1x11 drivetrain and Deore brakes, for $2,900 CDN. Staran also offers the frame and Float X rear shock for $1,500 CDN.
The FSM-140's frame will accommodate many 27.5x2.5 tires. Minion DHF 2.35s come stock, front and rear.
Derailleur housing (not shown here) is routed internally. The rear brake line gets the external treatment.
Frame Design
Another Horst Link bike? Yup. Once Specialized's patent on that design expired, it seemed as if just about every Tom, Dick and Harry began rolling out four-bar, full-suspension bikes with that chainstay pivot. Groundbreaking? Nope. But it is a design that generally delivers. For their part, Staran used the Horst Link design as a platform for a mid-travel, do-it-all trail bike. The FSM-140's chassis is constructed from 6066 aluminum and the tubes are sturdy-looking, hydro-formed specimens. The company claims that a size-Large frame tips the scales to the tune of 6.7 pounds—a respectable weight for an all-aluminum affair.
Whoever welded the frames for Staran did a proper job of things. The welds themselves are nicely executed. What's more, someone clearly paid quite a bit of attention to the little details. The frame features a front-derailleur mount (should you choose to bolt on a front mech) and while the bike comes spec'd with an internally-routed, Crank Brother's Highline dropper post, there's also provisions here to run an externally-routed post. The derailleur lines are cleanly routed through the frame (there's a nice exit port on the bottom of the downtube), but the rear brake line runs on the outside of the frame, which makes brake bleeds and swaps a bit easier. Other details include ISCG-05 tabs, 180-millimeter post mounts, and enough elbow room between the stays to accommodate tires up to 27.5x2.5 inches.
Specifications
| Specifications | ||
| Release Date | 2017 | |
| Price | $3950 | |
| Travel | 140mm | |
| Rear Shock | Fox Factory Float X, LV EVOL | |
| Fork | Fox Factory 34 float, 3 position w/open mode adjus | |
| Headset | FSA No.57 | |
| Cassette | Shimano XT 11-46t | |
| Crankarms | Race Face Turbine Cinch, 34T | |
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano XT 11sp | |
| Chain | FSA Team Issue 11sp | |
| Shifter Pods | Shimano XT 11sp | |
| Handlebar | Race Face Next 35, 20mm rise | |
| Stem | Race Face AEffect 60mm | |
| Grips | Lizard Skins Custom Danny MacAskill (Green) | |
| Brakes | Shimano XT | |
| Wheelset | Stan's Arch MK3 27.5" | |
| Tires | Maxxis Minion DHF 3C/EXO/TR, 27.5" x 2.30" | |
| Seat | Race Face Atlas | |
| Seatpost | Crankbrother Hiline | |
Climbing
The FSM-140 is a competent climber. If your vision of the perfect trail bike is a model that’ll give you a solid leg up on shattering everyone else’s KOM’s, this isn’t your perfect trail bike. It’s not a dog. I’d rank it solidly mid-pack in the climbing department, but it’s not so snappy and efficient that you’ll ever forget that you left the rear shock wide open before the hill reared up and got serious. The FSM-140 doesn’t possess the same kind of anti-squat as, say, a typical VPP or DW-Link style bike. That’s not to suggest that the Staran is a wallowing mess on climbs, but it is more active when you’re pedaling than some other designs (and some other renditions of the Horst Link, for that matter). Fortunately, a mere flick of the compression-damping lever and the bob is quickly tamed.
The FSM-140’s reasonable wheelbase and not—too—slack head angle make quick and easy work of tight-radius climbing turns. I’d prefer a slightly steeper effective seat angle, but on the whole, the geometry is on target for a trail bike that is supposed to be as competent a climber as it is a descender.
Descending
Prior to jumping on the FSM-140, I’d spent a lot of time on lower, longer and slacker bikes. The Staran was a bit of a shock to the system at first. The wheelbase on our size Large model sits at about 46 inches (1168 millimeters), which feels sporty as hell when the trail gets tight.
During moments when the corners seem to flow into one another at a fast and furious rate, the FSM-140 is an absolute cackle-inducing weapon. What’s more, it manages to find that happy place between nimble and confident. The 67-degree head angle, the lack of rear end wiggle, the excellent bump absorption….it all comes together to make a bike that’s stupid-fun on tight, technical singletrack.
When it comes to barrelling down rocky terrain, on the other hand, you quickly realize that the Staran gives something up, in the control department, to more modern bikes with slacker geometry, longer reaches and longer axle-to-axle spreads. Not a huge surprise—you generally gain one thing and give up another when it comes to handling. It is something to consider, though, if you are looking for that “one bike”.
What could be improved? In addition to adding 10 to 15 millimeters of reach, I’d like to see Staran decrease the standover height a bit. Along those lines, our bike came with a 125-millimeter Crank Brothers' Highline dropper post. I’d definitely run a 150-millimeter version. Fortunately, Staran will ship the bike out with a longer dropper if you request it during the ordering process.
Component Check
The Prime build kit is XT heavy and that extends to the stoppers. The bike gets 180mm rotors, front and rear.
A 46-tooth granny gear is as close to Eagle as a Shimano XT 1x11 drivetrain gets.
• RaceFace Atlas Saddle: Saddles are a purely personal thing, so take this with a grain of salt, but I found the RaceFace Atlas model to be a bit of a pain in the ass. Fortunately, seats are a quick and simple upgrade.
• XT Drivetrain: The Staran's Prime build kit is a largely Shimano XT affair (with a RaceFace crank mixed in). Shifting was precise and utterly hassle free. The big jump from 2nd gear to the 46-tooth, 1st gear is a bit awkward, but it's nice to have the bail out gear at your disposal.
• Top-Notch Suspension: Staran went with a no-holds barred approach when it came to the FSM-140's squishy bits. The Fox Factory 34 fork and Float X LV EVOL rear shock are rare finds on a bike at this price.
Staran spared no expense on the bike's suspension. Consider the Fox Factory Float X shock....
and Factory 34 Float fork.
A Screaming Deal?
Staran did a lot of things right with this bike. The frame is well executed and while it's not the kind of bike that bowls you over with its innovative shape and design, it is a bike that performs well out in the wild. Is the Staran a better value than what you can get from the big brands? That is the real question here.
You're buying direct from Staran and that means you don't enjoy the benefit of strolling into your local bike shop and getting their support should a problem arise. Each Staran bike, however, is backed by a 10-year warranty on the frame and hardware, which is a vote of confidence.
But let's get more apples to apples here. At just shy of $4,000 CDN (less than $3,300 USD, at today's exchange rate), the Staran is very well equipped, particularly in the suspension department. Kashima-coated Fox Factory suspension at this price is as common as hen's teeth. At this price, you're generally getting an aluminum frame from Trek, Giant or Specialized decked out in SRAM GX or NX drivetrain and bouncing along on Fox Performance-grade suspension or something along the lines of a RockShox Reba/Monarch RT3 combo. In short, if you're all about brand name recognition, the Staran isn't going to do much for you, but if you are looking for a solid frame with stellar parts, this bike is a pretty damn good deal.
Pinkbike's Take:
 | The classic trail bike is supposed to manage climbs and descents equally well; that's a fair description of the Staran FSM-140. The brand has taken a fairly classic suspension design, wrapped it up in a well-executed aluminum frame, given it a geometry that's neither nervous nor overly-slack, and equipped the bike with a parts kit that doesn't skimp in the least on the most important parts (wheels, suspension, drivetrain or brakes). Is it a screaming value? That's a bit of a judgement call. $4,000 (CDN) isn't cheap, but at this price you're generally looking at an aluminum frame hung with a far less-impressive batch of components. So... Inexpensive? Nope. A good value? Definitely. |
About the Reviewer
Stats: Age: 45 • Height: 5'11” • Inseam: 34" • Weight: 175lb • Industry affiliations / sponsors: None •
In 1988 Vernon started riding mountain bikes—mainly to avoid the people throwing cans of Budweiser at him during his road rides. At some point, roughly when Ronald Reagan was president and Hüsker Dü was still a band, he began loving mountain bikes on their own terms. Vernon Felton spends most of his time riding bikes, thinking about bikes, thinking about riding bikes and then riding some more around Bellingham, Washington. If it has a greasy chain and two wheels on it, he’s cool with it. Except for recumbents. Well, okay, maybe those too. Nah, forget it. No recumbents.
Stats: Age: 45 • Height: 5'11” • Inseam: 34" • Weight: 175lb • Industry affiliations / sponsors: None •
In 1988 Vernon started riding mountain bikes—mainly to avoid the people throwing cans of Budweiser at him during his road rides. At some point, roughly when Ronald Reagan was president and Hüsker Dü was still a band, he began loving mountain bikes on their own terms. Vernon Felton spends most of his time riding bikes, thinking about bikes, thinking about riding bikes and then riding some more around Bellingham, Washington. If it has a greasy chain and two wheels on it, he’s cool with it. Except for recumbents. Well, okay, maybe those too. Nah, forget it. No recumbents.
Author Info:
Member since Apr 11, 2014
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Small shops need to focus on the value they bring to the customer - service, parts, expertise - So they charge you full price on a service if you bring an outside brand into the shop, but dont you expect to pay full price anyway if you want them to stay in business?
I dont want to see the LBS dissapear but all of the ones I see thrive concentrate on some key bike brands that dont sell direct, get a small demo fleet and order on demand putting together nice custom builds, the days of the lazy shop waiting for someone to come in and put a $6k bike on credit card and walk out with it are gone I think but I see some thriving LBS now they are playing to their strengths and picking the correct product (e.g. Transition, Santa Cruz, Orange bikes etc and not direct-sale price shagger brands)
In most areas...repair services are actually what keeps stores afloat...its certainly not the bike/part sales.
While that may be the case, It's all peaches and cream to the Pinkbike experts. They should be able to save money by buying direct and the LBS is evil if they try to make a few bucks on the back end. I get that you guys always want the best deal possible... it's the internet age and todays society is selfish as f**k. However.... if you haven't ever managed or owned a bike shop, please do us all a favor and stop acting like you know how. (the margins on high-end bikes are shit anyway. Most shops make their money on parts, service, and inexpensive entry-level cycles). The overhead of top-tier builds is insane, the ever-changing standards, "geometry crazes", rim widths/diameters, etc.. are all killers to small shops. Kids bikes, comfort bikes, entry-level MTB, and road bikes are the bread and butter of sales. Service and repairs are what keep the lights on.
Nobody would pay that unless they are mentally ill, that's over £80 per hour assuming a 3hr job (which would be far more than a basic service)
At least then I know it's done correctly too. My LBS has effed something as simple as a bearing race on my crown. Wtf?! Come in guys.
I have a friend out of state that says LBS's don't make crap in new bikes anyhow, it's mostly aftermarket parts and services.
Or maybe it's just me?! I dunno.
New bikes and coffee, yesssss!
Here, you save $1000? Different order of magnitude. If I save the big bucks I'm still in the green after riding kit and service.
For $800, I hope you got all the bells and whistles!
We send my gf's f/r suspension out to Vorsprung for complete maintenance and custom tune and fancy air can, and I think it was under $700, with tax, and shipping to and from.
A fork service at Mojo is £120 or less than $200 CAD, thats a full tear down inc seals and upgrade to 2017 tune - What did you spend 4 times this amount achieving, even if you had a rear shock too I wouldnt expect more than $400 CAD unless you had half of the thing replaced as it was all broken.
And somehow you think $130 for a reverb service is too much but suspension at $800 is OK?
If this is the going rate in Canda (I am not from Canada dispite the flag) then you guys are getting turned over, if I had to pay that kind of money to get my kit worked on (Most I do myself) I couldnt afford to keep riding, full stop. A basic service and some suspension work $1200CAD? Maybe I am just jealous because I am not as rich as you guys.......
I am involved in the industry, all be it at a distance from the shops but to head people are paying so much to maintain bikes almost isnt 'fair'.
A 'standard' service on that, e.g. new gear cables, setup, bleed brakes (if required as that wont be inc a basic service) check / change pads etc is a 2 hr job, max. I just cant believe you have been charged the equivalent of £250 for this kind of work.
A standard service at my LBS is £50 - A full 'master' service (checking online) is £100 - that includes hub servicing, headset bearing removal - full strip of bike to bare frame for cleaning / inspection etc, cables etc
A TF suspension service on your forks is £99, the shock £100
This brings your total to £250.00 if you have just the basic service or about the same as you paid for a basic service alone.
Those prices really do make me cringe, they are almost offensive and can in no way be justified unless you are being economical with the facts and the prices included new cartridges for fork and shock / heavty tuning or lots of new parts were fitted during the service.
JHN might be good, but check out Vorsprung next time.
I'm done with bike shops.
Were they STILL an official Giant dealer at the time they sold it ? Lots of stores lose accounts and then lose the ability to source spares from those brands. Meanwhile they might still have inventory from that brand in stock for which they still need to sell.
Same thing applies to every other bike shop I've visited since, they never refused to do anything for me, as long as they had the parts and tools to service my often relatively exotic components.
- Pure speculation though - its likely because they couldnt be arsed as there was only a few $ profit in a hanger, not great service from the shop and an attitude like that will only push people away as whats the point, especially after you had purchased an expensive bike from them.
This is where shops should shine, they should stock spare hangers for the bikes they stock and make this fact well known, a full stock of hangers for a small shop would be less than a few hundred dollars and could make for a lot of happy return customers.
And given how cheap XT is at OEM levels (they probably paid 100$ for the drivetrain and the brakes, if that) they are still making a healthy margin on this.
...
"We tested the top-end "Prime" version"
Agreed, it would be good to know whether it's the frame or the kit attached to it that makes or breaks a bike.
Outside of the US, this is extremely common practice and you're going to see more shops get out of the Sales game altogether, especially with the likes of Canyon coming into the US.
I'm not saying a person should give their business to a LBS for it merely existing, but f*ck them for trying to trying to keep the lights on, amirite? If you're outraged over having to spend $8/tube instead of $6 at the department store then you're a cheap ass who needs to find a new hobby.
There is a balance point in all of this though. No one likes getting gouged, no matter what the product is. In the US at lest, income has stayed relatively flat since the 70s (adjusted for inflation). However, the price of consumer goods has skyrocketed. So, every penny counts and its up to the consumer to decide how to spend their hard earned dollars.
For me, its a matter of convenience and value. I buy tubes and gloves, etc. at the LBS around the corner from work. Pricing is about the same as online and it is a good excuse to go somewhere at lunch. I bought new tires on Amazon recently, though. Why? Because paying $80 for a tire made in china for $1 is BS. The mark up on accessories is huge in shops, 100% or more (don't even try to deny it). I get that they need to stay in business, but do we as the consumer deserve to get F*&^ked this way? In that scenario, the shop gets nothing instead of a smaller profit. Doesn't seem to helpful to their bottom line, does it?
I doubt I'll ever buy consumer direct because I like being on hand to look at something like a bike. The shop will get my money then.
The myth here is that someone is 'getting gouged', lol. You are a fool if you think a bike shop is getting 100% markup on accessories... I've worked in 3 shops in 3 different time zones, NONE of them are getting anywhere close to that on the vast majority of product. Tubes are the *single* exception, usually costing ~$2-3 each, and being sold for ~$6-10. Again, I will reiterate...if a person is bent out of shape over a few bucks on a tube, they are a tightass. Maybe if you go through 100 tubes a year you might have a case to gripe.. so no, I don't have to 'try to deny it', I have worked there, I can speak as a matter of fact.
Once you consider the fact that companies like Shimano often allow their products to be sold by online retailers at *below dealer cost*, it only adds to the false idea that your LBS is screwing you on price. If I saw that I could buy the Shimano brakes online for $88 and my LBS wanted to charge me $150, I'd scratch my head too. But those same brakes from QBP? $96 dealer cost. We would often give a discount down to $125 just for the sake of trying to keep a customer, but shit... that is cutting the shop's margin in half. Take any small business and cut their margins in half...and you'll see most of them disappear. "But but.. it's 35% cheaper online" I get it, I have to count my pennies too. However, I also realize that Chain Reaction buys those brakes 1000 at a time, and my LBS does not have that luxury. As you mention, it always comes down to balance.
I often wonder when we'll just do everything online.. need accounting? It's cheaper online. Doctor? Turn on your webcam and cough, because it's cheaper online. Want your house painted? Amazon will send drones to do it. But when any of that turns out to be sub par, you can write an angry email to a robot on the other end, and Globocorp™ will be sure to not give a f*ck because they have 10 million other people in line right behind you, ready to pay the cheapest price for the shiny new thing. If you don't think that line of thinking is being programmed into us these days, I don't know that anything I say is going to change anybody's mind. I'm not asking for anyone to give charity to their LBS, but I'm asking you to support your local scene, and look at what other intrinsic value a good bike shop might add to your area, and decide if that is worth paying a few more bucks a couple times a year for. For me? Definitely still worth it.
The funny thing about Walmart and Costco is that because of their buying power... they actually CAN get better quality bikes than just the low end stuff people typically think of them carrying. Some stores do stock them. Most can be ordered via their customer websites. Especially good if you're capable of doing your own assembly/maintenance, and know how to use the google and email to find spares/info/reviews/etc.
Take for example... at Walmart USA....
For $1699 USD there's this rather nice Steppenwolf (german brand) Tycoon AM70 26er full suspension available in medium and large sizes....
www.walmart.com/ip/Steppenwolf-Tycoon-AM70-26-M-18-5-Full-Suspension-All-Mountain-Bike-3x10s-NEW/859854947
You get an aluminum 4-bar horst link frame with 150mm front and back travel, Fox Fork and Shock, Avid Trail 9 brakes, FSA Cranks, BB and HS, 3x10 gearing, Schwalbe tires, DT 1700 Spline wheelset, Raceface stem & handlebars, Rockshox Reverb Stealth post, Shimano XT shifters/derailleurs/cassette/chain, 29.74 pounds without pedals.
And at Costco Canada, we have this Mongoose TYAX Super 27.5+ hardtail for $680 CAD...
www.costco.ca/Mongoose-Men%e2%80%99s-TYAX-SUPA-SPORT-Hardtail-Bike.product.100339659.html
2x8 Speed shimano Acera, aluminum hardtail, WTB Trailblazer 2.8 tires, Zoom suspension fork (roughly equal to a Suntour XCT or Rockshox XC30), Boost 110/141 QR spacing hubs, Alex 40mm tubeless ready rims, Prowheel 24/36 crankset is actually a 9/10 speed compatible mode, so change the cassette/chain/rear shifter/derailleur if you want to go with more or wider gearing. The frame has a tapered head tube, so you could easily find a take-off Suntour Raidon 27.5+ fork, and some wider/higher model tires, and upgrade the drivetrain and poof....under $1000 CAD a very trail capable hardtail.
Either example, if you're in the market for that sort of bike...there are certainly better deals available shopping online than are typical in an LBS.
Thanks
And he needs a staran jersey...
OK unfortunately I don't read many reviews here...
they're always so awesome to me, and my builds and wheel builds are always spot on, every single time. i've never seen them look off-put because Commencal was clearing out last year's frames for 60% and i show up with one, or when i found my Float 40's almost brand new for half price cause dude was having some kinda family crisis and needed cash... how can they be mad at that? that's insane. this way, i get the exact frame/color i want, the exact suspension i want, exact wheels/colors, cables, grips, seat, hubs, brakes, etc... everything. there's always something i don't like about kit bikes, no matter how expensive or cool they are that i'd want to change or customize... why not just do it myself and get it exactly how i want the first time? as far as i know, the dudes love me. any shop that turns their nose at service money doesn't deserve to stick around. that's the most insane concept to me.
130/120 29er.
Hold the pressfit BB.
Perfect Ontario trail bike.
Interesting thing about the bike shop comments is that they are on display at Gears in Oakville. So while not widely distributed they are available at bike shops. Not sure if the pricing is different in store vs online.
Just because a bike was purchased "Direct to Consumer" doesn't mean it wont need servicing, spares, parts, upgrades, components, tyres etc. Adapt or die...thats what the bike brands are doing. Hell, that's what the business world in general is doing.
nice to see Shimano parts specd on a bike.
Ok your LBS lost out on a bike sale but dont forget to support your LBS when you upgrade parts (like perhaps a 180fox 36 up front)
whats the warranty on the frame?
how are warranties handled???
Offshore. Hardly anybody actually welds frames in Canada. Devinci MIGHT still on some, Rocky doesn't. Norco doesn't.
cheers!
Get rid of the bent seat tube. Make it straight like a knolly so that it joins the down tube ahead of the BB. That way there is nothing hindering seat post insertion.
As is it, the neighbour keeps hitting his handlebar ends on the trees going thru the trail I made that's in the forest behind what will soon be DND's new HQ. I run my bars at typically 685mm maximum width...because of how tight a lot of local singletrack is. The 780mm width bar on the Staran...whacking the trees all the time.
CAD maybe?
www.xe.com/currency/cad-canadian-dollar
And besides, just get a f*cking threaded pressfit from Wheels manufacturing and for the rest of the bikes life you just have to replace 12 dollar bearings which in the long run is cheaper than replacing external threaded bottom brackets anyways.
This whole hate for pressfit is f*cking goofy. I have had the same wheels mfg pressfit on 4 bikes now, has never creaked.
I replaced mine at a cost of about $160.
My girlfriend also needed her threaded sram gxp BB replaced. I think it coat $16.
It would be cheaper for the customer to pay the extra bit and get a threaded shell, than have to replace the BB with something like wheels mfg or hope.
I'll never buy another bike with pressfit BB.
It did. Open the right manufacturer website and you'll find the frame. The only difference the staran got is the extra brace in the seat stay of the swingarm. This brand goes nicely with that article & video Pinkbike did last month about "starting your own bike brand". I did tell the neighbour about that Wheels Mfg. bottom bracket. I was just talking to them a few mins ago. Apparently the Crank Brothers dropper post they got with the staran has already failed (under a 110 pound teenager). That's not staran's fault per say... other than offering it as an option...given how bad Crank Bros posts are for reliability. You'd think after the Kronolog fiasco they'd have gotten the highline right...but well... apparently not. Meanwhile the Specialized re-labeled Tranz-X post on my Fuse has been going fine for 3 seasons now.
DNM also has some nice dropper posts, which while heavier than claimed (because the claim is based off the 27.2 size) for most buyers, are at least reliable and easily setup.
I got this one...
www.ebay.ca/itm/DNM-HQS-R-Pro-MTB-Bike-Dropper-Seatpost-Remote-Lockout-31-6x330mm-110mm-Travel/272799163645?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
delivered in 4 days... from china...the seller is a drop shipper type... item says "located in the usa" but it actually isn't. But it came via DHL and was declared as $5 so there was no customs charge or brokerage fees. I ordered it on the 7th and it arrived this afternoon and I've already installed it.
DNM offers internal routing posts also. Look for the SDS model. I got one for my Fuse but it was only 20 grams lighter than the tranz-x so I decided not to install it and keep it as a spare instead.
www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=&LH_PrefLoc=2&_ftrt=901&_sop=1&_adv=1&_armrs=1&_dmd=1&_pcats=888&_osacat=7294&_ipg=50&LH_SALE_CURRENCY=0&_ftrv=1&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.XDNM+SDS.TRS0&_nkw=DNM+SDS&_sacat=7294
It appears they have a wireless dropper post on/coming to the market? Review PB?
only in north America.
Same goes with the middle man thing. Back in the day you met a builder, he welded your frame, assembled it and off you went. Then of course industrialization meant mass production factories which in turn implied sales and production were split. Smaller builders went bankrupt (or only did repair and maintenance), the bigger ones produced so much (eventually abroad) that they sales became a complete different business done by other shops. But that's not the original model and that still is not the way it happened everywhere. Even I had a side job in a shop which also welded (race and trekking) frames to order. We didn't cut out the middle man. We were the middle man, just cut out the first man
Now with the internet, things have come full circle. Customers and brands/builders can communicate directly again. In a way it is new but mostly it is just how it was originally. If bikeshops thinks this hurts them, they simply have missed the decades of opportunity to reinvent themselves. The shop I worked (and also many other shops I know) give buyers a premium treatment. If possible, your stuff gets fixed same or otherwise next day. If stuff goes out for service, you can borrow a component to keep you going. We even offered the option to waive all this service and receive a discount on your purchase that would put it on par with online shops.