Adjustable Seatpost Longterm Durability Results

After one month of waiting for my KS i7 repair, I was mailed a brand new KS supernatural. Thought I had really lucked out. Tried it out in Sedona and the darn thing sticks intermittently when I want to raise the seat. So back to the shop it goes. I think KS has big time quality control problems.

 

The new specialized command posts look pretty bulletproof--saw one on a stumpy at The Path. Looks like they've learned a lot and have dealt with what design flaws there were. Mostly that's the way the cable fed into the seatpost and the remote lever design, as well as the seat clamp bolt design.

 

I really want an adjustable post, but hesitate to add something to my bike that will reduce its reliability. I don't understand why companies that make forks and other components that work reliably for years can't come up with posts that can be trusted. Until they do, I'm having a hard time justifying spending a few hundred bucks on one.

 

I ran an AMP for years. Finally gave out after 4 years. I've been on a Spec'y Command post for the last year without issues.
Think about your fork and shock, they have the benefit of linkages and of being isolated from the direct force of your weight. An adjustable seatpost has to go up and down on command, underneath your fat or not so fat ass. It also has to deal with semi-vertical loads, from your ass and the trail, hitting it at all sorts of angles. Then try to fit all that into a tube that is at least 27.2mm d and at most 31.4mm. If you have a better idea...
I'm pretty sure that some of the best engineers and riders are working on the problem-as they have with many other suspension problems.

 

I am praying to the seatpost dropper Gods that my Rock Shox Reverb continues to work as perfectly as it has been. It's so dreamy compared to my Command Post. My Command Post works fine, by the way. It's just nowhere near as smooth and awesomely amazing as my Reverb.




*runs and knocks on wood*

 

My first KS i950 has had no issues, my new super natural is sagging already. It was purchased in June but unused from end of July through beginning of Dec. I am trying to find a temp post to use while I send the post in.

 

I totally get all of that, and you make a great point about the confined space in a post. I'll also add that these are relatively new products that will undoubtedly improve over time. As for the forces at play, I can't imagine they are any worse for posts than for forks, considering the stresses on a fork when it is steering, braking, and reacting to terrain - sometimes all at once. And forks are complex, often adjustable in many ways including ride height, and are expected to keep working through hundreds of thousands of cycles - far more than any seatpost is likely to see. Granted, the post has my body weight to contend with, but in most of the situations that put the highest stress on equipment, like fast G-outs or steep descents, the rider's weight is off the seatpost and driving directly into the pedals and/or the front of the bike.

Anyway, I just don't get why this should be such a common design/construction/quality control problem. I could understand if one brand had an issue, or a first generation of a given product was bad, but it seems bizarre that these things still seem so universally unreliable.

 

Gravity Dropper here. Ugly but good.

 

Yea about those Gravity Droppers, I've seen how they work, what exactly is there to go wrong? Theres a tube inside of a tube and a spring...

 

ask turnerob about his experience with ks posts. #-o

 

Yeah, you would think that it would be a simple solution but...what about square sliders to reduce rotation? roller bearings for stiction? or even conical bearings? ouch-the price of those! So far, for my pruposes the Specialized Command post and Blacklite have met my needs. Yes, the Reverb has a buttery smooth action but I prefer the preset 30mm and 100mm detents. Infinite is not something I want to play with while I'm on the trail.
When the post is spec'ed on an OEM bike you know it has arrived and it will become commonplace in the future.

 

That's an interesting point. I suspect that a company like Specialized will always prefer to sell theirs as an aftermarket add-on, but some others might use an adjustable post as a value-added bonus. But yeah, it would be a nice vote of confidence to see some manufacturers show enough trust in them to make them an OEM item.

 

Spec'y sells theirs OEM on EVO and S-Works models. I dont know of any other manufacturers offering a drop post but I may be wrong.

 

i wonder if they'll suck as bad as most oem forks do.

 

giant makes one

 

my reverb always gets stuck in the Down position... Does in need to be bled? Or lubed?

 

Focus bikes sell their AM bikes with KS posts included

 

Kyle, I think a lot of the post's problems can be fixed with a bleed. Luckily I haven't had to do any maintenance on mine yet. *runs and knocks on wood. again.*

 

keep knocking on wood, i had to bleed mine every couple rides...i hope the 2012 is better

 

According to my LBS they have seen a big decline in problems with the newest model. Which is thankfully the one that I have.