Suspension Seat Post for MTB? Does this make it Dual Suspension? What are Suspension Posts good for?
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- Опубліковано 3 січ 2025
- Suspension Seat Posts have their place. They can make for a smoother ride and are commonly seen on cruiser bikes and eBikes. What if one is added to a hardtail mountain bike? Does that turn the bike into a full suspension monster?
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I've had a suspension seat post on my mountain bike for over ten years and the only way I'd take it off is to put on a new one. And as I get older the more my back appreciates it. It requires much less care than a full sus bike too.
😂
There's uses for suspension seat posts, depending on the type of riding. But for XC or gravel riding on a hardtail, I could see someone preferring to go easy on their back rather than getting the exact correct pedaling geometry. Also, if someone has a problem with my seatpost or the colors on my bike, then that just tells me they're probably not a person I want to hang out with.
That last statement is why I put pink pedals, valve caps and handlebar grips on my bike. It's blue + black + pink which I think looks alright, but it also fences off homophobes.
I'm 100% straight but I prefer my friends to be morally righteous instead of pretentious and judgmental.
The PNW Coast dropper is the best of both, dropper and suspension. Less plush, so only takes the big hits, but it lets you keep your saddle ight correct while seated.
I installed that on my wife's hardtail. Works pretty well! 👍
As a heavier rider (still below the weight limit) I found that the suspension would not return after big bumps with the Coast.
Yep I added the Coast to my XC hardtail last year... LOVE IT!
I was going to post the same thing. PNW for the win
@@thestinkywhistler Me too. A little more air and a tap down to get it to go up is what I do.
I asked to do this years ago at my local shop and they looked at me like I was an alien. Judged so hard, don’t understand why more people don’t do this
I’m a mechanic at a bike shop and I recommend these all the time 😊🤙🏼❤️
I hear you Tony, I also thought "why don't bike have suspension seat posts?!?" Years ago, I'm getting one for sure to put on my 'soon to be electric' mountain bike once I've got the kit and done it all
@@firefly135iThey're a fantastic idea and I'm getting one for my soon to be electric converted bike, and a really comfortable saddle, a pump up one if I can find one hopefully
Suspension seat posts are actually very common on gravel bikes. Just enough suspension to take smooth out some small bumps you are likely to encounter on gravel roads.
Nice that's what I want for my trek marlin
Now all that is left is handlebar suspension
@@TomerBenDavid They have suspension stems which basically accomplish this.
The combo of plus size tires with the suspension dropper, it really smooths out the trails but nothing takes the place of FS.
Nothing's wrong with suspension seat posts, they're especially popular for touring
It's suspension for your butt, but not for your legs and wheel - almost completely for comfort
You can get suspension dropper posts by proper brands too!
No, they are bad for you. They are hard on the knees and hips. DON'T USE THEM. Seat height is important. A properly adjusted seat is the difference between knee pain, hip pain and comfort. To have the seat going up and down as you are pedaling is bad.
@@tarstarkusz They will compress. Hip rotation is usually an issue with the saddle being too high so this wouldn't affect it. The knees it might affect if you're constantly pushing hard through rough terrain but most people don't. Also should note that you'll only be getting the full stoke on very hard hits which mean no pedaling. There is also the different style of suspension seats which pivot back to counteract this a bit since the stroke distance remains static and only extends the knee angle a couple degrees which won't affect the geometry significantly.
@@tarstarkuszAlso don't forget it saves your back, which I'd argue is more important than knees.
However you can adjust them to reduce vibrations while also reducing travel, so it might be possible to overall improve the situation.
@@n01928 The saddle being too low will hurt your knees.
If you really need more comfort, I would say to buy a suspension bike. While a suspension is not designed primarily for comfort, they do soften the ride. Since nearly all bicycles come with a suspension fork, that alone will help.
@@Commander_ZiN Personally I think ride position helps more with back problems. A hybrid keeps you in a pretty upright position without being too upright like a cruiser. I've been riding a hybrid for well over 20 years. Riding a steel bike helps too. In any event, I find front end vibrations, especially with a straight or aluminum fork without a suspension, far worse than seat vibrations in the back. When I see a bump, I always lift my weight off the seat anyway.
I put the PNW Coast dropper on my MTB - it's a dropper, but also has suspension. I like it!
2:30 Alright, whoever is confused about this being a suspension simply does not understand what the purpose of a suspension is.
A suspension system is designed with ONE purpose in mind and that is to keep the wheels in contact with the ground. That is what a suspension does. It is not for comfort. It is not for relieving you of the bumps and jolts of riding on an uneven surface. They tend to do that, but as a side effect and NOT the main purpose.
The way they work, mostly, is when the vehicle comes into a force which knocks the mass upwards, the downward force of the suspension (usually a spring) keeps the wheel firmly planted on the ground. They have dampening (the shock part) to limit the action of the spring.
@@KO-sx9uy A seat-post "suspension" would do no such thing.
@@KO-sx9uy That could be because you are more comfortable. The whole bike is "un-sprung" (you and the seat are the only sprung thing on the bike).
To the extent that there might be some slight advantage, the downsides make it not worth it.
The springs are at the wheels because that is what the spring is acting on (the wheel).
As always, your posts are entertaining and informative.
Thanks for taking the time to share your messing around with bikes.
I'm in agreement with most, if not all, of your views on what and how you do "the bike thing".
It's not often you hear a chuckle right after a fall. Glad you didn't get hurt. Great video. I'm glad you pointed out the major downside of these things.
It does NOT make it a full suspension. You need suspension most when descending and when you descend you stand.
On a singletrack, yeah. On doubletrack and touring this is ideal since when going up you have little bumps (low speed), and when going down staying seated in moderately bumpy terrain is great for maintaining a low center of gravity. It’s pretty comfy and useful honestly
Technically is DOES make it full suspension if you cant afford a new frame its the best way to get close. The OP was right about the feet though, but if your not planning on going Xgames mode, thia will work great.
I have the same Zoom suspension seat post, even with the exact same color. Yeah, it definitely brings some comfort but not enough. I am going for a double spring loaded seat for more comfortable ride along with this seat post.
Suspension posts were actually very common in MTB during the 90's; had one on my hardtail. Most popular ones were Cane Creek Thudbuster, USE XCR, even RockShox made a suspension post! I believe they largely fell out of favor because tires got bigger, weight, and they really didn't do too much for technical riding. I'm surprised they have not made a comeback on gravel bikes.
I had a thudbuster for a short bit. I actually loved it but I was a weight weenie at the time so I didnt keep it
They do not serve a similar purpose. It's like the difference between an air-seat in a truck and the truck's suspension.
Largely they fell out of use because they add weight and add nothing and in many cases, cause problems, especially with the knees. Every time it compresses, it is shortening the distance between the seat and the pedals. Every time it extends, it is lengthening the distance. Too far, hip pain. Too close, knee pain. Proper distance, comfort.
@@tarstarkusz Not sure who you are responding to? No one here has said a suspension post replaces or equals full suspension. Suspension posts offer some level of comfort and reduce fatigue, which is why they were, and still are, used.
The knee pain argument is mostly a myth. The reality is a rider is not under full compression most of the time, they are going to be at some midpoint of sag, which is what their leg extension is set to. In any extreme situation they are out of the saddle, anyway. Mountain biking is incredibly dynamic, in and out of the saddle, pedaling at different extensions. Suspension posts existed in World Cup races just like dropper posts now exist in the World Cup, where top racers momentarily pedal with their seat down. Let's not forget ERT suspension designs which also effected saddle heights and were used for years, even at top levels.
@@cup_and_cone They are completely useless on a mountain bike. I am talking about on a regular bike, possibly in gravel or other not paved, but not a mountain bike trail. Maybe even the kind of trail Kevin rides which is more off-road than mountain bike.
No, it's not a myth. Bouncing up and down, especially on a rougher road while pedallng with one of these things is bad for both the knees and hips.
I still ride my hardtail with a USE XCR seatpost. Still going strong after 20+ years (the seatpost that is, me, not as much)
I used to have suspension seatposts on my hardtails in the late 90's to early 00's. It's pretty good for hard packs and mildly rough roads which really helps in schock absorption even though most of the seatposts that I used only had about 25-30mm of travel.
I think that this might be good for an old guy like me riding a green trail, but for a more aggressive trail I would probably rather have a full suspension….great video Kev!
I use the PNW Coast on my hardtail. It’s a suspension dropper post. I love it for riding around town and on easy trails. If things get bumpy, it’s a dropper post. It gets out of the way really easy!
Same, great unit.
I wasn't aware there was a suspension drop post. I have the same exact post Kev features in this video and I've been thinking of a dropper lately bc I ride with my seat high (I ride the same exact Schwinn that's featured here as well) and it's a pain getting in and off, especially when I have a load on my rear rack, and have to kick my leg way high. Well, problem with that is at 44 years old, I'm no spring chicken anymore and not as limber as I once was. I feel a dropper post would alleviate the literal pains of mounting and dismounting so I'll be looking for this suspension dropper.
I also have a PNW Coast suspension/dropper. Love it. Money well spent.
When you sit on a suspension seat post like this one, it messes up with your proper knee extension unless you adjust it so stiffly, that you won't really notice any diff when riding. I see a lot of improper knee extensions when it comes to e bikes.
With pas it’s not that imperative to have proper extension as there is so little force being applied to the pedals, but in a MTB - as I mentioned - it could create issues
I had full reconstruction knee surgery in '87 and don't get full range of deflection from my left knee. I have to have a certain distance from the pedals or it's big trouble for me.
@@KevCentral But is it the pressure you pedal with or the mere fact that you are bending your knees repeatedly as you pedal ?
I'm in no shape or form a bone and joint specialist, but we move our knees in all kinds of directions repeatedly everyday. I don't know that on a healthy person there is enough stress on an eBike with PAS to cause issue so long as the angles aren't obnoxious like a seat completely slammed for a tall person or constantly snapping to full extension for a shorter person.
@@KevCentral Kev I have seen review videos on some channels where the rider has the seat so low that the knees come up way high, can't be any good on your knees no matter how young you are. You should not be able to stand while on the saddle with both feet flat on the ground.
What if you add a suspension seatpost to a dual suspension mtb? Would that make it a triple suspension bike? lol
I do remember mtbikers back in the 90's on their 26ers with suspension seatposts. I don't think it's weird. I added a PNW suspension dropper post to my wife's Diamondback Lux 2. It adds a little bit of shock absorption.
I feel like for the price, I would have spent a little bit more to get the Tannus Tubeless Armor on the rear of a hardtail to soften the bumps among other benefits.
I put these on all of my bikes. Makes a huge difference on the trail for the small bumps and roots especially. Bikes are Trek excaliber 4, Giant tempt liv and womens schwinn al comp . Me, Wife and Daughter...ride on...
I have one on my high end Klein Adroit from the 90’s that was made by Rock Shox that is still going strong….not too many could afford it when they first came out and I was one that couldn’t put one on my GT Avalanche 1.0 back then. I semi inherited this Klein after the original owner passed away. The person who initially inherited the bike didn’t know what to do with it so I bought it from him. I love the suspension seat post and I have no issue with anyone over it and most are impressed that it even still works.
There is nothing wrong with this, the more comfortable you are the better
I used one on my training road bike CADD9 it helps with comfort on long rides. I plan on using one on my hard tail MTB
hey Kev, how long does it take to bed in cable disk brakes like om the "ladies" Al Comp?
10 good stops is all it usually takes to be fully bed, in my experience
i rode 34 miles the other day on a new bike that does not have a suspension post, wow, my butt hurts. ordered a suspension post the next morning, priceless for even on regular trails. highly recommend.
Have you tried a PNW Coast, dropper and suspension in one, plus adjustable so might reduce the bobb side effect?
A buddy had one. Eventually swapped to a standard dropper
I've bought and still have the Mongoose A series mountain bike a50r from the 1990's it's got front suspension and I wanted to do hardtail because when your power pumping you don't lose motivation in frame flex with the rear suspension. This same bike came with with a factory suspension seatpost and let me tell you its amazing, it doesn't travel like you might think it would but only enough to do its job but never an issue with changing the seat height variance to the crank.
I've also got the Mongoose D70r newer model with no suspension seat post but it's got full dampening suspension on the rear. Flexible rear suspension helps considerably going downhill Xtreme trails but on more flat ground it seemed a little more flexible than I liked that's why I went with the hardtail as well for your average off-road traveling.
I got a question, on the Schwinn boundary can you upgrade to front sprocket because it looks like if you go up in size it will hit the frame
Are you asking about going up in tooth size for the chainring? If so, what size are you asking about?
@@KevCentral yes I wanted to go up but it looks like the sprocket will hit the back frame
0:35 Kev: “...and basically the only thing left is the factory frame...”
Well, I just had to see if that was true, so I did a quick once over of Project Comp V2, so I scoured it! Apparently, you did miss a couple of things, the disk rotors still show the telltale Schwinn logo, so those are still stock, and the derailleur hanger is stock too, as far as I know. I’m a big fan of the channel, so I’m not trying to pick you to pieces or hate, but I just had to check, ya know! I was going to say that then headset and BB bearings are stock, but I’m almost positive you replaced the BB bearings, and I think you used a Jessica branded headset for the tapered X-Fusion fork?
Nice video, I agree, a suspension seat post does not make a hard tail “full suspension”. The “dual suspension” thing is a stretch, and it’s misleading, I can see some companies using that to their advantage. As you said, a suspension seat post and a proper rear suspension setup are COMPLETELY different. I wouldn’t run a suspension seat post on my hard tail, as I don’t ride rough stuff, and I don’t need extra weight or complexity, and plus it probably wouldn’t work super well for me (I probably wouldn’t have enough Nass to really use it’s full potential).
6:28 That shot man...I’m not even going to ask how you got that angle! The things YTers do for their viewers...🤣🤣
Good spotting. I forgot the rotors. Headset is Funn
@@KevCentral Thanks Kev! Oh, right, I forgot! :)
I bought this exact zoom seat post a few weeks ago and ended up returning it. It didn't provide any kind of cushioning. I backed the tension screw out as much as I could and it still didn't do anything. I'm 6'2 and 175lbs, I think these posts are meant for people that are 200lbs+ because I wasn't getting any movement out of it. I am looking into maybe getting a suspension seat post that actually has articulating arms on it, but I'm still not really sure because every one I look at there's reviews saying it doesn't work.
Interesting. I’m 174lbs and I have plenty of cushioning with it - as seen in the video
@@KevCentral at 140 I notice it plenty; I mean sometimes I forget it's there and it's not a game changer or anything but I notice it enough to know that it I switched back I would instantly feel more bumps. It's saved me a couple times on large bumps that I didn't see honestly.
@@KevCentral I must of got a dud
The suspension pole must go down 25% when seated, anymore than that, it will bottom out more easily
This started way back, I've seen a few 2000s late 90s bikes with suspension seat post.
I'm 50 years old, my body has some wear and tear, hitting a bump the wrong way can send a jolt of discomfort or pain through both my left wrist and/or my hips. I thoroughly appreciate my suspension seat post as you won't hear me cursing anymore when I hit a bad bump.
Definitely buying one because of this video, I'm not really a hardcore mountain biker, I just love cruising around the city in a mtb.
I use a Cirrus Body Float suspension seatpost and Cloud 9 suspension saddle on an electric fatbike so I can ride fire roads.
20 yrs ago I had the rockshox suspension post for Cannondale f800 and it was supposed to be the bomb at the time and honestly it worked great.
I think riding down a trail without pedaling at the end of your ride or even to rest the legs while at the trail and on the road as long as you limit the pedaling as much as possible to save your knees they are a great way to help your hips and back ease the pain of bumps on the road. I'm actually shopping for one as we speak because I have a hardtail and my bottom hurts after 30 minutes of riding a suspension seat post would allow me to enjoy the ride and I'm sure to go even longer since it won't be painful anymore. Nice looking bike breh like the colors! Great video thanks!
imagine a dual suspension fat tire bike with suspension seatpost and suspension stem. quad fat suspension. my pnw coast is on a hardtail ebike it's awesome!
I don't really ride trails any more so may I be forgiven for breaking this taboo years ago? I must confess that my old MTB is now a converted e-bike. Pre E conversion and age I could see using a suspension post on trails since I was always standing on the pedals, either pumping up hills or flying downhill. The suspension seatpost might be of use if you want to sit while coasting but otherwise I'd think it's not a pro or con on trails.
I prefer the suspension posts that arc back rather than piston up & down. I don't know if that makes a difference to trail riding but it's way more natural feeling in other riding.
I use a PNW Coast dropper post with 40mm of suspension on my Hardtail trail bike and Gravel Hardtail and it is so nice. I steered away from suspension seatposts cause when I was super heavy it couldn’t support my weight but with the air sprung suspension it’s stiff when I need and compliant when it gets rough.
Plus I still get a dropper 😬
I think having a variable leg extension length sometimes during your ride is good. It would theoretically help prevent overuse injuries. It’s not going to happen throughout the entire ride, since the majority of the time people peddle standing through bigger bumps. For example, when trail running, your stride height and length will almost never be the same, and I think we can all agree that is better than flat pavement running.
You have to color coordinate components.
With things as they are, I'm (6'1", 230) interested in a large vs. medium size frame full suspension bike that might be available for order from a big box store. Have the optional idea of being able to convert to a mid-drive electric with some other mainly comfort mods. Want to try to minimize jolting, jarring, bumpy rides.
I'm 5'-11" (250 lbs) and I absolutely love the Mongoose Ledge X1. Because you're a little taller you may like the Ledge X2 instead. After building up a Mongoose XR-PRO I learned I do not like 29ers and I love a longer reach.
I converted my mtb into a mid drive with a 48v Tongsheng TSDZ2. I highly recommend it over the BAFANG for it's torque sensing. It has a more natural pedaling feel to it.
I installed my battery under the downtube using carbon steel rivnuts.
I even ran the electrical wires internally using the bike's internal cable routing. Because of the head angle, the front tire will never hit the battery. Not sure about the clearance for 29" tires though.
I can't recommend the Ledge enough.
Every time I ride a HT at local trails with tons of roots and rocks, I swear I am going to get a suspension seat post...then, I remember the additional weight it comes with it.
To me, this would seem to make most sense for someone heavy who rides trails, and who also uses the bike to get to the trails, using roads.
I have a multi link suspension seatpost I never use. The good ones have vertical and horizontal travel. Stopped using it when I got a full suspension frame for my ebike
I like a hardtail for bike packing. Doing rail to trails 3 day.. I use the Suntour NX suspension seat post.
I have done it and It made the bike more comfortable and I still have the climb benefits of a hardtail. The key is adjusting the preload on the post.
It's a stealthy mod. If you're afraid of being judged, simply don't tell anyone. It will never cross their mind to check, because they don't expect to see one. And you can ride with a little extra comfort. If you sometimes do longer rides on that same MTB, and not just a 10 minute challenge trail and then sit down for 3 hours of beer, it'll help you not feel so sore.
Can you remember the suspension stems from around 1992 ~ 1995ish
I have suspension seat post and they make a bike ride more comfortable
What bike do you use it on?
If you haven't tried it already, the Cane Creek Thudbuster is a suspension seatpost with a parallelogram linkage that feels much smoother than the telescoping type. If you are interested, you can message me and I'll mail mine out to you to try it out.
Still have one of these from the 90s rockshox makes one of these I put on my specialized chisel hardtail for a gravel event
I used a suspension seatpost from Rokshox on my hardtail back in the late nineties or early two thousands. I can’t remember.
The whole thing about bright colors and noobs is ridiculous. So many bell ends got into MTB the last two years.
Each to their own, and that goes for suspension seat posts.
They seem great for hardtail ebikes! MTB people probably want a dropper though.
Awesome video Kev! That seat post looks awesome. I would definitely try it on my Schwinn ascension.
It will have more contact with the ground with sus-seatpost. Because the bike will go up and compres the post which after that will push the back of the frame towar the ground decompresing the post. (If course not as much as rear suspesion but but better than nothing )
I've been riding since I bought a brand new Klein Fervor in 1995. Back then EVERYTHING was anodized and extra bling (Chris King, Paul's Components, Ringle, etc...). Almost thirty years later, I still love anodized parts and vivid colors. I have a Giant Reign decked out with 3D violet colored Chromag pedals, 3D violet ferrules and end caps and violet tubeless valves. To say bright colors are a newb thing is insane. Color is fun and a great way to personalize your bike. Think about it, when a thief steals your bike, what do they do to make it not stand out? That's right, they paint over the colors. People need to focus on their skills and less about how others adorn their bikes.
With mountain bikes it's the perfect platform to mix and match a lot of odd colors to make the bike match you and usually I really like that about bikes. I get how if the same thing was applied to something else, say like a car or a house then it probably wouldn't work out as well or wouldn't look as good. But that's just how I see it.
seeing your seat setting compared to my AL Comp tells me just how short I am. mine's near the bottom....
I do want to get one, because as an E-bike conversion, my butt does not like some of the roads and sidewalks here at 20mph.
If the bicycle frame is not isolated from the rear axle, it is not a suspension frame. Just as Kevin said, it's about rear wheel contact.
Suspension posts have limited function and different designs work better than others. Parallelogram pivots like the Cane Creek Thudbuster work the best. Telescoping posts have more stiction and the axis of post movement isn't on the same plane of travel as the rear wheel bump path.
20 years ago, I bought my first real mountain bike, a Raleigh M60 hardtail which came from the factory with a telescoping suspension post. I replaced it with a Rock Shox suspension post which worked marginally better. It took the sting out of bigger hits. I sold that bike to my dad's friend 18 years ago and he still has it with that Rock Shox post.
I dream of owning an evil wreckoning and I will never be able to just throw 8 k at a mountain bike. Too many people relying on me for me to splurge on myself like that. I plan on getting back into mountain biking soon. I think that I'm going to buy this schwinn and upgrade it with time. It won't be a evil wreckoning but I think that I can make it into something nice. So I enjoy videos I use them as inspiration and to help keep my passion alive while I'm not riding
thanks for notifying about knee angle problem
Nice video. Is that seat post serviceable?
The bottom adjustment plate screws out, so I would say yes
I have the exact same post on my AL Comp (I recently posted pics on your website, but haven't yet seen them with all the others) and I have to agree with u about the "purply red" color as mine appears just as that. I'm a believer in that you get what u pay for, that being said when I have some extra spending money I'll be getting a better one. As far as those critics out there saying anyone with brightly colored accents and accessories (I've made a ton of upgrades and added a good amount of accessories, and a good amount are red) are noobs, yes not hardly. I've been riding bikes for years and use them primarily for commuting as I do not own a vehicle and haven't for years. I recently was able to learn the basic mechanics of a mountain bike however and am proud to say I did all the work on my Schwinn myself. People are gonna talk regardless one way or the other and I've always kept the mindset of not really giving two shits what anyone says, it's my way, my life, u don't like it, look the other way bc I'm gonna do what makes ME happy. I was really happy to come across this particular video bc u are now the 2nd person I've seen with a suspension post on a MTB, but I don't see my particular AL Comp as being dual suspension.
🙏💯👍🇬🇧
Suspension seat post are perfectly good but definitely don’t make the bike dual -suspension, as there is no absorption at the rear if you are standing up as you would be when landing from a jump. If seated however and riding over rough ground, they make a huge difference and are worth having as they absorb the transfer from your body weight through to the frame
I've been using this exact seat post for over a year now to "test the waters". Recently, I bought the exact same bike for my wife and the first thing that I missed was this suspension seat post! It's great for comfort, very inexpensive and even shed some weight from my original seat post. However, my only complaint is that sometimes on big bumps it does kind of a pogo stick rebound to your taint which is in my opinion worth it compared to a bike without any suspension at all. Sure, it doesn't make a hard tail a full suspension, but man will it make your butt and back say thank you.
Had one on for years and no knee problems
I would always have a dropper for hardtail or full susser (I have both). I live in mountainous country though. I imagine if it's flat, it wouldn't matter as much. I'd still want a dropper though. Even on my hardtail that is set up for urban use - using the dropper while braking hard is phenomenal.
I’ve been running the Cane Creek Thudbuster (old style) on my hardtail for several years now. Age was taking its toll on me and my local trails were startling to beat me up too much. This was a perfect fix. Designs like the Thudbuster that are based on a parallelogram work better, no binding like the telescoping ones so they are much more plush. Once you find the right seat height, the changing leg extension isn’t a problem.
Running a Venzo version of the Thudbuster on my Ritchey 29er and feel the same way. Just enough to ease the rough stuff
You'll see this on my xtrada 5 when i go to chickasaw trace. Oh wait i still trying to pick if im gonna use this or the tranz x jumpseat dropper post when i go there.
Yes I agree the biggest issue will always be knees. and on a bumpy trail, it is even more of a problem because you are not peddling smoothly. Remember biopace chainrings I remember all the experts telling people they were the best thing since sliced cheese until the knee problems started showing up and see they are starting a comeback lol
I don't know about the USA but here in the UK many people are over-biked and only really use their mountain bikes for the road and light trails. Suspension seat posts are very low maintenance and do provide some additional comfort on a hardtail or gravel bike. I'd first try a sprung saddle before going to a suspension seat post though as sometimes that is enough for the riding you do. I'm not going to pretend I do technical difficult trails so for me I'd rather have a suspension seat post than a full suspension mountain bike with complicated rear suspension because that's expensive and I'd have to maintain it and it would be completely un-necessary for the way I use my bikes and extra weight that would serve no purpose.
I ride dirt bikes & they have the clutch lever on the left & front brake on the right, our bikes over here also have the front brake on the right hand side, i find it strange that bikes in usa look like they have the front brake on the left hand side ?
I've used a suspension seatpost since the 90s on my hardtail mountain bikes. If set up with a little bit of sag they will actually not only protect your back and rear end from shop but they will smooth out your pedal stroke as many people have a little bit of bounce in their pedal stroke. This type of setup will ride with you much like the old beam B used to do when those were in fashion. I've always been a fan and just recently installed one on a new Trek Marlin that I transferred parts over from a frame that failed. I also do have a full suspension Trek top Fuel so I do have an understanding of the differences between these two types of setups. I don't know why anyone wouldn't use one of these on a hardtail of any kind whether it be a gravel bike or a road bike that people use for centuries. And if anyone thinks that it's not for the serious mountain biker, I've won a couple of races with this setup. Not because of it but because I think it's a significant upgrade to any high-end hardtail
Hi there, I’m new to the channel and I really enjoy watching your videos. I was just surfing through the Walmart webpage and found a bike you might be interested in review/possible project. The bike is the “Mongoose Bash”.
Thanks for the suggestion
you sound like me. when I am done with a bike is the frame alone from the original LOL> that is the fun of it.
do suspension seat posts also help put less wear and tear on the bike?
I can’t see that they would do anything for the bike - only the rider
I've been using a zoom sue post for over a year people don't notice it on my MTB not unless I say something, I first put one on my ebike in 2020, it was so cheap I said let me try one on the MTB and loved it .
Good for people with back problem on a hardtail, maybe even on touring hardtail bikes on dirt roads as too much vibration can cause more fatigue.
Found a suspension seat post on a used Giant Cypress. While it took up the bumps it had a side to side rotational slop that was annoying. Probably due to age. I have a Brooks B135 that I think does a better joboff road but these would be good for lighter use.
Is there also handlebars suspension for bikes with no front suspension?
A lot of bike packers and tourers swear by the Cane Creek Thudbuster. The new one is ok with the single elastomer, but the old ones with two elastomers were pretty crap.
thanks for sharing
I purchased the AL-Comp 2 years ago after watching your videos. I added the Zoom suspension seat and it did a lot for the comfort factor. However, the top o-ring can slip out and up the shaft. Otherwise, works great
All suspension seatposts I've tried over the years were trash. Too stiff to work on a small stuff and I tend not to be seated when tackling bigger obstacles.
What does work surprisingly well is a seat with springs. I absolutely love my Brooks flyer saddle. Even as it weights a ton. A number one choice if you want to ride your Gravel or hybrid bike wearing a jeans. Might also work for an e bike.
the PNW is adjustable so you can dial in the amount of resistance you need for your weight. That along with that Brooks seat sounds amazing imo.
I had good luck dialing this Zoom post's preload in and the spring does an ok job of not bottoming out or being overly stiff. How long would it hold up? That's a different question.
@@KevCentral I've had a FMFXTR snap in half on a year's use
I use a spring saddle and suspension seat post
Nobody thinks a seat post spring mimics any suspension NEVERTHELESS, that is a sweet looking build
what are we suspending? the Rider? ok..
but did we suspend the rear wheel independently from the frame and drive train?
how do you suspend the wheel on a hard tail.
exactly 👍
I have 3 suspension seatposts. Original USE, USE XCR Sumo, and a cheaper wide tune one from a aluminum 2000 specialized. I love them all but it is only suspension if you are seated so great for hardtails and climbing
I had one on my hardtail and I loved it.
Suspension seatpost? Is it a coil spring or compressed air ?
Coil
I have used a quality Cane Creek Thudbuster 3G LT on my mtn bike for over 20 years. I loved it.I don't really care what other people think of my bike. It saves the great expense of a full suspension bike. I just got a PNW Coast combination suspension & dropper for more safety. Getting used to it. You might want to review it!
There's an sr suntour one for around 100$, it's a linkage/spring suspension so it's supposed to keep the distance between the saddle and pedal consistent
Nah, it moves you backwards instead
Changes the height of the saddle so don't you just adjust the seat post?
Anodized color is really more of a suggestion than a specification.
As far as MTB goes, this was a thing. It went away because of the ever changing seat height. Plus it was around the time when full suspension was starting to get decent
Interesting. I’ve never encountered it, but I’m not in a mecca for cycling
Wouldn’t it be a soft tail then and I wonder how some of the nicer suspension seat posts from brands like Suntour, Cane Creek, and Kineckt would preform.
Now here's a full suspension I would actually ride!
Only it’s not !
@@MichaelRei99 Glad you caught the point there! haha
I got a suspension seatpost on my 2020 Al Comp too, I love it
which one did you get? I got the same one he got a few weeks ago but returned it because it didn't move at all even after backing off the tension screw as much as I could. I'm 6'2 175lbs and trying to find one that actually works, it seems like these are designed for heavier people.
@@NonLegitNation2 I'm 140ish and I notice it a fair bit. Same model. You can't expect it to move a lot I mean these things aren't magic but while I sometimes don't feel it at all every so often it saves me on a larger bump that I know would have otherwise killed my back. I know if I switched back I'd probably start feeling really small bumps again but you probably have to film the thing while riding to be convinced it's actually working in the moment.
But maybe you got an extra stiff one idk. I didn't feel like mine took long to break in but that might be a thing too. The angle you sit on your bike can also change how it feels.. though if you want to really feel it you will probably need like a $100+ 45-degree travel ones and even still you are gonna inevitably notice bumps.
I've been using that same suspension post but silver on my Al Comp for almost a year now and it has been great. (thanks for recommending the Comp btw) I use my comp more for commutes and light trails than full mtb trials though and plan to take it on some small tours so getting a suspension post was an obvious choice.
Some seem to say you need an expensive seatpost with a 45-degree angle for it to do anything but that's definitely not true. I won't claim this is the most 'game-changing' suspension post ever and you might even want it a bit stiff if you are worried about your knees but it does the job of smoothing minor bumps and at a fraction of the price while looking pretty good imo.
Sidenote I do not consider it full suspension but sometimes say it is as a joke.
Which is more comfortable this seat suspension or full suspension frame?
Full suspension frame