Dropper Seat Posts

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I'm tempted to get a dropper seat post, but I only want it to make getting off and on the bike easier and when I stop at a road junction I could drop the seat making it easier to stop and then get going again, I currently end up between the seat and the stem so that I can get my feet on the ground.

Are there other advantages to a dropper post I'm not seeing, I don't ride bike parks and have no desire to do the equivalent of motorcross on a bicycle, I tend to stand on the pedals on downhills but I don't think the seat currently gets in the way.

I can easily afford one so money isn't an issue, but are there downsides to having a dropper post, obviously it's heavier than a normal post, but are there possible problems I'm not seeing, is it just something else to go wrong etc?

[Taff]

the steeper and more technical the terrain the more important it is to get your seat down and out of the way.

At the extremes, look at a jump bike, the seat is right down practically touching the back wheel, DH bikes are not far off the same and many people that ride only DH don't bother with a dropper, they just have their seat right down all the time.

for trail riders having the ability to drop the seat 30 times per ride is invaluable, especially in a place like the FOD where it's lots of shortish steep up hills followed by shortish steep downhills.

downside - it's something else that needs servicing, but not that often tbh. Or, you could just buy a cheaper post and consider it to be disposable replacing it every couple of years.

upside - more control over the bike on steep / technical terrain because you have freedom to move around a lot more.

[Beancounter]

What Taff said. Being able to drop your saddle on request without interrupting the ride is invaluable.

Removing cost from the equation, if a dropper aids your enjoyment using the bike, then it's a no-brainer.

[weeksy]

Downsides, yeah a bit... sometimes they creak more, sometimes they wobble more...

That's why i own a Magura Vyron, it's cableless, remote style, so if for whatever reason it's out of action, i whip it out and fit a standard post. Routing a cable on an Ebike can be a motor out job as well, it certainly is on the wifes bike, hence her not having one.

[Beancounter]

If internal routing is an issue, you could try the KS eTEN dropper. I've not used this myself though my Commencal has a similar but older KS dropper fitted and it worked well. It's a cable operated dropper and the actuator is at the top of the seat post so you need to route externally.

Needed servicing once a year which cost me £90 at South Coast Suspension.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

What's involved in servicing one?

[weeksy]

What's involved in servicing one?

500 fiddly little things that go ping !

[Beancounter]

What's involved in servicing one?

What Weeksy says. I tried it myself. Didn't go well. Lots of 'pingfuckit' moments.

This was back in 2015 TBF, there are probably loads more videos on Youtube nowadays showing you how not to fuck it up.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Surely, it's not much different to a shock absorber, I'm happy servicing them.

[Mr Moofo]

Re servicing - Grant (Foxy) at South Coast Suspension is really good. He has down two of my seat posts and some bushing stuff that was recall that cotic wouldn't pay for.
Obviously he is local to me - but has a very good reputation in these parts.

He can be a little abrupt on the phone - but talk for England in real life ...

[MingtheMerciless]

What's involved in servicing one?

500 fiddly little things that go ping !

Bookmarked and saved for future descriptions of fiddly things to work on.

Oh and Foxy is your go to man for reverbs and fox transfers. He cannot service KS stuff anymore (long sorry tale of politics and the bike business shooting itself in the foot)

[crust]

Got one on my Whyte, rarely use it on the trails, always use it when stopping so I can get feet on the floor being short of leg.

Very handy when you want to stop, fiddle something, answer phone, get something out of your bag or just chill and look at the view

[Nordboy]

I use mine a load on the trails and also for the stopping and getting on and off thing. I reckon, apart from the motor, it's the best thing on my bike.

I'll be buggered if it goes wrong though, I cocked up changing the chain on my ebike last month, that's the extend of my bike spannering skills

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I cocked up changing the chain on my ebike last month, that's the extend of my bike spannering skills

I'm wondering how you managed that, but I also have to remember that I put a new cam chain in my GPZ1100 engine to keep me busy during winter.

[Nordboy]

I cocked up changing the chain on my ebike last month, that's the extend of my bike spannering skills

I'm wondering how you managed that, but I also have to remember that I put a new cam chain in my GPZ1100 engine to keep me busy during winter.

I still have no idea!! All I know is that I had to have a second go at it when it sounded like a bag of spanners!!

[Taff]

I cocked up changing the chain on my ebike last month, that's the extend of my bike spannering skills

I'm wondering how you managed that, but I also have to remember that I put a new cam chain in my GPZ1100 engine to keep me busy during winter.

I still have no idea!! All I know is that I had to have a second go at it when it sounded like a bag of spanners!!

I'll put money on you threading it the wrong side of the little plate between the jockey wheels, we've all been there

[weeksy]

I'm wondering how you managed that, but I also have to remember that I put a new cam chain in my GPZ1100 engine to keep me busy during winter.

I still have no idea!! All I know is that I had to have a second go at it when it sounded like a bag of spanners!!

I'll put money on you threading it the wrong side of the little plate between the jockey wheels, we've all been there

I've seen it done a few times and fixed the bikes for people

[Nordboy]

I'm wondering how you managed that, but I also have to remember that I put a new cam chain in my GPZ1100 engine to keep me busy during winter.

I still have no idea!! All I know is that I had to have a second go at it when it sounded like a bag of spanners!!

I'll put money on you threading it the wrong side of the little plate between the jockey wheels, we've all been there

bugger, busted!!

At the time it seemed like it was so easy and there was only one way it would thread through!! I didn't even see the little plate until I put it back on the stand. Amazingly the chain didn't seem any worse for it.

[weeksy]

My boy trashed his remote the other day at Cannock, lobbing the bike in the floor it exploded.

So i ordered a new ZTTO remote for it... which still hasn't arrived, GRRRR.

Anyway, took it apart yesterday to get started, but the barrel and grub screw are seized solid, these hold the cable tension at the bottom of the dropper and no way it was coming out. After weighing up all the options, plans and thoughts, along with the cable routing, which i'd need to remove the bottom bracket to install a new cable... My lad has somehow ended up with a Magura Vyron being ordered for his bike. Only 100mm drop which gives a shorter overall length. I'll then keep the Command as a spare for when he grows out of his bike and re-install it for sale later on.

Should get shipped today from Merlin, which will mean it's here for tomorrow and gives me time to charge and pair it before 417 Flyup on Wed.

[Mr Moofo]

The ZTTO remotes are really good BTW...
The only thing that lets the Brand X post down is a shit remote - and the ZTTO worked a treat