Submitted by
mootster
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Fe, NM
Date Reviewed: November 14, 2008
Strengths: Layback is nice for fitting, has the nice Moots quality of craftmanship
Weaknesses: It slips at the seat clamp, especially after you switch seats.
Bottom Line:
I have two of these posts, both on Moots YBB bikes. One of them I ended up switching seats a couple of times and it really started to slip, even after cranking the two bolts down big time, to the point of almost stripping them. Moots no longer sells this design, I believe this is why. Installation of a new seat is a bit of a pain, however, if you have snap ring pliers they help a lot for spreading open the Ti seat clamp. For the price, I would expect a better clamping mechanism -- it looks like now they have that
Bike Setup: Moots YBB 26er and a Mooto-x YBB 29er.
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Submitted by
Johno
a Cross Country Rider
from Canberra Australia
Date Reviewed: November 5, 2008
Strengths: Titanium compliance and that cool MOOTS sticker :)
Weaknesses: Micro adjust is too sensitive, goes from immovable to floppy. So you end up guessing where you want to reposition your desired seat angle. I use a spirit level to see existing seat angle and go from there.
Bottom Line:
When i first built up the bike, I purchased an in-line Easton EC90 Carbon post. However I desperately needed a laidback post to fine-tune the riding position. Also, in this original setup I could not believe how harsh the ride was. Changing to the MOOTS laidback, highlighted how much 'give' this post allows even with as little as <200mm of post exposed.
Similar Products Used: First Ti seat post. Easton Carbon, Thomson...
Bike Setup: 2007 VooDoo D-Jab Ti. Running 3x9 XTR, 09 F100RLC, Hugi 240/717/Supercomp, Avid Juicy Carbon, RF Next SL carbon bar. <23lbs
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Submitted by
James Hemphill
a Cross Country Rider
from Silver City
Date Reviewed: April 6, 2006
Strengths: Looks cool!
Weaknesses: It folded after tw0 months!
Bottom Line:
So I had some extra cash and threw some bling down for this post. It looked real COOL on my bike but it wasnt very cool. After a little less than two months of riding the post failed. I was sitting down peddaling over some rough and I thought 'DAMN' The bike sure soaked that up well, this seat post and bike are amazing!!! But somthing felt weird, my seating position felt strange. Stopped to look at the bike and saw that the seat post was bent. There was a nice crease in the post right above the seat coller. Bummer! So instead of dealing with moots warrenty(And NO!! I did not have the post raised too high, it was well above the burnish line on the post by about a 2 inches.) I cut the post and put it on my road bike. I had ne problems mounting my seat on this post, you just need to be calm and cool headed.
I just wanted to post my tips on the onerous task of installing a saddle on this post. Remove the clamp bolts all the way. Install them on the top of the clamp. Insert 2 stacked nickels in the slot so when you screw in the bolts, the clamp opens. I used both bolts so i would not deform the clamp. I really needed the second nickel. Put in one half of the clamp circle things. rest the saddle rails on it, then slide in the other half. if you cannot get it to fit, you have to open the ti clamp more, so more nickels. once you have it all in there, turn the seat pointing straight down so you can remove the bolts. before you have removed them all the way, put the seat back level, then remove the bolts the rest of the way. took me a freakin half hour to figure that out. hope to save you some time.
Strengths: It's a Moots for Gods sake! Built as good as it can get, 3/2,5 Ti, and has a great sweep back that gives the taller guy a bit more room between the saddle and the handle bar.
Weaknesses: none at all
Bottom Line:
This is the finest seat post available for a mtb sold today.. I looked for the best and I got it.
The small additional flex of the Ti also adds to the comfort of the ride.
Similar Products Used: Thomson, and Bontrager Carbon
Bike Setup: http://homepage.mac.com/sjsamaha/PhotoAlbum39.html
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Submitted by
vince
a Cross Country Rider
from NorCal
Date Reviewed: February 1, 2006
Strengths: Beautiful & elegant piece of Ti. Really does soak up higher frequency bumps. Overall smoother ride that you WILL notice.
Weaknesses: Cost.
Bottom Line:
Just wanted to deck out my workhorse with a great seatpost. And was suprised on my first ride out the difference in smoothness between my old Thomson Elite and the Laidback. Makes my already smooth riding Colonel smoother. Worth the price. Tricky rail clamp not at all difficult. Doubt I'll need another post.
Bike Setup: Dean Colonel Ti, RS Duke Race, King, Shimano XT, Thomson stem
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Submitted by
Drew
a Weekend Warrior
from Canberra, ACT, Australia
Date Reviewed: December 2, 2004
Strengths: Soaks up bumps like a sponge, low weight, looks, bling
Weaknesses: cost, stupid amount of time I had to wait for it to arrive, Aust Moots distributors
Bottom Line:
Even on an ultra rigid hardtail on a downhill track this thing really, truly soaks up the bumps. First time I rode uneven ground while sitting I didn't even notice I was doing it (instead of having to book a visit to the Chiro like with my old post), tried more and more uneven ground, got friends to try it out. Believe it folks! This baby *is* all it's cracked up to be. The ex Boeing guys I work with say the welds look better than mil/aerospace standard.
The sole Australian Moots distributor I made inquiries to said "we can't be bothered to stock them, go order it online" Took absolute ages for CBO to get it in stock. Now it's here I couldn't be happier.
Oh, and yes, fitting the saddle is a pain in the butt. The screwdriver method does work though.
I can't give this full rating for value as it's bloody expensive. That said, I'd spend those dollars again in a second. If you have a hardtail and want comfort, this is the place to go. Don't go gel saddle covers, Go Moots.
Similar Products Used: DaBomb: Post Dalux (this is like saying that a tricycle is "similar" to a Ducati)
Bike Setup: DaBomb Molotov, Sherman Flicks, Raceface Turbines, SRAM X9 shifters, XO rear mech, XT front mech, SDG BelAir Cow, LP Composites DH, Moots Laidback, Ydopen 7&8 inch hydros, FSA XC300 wheelset for XC, Alex/Imperial wheelset for FR, Maxxis Lopes Bling Bling and Larsen exception TT's
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Submitted by
flea
a Cross Country Rider
from saint paul
Date Reviewed: August 3, 2004
Strengths: light, takes the hits out without the suspension motions of the rockshox seatpost.
Weaknesses:
Bottom Line:
I replaced a rockshox suspension post with the moots laidback ti and also put on a Brooks saddle with ti rails. This setup takes the hits out withut the scrunchy-ness of the rockshox suspension post. Also lost about a half pound of weight. Very happy other than I am a cheap scrimper type.
Submitted by
Bill L
a Cross Country Rider
from North Bend, WA
Date Reviewed: December 4, 2003
Strengths: Sweet ride characteristics, It is beautiful just to look at, very nice welds, with this post...who needs a suspension seatpost?
Weaknesses: Installation of the saddle may be tricky...got it within a few minutes using the "penny" method. Some may say price, but compared to a quirky unreliable suspended seatpost cost is similar...you get what you pay for
Bottom Line:
Moots knows about Ti...I stared at the sexy welds for at least 15 minutes prior to instalation. This Seatpost is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also does what it is suposed to do...hold the saddle in place and create some very nice shock absorption that is characteristic of Ti. (Choose your saddle wisely...once it is in place you may not want to wrangle another in its place. Although, it took only 5-10 minutes to install my saddle, I am not sure how long it would take to un-install one) I know longer feel the need for dual suspension. This seatpost along with tubeless tires...you will be golden.
Similar Products Used: Cane creek, raceface xo, thompson.
Bike Setup: Hardtail, XTR, Chris King Headset, Hayes Hydro disks, Tubeless wheelset, Thompson stem, Black Elite Fork, and of course "Moots" Laid back seat post
Strengths: Titanium Rules, layback is a cool design for tall people
Weaknesses: None, some say it's expensive, but that only makes it stronger!
Bottom Line:
I have not ridden yet, but wanted to post installation instructions while it's fresh in my head. I was confused. There is a post here that describes how to do it, but I had to read it like 20 times till I finally got it. I'm just going to explain it another way for all y'all...
So, unscrew the clamp bolts all the way - take them all the way out. They should be coming out the bottom direction.
Then, you only need one bolt for this part... put the bolt in through the top (backwards, or opposite the way it came out). Put a coin over the hole that the bolt is heading towards as you screw it in. When the bolt contacts the coin, keep screwing a couple of turns to crank the clamp open.
Once I figured it out it took me all of five minutes. :)
Weaknesses: Not cheap. Seat clamp a bit fiddly. Corrosion possible on steel bolts, and/or on Al clamps if you ride when there is any salt on the roads- (about 4 months a year here in the UK). I now want these posts on other bikes I own which is going to be expensive...
Bottom Line:
This post came with the bike when I bought it. Despite the obvious quality of construction, at first I was a little doubtful; having previously owned a cheap steel post of apparently identical design on an earlier bike, I was worried that I would have the same problems as I had with that one. These were: 1. The clamp arrangement, er, wouldn't. 2. The post bent where it entered the frame.
I need not have worried. The Moots post has a beautiful shock absorbing ride, is unbelievably light, and yet is fantastically strong and durable. In my view it is probably the best XC post available. The clamp, although a bit fiddly to set up does not loosen, move, creak, or anything. So far no corrosion gremlins to speak of. I think this may be because although I ride all year round, I use a mudguard at the back in damp conditions (so, nearly always then), plus I clean and use copper-ease where necessary on a regular basis. Other Ti posts I've seen and used are heavier and mostly have weaker and/or even more corrosion prone clamps.
This post is expensive, but then the best often is.
Similar Products Used: A few other Ti posts. Had a cheap steel Moots lookalike once (no comparison tho'- see below).
Bike Setup: Moots YBB SL, XT, 517's, King, X-lite bar ends, Moots finishing kit t.out, custom-built Judys (special upper tubes + true rising rate coil springs + unique speed-sensitive open bath oil dampers + no flippin' knobs to twirl in vain or valves to leak = 90mm of super-plush controlled travel with no bumps and clunks + complete reliability. Which is nice. )
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Submitted by
Brad Kriley
a Racer
from South Westen, PA
Date Reviewed: July 5, 2002
Strengths: light weight, reliability, performance
Weaknesses: hard to install seat rails - but once there on there is no loosening
Bottom Line:
Combine the Moots post with a tubeless set-up on any hard-tail and you'll be lookin at the same feel of a short travel FS or ST bike without the the power robbing inefficiencies of rear travel. The post definately smooths the ride. This is life-time part spend the extra $$ now and never again providing you seat-tube size stays consistant.
Great post. Allows the seat to flex aprox 1/4 of an inch which absorbs vibration and helps smooth out bumps. Welds are as good as I've ever seen. Used the penny trick to get the seat in. Place pennies or penny in the opening between the upper and lower portions of clamp, not the rail holders and then simply tighten the clamp bolts onto the pennies to leverage and open the clamp opening. The more pennies you use, the more you can open the clamp in order to get the rail in. Simple and easy.
Similar Products Used: Ritchey WCS, American Classic, Kore
Bike Setup: Ibis Silk ti, Manitou Black Elite Air, CrossMax, XTR crank, SRAM XO, Thomson stem, Eggbeaters, Conti tires
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Submitted by
Baja Biker
a Cross Country Rider
from Ensenada, Mexico
Date Reviewed: December 5, 2001
Strengths: Most important: it smooths the road/trail a *lot* and I recommend it to anyone who can scrape up the $. Worth every cent. I can't believe the difference. Beautifully made and welded.
Use finesse instead of force to get the saddle rails in. With patience it wasn't too bad. The penny trick mentioned in other postings sounds like a good one, though I saw it too late and used Moots' screwdriver technique.
Weaknesses: None.
Bottom Line:
A very nice addition to a hardtail (or maybe any) bike.
Similar Products Used: Cheap, failure-prone alum post that came with bike.
Bike Setup: GT hardtail (softer than ever now!)
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Submitted by
Jon
a Weekend Warrior
from Long Island
Date Reviewed: July 12, 2001
Strengths: Light Weight Indestructible Smooths the Ride Just Enough Sweet Moots Welds Set Back
Weaknesses: Clamp makes Switching Saddles a BEAR !!! It's Expensive (but it is Moots and its Ti)
Bottom Line:
Bottom line is that this thing isn't cheap, but it is Moots, which means its super high quality (and chi-chi) and its Ti. These are characteristics that don't lend themselves particulalry well to the cost conscious. I've built my dream bike, and yep I paid up for it. Bought it from the folks at Speedgoat. They're great as well. My only complaint is that in retrospect I would have gone with the longer 380mm legnth if I had it to do again. Smooths out the ride with just the right amount of flex. Anything Ti is indestructible. The clamp is a B_TCH to work with, the welds are beautiful, I should say typical for Moots. Its one of those things where you get what you pay for. The question remains whether anyone needs a post like this. probably not, but who cares.
