Submitted by
John
a Weekend Warrior
from Savannah, GA
Date Reviewed: September 9, 2006
Strengths: Light Weight
Weaknesses: Weak design led to multiple cracks
Bottom Line:
Not a good seatpost. This product has been nothing but a hastle. I Purchased my first Moby post in '96 and cracked it about 2 years after use (during a fall). Ringle replaced the post free-of-charge. The new one had a thicker top end. That lasted me for about eight years and then it cracked (not from a fall). It might have been from the increased amount of city riding I now do with higher tire pressure but for $75 I think it should have lasted longer.
Weaknesses: Bad design, lousy durability, manufacturer that does not stand behind their product.
Bottom Line:
I've always loved the Ringle design - hubs, stems, headsets, never had enough money to get it. So then $35 for Moby was a steal. My friend who is a bike mechanic said right away - this design doesn't belong on a mountain bike. I said - we'll test it out. Turns out he was right! Two years of riding and the adjustment went - the nothces wore out, the drums bent, and finally the Anuminum pin cracked. When I called Sun Ringle, they sold me new drums and the pin - newre even oferred a replacement free! Now I think that their design is flawed. The whole adjustment head is supported by notches in the tube portion of the post - that is a very small area to create suficient friction - and the one bolt design is another mistake, because the clamping mechanism is designed in such a way that the pressure on the drums, and the post is insufficient to overcome the loads from the seat - especially if the seat is moved back or forward. Even if the post is set up perfectly, with time the pin seems to crack - releasing the tension and as a result the drums strip... The post looks pretty enough, but with Thomson out there it is simply not worth the money. Sette would have been a much better buy, or an FSA... The final cost of the post came up to about what I would have to pay for the Thomson - I guess we live and learn. Did you learn anything yet?
after a few years riding (sparingly) on this post, I had a sneaking suspicion that its light weight construction might betray me at some point. suspicion confirmed - the sucker snapped off right at the frame, leaving me to ride 45 minutes back down the trail with no seat or post. I'm 160 pounds, ride/race XC, and generally avoid abusing my equipment.
Similar Products Used: american classic, campy, etc.
Bike Setup: bianchi peregrine; judy fork, sun wheels, sram goodies, wtb saddle
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Eric Rabinowitz
a Weekend Warrior
from San Francisco, Ca, USA
Date Reviewed: February 8, 2003
Strengths: I installed this post TEN YEARS AGO! I have changed seats a couple of times. I weigh in at 185 lbs. This post has never come loose, never broken. There was a factory recall in 1992/3 and I got the post replaced immediately. I was very carefull when torqing the allen bolt and used loctite. It has been absolutely bomber.
Weaknesses: After ten years, the indexing has faded (because I slide the seat down for steep descents). - Not a big deal.
Bottom Line:
I would go with this post again in a second. It has never come loose or had any problems.
Purchased At: Parts In Motion (deceased)? - Too long ago to remember
Similar Products Used: None - there was never a need.
Bike Setup: 1992 Boulder Defiant Ti - full suspension. XTR equiped.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, Ariz., USA
Date Reviewed: November 21, 2002
Strengths: Looks cool and light weight. Has height guage so I don't have to scratch one on.
Weaknesses: Too much hardware and hard to assemble.
Bottom Line:
I've used this seat post for over three years on two different bikes and never had a problem with it. I don't over tighten or under tighten the bolt. I think that's the main reason I don't have slipping or bolt breaking problems. I weigh a tad over 180 lbs and by no means considered a light weight. This post stood up to my fat ass and a few good crashes.
Weaknesses: The clamp totally snapped while i was in a race and i had to snap it back together no matter how hard i tightned it.. Its difficult to assemble... its just not good
Bottom Line:
This Seatpost is really not good at all.. I went with a Thomson after 1 month with this product and i have not had 1 problem with it... i guess if you want to hastle with this seatpost go right ahead..
Submitted by
jack whitter
a Cross Country Rider
from colorado springs, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: July 21, 2002
Strengths: light, good looking, i like the markings for height
Weaknesses: have to screw down the bolts really really hard. not good for a heavy rider.. i'm 150.
Bottom Line:
great seatpost, but i sheared the aluminum plug that the bolt goes through to secure the seat to the seatpost... i am actually looking for someone with a broken ringle moby to buy from them, so i can replace the aluminum plug... email me if you have one..
I've had this post for about 6 years, and did once have a stripping problem. To avoid it, when you adjust your saddle torque the bolts down HARD, ride for a while, then torque again.
That said, I just went to replace my saddle and saw a small crack near the top at the back of the tube. Not sure how long it has been there, but it's going in the trash as soon as I can figure out what to replace it with.
Looks nice, though. Not sure if any other post will last longer, but thought I'd add my review. The stripping is a bit of a design fault and user fault. You decide on the crack.
I don't know what all the complaining's about....this post is strong, ultra light, looks great, and adjustment is easy. I have had none on the problems that some of the previous comments refer to....Maybe these ladies just aren't tightening it enough!? Besides, even if there is a problem, Sun/Ringle has the best customer service I've ever used (for one of my rims).....
Weaknesses: Clamping mechanism is weak. I´m 135 lbs and ride xc only, but the clamp cracked causing the saddle to stand in a VERY uncomfortable upward direction a long way from home...
Bottom Line:
2 chilis overall rating due to the clamping mechanism - although it´s lightweight it must withstand longer XC abuse than it did.
Similar Products Used: Thompson Elite, standard kalloy (Cannondale stock)
Bike Setup: Cannondale Caad3, Flite saddle
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Submitted by
Andy Clemmow
a Racer
from Durban, South Africa
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2001
Strengths: Light weight, tick marks to aid height adjustment
Weaknesses: None so far
Bottom Line:
This thing rocks! One of the first things I chucked out on my old KHS Alite 3000 was the stock seatpost which I replaced with my Moby. That was over 4 years ago. Since then I've raced just about every weekend, gone through three saddles, and two frames, and never had a moments problems with this post. It's light, does not slip, creak, bind or rot. My only negative comments would be that it is very stiff. Married to my old KHS frame it was rigid in the extreme, excellent for cross country racing, but used to give me serious numb-bum on long epics. Recommended for people wanting a no fuss light weight cross country racing post.
Bike Setup: Fisher Cronus, Judy DH, Sun Sub-IV, XT groupo
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Peter
a Cross Country Rider
from Aurora
Date Reviewed: January 31, 2001
Strengths: Light, and very strong.
Weaknesses: None so far.
Bottom Line:
Great post. You have to crank the clamp down REALLY hard so it doesn't slip. Once that is done, you're set! This would probably happen to any seatpost, but mine has shrunk in diameter just from removing it everyday to avoid theft. I need to buy another.
Strengths: Light, scale makes height adjustment easy
Weaknesses: weak, too long had to cut the post for it to fit my soft tail
Bottom Line:
After 4 months of use the saddle mount cracked in 2 places. I am 200 lbs riding a soft tail so I am in the seat a lot. Pretty sorry for an $80 post. I put a total of about 700 miles on it.
Similar Products Used: stock Trek crap, I destroyed it too
Bike Setup: 96 C-dale Super V 1000
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Submitted by
Mache
a Cross Country Rider
from Germany
Date Reviewed: September 10, 2000
Strengths: light cool colours
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
I know that many people ha problems with this post, but I've got the old model and I weigh in at 170 lbs. And the seat post is not even bend. It's now 5 years old and I'm looking forward to the next 5 years! The only problem is that the clamping mechanism is a bit unusual. It keeps the saddle in its position but you have to tighten the bolt quite extrem...
