Submitted by
Jack
a
from Colorado Springs, Co, USA
Date Reviewed: November 19, 2000
Bottom Line:
I have one of the very first units. Yes there have been problems with it, but with any new product, there is always problems. I've had my post for over 3 years now and love it!!
I have been hearing rumors that one of the guys that used to work for GIANI has been working on putting out a newer model of the product. It would be cool to see a company start out big, fall down to nothing and rise for the dead. GO GIANI!!!!
Submitted by
Gary Gianni
a Cross-Country Rider
from Winsted, CT
Date Reviewed: June 6, 1999
Strengths: price, durability, performance
Weaknesses: I hope the seatpost doesn't break, it seems to be getting a little chewed up where it enters the seat tube.
Bottom Line:
It is one of the best upgrades I have ever purchased. For under $100 it really takes the edge off of trail riding. Not the same as full suspension but neither is the price. I think this seatpost is a very good product.
Submitted by
Darren Byrnes
a cross-country rider
from Minneapolis, MN
Date Reviewed: December 30, 1998
Bottom Line:
I have been using the Giani seatpost for a couple years and it eventually started to give the telltale side to side wobble (Not a big deal). I figured I just needed some new keys for the inside. I called Giani last March and they happily replaced my 1 year old post with a BRAND NEW ONE!!! Such a deal...Fast forward to November...after riding on it this past sprig, summer, and fall I decided to swap the seatpost into a new frame I just bought...I pulled out the Giani and it was BENT!!! I had installed it correctly and made sure the little guide mark was in far enough, but the thing was bent back towards the rear of the bike...I tried their web site and can't load it...i called the 800 number they have and it is out of service...I left a message with their local number and they haven't called me back...I wonder if they are out of business...Oh, well...I guess I'll buy a USE seatpost...
Submitted by
James Burke
a cross-country rider
from Miami, FL
Date Reviewed: November 4, 1998
Bottom Line:
After about a year of technical trails on a super-stiff Cannondale, I needed something to take the edge off the ride. Given its cost and CODA background, the Giani seemed to be the best option.The customer service was fine and the delivery was quick. The post itself was a winner. It was a good-looking piece of equipment, fairly light and, junky-looking, single-bolt seat clamp aside, seemed to be well-made.The ride was decent. It managed to absorb the shock from ruts and smaller bumps, and softened the overall ride nicely; my lower back definitely appreciated it. It had little-to-no noticable effect on larger obstacles or hard hits, but then, that's not really what it was designed to do.There were some problems; it suffered from a bad case of stiction at times, and, no matter how much I tightened my seat clamp, it refused to stay in place for an entire day. Overall, though, it did its job. Unfortunately, did is the key phrase here; I killed the poor thing in about three months. It bent badly and blew out the end bolt, which then, along with the damper, into my seat tube. So what happened? It may have had something to do with the overall quality. However, I think it had much more to do with a major design flaw--the post is just too damn short.At their recommended max, you only have about 6.5-7 of post to work with; the ENTIRE post is less than 10 long. This is more than enough for road applications, but on a mountain bike, especially if you like to ride a small, quick frame, that's not nearly enough post.So while I will admit that the actual post is well-constructed and works well enough, caveat emptor--it's unlikely that you'll have enough post to meet your needs, and, if you can squeak by, the post seems likely to break at the height you like if you ride hard or race.
Submitted by
Robert Van den Heuvel
a weekend warrior
from Simi Valley (Los Angeles) CA
Date Reviewed: October 5, 1998
Bottom Line:
Looked like, and performed like, a great deal -- at first. Some of the other reviewers here are right, the thing needs lubing all the time with Judy Butter or it sticks something horrible. Mine got worse and worse sticking and sideplaying, although I did lube it every dozen rides or so (is this poor maintenance??) until finally it bent in the middle. The elastomer range isn't so great, you either bottom out or get rammed like there's no suspension at all, at my weight (around 186 pounds). I don't like the design, it sits back and moves in a direction which isn't really in line with the movement of your body. So naturally it bends... For the money, I think at $120 you're more than halfway to a Moxey or something really well built. And it is awkward with the shim, which comes out of the bike frame when you adjust seat height and then you have grease all over your hands right there on the trail to contend with.... but that is probably just my clumsiness
Submitted by
Chris
a cross-country rider
from somewhere USA
Date Reviewed: July 22, 1998
Bottom Line:
for 80 bucks, you could get 2 cyclepro seatposts with 1 3/4 inches of travel @$40 each. there are cheaper ones with 1 1/2 for like $25 that re no namers but still work good. 1 1/2 is decent, but you could get better for that price. also it comes with no boot. plus u gotta buy the shim for like $25.
Submitted by
ron minnich
a cross-country rider
from princeton, nj
Date Reviewed: July 2, 1998
Bottom Line:
I have had this seatpost since aug. 97. I was looking for something without too much travel (1.5 is ideal) that would take the worst edge off the trails and roads we have around here. The delivery was prompt and the quality of the seatpost is excellent. My first use of this post was in Jim Thorpe, Pa.; Since then I've used it mainly around here. It does exactly what I wanted it to, and it is really nice to blast along now without getting my back pounded to bits by the terrain. My son has one of these too and loves it. Sometimes it is easy to forget just how active it is, until you watch someone else riding with it. It does indeed do a lot of work!Simple, inexpensive, well-made, durable, does exactly what I wanted. What more could one ask?
Well, I have to have give Giani 5 chilis for a good product (now) and an excellent service. I bought a seat post by mail order in March and it worked well during the Swedish winter - the elastomer is a bit harder when its cold - but thats OK.I am bigger and heavier than most of you guys out there (197 cm and 112 kg, in USA that spells 'linebacker') so I was a bit worried about the strength of the thing. And, as I feared, after a month or so the cast aluminium thing that is connected to the vertical piston developed more and more play. So I sent an email to Giani (one of the addresses at their web site does not work BTW) just to complain...with not too much hope.One week later I found a new, complete, seatpost in my mailbox - an improved version, with a stronger top end. What can I say - these people deserve all sales they can get - and the new, improved version (identified by a longer cast-aluminium collar with a ring in it) seems to be able to take some abuse and live thru it.So, 5+ chilis for the service and 5- for the product (ask me after a year and it might get a full 5 if it holds up). The function of the thing is very much like earlier reviewers have described - nothing revolutionary, but it makes your life a bit easier and your lower back a bit happier. Right now, I am trying a combination with the Giani and an old-fashion coil sprung saddle - works well on my hardtail...
Submitted by
JamesX
a cross-country rider
from Syracuse, Utah
Date Reviewed: May 19, 1998
Bottom Line:
I've got the Coda 900S made by Giani Co. It was one of the best upgrades to my riding except maybe V-brakes. I got it from Giani...they had some old ones laying around and I got if for about $35.00. I think it was made in 1995 or '96. Cheapest upgrade to pseudo-full suspension!
Submitted by
Michael
a cross-country rider
from Ann Arbor, Michigan
Date Reviewed: April 17, 1998
Bottom Line:
I have had the Giani for about two months. At first I didn't notice a difference between it and a regular seatpost. Now I realize that it's effect is very subtle. I've noticed that I stay in the saddle longer and the trail seems a little smoother. I even notice it's effect when I'm up out of the saddle with it clenched between my legs. It hasn't been exactly what I expected but I have grown to appreciate it for what it is. Don't expect a full-suspension style ride.I have begun to notice a little side-to-side play in the saddle. However, it is slight and does not yet affect riding performance.
Well..I bought this seat post without too much expectations. I ride *hard* and this seat post requires a re-lube after each ride. I wonder when the designers of seatposts will take into consideration the force placed toward the rear, and compensate for the resulting stiction. Overall, this is a good seat post, but I'd place it in a first/second generation status, although it *is* ready for prime time.
Submitted by
Thom
a cross-country rider
from Crownsville, MD
Date Reviewed: March 31, 1998
Bottom Line:
Mixed feelings on this product. It was quite sticky at first, but its performance has improved considerably after a bath in Krytek. I certainly ride pain-free, which says something since I'm a fat old goat with a bad back who rides an aluminum hardtail. My only sustained gripe about the product has to do with Giani's much ballyhooed customer service. They didn't deliver the product when promised, didn't ship it the way they said they would (sent it 3 day instead of 2), and lied about where it was at in the Fed Ex tracking system. It wound up taking 5 days to get to my door when I paid for two-day shipping. They never did reimburse me for the shipping. I'd probably get another for my road bike, but I can't fork over my hard-earned money to people who I don't trust. If you're going to get one of these, plan in a couple extra days for shipping. And take anything they tell you over the phone with a big old grain of salt.
Submitted by
Steve
a cross-country rider
from Houston
Date Reviewed: March 30, 1998
Bottom Line:
Actually, I am not much of a mountain biker, just an old person with a bad lower back. However, I did put a Giani seatpost on my mountain bike prior to a ride across the border into Mexico from Lajitas, Texas, in February. The road to San Carlos was primarily a rutted path of sand and shale with considerable climbing on the way over and considerably rough descending on the return trip. The Giani did an excellent job with no pain to my lower back. Great product. It should get 5 chiles.
THIS IS A NICE SEAT POST. VERY HIGH QUALITY. I ORDERED MY ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO. THEY HAVE THE NEW 98 MODEL OUT WHICH HAS THE BOOT INCLUDED. IT ALSO HAS A PRELOAD FOR THE ELASTIMER SO YOU CAN FINE TUNE IT. COST ABOUT 99.50 WITH SHIPPING IT IS A GREAT DEAL. I AM USING IT ON A 98 C'DALR KILLER V 700!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have not heard one person mention that you can't adjust the SEAT ANGLE with the Gianni! I have had mine for several months now. There is a little side play, but I forget about that because my ass doesn't hurt. Aside from that, I love it. fifty words eh? 49 48 47 46 45 44 43...
hi any advice please. my bike is a ten year old orange p7 with front suspension, im going to be using it for a long tour this summer so am thinking of adding a suspension seat post Read More »
Hello folks. Since buying my bike I've been gradually changing the components. I've started with the contact points and moved from SPD to flats, changed the grips and fitted bar-en Read More »
I am in the market for a suspension seatpost- looks like the most serious one is the Rock Shox Reverb, and that Fox should be coming out with one soon. When will that happen? Does Read More »
I recently started riding a Redline Monocog Flight 29er singlespeed and love it with one exception. I do a lot of riding at places that are pretty rooty and I've noticed that my l Read More »
So, I have two more parts to buy, a seat post and a seat post clamp. If SheldonBrown.com is correct, it looks like I can transfer these parts over from my old frame to my new fram Read More »
