Perfect for the weekend warrior, competitive cyclist, or anyone who prefers a more traditional look, the Slick Willy is our best telescoping seatpost with features not found on competing brands. For 2002, Slick Willy boasts aluminum construction with all new lightweight chromoly shaft and bushing design for stiction-free performance. The bane of most telescoping designs is side-to-side play, but with Tamer’s exclusive patented Anti-Swivel system, it can be quickly eliminated should it develop. Maintenance is easy, unlike other designs, Tamer’s Directional Lube system allows the user to apply lubricant without disassembly. The Slick Willy was called the Post Centrik in 2001, the name has changed but the quality remains.
Length – 350mm
Suspension Style – 3 piece MCU with 25mm of preload adjustment
Travel – 50mm
Diameter – 25.4mm and 27.2mm
Maximum Insertion – 140mm from centerline of seat rails to top of seat tube
Warranty – Lifetime
Seathead – Centered, 2 bolt micro-adjust
Features – Anti-Swivel and Directional Lube System
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from S. Cal
Date Reviewed: March 4, 2006
Strengths: Long travel
Weaknesses: not reliable, customer service is not that good after all.
Bottom Line:
The seatpost fallen apart after two years, sent it back and Tamer said no way it can be fixed, they will replace a new product line that's similar to Slick Willy. After FOUR MONTHS I have not received anything yet, I keep emailing with their customer service who is responsive but, hey! it didn't help if you couldn't get my replacement send out. It is unbelievably slow to get them honor the warranty, BIG DISPOINTMENT!
Strengths: Takes the rough edge off a 1993 rigid mt. bike used for commuting on the jarring concrete streets of a drab city in a yucky state: Lousiana. Can't vouch for what it will do for you on a trail. Has quality appearance and craftsmanship, unlike some of the cheaper suspension posts I looked at in shops before choosing this one through mail order. Pretty thorough instructions, not just a piece of paper w/logo and address.
Weaknesses: A little bit of side-to-side play in the seat right from the start. You get used to it, but it may be annoying for those who pay attention to maintenance details. Product lit explains this is normal, but doesn't specify how much a "small amount" is.
Bottom Line:
So far so good, but the maintenance outlined in the instructions looks a bit tricky - but at least they addressed the issue, which is important.
Bike Setup: 93 Cannondale M500 (original frame/fork), w/rack, 1.2 slick tires, full fenders, third set of shifters, 4th drivetrain, SPDs, V-brakes, etc. Long-time commuting bike has seen many northeastern winters.
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Submitted by
Julie
a Weekend Warrior
from Schaumburg, IL USA
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2003
Bottom Line:
I use this seatpost on my road bike, which I do ride on trails. We recently got back from doing the Elroy-Sparta Trail in WI. I felt that this seat post did give me a smoother ride than my old regular seat post did on the trails. I am anxious to get out on the roads so I can give it a test there too.
For roadies who want that little extra to make your ride a bit smoother, I would difinately suggest that you give this product a try.
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from South Califoenia
Date Reviewed: May 20, 2003
Strengths: Woeks well, Looks good , sturdy, long travel and smooth, livetime warranty, easy lube.
Weaknesses: lock ring need to be tighten often, squeak sound if you don't lubricate it.
Bottom Line:
Can't live without it on my hardtail, make my XC riding a lot more fun. No much improvement on big rocky downhill thought. Mine is a black tube 26.8, seems like a earlier version, which has a weak lock ring need to be tighten after some riding time. But the Tamer company is very well respond and ask me to ship it back for repair. Look like they honor their lifetime warranty pretty well. A bid softer than Rock Shox initially, which is perfect for a mid-weight rider but I believe both can be adjust to your weight.
The abuse of riding regularly for 16 years has started to take its toll and I can't afford a quality full suspension ride. Adding the Slick Willy to my hardtail gives me the comfort I need without sacrificing anything on climbs or being too mushy. The movement is so smooth you don't even feel it, but the improvement in comfort is immediate. And the ant-swivel lockring eliminates the rocking I had with my other suspension seatpost. A must for anyone not riding full suspension.
Submitted by
Jesus Nava
a Weekend Warrior
from Brownsville, Texas, USA
Date Reviewed: May 3, 2003
Strengths: No swivel movement. Strong.
Weaknesses: None found so far
Bottom Line:
I am very pleased with the suspension seat post. This is the second one I purchase and it really makes a difference. It seems very stable and easy to adjust and lubricate. It eliminates the pounding of hard pack clay roads without the bouncing of a full suspension. Beginners, as well as those looking for some comfort during long rides, should try it.
Bike Setup: Raleigh M80-Disc, standard factory setup.
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Submitted by
brian marang
a Cross Country Rider
from Anchorage, AK, USA
Date Reviewed: April 19, 2003
Strengths: Smooth Out the Ride. Easy installation. Relativly low weight.
Weaknesses: Seat Rotation. Use of shims
Bottom Line:
I am very pleased with the suspension seat post. I believe they are a great add on feature and make long rides more memorable for the rite reasons. Suspension seat posts even out the trail with out giving you the bouncing effects of most suspension bikes.
Submitted by
Ed
a Weekend Warrior
from Citrus Hts, CA
Date Reviewed: April 9, 2003
Strengths: Price & performance.
Weaknesses: None so far.
Bottom Line:
For the easiest hardtail upgrade that provides the best bang for the buck, this fills the bill. Much less than shelling out for a full suspension bike. Not quite the travel of a full suspension, but enough for my riding style. I'm happy.
Submitted by
Michael
a Cross Country Rider
from Yucaipa, California, USA
Date Reviewed: March 16, 2003
Strengths: Good set-up instructions; if followed carefully seatpost will perform exactly as expected.Tamer provides "sizers" to fit thier product to your seat-tube very firmly.I've found that it improves handling of the bike somewhat.
Weaknesses: None detected so far.
Bottom Line:
Being a beginner at mtn. biking and not having ridden any bike for years, my posterior wasn't prepared the abuse it received while riding the nice singletrack that can be found near my home. I decided a suspension seatpost would help, so after a little research I settled on the slick willy. I experienced immediate relief! Now rides are more enjoyable and I can focus more attention on the trail than on how sore I'm getting. I would recommend this product to anyone who rides a hardtail.
Similar Products Used: none. this is my first suspension post.
Bike Setup: cross/commuter bike -- 700c wheels on an aluminum frame with a rock shock team sid.
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Submitted by
Dan K
a Cross Country Rider
from Emmaus, PA, USA
Date Reviewed: November 6, 2002
Strengths: Simple setup, simple adjustment, finish is nice- availability of different dampeners/spring rates for different sized riders. Adjustability of seat position because of dual bolt setup.
Weaknesses: A bit heavy, but this is a suspension seatpost after all!
Bottom Line:
This seatpost takes the edge off without feeling 'springy' which is exactly what it was purchased for.
Submitted by
Alan
a Racer
from Salt Lake City , Utah
Date Reviewed: October 21, 2002
Strengths: Comparable weight to other products in it's class (Rock Shox). Comes in a smaller size than a 27.2.
Weaknesses: Not as aesthetically pleasing as the Rock Shox.
Bottom Line:
Does exactly what it was intended to do, reduces rear shock on medium to small bumps, is light weight amd comes in a size where if you have a smaller seat tube than a 27.2 you can use shims to make it work. Life Time Warranty.
Bike Setup: Marin BearValley, Shimano deore, Manitou Magnum
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Submitted by
Warren M
a Weekend Warrior
from Charlotte
Date Reviewed: October 15, 2002
Strengths: Eash installation. Easy adjustments. At 225lbs., I am comfortable with its performance. I purchased this product because of the Anti-Swivel feature: it works!
Weaknesses: The product is only available in 25.4mm and 27.2mm. I really wanted a 26.8mm. With the shims (which are pricey), the 25.4mm works well.
Bottom Line:
I'm satisfied with my purchase. This product was preferred over the RockShox because it felt more stable. There are possibly other seatpost available that may perform just as well, however, they are much more expensive (> $150). This seatpost is solid, well-built, and easy to adjust.
