If you buy cheap, you buy twice...which is true here again. The guide is a simple groove with plastic inlays, which wear of in half a year at most. After a very short time the movable piston part starts binding. Greasing does not help for long. My post actually fell apart, because the socket screw inside came off. I dismantled it and greased it, also put a binder on the screw. Downside was that it had from now on play of about half an inch to each side at the tip of the saddle horn. Judging from the vertical play now, it will fall apart again in about a month. I will now purchase a German Design "Airwings Evolution", which is more expensive, but also first class design with 6 linear ball bearings and 150 steel balls instead of two cheap plastic parts. Think twice, it is an investment in your spine and your discs!!!
Submitted by
Luka Koprivica
a Cross Country Rider
from Beograd, Serbia, Europe
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2005
Strengths: Stifness, looks, price, adjustability
Weaknesses: Loose scrues
Bottom Line:
>>Excuse my bad english, it's not my mother tongue!<< It's cheaper to get this then the rear suspension, but leaves you more controle over bike, when you're up on your feet it's all under control!!! Should satisfy all but pro's, great for everyday practice... And, most important: TURN ADJUSTING SCRUES FORVARD, that way you leave the plastic support inlet inside with no pressure, and thus much longer life to whole post!!!
Bike Setup: Capriolo Varanus/alloy, Shimano tourney, double reinforced rims, Lookin 3density moderate seat (PERFECT FOR NOT SORE A$$), logan brakes(junk), quando rims(junk)
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Submitted by
Ron
a Weekend Warrior
from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: September 14, 2003
Strengths: Worked well at first, for someone who doesn't want too much seat compression travel or too much bouncing.
Weaknesses: Outrigger plastic guide failed after 400Km and post binds during motion. Bad design, the seat attachment is not directly above the compression column like RockShox post. Doomed to fail for heaver riders. No way to take it apart and serice it. It's a throw-away.
Bottom Line:
This is a follow up to the previous JD-415 review. I was very pleased with this seatpost to start, as you can see in the previous review, but I am now disgusted.
The design has a fatal flaw. The seat clamp is not centered over the post. It is behind the post. The outrigger post is in front. The mechanical force associated with compression causes torque on the main post and causes the outrigger post to crush and smear the plastic guide on the forward edge. This essentially destroys the plastic guide. The thing is designed to self detruct.
This inevitably must result in the outrigger sticking and binding. The whole seatpost then binds under compression and does not work.
There is no way to dissasemble the seatpost to service it. The thing is a throw away, at less than two months and 400Km.
It's a piece of junk. Sorry for misleading people with the previous review.
Submitted by
Ron
a Weekend Warrior
from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Date Reviewed: August 26, 2003
Strengths: simple design, works well, allows me to stay in the seat most of the time, stiff suspension, high preload, and short travel make it good for hardtail MTBs.
Weaknesses: no adjustments, but it doesn't seem to need any.
Bottom Line:
I bought a suspension seatpost for a few reasons. One was comfort. Two, I can ride faster on single track. Three, I can stay in the saddle and conserve energy. Four, the forces that can damage a bike frame and dent rims, are largely due to the weight of the rider either crashing down from above or refusing to move quickly up over trail hits. The suspension seatpost transfers those forces more gradually. Think of a Karate chop breaking bricks. Your bike frame is the bricks. Your body weight is the Karate chop. Sudden hard force is more likely to break the frame than the same force absorbed more slowly by a spring, whether you are crashing down, or the bike is forced up.
I bought identical Rincons for my wife and myself. My wife loves the seat/seatpost combination. I find it quite good myself. On the local single track, I can stay in the seat for all but the most severe hits and drops. I can even remain seated crossing over small logs and curbs.
The model we have is the JD-415. Others here appear to be reviewing different models. The design of this model is very simple with an "outrigger" shaft that keeps the seat from rotating on the seatpost. There is 30mm of travel and no adjustments. Other Tranz-X models have 40mm of travel with preload and rebound adjustments.
The suspension is quite stiff. I weigh 190lbs, ride some rough single track, and even though there is just over an inch of travel, I have never felt the seat suspension bottom out. I am sure it must be bottoming out, but there must be a very good bumper at the bottom, or the Rincon seat is absorbing the shock. There is no noticeable hit at the bottom of travel.
The short travel is actually good, since it keeps the relative position of the seat and pedals more consistent.
I would recommend this seatpost to anyone who is doubtful about using a suspension seatpost. Its stiffness and short travel allow it to do its job, without feeling mushy or bouncy. Even without rebound dampening, it only can rebound about an inch, so you don't really notice it. I have put about 300Km on this seatpost, and cannot remember ever feeling it oscillating up and down after a hit. I would guess that the designed-in preload, stiffness, and short travel account for this. I would think that this particular seatpost is better suited to hardtail mountain bikes than to comfort bikes.
The seatpost helps on DH, but I would not consider it a replacement for full suspension. I think it performs best XC on single track and logging roads.
I am pleased with this product to date and would recommend it. I do not know how well it will wear, but new, it works very well.
Bike Setup: 2003 Giant Rincons, 11-34 Mega-range cassette, Tranz-X JD-415 suspension seatpost, RST Capa TL with hard spring retrofit, Kenda OEM road/off-road cross-over tires
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
David Evans
a Weekend Warrior
from Wenatchee, Washington, USA
Date Reviewed: August 22, 2003
Strengths: It works, it's cheap, and it is easy to maintain.
Weaknesses: Not much travel. It is very sticky! You cant loosen it enough if you only weigh 140lbs.
Bottom Line:
Looks like there is only one complaint on these reviews, shoot, If I could do it again, I guess I would get it instead of spending $100's more for 10 more mm of travel.
Submitted by
Bobby
a Weekend Warrior
from Tallahassee
Date Reviewed: December 1, 2002
Strengths: Quality for the price.
Weaknesses: Rebound adjustment
Bottom Line:
I found that the only problem I had was with the "rebound adjustment". If I made it too tight, it wouldn't rebound and rise back up again. In order for it rebound back, this meant that the screws were loose, and had a tendency to back out. I added a couple of spacers/washers under the cap, and was able to fully tighten the screws without clamping down and restricting the up/down motion of the tube. Then I just adjusted the bottom screw, which basically just compresses the internal spring, until I had the amount of "bounce" I was comfortable with. This made all the difference and for the price, it can't be beat!
Bike Setup: Mongoose Rockadile, stock except for pedals, seat & tires.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Robert
a Weekend Warrior
from Savannah Ga USA
Date Reviewed: September 22, 2002
Strengths: Long lasting, takes the bumps out of the trail, easy to clean and adjust
Weaknesses: side play
Bottom Line:
I take it apart and clean and lube it every 2 to 3 months and it still works great after 2 yrs. With 2 inches of travel it absorbs all but the worst bumps or roots. Have to tighten up the adjustment at the top just a little and tighten it till it will not rebound then back off the set screws about 1/16 of a turn on each side so it will rebound properly. I think it is well worth the money
Bike Setup: Giant rainer se, upgraded rims and tires, upgraded rear derailer
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Submitted by
josh beager
a Cross Country Rider
from Eau Claire
Date Reviewed: September 13, 2002
Strengths: the strengths of this product have no end. this is the best seat post i have ever used, i used it on a 24 hour race and let me tell you, i was the only one on my team who could sit after that.
Weaknesses: the only thing that i can see is that the post is too heavy
Bottom Line:
this is where its at. the product is up to date. the product is comfortable, and strong. i recomend it to every one i talk to.
Similar Products Used: rock shox ( didn't eaven compare)
Bike Setup: marin bear vally, outfitted in all xtr.
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Submitted by
don
a Weekend Warrior
from beavercreek, ohio
Date Reviewed: January 3, 2002
Strengths: low cost
Weaknesses: the whole thing, well, for the money, i guess it isn't that bad.
Bottom Line:
never ridden any other suspension seatpost, so i have nothing to compare to, except a rigid post. it seems to help w/the bumps some, so my ass isn't killing me at the end of a ride, but that is it. the clamp that keeps it from getting wobbly from side to side, also keeps it from moving up and down, which eliminates the suspension aspect of the post. plus the clamp is made out of aluminum, and wears out fast. pretty soon, no matter how tight you tighten it, the seat still moves from side to side. if that doesn't bother you, than you probably won't mind the post. with both bolts completely tightened, the tip of my seat would wiggle about half an inch. i filed the clamp down a little, and now it doesn't wiggle much. i'll probably upgrade soon. mechanically, it's pretty simple, and besides the aluminum clamp, seems fairly sturdy. but it definitely is cheap.
Bike Setup: gt aggressor, rock shok judy xc, few upgrades here and there
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Jeff
a Weekend Warrior
from Longmont, CO
Date Reviewed: October 30, 2001
Strengths: Cheap $$
Weaknesses: Cheap quality
Bottom Line:
Paid less than $40 for it, and it shows. From week 1 it developed some sideplay which never went away. If you try to tighten the clamp to where there's no play, you also take out all the rebound, so it gets compressed and doesn't return unless you raise yourself off the seat. The collars used to fit it to my seat tube are cheap, could never get it to clamp without really cranking on the quick release. Learned my lesson this time: Good stuff is rarely cheap, and cheap stuff is never good.
Similar Products Used: still better than no suspension, barely.
Bike Setup: Specialized Rockhopper hardtail
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Rob
a Weekend Warrior
from Augusta, Ga
Date Reviewed: October 21, 2001
Strengths: Gives the butt a good rest and takes the shock well.
Weaknesses: You have to clean it out and lube it on a regular basis.
Bottom Line:
This is a really pretty good product for the money. I agree with the guy who said take it apart and clean and lube it on a regular basis, about every 2 months. For the screw back out problem, you can use a little tooth paste or some locktite. I have not had a problem but as soon as I feel side play I adjust the collar on the neck of it. Usually less than a 1/4 turn per side gets it. All in all this is a really good product and after a year works fine. I ride nothing but trails, and have had some really serious crashes that have cost me two rims, a seat that got bent but this item survived and a few broken ribs, black and blue spots, nicks, cuts, and a chipped shin bone. Not bad for a 43 yr old guy. lol I luv mountain biking trails.
Bike Setup: Giant Rainer SE, upgraded rims and tires.
Overall Rating:
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Submitted by
Vic
a Cross Country Rider
from Houston, TX
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2001
Strengths: cheap, easily adjustable
Weaknesses: where do i begin....
Bottom Line:
not worth the money is the bottom line dammit. i didn't get a year's worth out of this piece of junk. i weigh 150, my level is intermediate--what does that tell you. side to side play came in a month ago and today i just broke it, and not at a good time too! don't buy this; companies who sell crap like this to kids who work damn hard for their money need to die.
Submitted by
Chris
a Cross Country Rider
from Mountain View
Date Reviewed: June 13, 2001
Strengths: Price.
Weaknesses: Cheap copnstruction.
Bottom Line:
Used this post for as few months. Was happy with it a first until the preload adjustment kept coming loose. Then finally the seat clamp started coming loose and I retired it. Great value if you are a commuter, but not made for off road activities.
Submitted by
darko darko
a Weekend Warrior
from slovenia
Date Reviewed: June 12, 2001
Strengths: not expensive, well made, works great once dailed in
Weaknesses: some, but not to mention
Bottom Line:
this seatpost works great once dailed in, but before it's no good. here is what you should do with this seatpost: 1. once you buy it, you should take it to pieces and grease it, than it would work much better, but it doesn't have any damping, 2. if you want damping you have to change the original spring with some elestomers, after this the seatpost flys. for about 30$ you get seatpost that works like RS or even better, but is much better made - more tough and it weights only 50g more than RS (with elastomers).
Weaknesses: -Virtually no spring back -inefective with heavier riders -Adjustment screw loosens itself
Bottom Line:
With virtually no spring back after compression, and a forever loosening adjustment scew the only thing going for it is its Aesthetics, and superior strength in comparison to standard seat posts. I would say it is good for commuters who stick to roads, but due to the lack of spring-back, I would not advise it for off-road cyclists.
Bike Setup: 32" Alpine ATB, Shimano rapidfire sisX-7, Tektro power modulated disc brakes, shimano Xc wheels, Mitchelins wild gripper tires, Tranz-x Ahead handelbar system,the rest of the bike is Giant parts & accesories.
