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Submitted by
Hanu
a Cross Country Rider
from Canada
Date Reviewed: June 2, 2007 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$125.00 | | Purchased At: | Pricepoint | | Strengths: | It's still stiction free after 5000 miles of bikepath/downhill/x-country.
I've never had to change anything on it. | | Weaknesses: | The clamps system is not easy to set-up. It's not a problem after you finally get it though. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | 1998 Trek 8000 with SRAM X9 drivetrain and Bontrager Race Lite crankset. Marzocchi Z2 fork bought in 1990 (along with the XCR) and still going strong. | | Bottom Line: | This seatpost is still stiction free after over 7 years/5000 miles of use on bikepaths/downhill/x-country.
Highly recommended!!
I actually posted this in the SX review by accident, so disregard that review for the SX.
HOWEVER... We did get my wife a USE SX seatpoost since I'm so happy with my XCR, and it's working very well!
She can't get over the difference between her original setup on her Trek 4500 and the SX seatpost mated to a Specialized Indie seat.
Highly recommended as well. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
RK
a Cross Country Rider
from Wilmington NC USA
Date Reviewed: April 13, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$139.00 | | Purchased At: | Nashbar | | Strengths: | Provides just enough bump and buzz kill to be useful without being a springy annoyance. Lightest on the market and an acceptable weight even for a road bike if it means you keep moving instead of taking a break to sooth you weary bum. | | Weaknesses: | Bolts are one weakness. Need to buy separate spring/elastomer set if you don't happen to weigh just right for the medium spring set that comes with it. You need to add this to the price noted above plus shipping. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Old Trek Hardtail with lots and lots of upgrades | | Bottom Line: | I suppose I am pushing my luck running this post for around five years now, I would guess. It has not seen drastic off road use, but still, this is a long time for any product like this to survive on the root filled trails that I normally ride. I have even used it on my Bianchi road bike and am considering buying another one just for that bike. The only problem, other than pain in the annoying clamp set up, was broken bolts while riding in my yard. I hope USE has taken all of the comments on this review to heart, since most seem to center on only two real issues. I would/will buy this product again, despite the bolt problem and despite the need to turn around ard invest in spring upgrades. Buy it if you need a little extra plush but balk at full suspention; don't buy it if your not willing to spend time making it right for you and your intended use. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
solo rider
a
from san diego
Date Reviewed: April 7, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Light | | Weaknesses: | Durability, suspension action, head design | | Similar Products Used: | Rock Shox post | | Bottom Line: | The bottom line is avoid this post. The suspension action is aweful and mine broke after less than 3 months of use. Regardless of tuning options, the post barely moved under my 150lbs. I went with a Rock Shox post after using the USE and it is infintely better.
Don't waste your money on the USE. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ricky
a Cross Country Rider
from Scotland
Date Reviewed: April 4, 2005 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Strengths: | Cheap'ish, rear mudguard and pouch can be fitted to post, takes the sting out of bumps. | | Weaknesses: | Seat clamp fiddly to install, nylon keys wear causing sideaways seat movement, | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Trek 930, Judy XC, Use seatpost...yup, all old stuff but still works. | | Bottom Line: | USE telephone Support sent me two free replacement nylon keys under warranty (...they probabaly felt sorry for me since my kit was so old). Anyway, fitted the new nylon keys (used a vice to crush the old keys longways to remove them) and found a) still a lot of sideaways movement b) with a bit of force the seat could be made to fully rotate 360 deg!. Cause...the new keys are 0.025 inch shallower than the old ones. Fix...put a 1/32 inch shim under each new key...problem fixed! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sheila Reiter
a Racer
from Austin, Texas, US
Date Reviewed: June 1, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | Rocky Hill Ranch | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$130.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle Sport Shop | | Strengths: | Very comfortable ride | | Weaknesses: | Seat Clamp! Seat Clamp! Seat Clamp! | | Bike Setup: | Serrota CHT | | Bottom Line: | This is my second USE shockpost. The first one was great. Raced a full season and then some. Shop mechanic was able to rebuild the post with out problems but I eventually just wore it out. Bought the new XCR with the lame 2.5m screws and have had nothing but trouble. Seat won't stay clamped. I've had it installed by the shop mechanic since I just knew I would strip those screws. No matter, as soon as I would start a ride the seat would slip back. I'm only 149 lbs.
Now the seat nose is pointed at the sky and the screws are indeed stripped. The shop contacted USE and replacement parts are on the way. USE said a new clamp design would be available in 4-5 months and they would upgrade mine.
| Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
FishMan
a
from Flagstaff, AZ, US
Date Reviewed: February 8, 2004 | | Favoriate Trail: | anything in sedona | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$130.00 | | Purchased At: | can't friggne remembe anymore | | Strengths: | Relatively light, for the most part does it's job, suspension seatpost are a great addition to a hardtail, especially a race bike. | | Weaknesses: | fragile, especailly Alien head clamp, require more maintenance then something this simple really should. | | Similar Products Used: | just rigid posts | | Bike Setup: | Salsa Ala Carte, XTR, King, XT, Avid SD Ti, Paul Love levers, sweet ride | | Bottom Line: | I've owned three of these things and broken two of the three, broke the third one twice. can't remember how I broke the first one, but the most recent two breakages were due to the Alien seat clamp. This thing is just too fragile to have on a mountain bike, period. First one came flying apart because the screws appariently weren't tight enoug (who puts a 2.5mm allen headed screw on a seat clamp!?!?). Second breakage the damn thing just busted up on me in the middle of a race. The pieces of the clamp cracked and broke, and I found another crack lower on the seat mount. I only way 143 lbs, I shouldn't be able to break something like this. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
matt
a
from Bristol
Date Reviewed: June 25, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$140.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Bristol | | Strengths: | saves my aris, easy to service, fantastic back up from USE (sent me some new screws for free after I rounded the 1st ones with my cack handedness), strong, durable, lightish | | Weaknesses: | A bit pricy but you get what you pay for. Alien clamp is a bit of a pain but easy enough to set up once you've figured out how to | | Similar Products Used: | none, just aris beater rigids | | Bike Setup: | bike | | Bottom Line: | well impressed - pulled it apart 3 times in the last 2 years and found virtually no cack inside, absolute breeze to service. Used it for 1000 mile plus tours, all day rides, winter night riding and a mate used it for a 24h race - all no problem (probably about 3000+ miles) and no detectable play. Pretty much banished my back problems and my mate was so impressed that he's going to buy one himself.
2 points: 1, USE aren't good at replying to emails (like Hope or Orange) but will answer your phone call personally and send you replacement bits FOC. Customer back up is 2nd to none in the UK, but I'd probably get a RS/ WB one if I lived in the States (for patriotism/ anti-terrorism too).
2, yes the clamp is difficult to set right but not impossible. The trick is to get the bits wedged as tight together as possible with the saddle at the right angle BEFORE doing up the bolts. Squeeze the various bits together and then tap them gently with a mallet/ piece of wood, then do up the bolts. The only reason I rounded mine was because I was on a tour trying to get the angle perfect without the right tools. As for the bolts being dinky, well they're not stress bearers so they don't need to be huge. Their job in life is to jam everything together not to keep it in place - you can even take the bolts out and ride around for a good couple of rides before they come loose (should you want to).
Bottom line (I'm getting there) is that this is a good post that works very well and lasts. Don't buy it if you bend posts (you'll wear it out v. quickly/ break it), are mechanically incompetent (you'll wear it out v. quickly) or are in the States (leave that one up to you!). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Willy
a Weekend Warrior
from Nebraska
Date Reviewed: April 17, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$130.00 | | Strengths: | It works like I expected it should. | | Weaknesses: | None. | | Similar Products Used: | Rigid posts. | | Bike Setup: | Raleigh M800 | | Bottom Line: | The price was fine, and nothing has broken in over 4 years of use. I replaced the elastomer spring guts once due to weight gain from pumping iron (I gained ~40 lb and needed to stiffen up the post guts), but haven't had any failures of any parts at all. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
greg
a Cross Country Rider
from chester, ct
Date Reviewed: April 10, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | Blue trail | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | The product works reasonable well. It takes some of the pounding that trails can dish out. Seens to be the lightest of the seat posts. | | Weaknesses: | No customer service. I Striped the bolts in about 100 miles and can't get any response from either the company or distributor. I have been hearing good things about the White brothers. I think that my next stop. | | Bike Setup: | 02 Stumpjumper rebuilt with xtr. | | Bottom Line: | I would not recogmend this product because of the poor customer service. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Braveheart
a
from UK
Date Reviewed: March 31, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | Light weight, responsive, multi size fit using shims. | | Weaknesses: | The clamp design is ridiculously poor. Three pices of alloy held together with two very long M3 bolts which have a 2.5mm hex head. I have a carbon USE post on my road bike, and I've broken 2 screws on that already. This flimsy clamp has no place on an off road bike. The screws and clamp won't tolerate any more than 2 or 3 adjustments before either the screws bend or break, or the threads are stripped from the alloy clamp. | | Bike Setup: | Kona Muni Mula frame, full XTR , RS Duke Race, Hope Hubs, ceramic rims. | | Bottom Line: | Nice post.
USE needs to fire the design engineer who dreamed this one up, and revert to a more sensible clamp design.
2 chilis overall, the post itself is OK, but the clamp is USEless.
1 chilli for value, mines has busted again. Easton Carbon this time. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Curtis
a Cross Country Rider
from Rockville, MD
Date Reviewed: March 24, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$130.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance catalog | | Strengths: | Multiple sizes using included shim. | | Weaknesses: | No way to attach a saddle - very uncomfortable to ride! | | Similar Products Used: | First suspension seatpost tried.
| | Bike Setup: | Hand-built XC hardtail, Jamis Dragon ('98) frame. | | Bottom Line: | The new 2003 seat clamp is a total dog. It relies on 2 very tiny fine-thread screws to pull two machined end-blocks towards the center along a curved ramp. I attempted to mount a Topo ATB saddle with 0.276" diameter rails (it is designed to fit "7mm rails", about 0.27559"). The tolerances are too tight and I couldn't tighten the screws properly. I tried three saddles in all, none would fit. The screws are described as "3 mm" screws, but in fact they have a 2.5mm Allen head and the screw diameter is about 1.5 mm. These screws are better off inside of a watch than on an off-road bicycle. The tiny screw heads face the rear of the saddle where they will quickly foul with crud (if you didn't bugger them up already trying to put a saddle on). The curved support changes the saddle angle as the screws are tightened, making adjustment a guessing game. The tiny threaded holes in the aluminum pillow block will likely not stay threaded for long. This redesign of the seatpost clamp is a finicky "fiddle" that has no place on an off-road bicycle. It is simply too "tight" for all three of the MTB and road saddles that I tried. This is USE's latest and greatest design for 2003, and they have blown it. My queries to their website have not been returned. I've been wrenching for 30 years, I'm as capable as any home mechanic can be expected to be. Trust me and don't buy this seatpost! Even if you manage to get the saddle mounted, adjustments will be difficult in the field and the aluminum threaded blocks are just asking to strip out. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
gene
a Cross Country Rider
from Fair Oaks, CA USA
Date Reviewed: January 22, 2003 | | Favoriate Trail: | Big Boulder Downieville | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Smoothes out the little bumps, light enough | | Weaknesses: | Developed lateral movement (twisting along the post's axis.) Customer support is a black hole. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | GT Avalanche chopped up to be a Singlespeed, 517s, XT and Deore | | Bottom Line: | Nice at first, goes bad way to quickly. I DO NOT recommend this seatpost, unless you plan on rebuilding or replacing it every month. (Not even sure if you can rebuild it!? Support doesn't call back.)
If USE can work this problem out, however, they will have a winner, until then they've got a looser. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
david
a Racer
from USA
Date Reviewed: October 24, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$103.00 | | Purchased At: | Performance | | Strengths: | light weight, functional | | Weaknesses: | light weight, seat clamp, not enough room on rails to adjust seat to proper position. Top-out thud noise. | | Similar Products Used: | Rigid post only | | Bike Setup: | Schwinn Homegrown HT | | Bottom Line: | At first was impressed with the post. On the second ride started to have a top out thud noise. Read reviews below and feel that I have trouble coming. Seat post slipped on the first ride, but has not since I re-tightened.
Biggest problem is not being able to set up my seat correctly. I use a Avocet O2, which is a pretty basis seat. Due to the straight angle of the seat clamp, there is not enough space to adjust the seat as far back as I like.
Setting up the seat clamp was real torture. How can you make anything more difficult.
My brother purchased an XCR at the same time. His is noticably stiffer than mine (suspension wise). I figure that they put the wrong elastomers in his.
Bottom Line: I don't have a good feeling about this product. Looks like I am in for the same fate as others down below. I also e-mailed USE and asked about the seat adjustment problem. NO reply. You would think that a company that sells high priced equipment could at least answer an e-mail, especially, since you have to phone England in order to talk with them. I feel that this maybe a company that pursues weight at the cost of longevity. That's too bad since,I also have a Alien Carbon seat post on my road bike. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Terry Ash
a Weekend Warrior
from Conyers, GA, USA
Date Reviewed: October 8, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | 1996 Olympic Course | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$125.00 | | Purchased At: | I've Forgotten - Web company | | Strengths: | Smooth action. | | Weaknesses: | Need Shims to fit even the common 27.2 size frames.
Spring Kit to adjust for rider weight are expensive.
Alien Seat Clamp is a pain to adjust, and is just plain weak. | | Similar Products Used: | Coda Suspension Post | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale F900SX w/lefty. w/XT crank and Monkey lite bar. | | Bottom Line: | The seat clamp failed mid-ride. The saddle dropped off to the rear nearly impaling me on the jagged broken Alien clamp, and nearly causing a major crash.
I had a high opinion of the product once I had it set-up right, but this failure has really caused me concern.
I have also experienced the Customer Service nightmares mentioned here.
The website and product packaging lack any kind of phone numbers, and no one answers the e-mails.
I would like to send it in for warranty, but to where???
If anyone has an address or phone number for the company, please e-mail me!!! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Joel
a Cross Country Rider
from Lancaster, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: October 8, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Cannell Plunge | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$140.00 | | Purchased At: | Supergo | | Strengths: | Weighed less than the Cane Creek Thudbuster I replaced it with | | Weaknesses: | flexed up and down more than it absorbed. Personal preference here, but I didn't care for the seat to BB distance changing. It seemed to throw off my rythm... | | Similar Products Used: | Cane Creek Thudbuster | | Bike Setup: | Specialized M2, Marzocchi Atom Z2, XT/XTR, Race Face, Easton, Velomax Climax's | | Bottom Line: | Only used for a short time, as it flexed horribly. I was afraid that it was going to snap...I pulled it off and ordered the cane creek.... | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Allen E.
a Racer
from Haw Ridge
Date Reviewed: September 14, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Saddle at Haw | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$150.00 | | Purchased At: | PricePoint | | Strengths: | Does what it says it will do: eat up the 1-3" bumps. Seems solid enough. Really does help keep your ass down on roots and babyheads. | | Weaknesses: | Comes with medium elastomers for all, though at 170 lbs. I need small elastomers. That means that it's not terribly responsive. | | Similar Products Used: | My bud bought a RockShox post and loves it--for $60. | | Bike Setup: | 1. Schwinn Moab 1 Hardtail with Judy/XT
2. Cannondale CAD3 Hardtail with DD60/XT | | Bottom Line: | Buy the RockShox: same performance for 1/2 price. Break it and buy a new one. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SGT. ROCK
a Racer
from Edmonton, AB
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Strengths: | Really takes the edge off
Well made
Fits any bike w/adapters
Leg saver
Decent damping - doesn't pogo | | Weaknesses: | Price | | Bike Setup: | New alum hardtail frame | | Bottom Line: | This is a review for the old version with 2.0" travel and the old style clamp. I bought this post about three years ago, but didn't use it much. Refused to put it on my racing hardtail because it weighs about 100 grams more than a 400mm Thompson, and thought that there couldn't be much benefit for races lasting less than two hours.
Recently, I replaced my Giant hardtail with a new frame, and started thinking about this almost-new USE post. Mostly thinking about how the Giant pounded my a$$ on rough terrain. Put it on the new frame - WHAT AN IDIOT! I should have been using this thing all along! Reduced the need to get off the seat by 90%, saves your leg power for pedaling of standing. The extra weight is insignificant compared to the comfort provided by the squish.
I agree with some of the other users about the durabilty of the post - for XC riding, it's OK. For severe trail riding, dirt jumping or other abuse, don't USE. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dave Feten
a Cross Country Rider
from Colorado Springs, CO
Date Reviewed: August 25, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Captain Jacks | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$139.00 | | Purchased At: | Colorado Cyclist | | Strengths: | Lightweight, works well before it breaks. | | Weaknesses: | Short life span, high price. | | Similar Products Used: | Have not used any other suspension seatpost. Now I use a Snycros TI post. | | Bike Setup: | Cannondale F-1000. Shimano XT and GripShift. | | Bottom Line: | This is a good seatpost for the first year. Then due to the lightweight materials the seatpost will snap. I have broken three to date. The first two were covered under warrantee. I will not use this seatpost again as I was lucky I didn't get seriously injured when number 3 broke. U.S.E. should state the post should be used for only 1 year and then catastrophic failure may occur. Product would rate much higher if its life span was longer. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Wayne
a Cross Country Rider
from Lebanon, NH
Date Reviewed: August 2, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Gifford Pinchot | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$110.00 | | Purchased At: | Pedro's Fest | | Strengths: | Relatively light, good telescoping action, no stiction after many hard trail miles | | Weaknesses: | Slight rotational play, tricky to adjust seat position | | Similar Products Used: | Nashbar suspension seatpost (OK for commuting, useless on trails) | | Bike Setup: | 1998 Stumpjumper M2 hardtail | | Bottom Line: | The M2 is a very stiff bike that is hard on the back and butt. The XCR smooths over all the small bumps, and even prevents the big fast downhill bumps from accidentally knocking me off the seat. Note that I'm a small rider at 135 lbs, so the default springs were perfectly sized.
Good thing I bought it directly from the USE booth at Pedro's Fest. He installed it and saved me countless hours of messing with the seatpost. Only other problem is with the old style seat rail clamp. The clamp is centered over the tube, and I've maxed out the seat rails in trying to move the seat as far back as possible (where the original seat position was). The plastic shim for the seat tube worked a lot better than I expected. I only have to adjust it once every few months, where I'd feared I'd have to adjust it after every ride because it will slowly creep down after a few big hits. Otherwise, the XCR has been completely maintenance-free.
I'm very happy with the product despite its high cost and odd seat clamp mechanism. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Anthony Bichler
a Cross Country Rider
from Palisade, CO, USA
Date Reviewed: July 21, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Grand Mesa's Deep Dark Woods | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Purchased At: | Price Point | | Strengths: | Was nice for the first two rides. Seems to be well-respected by the cycling press. | | Weaknesses: | A very annoying top-out clunking. Difficult to reach customer service. | | Similar Products Used: | Will probably be buying a Cane Creek Thudbuster. | | Bike Setup: | Trek 8000, Marzocchi Atom Race, Shimano XT and SRAM 9.0
| | Bottom Line: | I am very dissapointed with this product after six rides. After my first two rides, I was ready to become a walking bilboard for USE and what I felt to be an amazing improvement to my bike and the industry as a whole. I could stay seated on aggressive, rough climbs, and my butt didn't hurt so much after the tough rides, but now--unfortunately--I am contemplating going back to a rigid post and returning my purchase as a DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. The post has developed a very, very annoying top-out clunk when it returns back to its top position. At first, I thought maybe it was normal, and I just needed to stay firmly seated, but it has gotten worse to the point where I am now flung upwards out of the saddle and the post CLUNKS--sometimes several times in a ten-second period while descending. You either have to be pushing down on the seat with all of your weight OR just stand--kinda defeats the purpose, huh? When I took the post apart to examine why it makes this noise, I realized how cheaply made it was and that I needed suspension for my suspension. Not only that, but USE is hard to contact--an international phone number, contact option on website does not work, and they will not respond to my e-mails (after two weeks)--A REAL BUMMER. Sometimes I really think the bicycle industry is going backwards. It seems that the intentions are good, but in the end, the products just turn out like cheaply-made, high-priced toys. I want to see a real push towards durability and function rather than lightweight racing. So few actual bike buyers race and are gram-conscious, but everybody suffers from this trend. I've been riding seriously for a long time now--my last mountain bike was seven years old before I retired it. I am extremely frustrated to see that the expensive parts on my new bike can't even last seven days before developing problems. :(
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John H
a Weekend Warrior
from Brighton
Date Reviewed: May 16, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | Anything! | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$126.00 | | Purchased At: | Leisure Lakes | | Strengths: | It works! | | Weaknesses: | Fiddly clamping mechanism. Need a long T handle hex. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Fisher Xcaliber full XT and spech BG comp saddle. Otherwise standard | | Bottom Line: | I knocked 45min's off of my training loop on my first ride.
A real alternative to going fully sussed. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
MArtin Brown
a Cross Country Rider
from London
Date Reviewed: March 26, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | 110 | | Strengths: | Didn't really notice much diffierenct until I went back to a rigid post, then I realised what it was doing. | | Weaknesses: | After 1 yr the seat post snapped, I'm not particularly heavy 160lb and only do XC stuff, so it was a bit of a surprise. | | Similar Products Used: | Thompson | | Bike Setup: | Specialised M5, Crossmax, XTR/XT, | | Bottom Line: | Good post until it breaks. At least it didin't snap and remove my nads unlike some other posters reported. It remains to be seen what the USE support is like, judging by other comments I will not expect too much. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
J-bay
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Cruz
Date Reviewed: February 25, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | Local shop | | Strengths: | The post is working good. I like it better than my rock shox post. Very smooth action. | | Weaknesses: | The post at 25.4 diameter is a cost cutting move to help cutt their cost in production by trying to fit every frame built. I was worried when I read some reviews of this post snapping in two. Their is to much flex in 25.4 diameter tubing. A big 190 pound agressive rider needs more metal around the middle. | | Similar Products Used: | Rock Shox | | Bottom Line: | The bottom line is if 25.4 was enough diameter why are all the forks going to 30.mm and 32.mm. I took a old mc mahon ti post stuck the use post inside it fit perfectly. I sawed the head off the ti post and cut a slice up the bottom drilled a small hole above the cut line just like on your seat tube. Bam double wall all the way up to the rubber boot and way deep into the frame. Now my post looks insane matches my ti frame and it rides smoother with a smoothness only a ti guy can feel. I added some weight but now I feel more secure with my double wall post. Also it just looks right. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Grant
a Racer
from Johannesburg South Africa
Date Reviewed: February 22, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | The one in the mountains | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$111.00 | | Purchased At: | Westdene Cycles | | Strengths: | really cuts the nasty stuff off the trail. 2 of my ridding buddies ride hard tails, and when they are standing im usuly sitting savin my energy, alien clamp is really complex looking but so adjustable it makes up for it. | | Weaknesses: | the post is really thin. use probably make it so that it fits all bikes , this is cool but a 26 in my giants 30 makes it look wierd., also there is about 1/2 a cm play sideways but this is not apparent when riding. | | Similar Products Used: | Stiff roox | | Bike Setup: | Giant atx 880 , full xt.nuff said | | Bottom Line: | this is a great post, yes an expensive post, but great nonetheless. Buy one now, it weighs the same as your old one if not lighter and has 2.3" of travel.
Highly recomended to all racers and serrious xc riders. Gets 5 chillies 4 overall, but value losses one 4 price | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Perry
a Cross Country Rider
from Austin TX
Date Reviewed: February 15, 2002 | | Favoriate Trail: | The one's that are left | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$120.00 | | Strengths: | Back saver for hardtail riders. | | Weaknesses: | Customer service. Outer tube is too small in diameter. There is a tiny amount of play that lets the seat rotate side to side, but it's never noticeable while riding. I thought the clamp screws would break first. | | Similar Products Used: | Cane Creek Thudbuster (aka: bucking butt launcher) | | Bike Setup: | Stumpjumper w/ XT, XTR | | Bottom Line: | This was a great product before the outer tube snapped in half just above the seat post clamp. I am currently using a Thudbuster that sucks in comparison. I really liked the performance of the XC shokpost and would like to replace the outer tube. Seems like that would be an easy item for USE to sell me, but I haven't gotten a response.
Their website makes it hard as hell to find contact info. There were two places I could find to send messages and I've used both and no reply. Reading other reviews, I guess this is where you get USE to respond. I don't see how that makes for "great" customer service.
So, to USE: If you can't provide a replacement outer tube, then say so. If you can, I'll buy it. If you want the broken one, I'll send it. Just please give me some feedback.
This is an expensive seatpost to only last a couple of years. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Don Threadgold
a Weekend Warrior
from Japan
Date Reviewed: January 16, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | USE | | Strengths: | It does the job. Takes the edge off. | | Bottom Line: | It seems that designing the perfect seat post is an impossible task given the parimiters. Riding bikes is never ging to be like riding a Rolls. I got the standard issue and at 70Kg I immediatly felt the benifits. After 1 year I have just ordered a service kit as thereis a small
amount of rotational play. After trying a few other brands
withlittle effect I feel I should give USB the cred they deserve. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
J-Bay
a Cross Country Rider
from Santa Cruz
Date Reviewed: December 3, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$200.00 | | Purchased At: | ABS | | Strengths: | The no sag travel works. | | Weaknesses: | The price is way to high. After buying the shim and the correct spring kit with the post I was shocked at the total.Now I know why it's called a shokpost.They could at least throw in the goofy 2.5 wrench and a small tube of grease. | | Similar Products Used: | Rockshox seatpost. | | Bottom Line: | The post looks to small at 25.0mm dia compared to the rest of the fat tubes on my bike.A post this spendy not offered in 27.2 is lame.With the pre-load plug screwed in with no threads showing the post is to stiff with the only other adjustment being firmer thats with the plug flush with the bottom of the post. I like the post it work's good but it loses a star for all the add ons that add up to a-lot of money. If it holds up as long as my rockshox post did I will be happy. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Ken
a Cross Country Rider
from Philadelphia, PA
Date Reviewed: November 19, 2001 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$100.00 | | Purchased At: | Gus's Bicycles | | Strengths: | Smooth Suspension, very little stiction | | Weaknesses: | Developes lateral play quickly | | Similar Products Used: | CODA Susp. Post | | Bike Setup: | Hartail | | Bottom Line: | This is a very good telescoping seatpost. The travel is smooth and a least 2" or more. My problem with the post is that it developed serious lateral play (quickly). The saddle moves a good 1/2" side to side. I purchased a rebuilt kit and it tighten for a short period. I looked closer and the problem was not with the nylon keys but the slot they slide in was worn away. I also used "suspension" grease instead of regular grease. I replaced the post with a used one and the same problem developed. I love this post and I recommend it for lighter riders (less than 150 lbs.). I'm waiting to hear from USE to see what they recommend or if they will let me replace the worn parts without shelling out a lot of money. This was a very expensive post to fall apart as quick as it did.
One more: The clamp sucks. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Lucas
a Cross Country Rider
from UK
Date Reviewed: October 22, 2001 | |
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$ 159.95
