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Answer
Bodyshock Seatpost
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Submitted by
johnnyb
a Cross Country Rider
from San Anselmo
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Mt. Tamalpais | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$109.00 | | Purchased At: | Cesars Cyclery | | Strengths: | Works like it should when everything is lubed and adjusted. | | Weaknesses: | Heavy, plastic covering slips, small metal collar inside that the set screw goes through, crumbled to pieces after a few months. Questionable metals used. | | Similar Products Used: | none | | Bike Setup: | Stumpy Pro, Marzocchi, WTB, Race Face, Phil Wood bb | | Bottom Line: | Rode the heck out of it for a year (2,500 miles), worked good. Had to do maintenance by adjusting the set screw everytime out and I would lube the elastomers and every other moving piece often. It has a lot of lateral play that always made me feel uncomfortable. I could never get it to exactly feel right. But it did take the harshness out of riding on flat sections. I usually never ride seated on downhills anyways. BUT, THE SEATPOST BROKE IN HALF when I was a good six miles out there. I'll buy a dualie before another one of these things. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Martin Boggess
a Cross Country Rider
from Portland, OR
Date Reviewed: June 15, 2001 | | Favoriate Trail: | Coopers Rock | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Free | | Strengths: | Pluch ride. Simple Maintenance. | | Weaknesses: | Side to side Slop. Bulky plastic dust cover. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | XTR | | Bottom Line: | My first suspension seat post. It works good, does take the harshness off the trail. I had to cut the plastic dust cover off. It basically came apart after about a year. It is actually light without it anyway. I got a neoprene cover instead. The post is easy to disassemble and clean/rebuild. The elastomers from your older answer forks can fit in the post also, nice bonus. The post has put up with tons of abuse, so I cannot complain. Plus it was free from my local shop. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Wood Hippie
a Cross Country Rider
from Springdale, AR 72762
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | Chadwick | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Answer's good reputation | | Weaknesses: | The cheap, two-piece roller bearing / terrible bike shops that are doing their best to encourage mail order and internet shopping... the post breaks consistently and predictably, and the shop (Sunshine Cycles in Springfield, MO) treated me as if I broke it twice on purpose, and cheated me out of $65 dollars due to the fact that I discarded my sales receipt (which showed a selling price of $179 plus tax; I bought it that high because of the crazy thought that supporting local shops would pay off in service, etc.)would only after a whole year of discussion refund their rock-bottom sale price (about $100) of the remaining junk in the inventory. | | Similar Products Used: | none... I am permanently scarred by this product and will not attempt to lose money again by believing bogus product reviews in MBA...Bike magazine is best, dont believe the others | | Bike Setup: | hardtail | | Bottom Line: | the post, unless revised, is an unwise purchase | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Matt Hayes
a Cross Country Rider
from Lisbon Falls, Maine, United States
Date Reviewed: April 23, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Strengths: | Plush, 1 1/2 inches of travel! | | Weaknesses: | Weight (heaver than Rockshox) | | Similar Products Used: | Nashbar Post (wich suck) | | Bike Setup: | XT, LX, Mavic, Answer | | Bottom Line: | This post very good! I have only had it for about 2 weeks and got way cheaper than $140 ($50 I got it)! Here in Maine it is still cold and it works fine, I can't wait for warmer weather and I get the full travel! | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Andy
a Racer
from Duluth, MN
Date Reviewed: March 5, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | Lutsen Mountain | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | absorbs trail chatter well, plush, adjustable | | Weaknesses: | heavy, the roller bearing breaks easily(I'm on my 3rd post but Answer has been good with warranty repair) | | Similar Products Used: | Catamount full suspension bike | | Bike Setup: | Trek 8300 | | Bottom Line: | I'd have trouble recommending this one due to the number of times the bearing has broken but it's been fixed once and replaced twice by Answer. When it's working, it works great. I'm used to full suspension but for racing I think this is the better setup. It lets you ride over small rocks and roots while staying seated and putting the power down. If my current post dies again, I will probably go for a Thudbuster. If you find this one on sale, it might be worthwhile. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SLICK
a Cross Country Rider
from EDGEWOOD NM
Date Reviewed: February 24, 2000 | | Favoriate Trail: | ANY SINGLETRACK | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Adjustability
Deadens the little stuff that wears on you after 3+ hours in the saddle. | | Weaknesses: | Adjustability
poor boot design
the metalurgy may be questionable
must keep rhe post and shim clean and properly greased | | Bike Setup: | Raleigh M-800 | | Bottom Line: | Got the post for an excellent price back in June 1998 and had very little problems with it at fist. I weigh 190 lbs and used the frimest bushing they had, and no real problems for the first year. The second year the plastic boot came apart and I used a old inner tube in its place. This works fine but usually must be replaced about every 6 months. The minimal sideplay was never an issue for me. I did use "locktite" on the set screw though. This month while on a 20 mile training ride, the post snapped in two between the seat clamp and the bearings. This part of the post is solid and 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick and should NOT have snapped the way it did. Which brings me to question the way it was designed. So if you have and old "Body Shock", you may want to inspect it for cracks in this area | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
SJ
a Racer
from over thar
Date Reviewed: January 14, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | heh, heh | | Weaknesses: | Heavy. Cheap internal workings. | | Similar Products Used: | RS, tamer | | Bike Setup: | OCLV | | Bottom Line: | I paid 139. when they first came out. The magazines all rated it number one. That shows you what ad dollars will do. My first one lasted 3mo before some bearing snapped. You could shake it and hear broken parts in it. I sent it back and the second one lasted 4mo before the same thing. I sent it back the third time and it broke in 3.5mo. I trashed it. Now they cost about 70. And thats about right, although i wouldnt pay that for it. Hall of shame. Its tough to find a good shock. Im still searching for one that will take the trails w/o breaking. I weigh 150lbs. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Greg W
a Cross-Country Rider
from El Paso,Tx
Date Reviewed: September 7, 1999 | | Favoriate Trail: |
too many | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
comfort, adjustability | | Weaknesses: |
weight, plastic cover | | Similar Products Used: |
none | | Bike Setup: |
'95 KHS Montana comp, Manitou Mach 5 pro | | Bottom Line: | Works. It was a little finicky to set up at first, but once it broke in, I don't mess with it. 2 and a half years and counting, and the trails around here are pretty rough. These things are coming down in price, so if you find one on sale, I'd say jump on it. I took mine apart to clean and lube it after one year, and thought I'd try changing out the elastomers. I swapped em for some med (red) ones from my fork, and what a difference! More usable travel, and more plush. 4 chilis. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Evan
a Downhiller
from AL
Date Reviewed: August 28, 1999 | | Favoriate Trail: |
got lot's | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
has none | | Weaknesses: |
Heavy
Breaks
Very stiff
The swivel is a pain | | Similar Products Used: |
USE
Rockshox (the best)
Tamers | | Bike Setup: |
souped up trek 8500 | | Bottom Line: | this product sucks..... nuff said | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff Griffin
a Weekend Warrior
from Manchester, CT
Date Reviewed: July 29, 1999 | | Favoriate Trail: |
Blue Trail, Case Mountain | | Duration Product Used: |
2 Years | | Strengths: |
Adjustability, easy to maintain | | Weaknesses: |
Side to side play, needle bearing breaks easily, plastic boots, post slips down into the frame | | Similar Products Used: |
None | | Bike Setup: |
Answer Body Shock | | Bottom Line: | When it's not broke, it works well. I broke 2 needle bearings within the first year. The people at Answer were great to deal with. Fixed both times but I did have to pay for shipping. They suggested I use the firm bushings and this seemed to solve the bearing breakage (at least so far). While I do like the post, I would not recommend it since it took so much effort to make it work they way it should out of the box. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
treebark
a Racer
from Arkansas
Date Reviewed: April 24, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
6 months | | Strengths: |
Plush and comfy. Lots of travel a natural feel. | | Weaknesses: |
Falls apart poor wkmanship. heavy | | Similar Products Used: |
Rockshock post.
Contro Tech
USE | | Bike Setup: |
Trek OCLV | | Bottom Line: | Sorry guys, this post is garbage. The first one i had for one race and i busted that metal cylinder piece behind the side to side adj. screw. I called the factory they sent me a new one. Two races later it broke same place. Again i called the factory they sent me a new one it lasted two training rides and busted the same piece. Yes the adj. screw was set proper. The boot kept coming down in a race and got caught and kinked i had to cut it off and replace w/ a lizard skin. I will say that when it wks it wks well. For a 139.00 I need something that will last a race season at least! 145lbs | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff Hudnut
a racer
from Brighton, MI
Date Reviewed: September 7, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I've used the same post for two years now and I never had a problem. Here's some tuning tips
- play with the elastomers. I put a type II spring system in mine WOW!
- put locktight or teflon tape on the adjustment screw so it stays put.
- DON'T put grease on the post. Put it on the outside of the shim.I've read some postings from disatisfied owners and they made me sick!
Come on people, grow a little brain and be enginuitive! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Doug Herbert
a cross-country rider
from Denver
Date Reviewed: August 11, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I love the post. Great on the trail, allowing for seated riding and traction through all but the monster rocks. Really helps on the steep uphills, allowing for my big butt to keep the rear wheel on the ground when I hit water bars, rocks and other fun trail debris.The only real problem I've had (I don't consider minimal sideplay and slippage a real problem, since they can be corrected satisfactorily) is that the shim around the bearing cracked after about 6 months of riding. I took it to a local dealer and they gave me a new post on the spot, so that is promising. However, it seems that others have had this problem as well....so it will probably happen again. If they could improve that aspect, the post would be virtually flawless in my opinion. I will give it 4 stars......3 for the post and 1 for the no questions replacement. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
BRYAN HOPKINS
a cross-country rider
from missouri
Date Reviewed: August 7, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I love the suspension seat post...after riding one for a while you are kind of shocked (literaly) when you get on a normal hardtail..i was taking all those hits down there and liking it????!!!..makes me wonder if this devise is the cure for all the paranoa concerning impotence. the only beef i have is after about one year of really hard riding i cracked the bushing from around the needle bearing...answer sent a new bearing....and about 9 months later....broke another. to answers credit they up and sent me a brand new post and i am a very aggresive rider (200lbs). i have tried the post modern and it worked great for about 2 months till the bushing wore out..then huge stiction....the needle bearing in the answer may be heavy but it provided a long term stiction free ride...if i would stop breaking the bearing's bushing...but a t a bearing a year it is still better that other designs and way better that a non-suspended post...get one | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kyron
a weekend warrior
from pacifica ca
Date Reviewed: June 19, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I broke it with in 40 miles . Answer gave me my $ right back.
i do weigh 220 tho so it had its work cut out. felt gerat while
it lasted, hopefully new verison will be better cause answer makes
a killer product!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i dont wanta write any more about this product thank you POACH SINGLETRACK EVERYWHERE | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Charlie Martin
a cross-country rider
from Bradford, UK
Date Reviewed: June 4, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I have to really rate this post, I have had no slippage in my Team Marin, and I'm a pretty hard rider. When riding the same routes with and without the post I find that my back has no pain when using the post. The twisting movement is there, but so what? It doesn't effect my riding as far as I can tell. If you want something to take the sting out of the trail, and want to keep your hardtail, get it, it's worth the small weight penalty. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jonathan Ryan
a cross-country rider
from MA
Date Reviewed: May 24, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I think that it is a raelly good buy for omone who is like me and has a bad back . The only problems that I had with it was that it has some side to side play which can be gotten ride of with the screw on the front. The other thing is that after a few months the bottom boot of it wore out and cracked off. The company was very good about it though and sent me a new boot. soon after that broke and they sent me a new post with no charges | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jordan
a cross-country rider
from Manhattan
Date Reviewed: May 18, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This post is the most poorly designed piece of crap rip-off. I race on it, ride aggressively on it, and weigh 175 pounds. It has had major stiction, and unacceptable side-to-side play. Recently, the bottom half of the boot receded into the top, and refused to stay down for long. I eventually cut off the whole plastic sleeve boot and replaced it with an inner tube, which performed much better. The seat slips down about 1 per hour on the trail, and it has also bent. The Bodyshock is definitely better than a rigid post, but I'm buying something else when this finally falls apart. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rob
a weekend warrior
from Orange County
Date Reviewed: April 30, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This seat post works well. The travel is plush and peddling thru the nasties
is great. On downhills, get off the saddle but rest your legs on the seat and
your tires will bite. There is a little side to side play, but if your riding
hard, you won't notice it. Buy it, you can't go wrong! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
chris g.
a weekend warrior
from sf,ca
Date Reviewed: April 15, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
well, i've put in an additional 125 miles since my last review and can honestly say that this post is worth the money. no probs with slippage or side to side play. i swapped out a medium elastomer for another hard one and found the bobbing to be minimized, but still felt plush. i haven't had to make any adjustments at all after i dialed everything in... | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris G.
a weekend warrior
from S.F. CA
Date Reviewed: March 19, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I have been on 4 rides since putting the bodyshock on my Zaskar and have found it to be very plush. I've had to get used to the bobbing when hitting bumps, potholes and stutters. I've been used to the seat slammin' into me. The side to side play that has bugged me since the beginning has been remedied by a dose of Loctite. I was about to exchange this post for a non-suspended one, but have gotten used to the cushion. I'll give it 4 flames for now and will review it further after a few more rides. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mike Boucher
a cross-country rider
from Maine
Date Reviewed: January 22, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
I shopped around for a seatpost for about six months.
I ordered the Post modern from Supergo and I canceled when they told
me it was backordered for an undisclosed time. Look at my suprise when
I found the body shock at a famous maine store for fifty bucks. I put locktight
on the set screw when it started to come loose, and so far I have had no problems.
I ride snowmobile trails in the winter. The seatpostis great. I see no apprechiable
suspension. However, it seems to take the edge off the constant pounding I
experienced as I rode on some pretty rough trails. For my post I give it
a perfect score. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Daniel j Myers
a cross-country rider
from SURFSIDE BEACH SC
Date Reviewed: November 30, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
The BEST money i have spent for a seat poast .I have used the coda and use
and there is no comparison! The answer bodyshock preforms under all conditions no stiction
easey to adjust many combnations to adjust for every riders style!
I have no complaints , very plush ride,money very well spent!!!!! | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David
a weekend warrior
from Richmond, Va.
Date Reviewed: November 29, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Waste of money! Adjustment screw is too sensitive. Set it for no play at the beginning of the ride and by the time your done it's side to side slop city. I got some mud up in the boot and it was stiction city. Too heavy, too expensive. Lasted about a month. Need I say more? | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Brian S
a cross-country rider
from Ohio
Date Reviewed: November 12, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I have owned this post for about 6 months now and love it. I have had a couple of the same problems as others in these reviews, but have found solutions. first the play adjuster just needs a little bit of locktite on the threads and it will hold its adjustment. Before this it needed to be adjusted after every ride. Second, my post slipped into the frame during every ride also but I discovered that the next bigger shim size fit into my frame more like the correct size should have. No forcing the post in, but snug. I have now not adjusted its height for months and it has not moved one single bit (I have it marked with tape). This post does what it should and is very plush. If the play adjuster is adjusted correctly there is no noticeable stiction. It is very plush but gets a little sluggish when the temperature drops below 35-40 degrees. Very easy to get used to. Doesn't look half as stupid as a linkage post and has much less play. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Duke
a cross-country rider
from Philippines
Date Reviewed: November 9, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I had the post for about 6 months and 800 miles. I noticed the side-to-side play since day one but stuck w/ it anyway because it was better than nothing. Stiction from the plastic boots came about a week later. Then the lower plastic boot just slid down during a hard ride. It kept on sliding after a couple of rides so I glued the inner side to the aluminum post. It doesn't slide anymore but the plastic boot looks beaten. And yes, I'm having slippage problems too. I should have given this a 5 but minus one each for the cheap,lousy plastic boots, slippage problem and the high price. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lloyd
a cross-country rider
from Michigan
Date Reviewed: September 24, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I rode the seatpost last night for the first time. Let me say that this is my first susp. post and I way 225lbs.The post was great. I am using one hard(brown) and 3 medium(yellow) elastomers. I do have some pre-load adjusted in so I think I will get a couple more hard elastomers so I can tune it with out pre-load.Even with the current setup I was amazed at how well it worked. I did not notice the side play. The seat does not really go side to side rather it has a little twist motion to it. This can be taken out with an adjustment screw but, this does make the action a little sticky and the screw is very sensative. Things seemed to really smooth out as the nylon rub block the the adjustment screw rubs on smoothed out.Overall the post is great and seems to be very durrable. NO SLIPPAGE for me and I hist some good bumps trying to get it to slip.If you are thinking of getting a susp. seatpost I would certainly recommend it. The asnwer post is a very good choice. 4.5 stars so I will round up. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Adam Herbert
a racer
from
Date Reviewed: September 18, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
i've raced on a specific course with and without the body shock on the same bike and the differences are amazing
this was an extremely technical course in the West Virginia circuit that was 28 miles for the expert class.
i was much less fatigued with the body shock in use, it made the ride much smoother with out adding too much weight. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Cbaby
a cross-country rider
from Santa Cruz CA
Date Reviewed: September 16, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Pluses: Smooth action, adjustability, nice clamp head/machine work, does what it's supposed to do, which is add COMFORT!
Minuses: A tad heavy, weird-looking plastic boot, shim didn't fit my 26.8 Stumpy frame so well, but my 31.6 Klein was perfect.In sum, I gotta say all the fiddling, weight and dorky looks (compared to a svelte $yncro$ post) is worth it.. at least to my 31-year old back. I'd say about 98% of my climbing is done in the saddle, and this really helps me feel human at the end of the ride. And you can stay seated and power over roots, ruts and rocks without feeling like you have to sacrifice your prostate to the mtb gods! It made me love my Klein that much more, which I didnt think was possible. 5 chilis for function, minus one for the shim that wouldnt fit my Stumpy. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Larry Desaulniers
a cross-country rider
from Corvallis, Oregon
Date Reviewed: August 4, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
First, I must say I am dealer, selling the Answer Bodyshock post.
I have had one a while in an M2 frame with a BIG shim. I have done one
key modification that greatly reduces 'stiction', which is removing the
lower plastic 'boot', then installing a rubber boot from a cannondale
headshock fork, a near perfect fit. Before installing, put some grease
on the roller track, and rub-block track; much mo' smoother. Use zip-ties
top and bottom, and voil-a!, no plastic boot induced stiction, and zero
chance of contamination from gook (a real concern in the NW). Also, the
boot doesn't rub one's legs.Further, the friction from the rotational play
adjuster will go-away over time as the surface the nylon rub-block rubs
against smooths out. Why Answer doesn't make it smoother to start with
is beyond me.
Setting up the post with the correct amount of sag is critical.
Using harder or softer elastomers with zero-to-minimal preload is the way
to go. I am 150 lbs, and I use 3/4 of sag, which is great for
light-to-moderately rough terrain.
As far as the shim situation, all you people who have slipping
problems need to try this: NO grease on outside of shim (where it touches
the frame), and a good film of your favorite grease (replaced from time to
time) on the post and the inner surface of the shim. No more slipping.
I like the post a lot, but Answer blew lots of details, and has not
addressed them. 1) stupid plastic boots. 2) too little info given about
proper sag setup, and no 'warning' given about break-in period for play
adjustment system. 3) tips for minimizing slippage problem.
It is heavy, but it works well. It is spendy, but it will last
eternally. I rate it highly because of function (in the end), and its
bomb proof reliablility. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bryan
a racer
from Corning, NY
Date Reviewed: July 25, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I didn't shop around for a susp. post too much because I am a loyal Answer/Manitou customer. I wish I'd shopped. My Bodyshock is lying on my kitchen table and will stay there. The shim DOESNT WORK. It won't stay up(insert penis joke here)! It also rattles and is too plush. I only weigh 155 and it kept bottoming. If you don't have to use the shim it might be better. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Graham Beasley
a cross-country rider
from Charlotte NC
Date Reviewed: July 21, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
This is the only susp. seatpost I have tied, but it certainly soaks up the !-inch
bumps you normally would have to leave the saddle for. Side play is a problem
I can live with. I understand a little Loctite will solve this.
My lower back demanded I do something, and this is cheaper than a dualie.
I doubt I will go back to a hardtail again. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Mark Underwood
a cross-country rider
from Dallas, Texas
Date Reviewed: July 21, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I really like this post. I haven't tried any other suspension posts but
this one really takes the sting out of the bumps. I've ridden the post on the
roots in Texas, and the rocks in Arkansas and Colorado. I doubt I ever go to
full suspension. Yes, it could be lighter and cheaper. I solved the slipping
problem by hand-knurling the post myself with a file. You have to get use to
the seat wiggle when it is adjusted right. It doesn't bother me - I'm too busy
flying down the trail over bumps to notice. I quit racing last year after only a couple of races because my lower back couldn't take it. Maybe I'll
try again now that I've got the post. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jerry
a weekend warrior
from Tennessee
Date Reviewed: July 8, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Tried one for a couple of weeks but got tired of fiddling with the adjustment and sent it back. The set-screw adjuster is too sensitive to even the slightest turn. A fraction of a turn one way makes it too tight. A fraction of a turn the other way makes it too loose. I never found the sweet spot. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
A. G. Kalsbeek
a weekend warrior
from Fond du Lac WI 54935
Date Reviewed: June 24, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I ride 2500m/yr on paved roads on a Trek 7600 with 700/28C 120 psi tires.
I'm extremely pleased with this item. The price is quite high at $140 but it's worth it. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dan
a racer
from Flagstaff, AZ
Date Reviewed: May 25, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
Had one for two months and loved it. Cleaned my bike one day and noticed that it was bent. Back to the shop. If I bent one I'll bend another. I am a bigger rider though, at about 190 lbs. Take it or leave it. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
BYC
a weekend warrior
from New Zealand
Date Reviewed: April 23, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
It works but it slips. This product makes a huge difference to riding a hardtail. It basically does what it's supposed to do. The only problem I have is that the post constantly slips down the seating tube (about an inch) after each ride. This is annoying to say the least. It is also a bit overpriced. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Shocked Body
a weekend warrior
from USA
Date Reviewed: April 7, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
This is the only suspension seatpost i have ever tried, so with that
in mind, i think this post is a great comfort upgrade. Positives: If
it set up right it is very smooth and active and feels like youre
floating. All you men with balls get a suspension post if you want to
have kids someday. Negatives: slight side-play makes it hard to control the bike when riding with no hands, and its too damn expensive. If it was half the price it would be 5 stars. PS. Its not the best thing in the world, but I can't possibly go back to a rigid seatpost again. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Niklas Ingvar-Nilsson
a weekend warrior
from Uppsala, Sweden
Date Reviewed: March 20, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
I have had two Answer bodyshock seatpost for 8 months and I am not so happy about them. First they have a terrible sideplay. This can be adjusted but then the suspension is slow down a lot and allmost dissaprear.Secondly, with the recomended sag, half of the travel dissapears and then it is not much travel left. Thirdly, The elastomer is not realy recomendible at all for suspensions at all and I wonder if there is a replacement spring outthere for a 220 lbs (100 kg) heavy rider out there.It work OK for riding on bumpy road (small bumps) but not realy offroad./Niklas | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
kurt jensen
a cross-country rider
from Cylde, CA.
Date Reviewed: January 9, 1997 | | Bottom Line: |
i love mine. i'm about to go to a FS frame, but this post provided some much needed relief for my lower back until i could afford the new frame. it really does work. a bit on the heavy side and kinda pricey. but the shock seatpost concept is a good one. if you're thinking about it .... pull the trigger. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
seth
a cross-country rider
from Lancaster, CA
Date Reviewed: December 27, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
I've used mine since May 96 with zero problems. I've bought different MCU kits
from Answer Products and fiddled with the sag/action/feel quite a bit. I weight 195lbs and found that a elastomer from a RockShox Quadra 5 fork leg makes the post more active than with the Answer MCU's. I use one Green (firm) Quadra 5 elastomer which gives me 1/2 inch of sag, no pogo'ing, and much better action on dirt road washboards (stutter bumps). Works for me, try it.
| | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Peter Cohen
a cross-country rider
from Scottsdale, AZ
Date Reviewed: December 12, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
First, a disclaimer. I have only had time to ride about 20 miles with the Bodyshock. Obviously, I can’t speak for the long-term durability of this product, other than the fact that it comers from Answer, whose products I have had great success with. But here’s my first impression.Run, don’t walk, to your nearest dealer or call your favorite mail-order company, and get one of these. It is incredible. Note that I have not ridden any other suspension seat post, and received the Bodyshock as a gift, negating the price factor. But this thing really works. Dialing in the correct amount of sag (using elastomer combinations, not preload) eliminates any pedaling-induced bounce. The Bodyshock soaks up bumps like crazy. Now I know what balance means when bike reviewers talk about full-suspension bikes.Without the Bodyshock, my ‘97 Manitou SX fork handled almost anything in its way smoothly and steadily. Then it was the back tire’s turn. I spent much of my time out of the saddle, slowly grinding through rocky, technical sections just to stay aboard. No more. the Bodyshock allows me to stay seated and pedal through most stuff like it wasn’t there.Faster, more steady on a line, better traction, and not to be forgotten, much more comfortable. Without the amount of standing or hovering over rough sections, my legs were fresher during and after the ride and of course I had more energy overall.What else can I tell you. It’s not full suspension, but it comes damn close. A great product IMHO.
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Submitted by
Eddie
a cross-country rider
from Mass
Date Reviewed: December 5, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
I got the post as soon as it came out last year. Had a problem W/ the
plastic boot covers coming in contact w/ each other, as the unit
compressed. Subsequently removed the cheap boot covers, and mailed them
back to Answer products with a detailed letter describing the problem.
I thought it might be a manf. defect. They never responded. I covered
the exposed roller bearing with a lizard skin fork boot cover, which
looks much better than the stupid plastic thing. Overall, it seemed to
be very smooth, although it was bulky and seemed to loose it's initial
plushness after a few rides. In my opinion, this product has 3 strikes
against it 1)use of a shim 2)unsightly and disfunctional boot cover
3)excessive weight. There are better alternatives. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Dean
a cross-country rider
from Thousand Oaks, CA
Date Reviewed: October 14, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
I really like my Bodyshock seatpost, however I do think it's a bit overpriced, especially now that I see that someone else has come out with what appears to be at least as good a product, if not better, for one-third the price (don't know if I can say who in this forum). One problem I have, and it may just be specific to my bike, is that the height needs to be adjusted frequently due to slippage of the unit down into the seat tube. I don't know if that is because of the shim setup, or if it has more to do with my bike (Balance AL 550). The product does what it is supposed to do, though, and really smooths out the bumps associated with riding a hardtail. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Allen Ramlow
a cross-country rider
from Austin, TX
Date Reviewed: August 27, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
The Answer Bodyshock seatpost works extremely well, better than I anticipated when I purchased it. It provides a nice cushion for riding in rough terrain. I ride in the rocky and hilly terrain of the Austin Hill Country. A typical ride consists of alot of climbing followed by steep rocky descents. My body would really take a beating after a 2 hour ride. But since installing the Answer Bodyshock seatpost I find I can ride longer with less discomfort. The only thing I could say is lacking in this product is more detailed documentation on how to adjust the seatpost for various rider weights and riding conditions. I have been trying various combinations of elastomers and preload settings. I am currently using 1 hard and 3 medium elastomers, and a low preload setting. Its not quite a full suspension bike, but for the price it is an excellent upgrade for a hardtail mountain bike. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Hirby Eiui
a weekend warrior
from Boise, ID
Date Reviewed: June 24, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
Suspension seatpost that uses 5 MCU's and needle bearings. Does help with the
bumps for people who dont want full suspension. The main problem with this
seat post is that if the sadlle gets hit sideways, the clamp head gets knocked
off center on the top of the post and there is no way to get it back on center.
Even if you disassemble the stupid thing, you cant get the to the bottom of the
head clamp where it attaches to the top half of the suspension part. It's
probably bolted there but you really cant get to it (both me and my LBS tried).
You end up recentering the saddle by twisting the entire seatpost but that looks
stupid because the boxy section is now crooked. it seams to work better shock-
wise than the others on tiny bumps because of it's low stiction with the needle
bearings and handles larger hits well also. On the really big hit's it doesn't
help because I'm standing on those unless I screw up in which case it helps
lessen the pain if your jewells are smashing into the seat (of course, that kind
of pain is a relative statement :-). If they fix the clamp twisting thing I'd
recommend it more but I consider that a serious defect since it twisted (~15 degrees)
when my bike just fell down against a pole I was cabling it to. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Steven Etheridge
a cross-country rider
from Lancasater, CA USA
Date Reviewed: May 13, 1996 | | Bottom Line: |
I current own a Schwinn S95 (lousy name - great bike) front suspension only MTB.
I like the idea of full suspension MTB's but don't want any pedal induced pogo
action. I also like riding more than maintenance. So if you want the next best
thing to a fully suspended bike I highly recommend the Body Shock seat post.
This thing works! It comes with different elastomers so you can tune it to your
weight and riding style. I weigh 190 pounds and ride desert foothill trails. I
use two yellow (medium) and one brown (heavy) elastomers to get a perfect ride.
The seat sags when you intially mount up but does not move when pedaling, it
only compresses on impacting a bump or rock. Seat of the pants feeling is if you
are running 10 pounds less air pressure in your rear tube, thats the best way I
can describe it. One small detail, the stiction adjustment screw must have
loctite applied to it or you'll be adjusting it after every ride. Buy this thing
and you'll add 3 mph to your average speed. You can sit and pedal through stuff
you normally avoid! | | Overall Rating: |
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