Today was my lucky day, I got a call from my LBS saying that the new Giant Contact Switch adjustable seat post had just came in. I went right in and checked it out. The build quality looked good, so I laid the credit card down and put it on for my evening ride. .Installation was fairly straight forward. One side note, the Allen bolt for the release clamp was missing, so the LBS had to dig one out of another unit to get me going. I have been riding the Specialized Command post for close to a year and was eager to see what the differences between the two would be. After one ride, I will say that I really like the Giant unit better. First, it so smooth. The release lever pushes easier, plus the seat returns back to the top in a smooth fashion. The Specialized unit has always been a little finicky with the cable adjustment and even after playing with the air pressure, it never came up smoothly. I did however notice a couple of little things about the Giant post that may concern a few that are considering this post. First, there is a little side to side movement on the seat. I did not notice it while I was riding, but I thought that I would note it. Second, the release button requires the rider to reach a little farther over to press it then say the Command Post. The plus side is that it can be mounted on either side with out any problems. Hopefully the unit will hold well. If it does, I think they have another winner on their hands. :thumbsup:
First impression, Giant Contact Switch Seatpost
Hill-Pumper
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232 Posts
I'll do a little update since I finely have a little ride time on the post now. My overall impression remains that this a good smooth post. The seat wobble is never noticed as I am riding, so it is not an issue for me. So, as stated above, the main concern will be reliability as the mud and rain season comes into play soon.
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128 Posts
I've had mine for about a month now and it has performed well. The only issue was getting the cable adjusted right. Because my cable could be routed in the frame, my lbs installed a better cable and made the length perfect.
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3,415 Posts
I got one of these this week, partly because it looked like a good design and partly because I had a voucher for a new Giant Store which made the best value dropper post even better value. I also had a ride this morning that was going to be real pain without a post like this. Probably around 25miles of 60% steep rooty trails with the rest being fire road climbs.
My thoughts:
- Easy and smooth lever actuation
- No noticeable problems with the stiffness coming from a Thomson
- Very minor movement when twisting the saddle but this wasn’t noticeable while riding unlike others
- It rises up smoothly and at a perfect speed, not too slow, not too fast
- Solid clamp design that doesn’t slip
- Height and saddle angle markings are always good to have
- Nice finish
The problem is that it now slips 10mm when I get on the bike…wouldn’t have noticed this if I hadn’t seen a dust mark at that height. It springs back up like a suspension post. Anyone know what the air pressure should be? Would that have anything to do with it?
My thoughts:
- Easy and smooth lever actuation
- No noticeable problems with the stiffness coming from a Thomson
- Very minor movement when twisting the saddle but this wasn’t noticeable while riding unlike others
- It rises up smoothly and at a perfect speed, not too slow, not too fast
- Solid clamp design that doesn’t slip
- Height and saddle angle markings are always good to have
- Nice finish
The problem is that it now slips 10mm when I get on the bike…wouldn’t have noticed this if I hadn’t seen a dust mark at that height. It springs back up like a suspension post. Anyone know what the air pressure should be? Would that have anything to do with it?
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919 Posts
Hi EGF168,
Read something on a German forum abou same problem.
Use Google translate on this link:
Absacken der Teleskopsattelstütze GIANT Contact Switch Remote - MTB-News.de | IBC Mountainbike Forum
rapsac
Read something on a German forum abou same problem.
Use Google translate on this link:
Absacken der Teleskopsattelstütze GIANT Contact Switch Remote - MTB-News.de | IBC Mountainbike Forum
rapsac
Joined
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3,415 Posts
After talking with the LBS, they contacted Giant and then forwarded me this suggestion:
"I believe the cartridge needs bleeding, all you do is cycle the seatpost fully up and down around four times and it should go back to working normally"
The suggestion works for about a minute of riding and then it goes back to slipping. So with a post that doesn't work satisfactorily, no lasting fix, and a replacement not due until the new year, I asked for a refund. The normal seatpost has gone back on but I hope to get something else soon...one that holds its position mechanically rather that hydraulically.
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"I believe the cartridge needs bleeding, all you do is cycle the seatpost fully up and down around four times and it should go back to working normally"
The suggestion works for about a minute of riding and then it goes back to slipping. So with a post that doesn't work satisfactorily, no lasting fix, and a replacement not due until the new year, I asked for a refund. The normal seatpost has gone back on but I hope to get something else soon...one that holds its position mechanically rather that hydraulically.
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119 Posts
something else to wrong imo
Have had thismpost for a couple of months now. Blew the first one apart and giant gave me a new one. What i have found is that I have to be real careful on small and med bumps to make sure my butt is off the seat. Have a little front to back play but not noticeable on ride. So far the second post is working good and love the ability to drop in the fly. Wish they made a longer postnas this one is a tad tomsmall for me. Also want to try some anti-friction past (same used for carbon parts?) to keep the post from slipping down in seat tube.
FYI got this after my KS went belly up on me. Need to send that one in. KS is nicer only cause it is longer. Also I ride a HT.
FYI got this after my KS went belly up on me. Need to send that one in. KS is nicer only cause it is longer. Also I ride a HT.
I've been running a Switch for about two months now and I like it more and more. I'm a complete princess when it comes to bike set-up and this is just what I needed. I have a 2012 Trance X Advanced 1 and therefore I can't put a quick release on the carbon frame. So in order to change my seat height between my commuting/road training height and my MTB and descending height the Switch is perfect.
So far so good. There is a little side-to-side play but I do not notice it while riding, not a bit
The on-the-fly adjustability is worth the NET weight gain (remember, you are ditching a seatpost - your bike won't weigh 500grams more).
So far so good. There is a little side-to-side play but I do not notice it while riding, not a bit
The on-the-fly adjustability is worth the NET weight gain (remember, you are ditching a seatpost - your bike won't weigh 500grams more).
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393 Posts
+1
I rode one of these for the first time yesterday, and while there was a bit of play in the saddle when I wiggled it with my hand, I couldn't feel it move at all while I was riding.
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73 Posts
I've had mine since August and last month it blew out. Giant authorized replacement from my LBS stock so it was done quickly. I now have 15-20 rides on the replacement and it has developed a "drop" of about 1/4" when I put weight on the seat. Back to the shop, hopefully this isn't indicative regular problems in the future because I love this thing. I don't think I'll ever be able to go back to a fixed post.
seatpost dimensions
I haven't been able to find much other than 400mm fully extended length.
I have a medium anthem and am trying to find out what the length of the post is up from the base to the flare and from the top of flare to the top of post. I have 6.5" of exposed post and think the max depth on the frame is about 9 5/8"
Thanks for your time
I haven't been able to find much other than 400mm fully extended length.
I have a medium anthem and am trying to find out what the length of the post is up from the base to the flare and from the top of flare to the top of post. I have 6.5" of exposed post and think the max depth on the frame is about 9 5/8"
Thanks for your time
What do you mean by "blew out".
I've had a problem with mine where the blue plate threads into the bottom of the main tube just drops out, this means the outer tube stays still, but the 'stanchion' drops all the way down. The only fix is to take the post out and re-screw in the bottom plate (with the holes in it).
I want to know if others are having this problem? The first time it dropped out I was just sitting down pedalling on an asphalt road.
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