Commuting - Specialized Seatpost Suspension?

i'm looking into this one to replace the current seatpost suspension on my sirrus. the one i have on my sirrus seems to only have 1" if not less than that for travel. therefore i was hoping this one should be better since it has 1.5" of travel.

04 Future Shock Suspension Seat Post (http://www.specialized.com/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=5092&JServSessionIdroot=1brtm9cxxn.j27005)

anyone have experience with this? is there any other type of suspension seat post you would recommend? i don't want a seatpost suspension that will just bottom out when you sit on there... i want a seatpost that will actually provide the cushion feel.

p.s. i weight about 150lbs.. just in case if you guys were wondering.. hehe :p

I'm not a big fan of suspension posts but of the ones out there, I'd recommend either the Thudbusters or the USE posts. The problem with most suspension seatposts is that they develop lateral play after a period of time. USE was one of the original pioneers in suspension posts and have perfected their design over the past decade. Their posts are light, strong and offer 2" of suspension. Thudbusters use a parallel link design and are more laterally stiff than telescopic designs. Also, they offer 3.5" of travel and use a simple and durable elastomer damper.

I'm not a big fan of suspension posts but of the ones out there, I'd recommend either the Thudbusters or the USE posts. The problem with most suspension seatposts is that they develop lateral play after a period of time. USE was one of the original pioneers in suspension posts and have perfected their design over the past decade. Their posts are light, strong and offer 2" of suspension. Thudbusters use a parallel link design and are more laterally stiff than telescopic designs. Also, they offer 3.5" of travel and use a simple and durable elastomer damper.

thanks khuon. i have to find the site for the USE posts. would you happen to have website for them?

thanks khuon. i have to find the site for the USE posts. would you happen to have website for them?
http://www.use1.com/shokposts/shokposts.htm

Agree with Khuon - while I'm not a fan of suspension seatposts, I'm sure you could do a lot better than buying a Specialized brand.

http://www.use1.com/shokposts/shokposts.htm

Agree with Khuon - while I'm not a fan of suspension seatposts, I'm sure you could do a lot better than buying a Specialized brand.

is specialized brand really that bad? :eek:

is specialized brand really that bad? :eek:

Like many bike manufacturers, Specialized has a house brand for components. Most of these components are rebadged OEM products that have a markup for the brand name applied. A lot of times, manufacturers will take relatively low-end OEM components and mark/hype them up. In this case, it would be better to go straight to the component manufacturer and by the no-label version. In many cases, for the money of the bike brand name component, you can find an aftermarket brand name that's of higher quality. Specialized's brand isn't necessarily bad... it just might not be as good as others for the same money. Hell, Specialized may even in fact be rebadging USE seatposts for all I know.

Like many bike manufacturers, Specialized has a house brand for components. Most of these components are rebadged OEM products that have a markup for the brand name applied. A lot of times, manufacturers will take relatively low-end OEM components and mark/hype them up. In this case, it would be better to go straight to the component manufacturer and by the no-label version. In many cases, for the money of the bike brand name component, you can find an aftermarket brand name that's of higher quality. Specialized's brand isn't necessarily bad... it just might not be as good as others for the same money. Hell, Specialized may even in fact be rebadging USE seatposts for all I know.

you got a very good point there. i tried to check out the post at my lbs but they didn't have them there. instead they have some other weird name types for $15 that i know won't work for shiat. humm.. i'll have to check into the USE one. thanks for the heads up. :D

humm.. i'll have to check into the USE one. thanks for the heads up. :D

Remember that seatposts come in various diameters. Make sure you measure your seat-tube inner diameter correctly before ordering. You can also take some calipers to your current seatpost in order to confirm.

Remember that seatposts come in various diameters. Make sure you measure your seat-tube inner diameter correctly before ordering. You can also take some calipers to your current seatpost in order to confirm.

thanks khuon. i will verify first on the measurment. will probably have to get some shims or something like that.

Like many bike manufacturers, Specialized has a house brand for components. Most of these components are rebadged OEM products that have a markup for the brand name applied. A lot of times, manufacturers will take relatively low-end OEM components and mark/hype them up. In this case, it would be better to go straight to the component manufacturer and by the no-label version. In many cases, for the money of the bike brand name component, you can find an aftermarket brand name that's of higher quality. Specialized's brand isn't necessarily bad... it just might not be as good as others for the same money. Hell, Specialized may even in fact be rebadging USE seatposts for all I know.
^^^ What he said... :)

Didn't mean to post and run! Specialized make great frames and sell fantastic bikes (heck, we've bought two new Specialized bikes in the last 8 months), but personally I'd usually look elsewhere for component upgrades for exactly the reasons Khuon mentioned.

Unless you're prepared to spend some pretty decent dollars, it might not be worth the upgrade as you possibly won't notice all that much difference.

^^^ What he said... :)

Didn't mean to post and run! Specialized make great frames and sell fantastic bikes (heck, we've bought two new Specialized bikes in the last 8 months), but personally I'd usually look elsewhere for component upgrades for exactly the reasons Khuon mentioned.

Unless you're prepared to spend some pretty decent dollars, it might not be worth the upgrade as you possibly won't notice all that much difference.

humm.. good point. i've been thinking about the rock shox seatpost as well. so still debating between the 2. the USE seem great.. but kinda pricey... is there any local distributors or online disti that sells the USE seatpost suspension?