Saddle/Seat Post Differences?
 

Hey guys,

I just recently invested in a KHS bike, and the bike itself is fine and dandy. The problem is, the saddle that came with the bike is too small for my butt(it's a youth size saddle), and after looking at different saddles to change it out, I've noticed that the KHS saddle has a different bolting style then most other brands of saddles. I'm basically new to the bike world, so my question is, would I have to change out the seat post to change out my saddle? The bolt looks like it comes out from the bottom, and the rest come out from the sides. Any helps is greatly appreciated.

Very unlikely that you would need a new post to change to another conventional saddle. You can't post a picture until you have 10 posts but you could tell us exactly which model KHS bike you have. New bike? Stock seat?

I have a KHS Syntaur: Youth model. I'm pretty sure the seat itself is stock and yes, it is new. ^^

I looked at the product spec. The saddle looks like a standard 2 rail mount. Any saddle should work. Saddle mounts are one thing on bikes that are pretty much standardized. A 60 year old Brooks design works on my modern bikes, and a modern saddle works on my bikes built in the 60s. If you still wonder please post some pictures.

The rails look standard, but the bolt part is what confuses me. It goes in from the bottom, while most get changed out through the side. I'll post some pictures if I still can't figure it out, but thank you both for your replies. ^^

The kind with the single bolt that comes up from the bottom is a more modern design. It squeezes a bunch of parts together, that clamp on the rails from above and below, while also allowing for some tilt adjustment when the bolt is loosened. The benefit is possibly lighter weight, it looks better, and allows for much finer adjustment of the tilt angle. Also, there's less risk of damaging the saddle when turning the central bolt with an allen wrench.

What I'd do is remove that bolt and carefully lift the seat off. You'll see how it goes together, then it will be more self explanatory. Keep an eye on how the parts are oriented and stacked, so you can get it back together the same way. In fact, take some "before" pictures. Even without being able to post them here, they'll serve as a guide in case a part falls on the floor or there's some ambiguity about how to reassemble it.

The new design is more "modern" because it requires cast or forged parts, whereas the old design could be made entirely using metal forming of sheet and tubular material.

I'm confused. Most seatposts have one or two bolts that go through the post head and into the clamp above from the bottom. These bolts are part of the post, not the sea and usually run from the bottom up. Now there are a few rather creative posts out there but I would be very surprised to see one on a KHS, at least as a stock item. (If this bike is used all bets are off.) Virtually any post you will ever come across will have the same slots for the rails the same distance apart. As said above, this is probably the most standard dimension on bicycles. Every seat works with every post. (The posts may not place every seat where you want it but that is another issue.)

Ben

There's an older style of seatpost, where the post was a plain turned or formed tube, and a clamp went between the post and the saddle rails:

https://www.amazon.com/Velo-Seat-Cla.../dp/B001GSKUAK

One of my bikes is still of this style.

Ah yes, the posts I rode before I was fully enlightened. (My UO-8 had that post so the awakening had begun but I wasn't fully there yet. :))

I'm fully enlightened, but I still have one of those posts. ;) When I got the bike, it had no seatpost, and I found an old style post in my bin. It was the wrong size, and I made a shim from a Leinenkugel's can. Since then, I've been keeping my eye out for a proper post, but I don't know the diameter, and don't want to disturb the shim. It's been 20 years.

THAT is pretty cool. ^^^^^^^^^^^^ I only wish we could do that on so many other features in life.!!

measuring is best

4cm center to center on the rails of a saddle in my hands.. is typical

seat posts have a diameter , a length, and a setback measurement..

I did just that and I finally saw what you all meant. Thank you all soo much. After figuring it all out, I went back to the bike shop I purchased my bike from and bought myself a new saddle, that honestly, I can sit on ALL day. It's comfortable and it fits perfectly. I feel like such a dweeb about not realizing it before.

-Chris