Are they any good.
Nobody got one of these then.
Is it not basically a gravity dropper? Certinatly looks like one from the review (I didn't read) in this months mbr
Dave, after the review in mbr this month (got 9/10) I've just bought one from purebike.fr for £87 delivered!!
It is basically a gravity dropper, with better cable routing.
Mine comes tomorrow, but sadly my bike is going back under warranty, so I cant fit and ride it just yet.
Just bought one from probikeshop. £90 ish
Should be here in time for Tuesdays nightride
Tweaked version of the Forca/Traildrop but with an extra drop position. Have a Traildrop version purchased earlier this year that is still working well. Bit basic but if you've got a 27.2 post its one of very few options.
Bit basic but if you've got a 27.2 post its one of very few options.
so's the gravity dropper and they want £250 for that!!!
We are the UK distributor for the ICE seatpost. Just to make you aware, if you do buy these outside of the UK you will not have any warranty support from us. If the seatpost is purchased in the UK you will have full warranty support from us.
The seatpost has been very reliable for the last 6 months that I have been using it. All that I have done is replace the cable as it was feeling a bit rough. The seat post is well sealed and very easily maintained. It is so simple and can be fully stripped down and serviced in around 10 minutes.
The seatpost is £120.00rrp. Not alot more than all of the shops outside of the UK. For that extra money you get UK support and warranty cover and you'll be supporting the UK bike trade. Keep buying abroad and all of the bike shops over here will be gone, where will you go then for that odd little bolt or the last minute inner tube or maybe just that disc spacer that you can't find anywhere else.
Think about the man sat in the shop trying to make a living and giving out advice for free. Then again if your local shop is rubbish, support another UK shop and stop buying from abroad for a small saving.
Anyhoo, rant over. If you fancy an ICE seatpost or anything else we can help you with, feel free to get in touch. www.r53sport.com. 😀 8)
be more competitively priced then
Out of interest r53sport, do you get your shopping from a supermarket for a 'small' saving, or support your local grocer, butcher etc?
£90 versus £120? 25% cheaper is not a small amount is it? I know your version has some improvements over the Traildropper but when I got mine for £70ish I was happy at that price but I think that is all it is worth, I didn't get a bargain rather I paid the right sort of price.
Are your tweaks worth double the money?
The seatpost is £120.00rrp. Not alot more than all of the shops outside of the UK
ICE V8 is E100 (about £80) at probikeshop.fr. So that's 50% more.
Keep buying abroad and all of the bike shops over here will be gone
Hollow argument. Bike shops dont compete with foreign mail order traders, they compete with mail order traders. CRC, Wiggle and Merlin take far more business than the French and German sites, and viable LBS's have had to compete against them for 20 years.
If your'e so pro UK business and anti-foreign, why are you importing an item manufactured in the far east and marketed by a French company? keep doing that and one day all the manufacturers and brands over here will be gone...
sshhhhheeeeeeeessshhhh - give r53sport a break, they import them, provide uk warrenty and back up, let uk shops sell them and provide a good product.
Ok so it costs £40 more than on some foreign sites - you could say that most pretty much 50-90% of mtb products. If youre happy buying in Europe, Asia then carry on - if not R53sport offer the alternative.
Tbh, dropper posts at their current state of development is something I'd want a uk backup on and would be prepared to pay a premium to get.
Have a GD at the moment and happy to try one of these for £120. Looked at the website but couldn't see where I could actually buy one here. However it is early and I have a bit of a hangover and so forgive me if I am being a bit stupid.
Thanks Monkey boy. Atleast someone has an idea.
Kenneth the curtain, yes I actually do and that is also a ridiculous and irrelevant argument. If I was going to France each weekend to buy food from the Supermarche to save a few quid then you would have a point.
Mattbee, double what you paid would be £140.00 ours are £120.00. But let's not discuss poor mathematics. I believe ours is worth more, it's up to you to decide how much more.... It is the cheapest dropper post on the UK market and has been selling very well. I don't imagine I'll ever get your business so I'll leave you to it.
Crashtest monkey. I am not anti-foreign. All of our brands are foreign. I am however pro supporting your LBS. Having worked in several LBS and for CRC I know both sides. The LBS needs to offer more than just price matching CRC. Two of those things are service and warranty support. All of the UK manufacturers are well supported in the UK. If you can name a good one that needs support then let me know, maybe we will help them too.
Bike shops have to compete with anyone that sells a product that is available in the UK and Europe otherwise people wouldn't be buying from Europe.
Crashtestmonkey: So if everyone buys in Europe and the UK shops sell nothing, they will have no customers and will be gone. Times are tight for bike shops. They don't make massive margins and contrary to popular belief a lot of them are not raking it in. I guess if any of you do go to your local independent bike shop you'll ask for discount? Do you do that when you buy fuel, do you do that when you go to Tesco, do you do that when you get your hair cut? I didn't think so.
All I'm trying to say is, support the local bike shops or they will close down. Okay maybe not all of them, but the less choice, the less competition. Then the price will go up and the service will most likely go down.
R53 Sport are here to help and we offer a friendly service. Use us (or your local shop) or don't. You'll all do what you want anyway. Now get out and ride and have fun.
Edoverheels. We are a distributor so we sell to shops. Drop me a mail on c.groves@r53sport.com and I'll get you sorted.
wwaswas: There's a good bit of thinking. You are right to think this too.
So far my dealings with probikeshop have been smooth and easy. If there's a warranty issue it won't cost me much more to return it to them.
In a common market with no import/export duties I'm not sure how you justify a 50% price hike...
Te retail price in Euros is E117.00 If they are discounting it to E99.90 then that istheir choice. Plus they charge E9.99 postage that is around E127.00. Equal to around £100.00.
For £20.00 more you have it next day and with UK warranty.
Anyway, I'm done with this. I have made my point. Feel free to get in touch if you would like to buy or know where to buy an ICE seatpost in the UK.
Enjoy your weekend.
Will be getting in touch. Will try and arrange for Father Christmas to get one for me.
r53sport
You points are valid - you should have stopped there. Arguing in such a lofty manner is most unappealing to the average potential buyer. I'm having Superstar flashbacks...before he went completely doo lally.
I understand the discounting issue, but why is a British warrantied post £20 more than a Euro one? That's a 20% hike!!
That wasn't my maths BTW, I said 25% less from BigMassiveDevelopments. Also UK based, stock spares & offer warranty support. Still, yours is an 'improved' version I suppose and the extra drop position would probably be useful. As I said in my first post, it is another option in a small 27.2 market and if it works as well as the earlier/different named ones is a viable option. The crusades finished quite a while ago mind you. X
Edoverheels, I'm sure Santa will sort you out. I look forward to you getting in touch.
cb, thanks.
Just been for first ride out with mine.
But clunky but ok once you get used to it. Used the 75mm drop the most.
Jam bo, is the cable routing on yours like this?
[img] 
[/img]
It looks a bit fragile, I've seen other photos which show a 90deg angle so the cable exits downward, which looks more robust.
No, that's the original. The V8 turns through 90deg.
Ah ok, cheers.
robmanns2000; top spot, looks like the latest V8 with boot and 90 degree cable, just added to Santa's list 🙂
Similar but not exactly the same.....
No supplied shim.
Cable clamp collar is not machined out.
Old style cable assembly which is clamped at the plunger end not the lever end which is a pain in the arse.
Uses a thinner cable not a gear cable so difficult to get spares.
It's like a model that's inbetween the V8 mk1 and mk2. 😀
These are on ebay at around £70, 425mm long (so longer than ICE) with 110mm/55mm drop vs 90/45mm on the ICE and a 31.6 diameter without shim, but looks identical in most respects:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2013-New-TMARS-Adjustable-Seatpost-Seat-Post-31-6X425mm-/140870291491?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item20cc861023
These are on ebay at around £70, 425mm long (so longer than ICE) with 110mm/55mm drop vs 90/45mm on the ICE and a 31.6 diameter without shim, but looks identical in most respects:
How do you know it's 110mm? I don't see that in the description?
So is there an updated version of this that r53 isn't stocking?
i.e the one with 110mm drop (TMARS one in the ebay ad )instead of 90mm
So anyone got the new version?
I'm not convinced it is a materially different version, the TMARS one. The advert doesnt state any where a drop figure. I also think the 31.6 version requires a shim.
It says span : 110mm
seems to suggest 110 on this review
http://www.mtbr.com/cat/controls/seatpost-adjustable/dnm/asp-r/prd_497181_6764crx.aspx
WHat does span mean though? The space between the top of the collar and the bottom of the seat clamp? Who Knows!!
I would just be surprised if an otherwise completely identical seatpost magically came with an extra 20mm drop.
Maybe its equivalent to "1600 lumens" in chinese speak!!! 😈
That review is for a KS Lookalike post, not the ICE V8
Dont get me wrong, I hope it is a 110 drop, I may even get one, I'd just be surprised thats all
I have the new 27.2 T Mars post at home. Haven't fitted it yet. It was sold as 110mm travel - I will confirm tonight but it looked that long to me. Feels pretty weighty compared to reverb but looks well made although far from pretty. Clamp is somewhat industrial looking but bar lever is nice.
Paid £65 delivered.
Well I think they are all vaguely the same just branded differently.. ICE v8, traildrop, TMARS
( I do know there are mk1 and mk2 versions of this post)
Cheers Schweiz.. Update on this thread when you know
A few of the German shops market this 'new' version under the Forca Sports brand, for €100 on some of the german sites.
Claimed new model and listed with 110mm travel and 31.6 actual size (no shim) [url= http://www.forca-sports.de/?p=568 ]here[/url]. I was really tempted but needed a 30.9 size and don't fancy using a shim so got a Reverb instead. I'd be interested to hear what people think.
SCHWEIZ, Ill measure the distance from the top of the red collar, to the seat rails on my ICE, and if you do the same on your TMARS, we can put this to bed.
The Collar/Rails on the ICE V8 is 138mm
Ive just been reading the FORCA website, in my dodgy German, and it looks interesting. No Rubber collar to keep the crap out though.
These posts coming in at this price point may force the big boys to act on price, which can only be a good thing. When you look at the RRP for a Gravity Dropper, compared to these, its makes the eyes water!!
I had my first big ride on my ICE V8 yesterday. It needed a bit of fettling on the cable tension. At first, the seat kept disengaging from the upper position and dropping. It required a trade off between lever throw, and pin engagement, but got there in the end!!
dantsw13
Not sure if collar to rails is the key measurement in question here. I thought we were trying to confirm the travel of the post. Anyway, I'll check both tonight and update you.
Ironically, I will be looking to modify my post to reduce the travel. My fatbike has a very large frame and I have limited exposed seatpost. I will most likely only use the halfway position and the fully down position. I'll try to implement a mechanical stop and possibly add another position to the travel if needed.
By the way, there's a new UK based listing for the post which has photos with measurements of the 3 positions which essentially confirms it's 110mm travel:
excellent.. cheers for that link Schweiz.. Will ask if santa can get me this
Schweiz, I agree, but I reckon the Collar/Rails is a pretty good indicator of max drop in a coil sprung post, and its much easier to do!!!!
That ebay ad looks pretty conclusive!!
The V8 at max extension only just works on my frame too.
Tempted by the TMAR version for my 456C which has a lower seat tube than my Titus
Cheers Schweiz for the info
OK, I can confirm that it's a 110mm drop and the dimensions in the pictures on the ebay link that I posted are correct.
I can recommend ebay seller hotcrazybike2011 from Taiwan. I had it within 1 week. Low customs value declared so no additional charges. He's £65 with free postage and the new UK seller is £67 + £5 postage.
Not sure when I'll get round to installing the post but I'll give you some feedback when I do. I've got a Joplin, KS-i950 and Reverb so I've got plenty to compare it against...
Dare I ask how the actual weighed weight is looking??? (for such a good price!! (he says wishing for the moon on a stick :D))
yeah i'll take UK for £7 price difference. got quick responses from the uk seller he sounds legit.
would like to know weight as well.
Not going to be able to weigh mine until tomorrow night but the Taiwanese seller claimed 659g including remote for the 27.2mm 425mm length. He was spot on with all other information so I don't have any reason to doubt him.
ebay uk seller tells me weight is 595g inc. remote and cable. and it's not a standard cable. hmmm not sure how you're supposed to replace that then.
I ordered one from that ebay link two days ago,just waiting for it to arrive (its been shipped so i'm expecting it today), as soon as it's fitted i'll let you know how it goes
The fitted cable may not be standard, but I can see no reason it couldn't be replaced by a standard one when required. as long as you changed inner and outer together. Maybe you may need a new inline barrel adjuster, but i doubt it.
and it's not a standard cable. hmmm not sure how you're supposed to replace that then.
the lever looks identical to the Joplin remote and Ive replaced Joplin cables with gear cables. Be useful for an "early adopter" to see if the cable can be swapped with a gear cable.
Be useful for an "early adopter" to see if the cable can be swapped with a gear cable.
Would like to know this too before I press the buy button.
As soon as I get to work tomorrow i'll strip it down and have a look ok
This looks identical to the one I bought via R53 sports and having deliberately not cleaned for the last month it still works fine.
Slight bit of rotational play from new but unnoticeable when riding, while this looks a bargain the service I've had from R53 makes what I paid seem worth it.
This looks identical to the one I bought via R53 sports and having deliberately not cleaned for the last month it still works fine.
Only the one r53 is selling appears to to be the 90mm drop as opposed to thge new design which is 110mm (which i think most people are after)
Aye the ebay sellers do seem to offer conflicting weights so an actual would be great Schweiz, cheers 😆
Guys can you help me please. Currently I have a Trance with a reverb which is awesome for me..I am upgrading to my sons cast-off orange which needs a 27.2 mm dropper. I'm really confused about what to replace the reverb with ...any advice would be great.
Merry christmas Eve..
Mel
Has anyone bought and tried one of the TMARS posts?
How are you getting on with it?
got one in my stocking. one ride so far.. liking it, takes a bit more thought to use than a hydro post as you need to locate the positions, and real danger of delivering a whack to the nuts if hovering over seat when released!
remote is very nice (had no remote on previous post so any is nice, but this one seems a good design, parallel to grip and can be pushed any way, not sticking out like reverb, and is split clamp). very quick and easy to fit. forgot to weigh it sorry too excited to go ride, this is on my crap conditions bike so i'll know pretty soon (maybe a month) if it's going to be reliable or not.
price has gone up £3 😯 😉
I've put some miles on mine in the last week. Very happy with it so far. It's great value for £65. There's a technique to using it which needs to be learnt. The pin engagement was a little tricky at first but it seems to have worn in nicely and is less clunky now than it was originally. Screw out the spring tension bolt in the bottom of the post a couple of turns if you're planning on fathering (or mothering) any children in the future. Alternatively screw it in for a quick trail side sterilization.
Awesome, much appreciated guys, that seems to be enough of a real life review to convince me to order one ASAP!
I assume for a 30.9 seatpost I'd have to purchase the 27.2 model and a good quality seatpost shim? Don't mind too much as with a 110mm drop it's still the cheapest new post out there with half decent travel, plus I like the idea of being able to service it myself with a bit of head scratching.
with screw slackened off does it still extend to top ok?
good idea to grease or oil the inner steel parts?
god damn this weather is bad.
4 rides now (mars one from ebay)
[img] https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQhFztwCy9U7KGiOOLCJBtebnMbHk_hd7HkPjvsGInJW4UxsigpPA [/img]
lovin' it.
only not sure about stop positions.
top, nearly down, down.
i'd maybe prefer top, down a bit, fully down.
as i only seem to use the first two.
hmm - ?
Hi, I also got the TMARS post over Christmas. Haven't been out on a ride with it yet but it seems to be what I was after. Has anybody made an attempt to shorten the remote cable? If so what end did you cut? Thanks in advance.
p.s. I found this link which may help some people http://emtb.pl/emtb/sprzet/test-regulowanej-sztycy-el-gallo/
Got the TMars ebay version before Xmas and have bounced around on it for a few days now... I have a Bionicon Supershuttle with an awkward 30mm post diameter so ordered a shim from CRC...
I'd say It's fairly agricultural engineering, and has developed some play... The nose of my saddle can rotate 4mm to the left and ditto to the right... But I never notice riding, in fact having a bit of rotation perversely seems to help with pedaling.... But for the money I'm pretty impressed. Last ride the saddle somehow dismounted itself from the post after a clipped-in double somersault down a dune face, but the post is absolutely fine, no damage, seat went straight back on.
Does anyone know how to shorten the cabling? I'd like to nip 10cm off....
alright had mine apart for a greasing, few notes:
- main tube with spring full of sharp metal shavings, anyone else? left over from mnfr? weird, didn't look like anything was missing or worn.
- gonna need new plastic guide blocks at some point, anyone know cheap source?
- height holes (3) are evenly spread and would be easy to add your own. less easy to take them away - ? top and bottom holes chamfered presumably for easy engagement, might do same for middle.
- the rubber boot has a direction, much swearing after getting saddle back on with it half unhooked. hate hate hate this type of saddle clips.
- would like to have to push less far on remote to release, have to look at this next. i guess cable can tightened.
- isn't rusting as bad as i expected.
- way better than trying to work on a joplin!
After 4 rides, mine is a bit of a pig. I've had the saddle ping back undemanded, I've had the saddle not come up, cable tension needs constant adjustment.
I think a full strip is in order. I might also replace the whole hose with some decent cable outer.
Not the ice post but a heads up re this generic group of cheaper posts...
Cannock grit was tough on my traildrop for the three months I had a 27.2 version...had to service every 3-4 of rides even with a boot or it would start getting sticky. Eventually stopped returning without a pull on the saddle to help....next service revealed a useful bit of info........
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8466/8388225659_9a3aef7fc5_b.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8493/8388225539_af46175f31_b.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8511/8389313740_e04800c4e8_b.jp g" target="_blank">
.....and it's now back to a rigid with potential disaster averted. My advice.....service and check regularly!! (me 44 and 92kg on a soul, no major offs and occasionally a couple of feet airborne but nothing crazy. Maybe there's a reason they're all cheap or maybe only for smaller guys in the 27.2 format??).
*Goes to check V8 post* 😯
Mine is fine, I slatehered the boot in silicone grease and put waterproof grease inside the post. It's clean as a whistle in there despite some very grubby rides.
Mine was sticky at first but once the plastic guide bush had worn a bit it works fine. Compared to the reverb on my other bike it is clunky and horrid really but it does the job.
Kiwifiz, did you have the cable routing at the front or at the rear of the post?
i suspect the metal shavings i found were from the steel spring bottom end rotating against the silver alloy bottom cap. there should be a plastic piece betweeen spring and end cap? anyone confirm please?
as for those cracks above.. yikes. it's fairly thick steel on mine, how thick is yours?
@BillOddie.....standard rear cable routing
@smiff....hole in profile above shows thickness. Key word being hole/holes in this particular model being potential structural weak points. Imagine fairly similar throughout these generic posts? It's hardly going to be high end steel at the cost I'm guessing....