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My six year old Brand x is on its last legs and won't hold any pressure (valve under seat model) What's cheap and will last another six years?
I have seen a few around in eBay etc but none are the right combination of drop and diameter.
Ah yeah it’s only this one at that price.
What's your budget? £150 for a OneUp V2 post if there's a size that fits. They've worked well for me -> Merlin Link
TransX are the closest I’d say. Pretty much every size and drop. That and the discounted One Up mentioned above.
Transx made the Brand X I think. I’d be amazed if Evans don’t carry it on, they really had cornered the cheap but dependable market.
I've got one brand x ascend in stock
170mm drop
31.6mm diameter
Internal
The discounted Oneups would be hard to resist if it fits...
If it's any use I have a 185mm Bikeyoke Revive spare, 31.6, it's fairly well used but they're the highest quality/most reliable posts out there I reckon, and totally servicable.
As with almost everything don't buy a cheap one
If budget is a concern, get a secondhand posh one. I managed to get a 'new second hand', if you know what I mean, Thomson for £85 as it had no saddle clamp or lever. Broken post for a tenner off eBay for the clamp, Hope lever and it's an excellent post for not much money. Just got to keep an eye out for the bargains.
Nah, the Brand X might be cheap to buy but it’s better than some posh posts. I’ve got them on every bike and have done for years - no issues. Feel nicer in operation than the OneUp V2 IME.
As with almost everything don’t buy a cheap one
I'd say that's not true for droppers (mostly).
Brand X were just rebadged Trans X posts, which themselves can be had for similar prices. There are also quite a few 'brands' that sell the same Trans X posts underd different names.
Droppers are pretty simple, and now quite well established, tech. So more money doesn't necessarily equal better function, it just tends to get you less weight, or adjustable travel, or a nicer lever, etc.
Fox Transfer on sportspursuit seem like the best deal around... But not at the crazy price the brand x ones were.
It's difficult to look past BrandX for a functional, cheap, home serviceable seatpost that has spares readily available and a 2 year warranty. I've never had one last 6 years though!
Having lived with a brandX and one up V2 I'd not buy the V2 again. It's quite fragile, the bushes don't last very long and it doesn't seem to have an effective dirt wiper on it. Obviously that's been replaced by the V3 but thats nigh on 300 quid for something where its predecessor doesn't have particularly good provenance.
If I can't get BrandX next time I need a dropper, it'll probably be PNW or Tranz X.
I was tempted by the cheap transfers, but I assume they are the older model that needs special (expensive) tools to service.
Got one of these recently and it's been decent so far. Travel adjustable and noticeably lighter lever action compared to oneup. Not as lightweight though.
https://startfitness.co.uk/collections/all/products/e-thirteen-vario-dropper-seatpost
I took a chance and bought one of these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BHX5CLYZ?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1&psc=1
Apart from the markings its the same as a brand-x. It doesn't come with remote etc (I already have Shimano ones) and was has increased in price since I got one a few months back (I paid £72).
I put one of those E*Thriteen Vario posts on my sons bike* and it seems nice.
*was supposed to be mine but I got the diameters mixed up....
Evans have brand-x in stock for ~£130.
I was tempted by the cheap transfers, but I assume they are the older model that needs special (expensive) tools to service.
Ahhh, I was going to say I was tempted by the ~£200 Fox posts, are they not a good idea?
I got a cheap Level one off Ribble. The saddle clamp doesn't fit? Not sure if it's a one-off or I'm doing something wrong but I had to swap it for the head from another broken post. The hollows for the barrel shaped nuts wouldn't allow them to articulate to point towards the bolts. Slightly heavier than Brand-X but the actions slightly nicer, it clunks back into the top position so you can feel it
Re brand-X being unavailable - they seem to be available and on sale
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/searchresults?descriptionfilter=brand%20x%20dropper
What drop and diameter are you after? I have a brand new Fox Transfer 150 in 31.6 flavour still in its packaging. No lever though, although I think your existing one will work with it.
I seem to remember PNW used the same OEM posts as well. I've had several Brand Xs (family fleet, init) and they've all just worked. Good sealing, completely reliable.
The only reason I switched from Brand X to OneUp originally was the ability to squeeze a longer drop into less overall length - a critical concern if you're a shortarse like me with short legs on a frame with a short seat tube.
However, I had reason to drop OneUp a line after my new post (the second one I've got from them) developed a score in the stanchion, and their after sales service was absolutely superb. I had a brand new post in under a week, with the suggestion that I hang on to the old one and use the non-scuffed bits for spares.
Unfortunately, they shipped me a V3 post, so if anyone needs a spare cartridge or lower tube for a V2 210mm dropper, I'll be happy to send it your way in exchange for a donation to MND or a similar charity.
Summary: TransX/Brand X/PNW posts are fab, but if you need more drop for length and great support, I'd say OneUp is worth the extra cost.
Startfitness have a few sizes of the e*thirteen at £130 (lever extra by the look of it)
I also have a newer 2023 version 31.6 x 170mm fox transfer not a kashima mind version available that I removed from a brand new bike as I could just about squeeze a 200 in there .
No lever with it but it's yours for £85.00 posted uk
Felt a lot smoother and better quality than the one up I've put in now tbh
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