Would I keep the USE Components Vybe stem and seatpost on my bike? Yes. Do the benefits beat the weight penalty? Yes. Recommended.
Reviewed by Lewis Deacon
“It’s just a 90s MTB” was the first response when I showed the USE Components Vybe suspension stem and suspension seatpost combo on my gravel bike to my local ride group. But USE Components’ 35 year history of engineering products is the only thing that has a link back to the 1990s.
USE Components Vybe suspension seatpost review
- Price: £180.00
- From: USE Components
- Tested by: Lewis for 6 months
There are several versions of suspension seatposts for gravel bikes on the market, but the first thing that struck me about this post was the build quality, as you would expect from USE Components. This post is really well constructed.
It’s available in two clamp types DURO (layback and simple adjustment, the one tested) and GR (an EVO style clamp for zero-layback with a more traditional clamp) and 27.2mm, 30.9mm and 31.6mm sizes.
Out the box it looks like a dropper, but behaves very differently. This post offers up to 50mm of travel – controlled by a changeable elastomer and spring arrangement in the shaft itself, with a pre-load adjustment at the bottom of the shaft.
The post has been in production for a number of iterations and this latest version was supplied in 27.2mm with a full set of springs/elastomers. I went with the ‘hard’ option which suits riders between 80-100Kgs.
In 27.2mm with hard springs comes in at a claimed 460g, which while heavier than a standard post- the trade off is worth it in my opinion.
When fitting the post, I went with my usual saddle to bottom bracket measurement when the post was unloaded (i.e. full extension) and adjusted the pre-load a couple of times while out on my test ride. I also found I needed to adjust the saddle height slightly to account for the small amount of loaded sag.
From the very first ride I noticed that I was able to maintain a seated pedal even over some of the terrain that would normally cause me to stand to absorb some of the chatter, and after a few minutes I didn’t even notice any movement – there is no pedal bob feeling. On longer rides the post really came into its own, comparing it to a (all be it lighter) standard post I noticed a drop in fatigue.
Abd in the six months I have been using it, apart from a wipe and spray of the wiper seals, it’s been maintenance free.
USE Components Vube Suspension Stem review
- Price: £180.00
- From: USE Components
- Tested by: Lewis for 6 months
I tested both the stem and the seatpost in combination on the same bike. The Vybe stem – as per the seatpost – is a really nicely made bit of kit.
This time the stem offers just 20mm of travel, however this is 20mm at the bars and the feel of this movement really varied where I had my hands on the bars – be that on the hoods, drops or tops.
The 90mm stem tested (also available in 70mm) weighs 205g and is compatible with 1 1/8 steers and 31.8 handlebars. You need to run the stem with the elastomer at the bottom, so there is a slight positive rise to account for in your setup.
I first installed it on my bike with the supplied elastomer which I found to be a bit soft. I changed this to a firmer elastomer (purple, all 4 elastomers supplied as standard with a small tub of grease). I did find fitting it a little bit tricky especially with the harder elastomers. You need to back off the adjustment bolts and make sure to follow the manufacturer’s torque settings (10Nm) as this main pivot holds the stem to your bike.
My advice would be to try a few of the different elastomers on different terrain and different hand positions to see what feels right for you. Don’t just set it and forget it.
The stem has a trick up its sleeve, there is built in rebound and damping (well, pre-load) adjustment, which can be accessed via the top and underside of the stem. I found that I needed to add pre-load after a few test rides to provide more stability in climbing and help reduce that elastomer bounce feel. This still retained the benefits of the stem on trail chatter and fatigue – particularly noticeable on the hoods. Once the settings were dialled this is another fit and forget item (although I did check the torque of the main bushing bolt every nowe and then).
In terms of ride feel, the active suspension is subtle enough that you don’t feel the impact of the change in angles as the elastomer compresses. I never noticed any undue movement at the sides of the bars when out of the saddle or on a steep climb. The smoothing of the trail and on your arms is really noticeable both on really rough terrain and over longer rides removing the trail chatter.
Overall
Would I keep these on my bike? Yes. Do the benefits beat the weight penalty? Yes. Recommended.
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Replies (8)
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Seriously? No link to the 90’s? You can pretty much draw a straight line through USE’s product catalogues from their first shokposts of the 90’s to this elastomer sprung, telescopic post…. Surely the fact that thay have been making and evolving these for 30 years is more of a point to make, than trying to erase the relevance of the brands history??
And while there is a significant discontinuity between the Girvin Flex Stem and modern suspension stems, they are all of the same basic concept. The only one that has a different concept I’ve seen is a “meroca" branded parallelogram stem on AliExpress…
None of this is to say the products are not as good as described, but to cast aside a companies 30 year history of making such products seems a little flippant?
It does seem like a bit of an odd statement to make, as you say, the USE Shokpost established the brand back in the very early 90’s and the new version is pretty much identical internally to the SX and XCR (and later I think the RX) posts. Different seat clamps, yes, the DURO/SUMO head is miles better than the old alien head, and they’ve done away with the gaiter for a proper seal, but it’s still a coil and elastomer, preload at the bottom type post.
Interesting that, I think it’s a design copy of the Vecnum stem, which of course takes it’s principle from the old Allsop softride, back in the 90’s.
I still have a ’90’s USE XCR post on my Kona
I bought the vybe seatpost for my mums Xmas for her turbo Vado sl bike but at 400mm it’s too long to fit in her seat tube, shame as it looks a decent bit of kit.
Guess I’ll be selling it on here
I borrowed a USE Vybe seatpost at one of the Mayhem races. Used it for a lap or two and I thought it was brilliant…. Well worth a look if you think you need one.
I’ve had a USE Vybe seatpost for a few years now and I love it on my gravel bike. It really comes into its own when I am going down bumpy shallow descents where you can sit and pedal. I always take the seatpost and trusty wtb saddle off my bike when it is locked in the outhouse
Kind of Interesting, TBH I’m mostly interested in the stem which appears to be lighter and cheaper than the redshift equivalent with about the same travel…
I’d be interested to know how they compare in terms of feel, any noticeable difference or is one elastomer sprung bouncy stem kind of the same as another?
Got a Vybe on test at the moment, it definitely looks more like a conventional stem than other offerings and the rebound and compression damping adjustment works well. But it does have some short comings, especially if you tackle tech descents on the drops.