EUROBIKE proved the ideal stomping ground for EightPins to present their eponymous seatpost designed in collaboration with Syntace. With direct integration and up to 220 mm infinite adjustment, this dropper post is no regular fare. We took a closer look.
Bypassing the traditional tube-in-tube design, EightPins have opted for full seatpost integration in the frame. This approach then asks for a seat tube with a 35 mm diameter and a unique mounting axle inside the seattube to keep the seatpost’s internals in check.
The tube diameter for the EightPins seatpost measures a whopping 33 mm, and the brand claim it unites great stability with a low weight. They aren’t over-hyping it either, as the EightPins post with 150 mm of hub weighs in at 430 g, which is 130 g lighter than the 100 mm hub-sporting RockShox Reverb. The graduated drops are designed to be barely perceptible, as the mechanical rapid interlocking pin system occurs every 6 mm. To ensure that the seatpost won’t be damaged in the event of a crash, EightPins have created an emergency decoupling (an ‘integrated overload clutch’) that allows the saddle to rotate – afterwards, it can be turned back by hand.
Not wanting to discriminate, the EightPins seat post comes in four sizes: S (150 mm hub), M (180 mm hub), L (200 mm hub) and XL (220 mm hub). At 480 mm in length, the tube is much like a regular seatpost and can easily be taken out and shortened with tube cutters. As you can adjust the hub independently of the height you set the seatpost, it should render the seatpost more than able to satisfy any riding intentions – and any rider’s height. You can adjust the post height with a 4 mm Allen key under the seat clamp, and reposition as you like. The Austrian brand are keeping schtum about the intricacies of hub adjustment.
The first impression of the seatpost was pretty damn good, with its simplicity (especially considering it’s a mechanically actuated gas spring) and the small 6 mm steps downwards exceeding our expectations.
However, we’re all going to have to exercise some serious patience before it becomes common property; the EightPins seatpost will be initially only be found on two new Liteville whips, the 301 MK14 and the 601 MK4, although we have heard that other brands are keen to get their hands on this innovative seatpost too. It remains to be seen whether all the bikes on the market will be compatible with such long, straight seattubes – this is where certain frame designs might have to admit defeat and look elsewhere.
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