First Look: 2013 KS Suspension Telescoping Seatposts

Mar 8, 2012
by Matt Wragg  
2013 KS Suspension Seatposts

KS Suspension is introducing a new flagship suspension seatpost for 2013: the Lev. The big news with the new post is the cable routing. Gone is the actuator at the head of the post, which always left the cable open to fill up with grit and dirt. On the new posts there are two options for cabling: one for the aftermarket, with a cable that enters the main body of the post; and another OEM-only version with internal frame routing with the housing entering the base of the post (very much like the Rockshox Reverb Stealths you can see now on Treks and Scotts). You won't be able to buy the internally-routed post aftermarket, as KS is not keen on encouraging people to get their drills out and homebrew internal cable routing.

Taipei Cycle Show 2012

Wish you could have it? The OEM-only KS internally-routed cable option looks very clean.


Taipei Cycle Show 2012

Cutaway view of the KS Lev seatpost's internal cable routing that we should be seeing a lot of in 2013.


Revising the routing means they have been able to completely re-design the head. In previous models the clamping bolts for the saddle sat either side of the head, which meant that the head could work loose. This was to accomodate the mechanism, but now all that has been moved lower down the post they have been able to use a more traditional setup with the bolts at the front and back which should mean a more secure saddle. They have also been able to re-work the way the head sits on the post, again to try and eliminate any movement creeping in. These changes have also meant that they have been able to shave a substantial amount of weight from the head.

A new 150mm travel option is the other big news. Previously, KS offered posts in 100mm and 125mm stroke versions, but the new 150mm option should help riders who want their saddles as low as their DH bikes. KS will still be offering the Lev post in 27.2, 30.9 and 31.6 mm diameters.

Taipei Cycle Show 2012

2013 KS Lev Seatpost Details:

• 100mm, 125mm and now 150mm travel options available
• 27.2, 30.9 and 31.6 diameter options
• 100g lighter than the current i950
• Internal routing option available (OEM)
• New cable routings reduce exposure to dirt and the elements
• Revised head for improved clamping and reduced weight
• Handlebar trigger and internals remain unchanged
• No confirmed MSRP yet

Taipei Cycle Show 2012

Without the cable mech, the Lev seatpost head is lighter weight and uncluttered looking.


Taipei Cycle Show 2012

Aftermarket Lev posts are actuated near the seal-head, so that the cable housing remains in position as the post telescopes up and down.


Taipei Cycle Show 2012

The remote actuator remains unchanged for 2013.


www.kssuspension.com

Posted In:
Reviews and Tech First Looks Seatposts


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Member since Oct 29, 2006
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60 Comments
  • 143 2
 "....should help riders who felt five inches wasn't enough." Sounds like my ex.....
  • 11 44
flag conv3rt (Mar 7, 2012 at 19:53) (Below Threshold)
 Five inches? Just the Tip.

Go ahead, light me up if you must.
  • 8 35
flag downhilladdict (Mar 7, 2012 at 20:27) (Below Threshold)
 Rly? 5 inches?
  • 55 3
 he means diameter..............
  • 7 12
flag QQdownhiller (Mar 8, 2012 at 5:53) (Below Threshold)
 Radius?
  • 31 1
 believe the term is girth
  • 29 2
 2 droppers review in a week, imo result: ks > kronolog.
  • 3 6
 i have a buddy who works for crankbrothers and he has been running the kronolog for a while now... its holding up great and seems to be sturdier and more reliable then most other dropper posts on the market. regardless of how it compares to ks or others, its definitely a huge improvement upon the joplin
  • 10 0
 It wouldn't take much to improve on the Joplin. I had one.
  • 47 0
 A standard non-dropper seat post is also a huge improvement over the joplin.....
  • 1 0
 sad but true, LOL!
  • 1 0
 i had a maverick post, it wasnt bad it just needed regular maintenance but my 2012 rs reverb is way better
  • 12 2
 "Previously they offered their posts in 100mm and 125mm versions, but the 150mm should help riders who felt five inches wasn't enough." Actually they've offered a 150mm SuperNatural post for some time now. Might wanna research next time.
  • 6 1
 buzzkill.
  • 1 0
 whipped !
  • 1 0
 That would be correct.
  • 6 1
 Uh...wasn't this post supposed to be available January 2012 for $395?

www.pinkbike.com/news/KS-Lev-Dropper-Post-Eurobike-2011.html

Guess they are missing that date.
  • 2 1
 Products get pushed back all the time. For instance Garmin just pushed back the release of their power meter pedals by three months.
  • 1 0
 Looks like they're trying to be patient rather than rush it
  • 2 0
 I am pretty sure they are available now, the 150mm version comes out soon and the internal routing one is available as an OEM product ... but I could be wrong
  • 4 1
 Hope that the new version is more reliable than the current one. Mine went in for warranty twice within the 1st 3 rides before I gave up on it. Same thing for my buddies. My LBS said that the majority of them had warranty issues and often required mods right out of te box. More travel is definately a plus for us tall folks. Reverb is still the tops.
  • 1 1
 This is what I was hoping too...then I saw that they are using the same internals as the current post....it looked great till I saw that.
  • 3 1
 My KS Supernatural 150 has been sent back SIX times now in past 9 months. Love and require the 6" option, but shody and cumbersome reliability with this post for sure. The LEV maybe more reliable, not sure, but at $450 for post, not worth the gamble for me.
  • 2 0
 I have had the 125mm for over a year and no issues with it. That's over a year of riding through crap. I zip tied a section of 2.125" innertube from the head down to the lower bushing to protect the post from all the crap we've ridden in for the past year in Ontario. It's been very muddy.
  • 2 1
 I'm sure I read elsewhere KS are coming out with a low end dropper post? Something in the region of £100 or so, brand new. This would be far more interesting to me + most others I think, what with the stupid high prices charged for them.
  • 3 2
 Meanwhile the 2012 RockShox Reverb slips on another all-mountain bike and rides off into the sunset smiling to itself in the knowledge it's been efficiently and reliably doing this stuff for a while now and looking good in the process...
  • 1 0
 OOooo I have been waiting for this one..............a 150mm travel post to get the seat right out of the way for the super techy sections of trail. Bugger looks like I'm going to have to wait another year. Ok I'm off to buy the original gravity dropper 5" post. I currently have two 4" 27.2mm original Gravity Dropper posts (had 3 - now sold) the wife has a KS900i 125mm and my Trek Slash 9 came with the new Reverb stealth which is a lovely bit of kit to work. But I'm worried about reliability and the fact I don't think I'll be able to strip it if / when something goes wrong? I know folk who have had issues with their 1st gen. reverbs and have read about countIess others. The same is true of the 1st Gen KS900i, but with over a years abuse, my wifes 2nd Gen. KSi has been fine other than one mud caked seat head incident. But I can't get into the internal air spring of that post - although I've come across one site with some pics which suggests otherwise, but I bet I wonder if I'll get the parts. Interestingly, the 4" gravity dropper in 27.2mm Dia is lighter than the 5" KS. Don't even mention the Crank Brothers post = unreliable and 3" of travel = waste of time.

All 3 orginal Gravity Dropper posts have been very reliable simply because there is nothing in them. A spring and a pin and cable operated - that's it! I've had them for 4 years. I eventaully fatigued the shaft of the first one after 3 years riding approx 3 times a week and countless biking trips away. Chain Reaction Cycles has most of the significant spares. £40 got me a whole new shaft, seal, collar and boot. Back to new! They do a 30.9 post and in 5" drop so I'm off to buy that while I wait for the 6" KS dropper to be released and tested by the public for 6 months, that is unless Gravity Dropper come out with a 6" 150mm dropper :-)
  • 3 2
 SOOO lame that the internal routing is oe only! My Coilair has the a hole for it. Otherwise looks very good. Will probably wait until I can get Internal routing tho. looks so much better and less to snag or damage.
  • 1 0
 In Bike Magazine's Bible of Bike Tests this year, they said the KS Supernatural R was their favorite cable-actuated dropper post. ('Course the Reverb's hydraulically actuated)
  • 4 0
 Boys, who cares?

Thomspon is coming out with a dropper post in September.
  • 1 0
 Those guys don't put out anything unless it's been tested through hell. I remember them showing me a prototype handlebar and said that it's going to take them a while becasue it wasn't up to their standard. I'll be the first in line for one of those.
  • 1 0
 On one of my bikes im still using an old cheapo dropper post it was called non stop I think it came from Israel it only cost about 85 quid!, I did not think it would last 3 months when I first saw it.
  • 4 0
 Wow nice
  • 1 0
 MBA reviews it and KS posts the review here:
kssuspension.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/MBA-Review-of-KS-LEV.pdf

Looks pretty good to me.
  • 3 1
 I know they're called KS suspension but i don't think I've ever seen any actual suspension made by them?
  • 3 0
 they make lots of low end OEM shocks.... think wal-mart bikes.
  • 1 0
 Actually they have some pretty good looking shocks except those "wal-mart bikes" cheap ones.
I had their AM/FR shock. It worked surprisingly well. It was smooth and the Rebound was amazing.
But after one year use, it started leaking.

www.kssuspension.com/shocks.html

Their current shocks look good, by the way..
  • 2 0
 Is it so difficult to produce a reliable, and sub €200 euro dropper post? I think they all are laughing at our faces!!
  • 1 0
 They should offer the "internal" cable routing - many bikes have an interrupted seat tube design that naturally would work with the design.
  • 1 0
 Think you would still need to drill a hole in the head tube for the cable to enter the frame from the bar.
  • 1 0
 No, Not at all - I have a '10 Slayer and it could come out the bottom seat tube and then run it up under the down tube. Nice and clean.
  • 2 0
 Oh, never though of it like that. That would work real nice.
  • 2 0
 Like how they changed the whole setup to all black from the previous red accents. Had my 150 for over a year and no issues.
  • 1 0
 Wishing for an offset version, but Rick Taylor from KS USA told me that it won't be : "LEV will only come in zero offset.
Rick Taylor." Frown
  • 1 0
 260 USD is the cost for one of these bad boys through bti or qbp(forgot which one)
  • 2 0
 I would be interested in trying this. Hopefully more reliable than others!
  • 1 0
 Keeping the seat clamp tight always is a problem, hopefully fixed with this version.
  • 1 0
 a suspension seat post or is this a telescoping seat post as what i think it is? im a bit lost here.
  • 2 2
 I guarantee you if Fox made a telescoping post with kashima is would sell like hot cakes.
  • 1 1
 ^^^truth as sad as that is. then again anything fox knows their stuff they dont try to be the first to do something they try to perfect it
  • 2 0
 Fox said they probably won't be offering their height adjustable post with Kashima.
  • 6 0
 Why the hell would someone need Kashima on their post?
  • 1 0
 anything fox will sell like hot cakes. mmm... golden brown Kashima cakes.
  • 3 0
 yeti85 it's not about need, it's about want. Big Grin
  • 1 1
 is it actually travel so that it goes up and down if you're sitting on the seat like is it actual suspension?
  • 1 0
 no, it's meant to only move when you hit the switch, that way you can change your saddle height without getting off of the bike
  • 1 4
 150 drop, heh good luck, fancy changing bushings due to excessive play every 5 rides? My 380mm Reverb has 125mm, not only I don't need so much travel, I would appreciate much more bushing spacing as after half of a year it developed some srious fore-aft play.
  • 3 0
 Have had the KS Supernatural with 150mm since November last year, have put over 50000feet climbing on it, most of it in rain and mud and unfriendly temperatures. I'm currently 108kg. Have had NO problems, besides having to change the cable because of mud in the housing, but this I also had to do with the gear cables.
  • 7 1
 Some people might want such large travel? Try owning a long pair of legs and you will be thankful!
  • 1 2
 Between my buddies and I using KS posts we have spent enough on shipping to buy the new post. It works great when it works. Guess the KS stands for Keep Shipping....







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