[Closed] Dropper seatposts - KS Lev or Fox DOSS????

Surely if you're spending that much you should just get a Reverb? Unless you want the cable run of the Lev? DOSS has no advantage over the Reverb, Lev has cable routing over the Reverb.

I'd need a pretty good reason to get anything other than a Reverb, because they actually work and can be had at a sensible price...

27.2 might be a reason.

I can recommend the lev. Tidy installation with the cable routing and no loop when dropped. Super smooth in operation. Really pleased with it. Just under £250 from wiggle by the time I'd applied discounts and cash back.

I like the routing and the control lever on the Lev, keeps it well neat. Just wonder if build quality is as good?
I've dealt with Mojo/Fox before and they are great. I've found Fox gear really good/well made.
I'll check out the Reverb too.

Need 31.6mm.
Found Lev for £299 and Doss at £330

I have a KS i900 31.6 lever new, 2yr warranty, if that's any good, £140 posted.

Fortunateson09 - Member

I'd need a pretty good reason to get anything other than a Reverb

I have a Reverb and am pleased with it generally, but IMO there are 2 very good reasons to consider the Lev.

One is the location of the cable that connects to the static collar which massively improves the routing as well as improving the vulnerability in a crash, the second is the cable actuation rather than hydraulic which is so much easier to maintain or fix.

I have only used the Lev for a week so far, but so far it seems as good as the Reverb

Reverb anyday, but the tidy cable routing of the KS is great..

As for the Fox unit its 3 years out of date and more expensive..

I have had a reverb for 2 years without issue (i am a mtb guide so is used a lot) it only now needs a service..

As ever with droppers it makes sense to wait until the post's been well tested in the wild- KS have a track record of doing their beta testing with paying customers 😉 Once that was out of the way they've done great posts but it might be we're back to square one with the Lev.

The Reverb's not a better post than the i950 IMO, they're both very good. Remains to be seen if the Lev is progress.

I bought a Reverb after a lengthy thread on the topic here recently.

I was very, very impressed with it on first outing at CYB. The remote is excellent and I found myself using it far more than I expected. Trails like R74, for example, where there's a mix of fast, droppy, twisty and a little climby - Superb to have the remote there.

So, unless there's any specific reason not to buy a Reverb - Buy a Reverb.

I have a Lev and am pleased with it; no experience with the DOSS. I prefer the fixed cable routing on the Lev, and the Fox design of the DOSS with the top mounted cable is a drawback IMO.

Lev can be had for about £220 from Germany. That'd be where my money went if I was willing to risk a new product that isn't exactly renowned for its reliability. There really does seem to be nothing to recommend the DOSS apart from the Fox name, if that's your kinda thing. I'm too much of a wuss though, and am awaiting my new Gravity Dropper's arrival in a couple of hours.

I bought a Lev recently, haven't had the chance to fit it yet but it seems extremely well made. The static cable routing and no hydraulics to maintain were huge plus points for me - definitely the way to go. I'm sure it'll become the standard soon enough.

Yep. LEV or Reverb. See no point in buying the fox whatsoever.

Northwind - Member

The Reverb's not a better post than the i950 IMO, they're both very good. Remains to be seen if the Lev is progress.

I'd say there's little to choose between the posts, but the Reverb remote is much better, both ergonomically and in terms of the action and reliability.

I went with the Lev, didn't want hydraulic and the cabling/remote of the Lev is much neater than the Reverb. If the loopy cable doesn't bother you (or your frame allows for a stealth version) then hard to argue against the Reverb given the price

Awhat about the crank brothers kronolog?

I'm also looking at buying a post 30.9 less than 400 mm too

Awhat about the crank brothers kronolog?

I'm also looking at buying a post 30.9 less than 400 mm too

I'm going to be in the position where I'll be shopping for a new dropper post in the next couple of weeks. Whats stopping me from getting a £200 Reverb from Germany? Is the Lev / DOSS / CB etc worth looking at?

Slogo - Member
Awhat about the crank brothers kronolog?

I'm also looking at buying a post 30.9 less than 400 mm too

I posted some stuff on the Kronolog, see link below. In short, "No".

http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/reverb-or-kronolog/page/2

What a surprise, more utter tosh from CB.

How the hell they're still in business baffles the hell out of me.

OK, so CB is out!

Reverb or KS Lev I think...

I am looking at the KS Lev too, just need to find out the some measurements ie the minimum insert line (if it will go far enough into my stumpjumper)

the minimum insert line on the Lev is 120mm from the bottom of the post - hope that helps.

What a surprise, more utter tosh from CB.

How the hell they're still in business baffles the hell out of me.

Thanks phil56 I have just measured how far the seat post drops its 150mm,I may have to spend lots of money soon.
Any good prices out there at the moment (wiggle) I noticed some of you are getting these from Germany (where) is it ok warranty etc.
Vic

Ok, decision made, cash has been parted with. I have just ordered the KS Lev mainly due to the neat cable routing and I like the control lever as I have Odi grips, keeps it all tidy and finally a lot of recommendations. I was tempted with the reverb but the Lev is that bit neater. I was going to order from Germany £210 but outta stock today. Wiggle got stock in and I paid a bit more but I feel better getting it from this country, rather support our economy than theirs! Better for warranty if anything goes wrong too!
Thanks for all advice, much appreciated and I'll let you know how I get on with it.

Cheers

Congrats, faceplanter, think you won't regret it. I installed mine this evening and I'm impressed so far. I noted a few installation points in another post, sure it'll come up in a search easy enough. Nothing out of the ordinary but might make things go more smoothly, you never know.

got the doss had the reverb

lots of fannying about with the reverb getting the right height, none of that with the doss

think about it

why do you need infinite adjustment?

highest for xc/climbing
drop a bit for the downs
all the way for stuffing the saddle between your knees and descending

doss

Just checked out KS installation vid (yip, bit sad but I love tinkering on with my bike!), well helpful, many tips I'd have probably overlooked. I was pleased to see they had a vid on servicing the post too (more tinkering - garage, tools n grease, a mans sanctuary!!)

Those KS Lev videos are new. I was on there a week or two ago and the links to the videos weren't set up yet.

Gravity Dropper...
Damn next time I'll red the entire thread before posting...
I still don't get that people would buy stuff abroad.

dirtyrider - Member
got the doss had the reverb

lots of fannying about with the reverb getting the right height, none of that with the doss

think about it

why do you need infinite adjustment?

highest for xc/climbing
drop a bit for the downs
all the way for stuffing the saddle between your knees and descending

doss

juan - Member
Gravity Dropper...

😉

dirtyrider - Member

lots of fannying about with the reverb getting the right height, none of that with the doss

think about it

why do you need infinite adjustment?

You don't need it... But I've got both preset and infinate adjustement posts and the infinate adjustment one does absolutely everything the other one can, plus a bit more, I don't see any downside. Not to mention that if the preset one's presets don't suit you then they're useless.

Good call on those KS videos. They are in the Support section but not linked from the product page. The manual is in there as well. The inners of the post look to be good and suggest trouble free operation..

For ref:
[url=

Install Video[/url]

[url=

Service Video[/url]

[url= http://kssuspension.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/LEV-English.pdf ]Lev Manual[/url]

Were do people get the KS Lev from other than UK (Germany seems popular)?

Being about 6 foot 5 and riding a 22 inch frame I think I'll need the biggest post they do (420mm with 150mm drop I think) but apparently that one isn't available in the UK. Hoping it's available in Europe to get shipped over here - anyone got a link?

150mm drop 435 not in stock yet but available here
http://www.actionsports.de/gb/Components/SeatpostsClamps/Kind-Shock-LEV-Vario-Sattelstuetze::49340.html

I asked the distributor a few weeks ago about the 150 a- it'll be available mid August but there's already a waiting list. The 27.2 will be available a few weeks after that so September..

Just out of interest, what friction paste have folk been using? Cheers

I wasn't aware that I couldn't use grease until mine arrived. I didn't have any carbon paste, so used Park anti-sieze compound instead as I had it on hand.

better grab some carbon paste then.

Based on what I have seen in the manual on the web anti seize is good to go as well. I guess that they are looking at gripping the most with minimum possible clamping force from the seat clamp.

Mark N - Yes; the instructions that came with the Lev said to use either carbon paste or anti-sieze compound. They clearly said NOT to use grease like 99% or us normally do.

I have two bikes, one with 27.2 and the other with 31.6 and I don't really want to buy two dropper posts. So will using a 27.2 post in the 31.6 bike with a shim cause problems? I can't see why but there is always some drawback I haven't thought of!

Hi might be looking at getting a LEV soon. Can anyone tell me if i buy from germany will it cause problems with any warranty issues here in the uk or would it need to go through the german side ? And also who is the UK distributors/dealers ?

KS are dealt with by pure racing, or superstar components as they're otherwise known. I've just had some repair work done on my 950 and it hasn't been the best experience :-$

Hi, can anyone tell me the minimum exposed seatpost from the seat clamp to the saddle rails on the LEV? I'm after a 100mm post but the reverb needs too much of the post exposed for me. The shortest I have seem is the Specialized blacklite but I think they only come in 30.9 in the UK. Thanks!

Re: min insertion, see my reply to this thread :
[url= http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/ks-i950-other-non-remote-dropper-posts ]Ks lev 125mm[/url]

Finally got my Lev post after Shitty link tried to deliver twice without leaving cards to notify. Ended up going to get it myself - usual top class service - Thanks City Link!!
Anyway..... Fitting is fairly straight forwards so long as you have the right tools. I did not! A trip to LBS to borrow cable cutters - sorted! The thing that stands out most - soooo neat! No excess clutter/levers on the handlebars and cable routing is well tidy.
Done a couple of rides and have found it great, just becomes second nature. Only gripe I can mention is I would have been better getting the next size up as it is just slightly lower than I would prefer.
My choice, nowt wrong with post.
Definately made riding more dynamic, no stop/start.
Mint!!

Thanks Sam but does anyone know what the min insertion is for the 100mm post? Is it 25mm less or the same as the 125mm post? Thanks

My ks lev is fitted and brill 😀 the cable did take a bit of cutting needed bigger and better cutters (I was just being a bit of a girl oh i am a girl) 😕 I ordered it from wiggle and it turned up next day 😀

Pinkbike has a review of the DOSS [url= http://www.pinkbike.com/news/FOX-DOSS-Dropper-Post-Tested-2012.html ]here.[/url]

I can't see the point of the DOSS. It's heavier than the competition, brings nothing new to the party and being a Fox product will be priced to attract those who have too much disposable income.

The Lev on the other hand is a second generation product that's had some of the faults of it's predecessor designed out - namely the release mechanism is at a fixed point on the front of the post. The Reverb has those lovely hydraulic innards that theoretically mean reliable operation, but all posts share a basic vulnerability in that the stanchion and seal is in the direct crud path of the rear wheel.

Aside from fitting a gopping mudguard, or an equally gopping stanchion boot and/or plastic guard a-la upside down MX forks there's very little you can do about it. Plus even the most feathery dropper post will add a whole pound to the weight of my already portly AM bike.

Am I missing something?

Am I missing something?

Yes. You will ride better on corners and descents if your seat is lower and you'll ride uphill quicker for longer if you can return it to pedalling height. You could stop and use the quick release but then you have to stop. A Gravity Dropper may look ugly (though I'd say purposeful) but it is reliable, easy to maintain and fix (and I hate fettling) and will add only 250g to the weight of your bike (unless you currently ride with no seatpost at all!)