Home > Event Coverage > Eurobike

EB13: Kind Shock Adds Carbon LEV Dropper Seatpost – Standard & Stealth Options

15 Comments
Support us! Bikerumor may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More

2014 Kind Shock KS Suspension LEV Carbon fiber dropper seatpost

Kind Shock (aka KS Suspension) showed off a prototype of their LEV Carbon dropper seatpost early in the year. At that time, they were shooting for a feathery 325g weight. As these draw nearer to production, though, they’ve inched up to a claimed weight of 400g.

The post is UD carbon fiber, as is the saddle cradle and head. It’ll have just 65mm of vertical drop, making it a better option for XC and some enduro type riding rather than full on freeride. Retail should be just under $600 when it starts shipping middle of 2014. There will be standard and Integra stealth versions available in either 30.9 or 31.6 diameters. More pics below…

2014 Kind Shock KS Suspension LEV Carbon fiber dropper seatpost

Ti hardware and a solid dual bolt design should make for easy adjustments without slippage.

2014 Kind Shock KS Suspension LEV Carbon fiber dropper seatpost

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

15 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Jerome
Jerome
10 years ago

Make that 125mm or more and I could be interested… who needs 65mm of drop? :/

Ham-planet
Ham-planet
10 years ago

Says it right in the article: XC riders. I wouldn’t mind trying one out on my road bike either.

AlanM
AlanM
10 years ago

@Ham-planet, on a ride bike?

turbodog13
turbodog13
10 years ago

Road bike? Please god no.

Tandumb
Tandumb
10 years ago

The post looks awesome but Wtf is the damn difference between “enduro” and “full on free ride”? I’m too old to know the difference.

Freddie T
Freddie T
10 years ago

Enduro is downhill trail riding with some short climbs to challenge you. Full on freeride is f**k it huck. Climb the biggest thing you can and toss yourself off.

Andre
10 years ago

Finally something lighter! but same price as a top susp fork?!

Andre
10 years ago

I also don’t understand why they keep doing these bulky clamps. Pin/craddle/yoke style would easily shave around 50g+.

Chet Bredwell
Chet Bredwell
10 years ago

Surprisingly, you can learn to ride descents with only 3″ drop in your saddle. Saddle slamming may be hip for 2001 on a Stinky DeeLuxe with DoubleWides and 3.0 Gazzaloddis so you can drop to flat and not get a saddle implanted in your rear, but I seriously doubt most of the riders who read this blog are living in 2001 and doing drops to flat.

I had one of the first year run Crank Bros Joplin posts which dropped only 3″ (75mm). It was more than enough, even though prior to that post I’d dropped my saddle about 4″ on average for a descent. The bonus of a slightly higher saddle is using the saddle against your inner thighs for more bike control. Of course, if I’d paid close attention to world cup DH racer videos, I’d have noticed that many racers descend with a saddle approximately even to their handlebar.

The “need” to drop your saddle 4-6 inches is mostly psychological, from a habit of always slamming the saddle.

I doubt most XC racers at upper levels will use the full 75mm of drop on this post. Most high level XC racers I know don’t ever drop their saddle and most of them are very quick descenders. I know, that’s contrary to the Internet Tough Guy’s image of XC riders being 100% fitness 0% skill, but it’s true.

mountguitars
mountguitars
10 years ago

i tried a 100mm gravity dropper on my XC bike and it felt awkward. without the saddle in between the legs i didn’t feel ‘balanced’. having it drop somewhere drop by not so much (50 or 60mm) would’ve done the trick for me and i guess these guys read my mind.

Gerow
Gerow
10 years ago

ISP on the hard tail works pretty damn swell if you got have the skills.

I fully agree with you Chet! I have raced DH, XC, and Enduro, and XC racers have always had the best all around mix of handling and fitness to win it! Anyone who says otherwise is likely lacking the fitness, and compensating by talking trash.

Jeb
Jeb
10 years ago

@Chet Bredwell, so you are telling me that every pro on the planet racing Enduro/Super D doesn’t know what they are doing by running 5″ dropper on their race bikes including two time XC World champion (and noted ripping descender) Nino Schurter when he races enduro. See Nino’s Scott genius with a 125mm drop Reverb. http://bikemagic.com/news/davids-blog/scott-genius-lt-proves-its-race-credentials.html

EmilMP
EmilMP
10 years ago

@Jeb, just because the dropper has 125mm drop, it doesn’t mean they drop it all the way all the time! Some use the Enduro collar to minimize the travel: http://cdn.media.cyclingnews.com/2011/06/02/2/reverb100_endurocollar_rsmy12_24_600.jpg, Nico Vouilloz uses it on his enduro bike: https://bikerumor.com/2013/05/16/prototype-lapierre-spicy-27-5-enduro-bike-raced-by-nico-vouilloz-w-fresh-spec/ Looks like he is using just above half of the travel.

Jerome
Jerome
10 years ago

@Chet – Since I am not a top XC or enduro (or DH, for that matter) athlete (neither are you, I suppose), I greatly appreciate my 5″ dropper post when descending. Sure, when I started MTB in 1991, there were none (except for the Hite Rite in 92(?)) and we rode saddle high and bars low, but our sport has evolved and I am now able to ride more safely and quickly thanks to my suspensions, clipless pedals, bigger and lighter tubeless-ready tires and dropper post. To each his own, but for me, dropper posts are a real plus and, even though I can go down without dropping my saddle, I don’t see why I wouldn’t use something that puts a big grin on my face and makes me faster and safer.

Chet Bredwell
Chet Bredwell
10 years ago

Well, I’m glad that Jeb has reminded me of what’s obvious — that most top “Enduro” racers are using what’s current (4″ to 6″ drop posts). I think you’d be wise to watch what happens among those racers after a much lighter 3″ drop post is unveiled and available to them.

Jerome, you should keep quiet about what others such as myself can, or cannot, do on a bike. Instead of using argumentum ad absurdum, you should try asking yourself why you think you need to slam your saddle for a descent. The reason you ride “more safely and quickly” with 5″ drop is not because of the five inches, but because you’ve never developed the skill to ride with less than that huge amount of drop. The fact that many can ride well with no drop, or a smaller amount, kinda disproves your assertion. Also, I’m not arguing for a return to the bicycles of 1910, Jerome. I’m just stating a few facts that seem to upset you quite a bit.

My apologies for making a few of you feel emasculated. Don’t worry, it’s just a passing feeling. Your manhood will be fully intact if you drop your post 3″ instead of 5″. The amount of drop does not correlate to the size of your male reproductive tool between your legs, even though both the seatpost and that tool rest between your legs.

Not Chet
Not Chet
10 years ago

Sorry Chet, your mud covered ego and scabbed self worth must be the victim here. Jerome always used what he wants and needs. YOU went cartoon on him. You will never be happy.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.