Seatposts

BMX Seatpost Buyer’s Guide

Seat attach to seatposts, which are then inserted into the bike frame. There are a few varieties of seatposts on the market which this article will address.

Types

Standard – This “old school” style seatpost is a simple piece of pipe inserted into your frame. The seat is attached to the top of it with a little clamping device commonly referred to as “seat guts”. These are most common on older or low end bikes and can be identified by nuts on each side of the seat.

Micro-Adjust - These are very similar to standard seatposts, but the seat guts are integrated into the seatpost. The seat rails attached to the top of the post.

Pivotal – This is the most simplistic and “clean” option, and is very common. The sear fits into adjustment grooves that are at the top of the seatpost, and a bolt is inserted through the seat from the top to secure it, eliminating the need for seat guts. A special corresponding pivotal seat is required. There are also some pivotal posts that use a wedge system on the bottom for use in frames that have no room for a seatclamp.

Sizes

Diameter – Seatposts are available in several sizes ranging from 22.2mm thru 35mm in diameter. Most street, park, and trails frames require a 25.4mm post. If you’re not sure which size you need, check your current post or frame specification. Most posts have their size stamped into them, usually just below the minimum insertion line.

Length – Lengths vary from just a few inches to over a foot. Which one you pick depends on how high you want your seat to be. When the post is inserted into the frame, the bottom of it should be a little bit below the bottom of the top tube of your frame, this will help reduce the chance of breaking off the top of your seat tube or damaging your frame.

Materials

The majority of standard seatposts are made from steel. Most micro-adjust and pivotal models are made from alloy. In an effort to reduce weight, some short pivotal posts are offered in a “resi” material (plastic composite), but these are not as common.

How Much To Spend

Standard, straight, steel seatposts start at about $10. Micro-adjust models range from $15-$100. Most pivotal models go for $20-$30.

If you’re purchasing a micro-adjust seatpost, prepare to spend $30-$60 for something strong and light. If you’re purchasing a pivotal seatpost, anything around $25 is a good bet.

Things To Look For

When buying a new seatpost, figure out what it is that you don’t like about your current one. If you’re tired of having the nuts from the seat guts digging into your thighs when you pinch your seat, move to a micro-adjust. If your seat rails keep bending, replace it with a pivotal set up. Remember that you’ll have to upgrade your seat at the same time since a railed seat will not work with a pivotal post.

Product Reviews

Before buying, be sure to do your research and read product reviews. Reviews are a great way to find out specifics about a particular model, user impressions, and things to watch out for. After you’ve purchased a product and had enough time to thoroughly test it, we encourage you to leave a review for other people to see when they are researching bikes and parts on the web.

We hope you’ve found this information to be helpful. If you have a question that isn’t answered in this guide, our BMX forums are a great place to get advice from knowledgeable riders. Your local bike shop is also a great resource.