Giant Contact SL Switch seatpost review

Giant Contact SL Switch seatpost review

Versatile lightweight dropper

Our rating

3

280.00
170.00
250.00

Published: March 4, 2015 at 12:00 pm

Our review
Well priced up or under cable post, but short drop, thumb punishing lever action and 30.9mm only

Giant’s own brand dropper seatpost has been a regular feature on its trail bikes for a while and the latest aftermarket version is a usefully versatile twin routing option as long as you’ve got a 30.9mm seat tubed frame and are light on your saddle.

At 640g it’s lighter than most cheap dropper options but you only get 100mm of drop, which some testers didn’t feel was quite enough. The 30.9mm shaft diameter also restricts bike fitment but it can be rigged to run from the bottom of the post or the top, which is useful if you change your frame in the near future.

The internal routing is the usual intricate patience-testing faff but it’s reasonably tolerant in terms of cable tension so if you get it somewhere close the barrel adjuster on the remote lever should be enough to get it working. If you’re running it externally the top pull mechanism is very well sealed from filth but getting at the cable clamp involves dismantling the side tensioned seat clamp. Be sure to tighten the saddle clamp very tightly too otherwise it slips easily if you land or G out on it hard. It can be awkward to persuade into exactly the right angle too so take your time over setup.

The remote lever is easier to position neatly thanks to the flexible hose section that carries it over brake levers/shifters. The flip-up lever design needs a lot of pressure to get it moving even when new, and keeping it clean is essential to stop it becoming a thumb breaker.

  • Weight 640g
  • Drop 100mm
  • Diameter 30.9mm
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