Thomson titanium seatpost

[dddd]

Originally Posted by SlowPokePete

My favorite ti seatpost is on my Kona Raijin...Blacksheep built with a Thomson head.

SPP

That begs the question, how is the current ti seatpost manufactured? Is it machined from one piece of bar stock?

I recall that their now 20-something year-old design was perhaps made from a long extrusion, from which metal is machined away and then with the optional bend introduced.

This would perhaps explain why an offset design would have to be made differently, or having to machine away a lot more metal off of what would be a most hefty and awkward-to-make new extrusion.

Great clamp and crazy-high standards from this brand. No new (possibly two-piece?) offset version will come to market without extensive, long-term testing having first been completed. I wouldn't be surprised if this new offset design will be one-piece and based on a cold forging instead of any extrusion.

[bicycletricycle]

when they get that new setback post made I will be putting it on a lot of my bicycles.

[Velocipede]

Originally Posted by Clancy

Can you make a guess as to why it hasn’t made it into production yet?

Funny story. So many people complained that the "bent" post was ugly. So they decided to come up with the new design. BUT, when they showed it, the majority response was, don't do it. We like the old post! Just like the fine machining marks on the parts. Same silly issues. Public perception.

Originally Posted by charliedid

Thanks

I was joking about setback as in why it's taking so long. Let's face it they are reacting to a segment that does not like the design of the current bent post. In designing this new SP they are also having to design and feel comfortable with the head working as well as the original.

See comment above. Note though, the new tea works the exact same as the old. Just with the offset built into it. No difference in the function.

Originally Posted by dddd

That begs the question, how is the current ti seatpost manufactured? Is it machined from one piece of bar stock?

I recall that their now 20-something year-old design was perhaps made from a long extrusion, from which metal is machined away and then with the optional bend introduced.

This would perhaps explain why an offset design would have to be made differently, or having to machine away a lot more metal off of what would be a most hefty and awkward-to-make new extrusion.

Great clamp and crazy-high standards from this brand. No new (possibly two-piece?) offset version will come to market without extensive, long-term testing having first been completed. I wouldn't be surprised if this new offset design will be one-piece and based on a cold forging instead of any extrusion.

I have some pre-CNC samples of things. I'll post pics later. But the post is made from extruded bar stock and then machined down. The bent post is the same as the straight, just bent afterwards. They all start life from the same bar stock. I even have a stem blank here somewhere.

Originally Posted by bicycletricycle

when they get that new setback post made I will be putting it on a lot of my bicycles.

I wish they would make it. I need an offset post on most bikes so this would be great to have as I like their stuff. I think it looks nice, and much nicer than the "bent" post.

[cinema]

Originally Posted by bicycletricycle

when they get that new setback post made I will be putting it on a lot of my bicycles.

i remember seeing prototypes or talks of this like... ten years ago here. not likely to ever happen. i have come to accept the ugly bent post over the years but would like to change it up. it's not very attractive. but it works better than the rest

[dddd]

Originally Posted by Velocipede

...I have some pre-CNC samples of things. I'll post pics later. But the post is made from extruded bar stock and then machined down. The bent post is the same as the straight, just bent afterwards. They all start life from the same bar stock. I even have a stem blank here somewhere...

Were you referring to the titanium post here?

I didn't know that titanium was ever extruded to make things.
Reason I asked was that I wondered if the ti post had to be drilled out it's entire length from billet stock, or if the ti post was a weldment(?).

[thirdgenbird]

I am one of the few that is pro bent post. It won’t go on everything, but it’s a great match on some alloy frames that have a bit of an industrial style or a road bike that has a -17 steel quill stem. Now, on something with smooth tube joints or flowing lines? That will look out of place.