All You Need to Know About Suspension Seatposts
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This article mentions third-party products that are not manufactured by Tern. Please note that product designs might change, and that their manufacturers may choose to maintain the same product name even after the design has changed.
For your safety, always consult with your bike dealer, or with the product manufacturer or reseller, to make sure you have the right components to safely ride the bike.
When designing our folding bikes, e-bikes, and cargo bikes, we aim to strike a balance between durability and a comfortable everyday ride. If you prefer a softer ride that prioritizes comfort, you may want to add a suspension seatpost to your Tern bike like the GSD, HSD, Quick Haul, Short Haul, Vektron, or BYB. In this article, we’ll talk about the benefits of suspension seatposts and introduce our recommended model.
Why choose a suspension seatpost?
Two factors that greatly influence your bike’s comfort by absorbing shock from the road are 1) the tires and 2) the seatpost.
Depending on your riding conditions, you may be able to soften your ride a little by running your bike's tires at a relatively lower pressure (check out this article for more information on choosing a suitable tire pressure). But if that’s not enough, you may want to consider adding a suspension seatpost.
A suspension seatpost will greatly increase the amount your seatpost can flex. This reduces the transfer of high-frequency road vibrations from your bike to your body and dampens the impacts of big hits from the road, such as bumps and potholes. The result is a smoother ride and (sometimes) less physical fatigue.
Why not choose a suspension seatpost?
Everyone likes comfort, so is there any reason not to install a suspension seatpost on your bike? Here are a few points to consider:
- Adding a suspension seatpost may increase the minimum height of the saddle, which could be a problem for petite riders.
- Many riders report that with some minor adjustments to their riding technique, a suspension seatpost is unnecessary. If you know there are bumps ahead, try flexing your elbows a little and using the strength of your legs to slightly lift yourself off of your saddle. With some practice, this will become second nature and can make a bumpy ride much more manageable.
- Some folks might find they simply prefer the way their bike rides with the factory seatpost. This is something you’ll have to discover through trial and error. Your Tern dealer may be able to advise you on what will work best for your situation.
Which suspension seatpost is recommended?
We all have our own boxes to check when it comes to comfort, so it’s tough to say which suspension seatpost is the best. In general, we’ve found the Cane Creek Thudbuster ST series to work well. This suspension seatpost comes in different diameters, so make sure to choose the right one for your bike.
To find out the diameter of your bike’s seatpost, remove the seatpost from the bicycle frame and look for the size, which is usually a three-digit number (such as 27.2, 30.9, or 31.6) stamped just below the “Minimum Insert” line toward the bottom of the seatpost.
The latest version of the Thudbuster allows riders to switch between the soft, medium, and hard elastomers without tools for easy sharing.
Can I use a different suspension seatpost?
Yes, there may be other suspension seatposts that will work for you. If you’re considering a different brand of seatpost, make sure to check for compatibility with the manufacturer.
