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Seatposts
Zipp Service Course SL Seatpost Zipp Service Course SL Seatpost Zipp Service Course SL Seatpost Zipp Service Course SL Seatpost Zipp Service Course SL Seatpost
Zipp Service Course SL Seatpost

Zipp Service Course SL Seatpost

6
by Stu Kerton
UPDATED Tue, Nov 06, 2018 15:45

First Published Nov 6, 2018

2
£156.00

VERDICT:

6
10
A decent enough seatpost but not the standout comfort Zipp claims
Weight: 
247g
Contact: 
www.zyrofisher.co.uk
How we test

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The redesigned Service Course SL carbon seatpost from Zipp might be a smart looking and well-made piece of kit, but we've seen lighter made from aluminium alloy, and it isn't noticeably more comfortable than its competitors at this price.

  • Pros: Easy cradle setup, choice of 0 or 20mm layback
  • Cons: Heavier than alloy and carbon options for similar money, no massive benefits in comfort

The previous couple of seatposts I've tested have been around the same price as the Zipp. The Hope Carbon was £135 and the Thomson Masterpiece £159.99, but I'd say both showed higher levels of attention to detail and engineering than the Zipp.

> Find your nearest dealer here

Zipp has gone for a carbon fibre tube with an alloy clamping system bonded into the top and it's quite a large lump of aluminium which no doubt adds to the overall weight. On the road.cc scales it weighed 247g for its 400mm length (the only option), compared to the slightly shorter (350mm) Hope and Thomson posts which are 50g lighter.

zipp_service_course_sl_seatpost_2.jpg

It is a simple to use saddle clamp design. The bolt heads are easy to get to even with a mini-tool, so tweaking when you are out in the field isn't an issue and I've tried it with both round and oval saddle rails.

This clamp sets the saddle back by 20mm, but you can also get a 0mm inline option, with both available in 25.4mm, 27.2mm or 31.6mm diameters.

zipp_service_course_sl_seatpost_3.jpg

All of the seatposts I've been testing have been fitted to my aluminium Kinesis T2, and swapping from cheap alloy to expensive alloy to carbon has seen very little difference in overall feel.

The Hope had a nice feel to it, absorbing just a little bit more road buzz than the Thomson, but it was pretty negligible and the Zipp felt no different really, so I can't endorse the company's claims of it being 'specifically tuned to be more shock absorbing than the 'comfort' seatposts on the market'; it hasn't quite gone far enough really.

> Buyer's Guide: 6 of the best comfort-boosting seatposts

Quality-wise, it's well made and the carbon is smooth and tidy even on the inside of the tube, which can be neglected on cheaper posts.

zipp_service_course_sl_seatpost_4.jpg

It passes Zipp's own mountain bike strength test as well, so it'll definitely be fine for use on a gravel bike.

Overall, Zipp makes a lot of claims for the Service Course SL, but although it's a decent enough post I'm not convinced it's special enough to stand out and justify its price.

Verdict

A decent enough seatpost but not the standout comfort Zipp claims

road.cc test report

Make and model: Zipp Service Course SL Seatpost (20)

Size tested: 400mm length, 27.2mm diameter, 20mm setback

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Zipp says, "Carbon can be tuned in an incredible variety of ways, thanks to clever engineers tweaking resin and layup to achieve their benchmarks. And with the definition of a road bike rapidly changing, we wanted the Service Course SL seatpost to provide real comfort when venturing off-pavement.

"The redesigned Service Course SL seatpost is a new carbon post from Zipp, specifically tuned to be more shock absorbing than the 'comfort' seatposts on the market, while still passing our strict internal MTB strength test. Flex engineered into the lightweight carbon tube keeps the rider comfortable over any terrain.

"Better fit means better performance, and if your saddle is out of position, you'll waste energy with every pedal stroke. The secure, two-bolt clamp makes for easy micro-adjustments of saddle position, and the head has been redesigned for maximum bolt head accessibility. With 0mm and 20mm setback options, it's possible for nearly any rider to achieve the perfect fit, and the clamp works with all saddle rail types.

"To ensure compatibility with most modern frame designs, the Service Course SL seatpost is available in a 400mm length, and three diameters: 25.4, 27.2, and 31.6mm. Weight is a svelte 240g for the 0mm setback and 249g for the 20mm setback."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Zipp lists these features:

Weight 249g

Diameter 25.4, 27.2 or 31.6mm

Length 400mm

Setback 20mm

Torque for saddle rails 7.0Nm

Minimum insertion length 100mm

Material Unidirectional carbon, AL-7050

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
6/10
Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
7/10

Decent enough but nothing special.

Rate the product for value:
 
4/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

It's a strong seatpost, designed to take in off-roading, but not noticeably more comfortable than others.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Easy to set up the saddle rails.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Expensive, with nothing really standing out for the money.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

It's pricier than most that are lighter, although it does come in a cool £100 cheaper than the Enve Carbon.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? No

Would you recommend the product to a friend? I wouldn't turn them away from it.

Use this box to explain your overall score

The Zipp is a solid, well-made post but it is heavier and more expensive than a lot of its competitors.

Overall rating: 6/10

About the tester

Age: 40  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed

Zipp Service Course SL Seatpost 2018
Zipp Service Course SL Seatpost
Zipp 2018
Zipp
Stu Kerton

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

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2 comments

Avatar
Prosper0 | 5 years ago
0 likes

Wow. Zipp mega fail. Literally good for nothing. 

Avatar
Yorky-M | 5 years ago
0 likes

On the button with the review, Hard to see past theSpecialized  S works seat post, if like me you ride an aloy frame

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