How to improve on an original? Well, better performance and more options are always a good place to start. KS has been one of the big players in the dropper post market for a long time, and their products are only getting better.
At Sea Otter, KS was showing a ton of new stuff but one of the most important changes was also the most inconspicuous. All of their posts will soon feature a retooled head with an improved design and hardware. Now using non-proprietary bolts, barrel nuts, and conical washers, the parts are far more likely to be on hand at your local bike shop should you have a problem. The head design is also stronger and lighter, but no heavier. Everything should add up to an easily adjustable post head without any creaking.
Their posts will also be getting longer with new 175mm and 200mm travel dropper options in select models – like the Rage i. Now with a shorter mast length, one piece chassis (which uses the body of the stanchion tube as the cartridge) and press-in seal, the post is lighter and lower cost and will replace the higher end e-series models.
The KS Southpaw has always been a great lever design, but now they’re getting more options for integrated MTB cockpits. Now KS will offer versions to fit Shimano I-Spec II and SRAM Matchmaker or Shimano I-Spec EV brake levers.
More importantly, there is a new KG Drop bar gravel lever which mounts at the base of the left shifter hood. The positioning is such that it’s reachable with your thumb in different positions, but doesn’t interfere with your normal grip on the hood or bar.
KS also offers the KGSL lever for 31.8mm handlebars which would work with drop bars near the stem.
KS offers a wide range of other cockpit parts including bars and stems which haven’t really changed – except the price. Moving forward, KS will be dropping prices on their bars and stems by 30% and adding a Forged 50 & 70mm stem.
