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New Easton Haven & Race Face Turbine dropper seatposts just popped up

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Race Face Turbine dropper seatpost

It wasn’t all that long ago that we were reporting on the sale of Raceface and Easton to Fox Factory Holdings. The sale happened not long after Race Face owner Chris Tutton purchased Easton Cycling from BRG and lead to some speculation as far as the future of their products.

Well, it looks like the first product to benefit from the new business structure comes in the form of a dropper post. Actually, two dropper posts. Though, from the looks of things Fox’s ownership of the two brands had little to do with the final product. Technically, they are the same other than differences in finish and small changes in the lever but the two posts will each be sold separately under the Easton and Race Face brands. Regardless of which post you choose, both claim to solve some issues with dropper reliability…

Race Face Turbine dropper seatpost

 

If you look at the press release from Easton and Race Face you’ll find that the posts use “patented hydraulic locking technology that is inspired by disc brakes.” Looking at the posts themselves, you’ll notice the DropLoc Technology by 9Point8 laser etched onto the bottom of the post. We’re told that the post uses 9Point8’s hydraulic/mechanical locking technology but it isn’t manufactured by the company.

IMG_6598

Essentially, the system acts as a hydraulic brake which is released when you push the lever. You can move the post anywhere in the the travel and releasing the lever locks it back in place. One of the benefits of the system is the ability to use lower air pressures and static seals for what they claim will be improved durability. Using a mechanical cable to actuate the hydraulic system, the posts offer infinite positioning within the stroke. Another advantage to the system is that it supposedly functions as normal in below freezing temperatures which could be good news for fat bikes or anyone who rides all year. We’ve heard nothing but good things about 9Point8’s posts, so we hope the Easton and Race Face posts offer similar performance.

Borrowing technology from both companies, the post is constructed from Easton EA90 aluminum and uses  the two bolt Hunter Head from Race Face. To facilitate traveling or even sharing the post between two bikes the design features a quick connector for the internal routing that won’t need to be readjusted on re-installation.

Easton Haven dropper seatpostRace Face Turbine dropper seatpost

Both posts will come standard with similarly shaped vertical remotes, though the Race Face option receives some extra texturing on the lever. Utilizing standard shifter cables and housing, maintnance should be trouble free with replacements easy to find.


Race Face Turbine dropper seatpost

However, if you happen to run a 1x drivetrain you may want to opt for the additional shifter style remote. Available for both Race Face and Easton, the Race Face model will be available in black, blue, red, and green. The Easton 1x remote is still in the prototype phase but should be available by the time the posts hit the market. Each aftermarket remote will sell for $60.


Easton Haven dropper seatpost

Sold in all black for the post itself at $469, the subtle branding on each should make them excellent additions to nearly any bike. Available in 30.9 and 31.6mm diameters, lengths will be offered in 350, 375, 415, and 440mm. Combined with 100, 125, or 150mm travel, there should be a post to fit most bikes. Claimed weight is listed at 495g for a 30.9 x 440 x 150mm post without the lever.

EastonCycling.com and RaceFace.com

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32 Comments
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J
J
9 years ago

I do love the design of both lever styles.

weirdo
weirdo
9 years ago

Have we not collectively grown tired of the pricing on dropper posts?

How do these still command almost the same price as a fork?

Stu
Stu
9 years ago

Weirdo:
What decent fork costs $469? You can double that amount and still barely buy a good trail fork.

Nice stuff is nice and costs money. If you want a cheap dropper, go buy one of the many sub-$300 models that are available and have fun trying to live with it.

mateo
mateo
9 years ago

Stealth routing only?

Josep Bilogi
Josep Bilogi
9 years ago

ALL THIS AND NO 27.2?!?!?!

Jake
Jake
9 years ago

I wonder if this means that the Race Face 1x remote is compatible with 9Point8 posts. Having that extra color accent would be cool, and I like that lever shape.

thinkaboutit
thinkaboutit
9 years ago

@weirdo, If your idea of an upgrade, aftermarket fork for your bike is in the $470 price range, you are not the target market for a product of this level. I would recommend looking on ebay for a device known as the Hite Rite.

What?
What?
9 years ago

@weirdo, what fork can you get for $469? Fox is $1000, RS is $1400 and so on.

Tim
Tim
9 years ago

Does anybody remember Hite-Rite, the (fully mechanical, low-tech) dropper post before there were dropper posts?

Alex
9 years ago

I’ve still got a Hite-Rite somewhere if you’d like to trade for your Reverb.

Smokestack
Smokestack
9 years ago

Droppers are spendy for a few reasons. First, demand. Without a huge demand, the quantity produced is low, and therefore manufacturing costs high. Second, they have to be produced in a number of sizes, further affecting the manufacturing costs. Third (at least in this instance), they’re licensing someone else’s design. This also adds to the manufacturing costs. That said, It looks like Thomson just may have a competitor here. I’d been hoping that 9Point8 would get into the US market easier, and now we’ve an option.

Derek
Derek
9 years ago

Not sure what makes this $200 better than a Reverb. Also why does Easton/Race Face need a dropper post when Fox already makes one?

Rich
Rich
9 years ago

@Jake, I’ve been using a KS Southpaw lever on my 9Point8 Fall Line with no issues, so I think the Race Face 1x lever will be compatible as well.

I’ve been really happy with my 9Point8, having it shipped to the US is still cheaper than the MSRP of these posts.

Tim
Tim
9 years ago

@Alex- I don’t have a Hite-Rite, I just remember it. They were a bit before my time. Thanks for the offer, though 🙂

Charlie Best
Charlie Best
9 years ago

Derek, MSRP on a Reverb is $455, and sure, you can get them cheaper all over the place, and it will be just the same with the RF/Easton posts.

Why not rebrand the D.O.S.S. ? They can sell this cheaper, and expect an evolution of Fox’s dropper technology in the near future.

craigsj
craigsj
9 years ago

“Does anybody remember Hite-Rite, the (fully mechanical, low-tech) dropper post before there were dropper posts?”

Yeah, it wasn’t a “dropper post” or even a post at all. It was a spring, a clamp, and a QR.

Drew Diller
Drew Diller
9 years ago

The ability to work in extreme cold – if true – is a compelling reason to me for considering this post.

You are up to your knees in snow and the packed portion of trail is only 12″ wide. Remount your bike and start pedaling… and GO.

Not easy.

holmes
holmes
9 years ago

love the post lengths 415 and 440.Set back next please.

Caspar
Caspar
9 years ago

An Ispec Mount to use with Shimanos new Ispec standard would be nice !

Nick
Nick
9 years ago

I’ll be interested to see if Fox’s DOSS dropper now quietly goes away–although this proves my original prediction that the DOSS would just get moved over to RaceFace. As much of a RaceFace fan-boy I am, I’m curious why I would go with their option over the ‘original’ 9point8 model. This one is on my watch list for sure.

Dub
Dub
9 years ago

Hopefully they’ve done their homework before they purchased the design from JD

Greg
Greg
9 years ago

Hite rite.

Ilikeicedtea
Ilikeicedtea
9 years ago

HITE RITE FTW!!!!!1!!!

/s

Ryan
Ryan
9 years ago

Isn’t this the same as the 9point8?

Bryant
Bryant
9 years ago

Not impressed with the Reverb at all! Mine died on my 2nd ride!!! I dropped that crap and got a Tompson dropper and it’s been great. I do like the aftermarket lever these are offering.

8664
8664
9 years ago

i got a thomson invert dropper , hard to beat!!

greydog
greydog
9 years ago

I for one will be watching the feedback closely over the coming year. Some interesting changes (static seals and low pressure) that may lead to robust post performance.

Padrote
Padrote
9 years ago

nice that it comes in 30.9 x 150 as the reverb no longer does.

Bazz
Bazz
9 years ago

No 27.2mm hmm. Next!

denny
denny
9 years ago

no 7/8″ option, what a terrible mistake

MissedThePoint
MissedThePoint
9 years ago

Looks good, but what’s the warranty period? The 9point8 has 2 years on it. I’d rather just wait for the MoveLoc to come in stock, hoping the Reverb on my bike lasts that long.

Eric Hansen
Eric Hansen
9 years ago

@denny – Hahahahaha! Completely, man!

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