Well, are they? Or would my money be better spent on a Race Face XYO or Easton EC70?

Worth it for long rides - yes. I have a USE SX - its for sale in the BM classifieds actually because I've bought a full susser.

I find it takes out the shocks and jolts pretty well. You can get away with sitting on the saddle and pedalling over terrain which might cause you to wince or much much worse without it.

It has travel of about two inches and I don't think I ever bottomed it out. You can certainly tell that it takes some of the pain out of long rides, and saves your back and ass from taking as much of a beating as it normally would on a hardtail. Overall recommended.

Alien heads are crap Steevo


get a Thomson

I've just gone for USE shokpost - seems superb over Edinburgh's cobbled streets, but have yet to try it in anger off-road. The Alien head is not that bad, seems to hold the saddle well, but I wouldn't like to adjust it regularly.

Crap in what way? Once you've attached your saddle and stuck it in the frame its fit and forget. I never needed to change the angle on the trail, it didn't come loose and didn't break.

It might not be the nicest looking or simplest engineering solution ever, but its well made and then hidden under the seat.

It certainly loses about an inch of layback compared to a "normal" seatpost, but this isn't an issue unless you have your seat as far back as possible anyways.

I've seen examples where the head has shattered. Plus check the member reviews for Alien posts, I'm not the only one

Ahhh...I assumed they both had the same clamp. The SX is simpler, and doesn't have the alien head. You're right about the reviews Kato, seems the more expensive XCR is a let down.

Kato is right about the shattering clamp heads.

I'd had a second hand XCR post for a long time and found it excellent for general XC duties and when the new alien version came out I upgraded to that and fitted the old one on my wife’s bike. Not long after fitting the new post I landed a small jump awkwardly and caught the saddle and cracked the centre casting of the clamp assembly. USE were excellent and replaced the part immediately and without question. I think that it may have been a common problem on the early ones that has been sorted as the replacement has been trouble free for 2 years or so.

All in all it's an excellent upgrade to a hardtail that will keep you in the saddle for longer.

Cheers chaps, all noted ;-)

Also bear in mind the post is lightweight (for what it does) and not that long. I find that if too much is sticking out of the seat tube it creaks (presumably through flex if you don't pedal smoothly). Fine on one of my bikes, but on a smaller framed bike with a more sloping top tube that I also ride, I stuggle to get it high enough without the creaking.

That aside the performance is very good.

steevo, if you want a shock post, get rockshox.

i have one, and i think it's great! much more sturdy looking than a use one.

The cow is right. Alien seatposts are crap.

Hmmmmmmmm.............. Okay. Where do I find these RockShox posts?

I have a USE Alien xcr. I agree with most comments about the head. It is a real pain to adjust, but is 'do able' if you follow the instructions. Once set, it NEVER comes loose.

As for shock absorbtion, its brilliant. Smooths out sharp bumps and is brillant for long rides. I will never use a rigid post again. The only pain is if you hit a large root while sitting down if can give a sharp rebound, but if you had a rigid post u couldn't possibly hit the root with any level of comfort.

Don't use the post as though a full sus bike, but as a bike with a fat 3" tyre running at 20 psi. Only smooths out, doesn't 'level' the terrain. It gives the low psi fat tyre ride without the weight or drag. Brillant!