Anthony Smith
Review: KS Lev CI Dropper Post
Before sitting down to write this, I had no idea what an average dropper post weighed. The dropper has become such an integral part of mountain biking that I’d still have one if it added 5 pounds to my bike. But apparently not everyone shares my sentiment. I’ve recently been informed that there are people who refuse to run a dropper because they’re “too heavy.”
These are people for whom KS made the Lev CI. Featuring a carbon lower mast, carbon seat-rail cradle and titanium hardware, the covet-worthy Lev CI is the most svelte post in the group. The longest-travel version offers 175 millimeters of drop and weighs just 465 grams—roughly 100 grams lighter than the 175-millimeter 9point8 and 170-millimeter RockShox Reverb. KS also offers a carbon-lever version of its Southpaw remote (shown here).
Anthony Smith
Part of what makes this post so light is something that actually matters: the length. For its travel, the post’s overall length of 460 millimeters is the shortest in class—40 millimeters less than 9point8’s 175-mil Fall Line and 20 millimeters less than the 170-mil Reverb.
This means it’ll fit deeper in more frames, so more riders can run a longer-travel post. We’ve found the CI to be just as reliable as the aluminum-bodied Lev Integra, with smooth action, quick return and dead-simple setup. Just make sure to use carbon paste and to torque the seat collar carefully when installing. KS offers the CI in five travels, all the way down to just 65 millimeters—perfect for cross-country and cyclocross racing.
$515 - $605 / kssuspension.com
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Tested: Fall Line 9.8 Dropper Post
