Kinekt Active Suspension Seatpost Review: Too Active?

I like a comfortable bike, and that means I like to test and use anything that will improve the comfort of my rides. But at the same time, I want to get some sense of what’s going on underneath my tires…

While the Kinekt Active suspension seatpost provides comfort in spades, it might not transmit enough information from the road or trail for my liking.

Let’s take a closer look.

The Kinekt Active Suspension Seatpost

Suspension seatposts are nothing new in the biking world. The Cane Creek Thudbuster, Suntour NCX, and Cirrus BodyFloat were on the market long before “gravel bikes” even became a thing.

First, it was a solution for touring and urban cyclists looking for extra comfort. Then e-Bikes joined the scene, with higher average cycling speeds increasing the requirement of suspension comfort. And now we can look towards suspension seatposts for gravel bikes.

My first encounter with a flex seatpost was when I bought an Ergon Allroad Pro seatpost (aka Canyon VCLS 2.0). It surprised me a lot, and become a long-time comfort companion on my gravel rides.

Then the Kinekt Active caught my eye. It promised a very comfortable and smooth ride, and I think it looks good too (compared to many other options).

I now have the chance to test it, thanks to Kinekt.

How Does The Kinekt Active Suspension Seatpost Work?

The Kinekt design is based on two springs that are neatly put into a sliding mechanism. This provides up to 35 millimetres (1.4″) of friction-free vertical travel.

The beauty of the system is that you can adjust the suspension to your liking.

First, you choose the appropriate springs for your weight (50-100 lbs, 100-150 lbs, 150-200 lbs, and above 200 lbs). Then you have the possibility to manually soften or firm the seatpost using the preload adjuster.

With the seatpost fitted, you can now choose between a ‘magic carpet’ ride, or a more sporty and firmer one. At least in theory…

Does The Kinekt Active Suspension Seatpost Perform Well?

It performs well. Very well. This is especially noticeable when riding on bumpy forest trails – it actually feels as if you’re running super low pressure in your rear tyre.

But the cushioning does come with some drawbacks…

The Main Drawback of the Kinekt Active

With each pedal stroke, you rhythmically induce bounce from the Kinekt Active seatpost.

The springs of the Kinekt Active are able to respond very quickly but there is no way to control the rebound speed. With no way of controlling the suspension damping, this is a bouncy seatpost.

I started using my Kinekt on the lightest preload setting (0 on a scale from 0 to 8) and the bounciness was always there. You can really feel it bounce up and down while riding over big bumps or pushing hard on the pedals.

When you tighten the lower preload spring, you can reduce the bounciness and still enjoy some cushioning (moving from level 0 to 2). My vibration test showed no real difference in comfort level between the level 0 and 2 setups. But you have to remember that it all depends on your weight, bike setup, and riding style.

When I moved from 2 to 4, the bounciness was almost gone… but so was the cushioning. I could immediately tell the Kinket Active was much less comfortable than my comfort benchmark Ergon Allroad Pro seatpost.

The Kinekt Active Suspension Seatpost Vibration Test

For the vibration test, I decided to use the Kinekt seatpost on preload level 2, as that was the setting that felt best for me.

The Kinekt was fitted to my Jamis Renegade benchmark bike equipped with a Lauf Grit SL fork, Redshift ShockStop stem, and Soma Cazadero 700x42mm tires (30 psi).

You can see my vibration measurement procedure & outdoor test courses HERE.

Vibration Test Results

On the bumpy forest trail, the vibration recordings were showing their lowest levels ever. The Kinekt Active offered 7,7% less vibration than my Ergon Allroad Pro seatpost (which is likely the most comfortable carbon seatpost available).

But interestingly, on the fast gravel route, the leaf-sprung Ergon Allroad Pro seatpost was providing better resistance to high-frequency vibrations – the Kinekt Active was 3,4% less effective.

To further test the capability of the Kinekt Active, I put more air into my tires (60 psi) and re-ran the tests. This takes the supple tires out of the equation and should demonstrate just how comfortable the Kinekt Active is.

On the bumpy forest trail, the level of vibrations increased by about 4% when I changed from 30 to 60 psi. This was very similar to the increase recorded using the Ergon Allroad Pro. In the end, the Kinekt post maintained its comfort advantage even with higher tire pressure.

But on the fast gravel route – to my surprise – the Kinekt Active recorded almost the same comfort level as when my tires were using half the pressure. It seems that on fast gravel roads, it can provide very similar levels of comfort – no matter the tire pressure.

More Riding Impressions Using The Kinekt Active

I found the spring with the lowest preload setting (0/8) was prone to bottoming out. This happened to me many times on the level 0 setting. But while riding on level 2, it was much less frequent.

For the record, I weigh 84kg/185lb, so I am using the appropriate spring for my weight (150 to 200 lbs). Perhaps with a stiffer spring, the problem would not occur. But at the same time, there would be less cushioning.

Then there is a weight penalty. At 525 grams (aluminum version) it’s definitely not the lightest seatpost on the market. For comparison, my Ergon Allroad Pro provides a lot of comfort for its 220-gram weight. Yes, there is a carbon version of Kinekt Active, but it still weighs 250 grams (8.8oz) more than the Ergon.

And finally, while the Kinekt does a remarkably good job of isolating you from hits, you need to remember the rear wheel itself is not suspended. As a result, I noticed that my wheel took more of a beating than usual, and needed extra spoke adjustment.

I also found the rear wheel loses traction quite quickly on big roots, resulting in a very strange sensation: your butt is still on the saddle, and you are still pedaling – but your rear wheel isn’t getting much traction. This is obviously something to think about if you are choosing between a bicycle with proper rear suspension and a hardtail with a suspension seatpost.

Should You Buy The Kinekt Active Suspension Seatpost?

This is a tough decision. I love the comfortable ride, but at the same time, I like feeling more connected with my bike.

My Ergon Allroad Pro seatpost offers comfort and connectedness in equal amounts, and it has a better overall feel. So I will forego the extra comfort of the Kinekt, and keep the Ergon on my benchmark bike.

But hey, everyone is different. If you would like the ability to use high-pressure tires on your bike while also being comfortable, or would like to simply maximise your seated comfort on bumpy trails – then the Kinekt Active suspension seatpost might be the perfect upgrade.

You can support the CyclingAbout Comfort Lab by purchasing a Kinekt Active seatpost on Amazon. Simply click HERE to make your purchase, and a small commission will come our way.