Cirrus Cycles BodyFloat Suspension Seatpost

[WhatcomRider]

I was fortunate to be able to purchase a Cirrus Cycles BodyFloat suspension seatpost directly from the makers. I have been riding with it on my Kona Minute cargo bike for about 4 months now. Prior to the BodyFloat my lower back would get sore after every ride through town. Now I rarely notice any discomfort, so I am very pleased with its performance.

Currently the BodyFloat is made in relatively small quantities by local machinists and assemblers, so the price is necessarily high ($395 USD). There are future plans to have it manufactured overseas to bring the cost down. Naturally the BodyFloat will be compared with the Thudbuster. I expect there will be online shootouts in the near future - should be interesting!

Charlie Heggem, the sales and marketing person, is big into e-bikes (rides a Stromer) and is promoting the BodyFloat to the e-biking community starting with Vancouver BC and Seattle WA area e-bike dealers. I would certainly recommend it to any e-biker who experiences riding discomfort and does not want to go the full suspension and/or fat tire route.


Relevant Links

The company:
http://www.cirruscycles.com/

Online reviews:
http://mcqview.blogspot.com/2012/08/cx-ploring-cirrus-body-float.html (early review by local outdoors writer)
http://electricbikereview.com/community/threads/body-float-suspension-seat-post-thoughts.345/
http://gravelgrindernews.com/cirrus-cycles-bodyfloat-seatpost-introduction-and-first-impressions/
http://gravelgrindernews.com/cirrus-cycles-bodyfloat-seatpost-mid-term/

YouTube videos (BodyFloat on Stromer e-bike):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXWGixZyzGM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wg1P4SD6Fjo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uzdj1gJcHS0

More pics and comments to follow...

 

[WhatcomRider]

The pre-load adjusting bolt on the right allows for a range of 1/4" to 1-1/4" of up-and-down travel to suit the riders preference. The arrow and dots act as preload indicators, but I think newer models will use numbers rather than dots. The red cyclinders are end-of-travel elastomers.



The structural parts are high-strength aluminum alloy with an anodized finish. The CNC machining appears to be precisely done. The saddle rail attachment is very secure and easy to adjust using the two bolts.

 

[WhatcomRider]

The 27.2mm post is carbon fiber with very clear height adjustment markers.
BodyFloats are available in 330mm and 380mm lengths (carbon) and 450mm (titanium) with weights of 428g, 465g, and 548g respectively.


Another view of the bottom spring with the pre-load adjustment bolt. (That's a blob of dirt at the top of the spring - not a defect.)

View attachment 1

 

[WhatcomRider]

BodyFloats are adjusted for rider weight up to 260 lbs. through the use of 4 different spring thicknesses in 7 combinations.
Replacement springs are color-coded white, purple, black, and orange in order of increasing stiffness.


The bottom spring is freed by loosening the pre-load bolt and removing the cap screw on the left lower side plate.

View attachment 2
Removing the pre-load bolt will allow the bottom spring to be replaced.

 

[iperov]

I was try to buy from their site,
paid full cost and no item after 4 months

 

[WhatcomRider]

I was try to buy from their site,
paid full cost and no item after 4 months

Sorry to hear that. I sent you a PM.

 

[WhatcomRider]

Removing the cap screw on the lower right side plate allows both side plates to be pulled off of the bearing pins.


Notice that the bottom spring is longer than the top spring.
When ordering replacement springs you have a choice of colors and whether you need a top or bottom spring.

 

[WhatcomRider]

Another view of the internals taken during reassembly. The longer cap screw goes on the end and the shorter one goes in the middle.

View attachment 1
To protect my investment I use a uniquely keyed seatpost lock with collar ($35) from http://www.pinheadlocks.com.

 

[teklektik]

...the price is necessarily high ($395 USD). There are future plans to have it manufactured overseas to bring the cost down.

Naturally the BodyFloat will be compared with the Thudbuster.

Ya - no kidding - same motion geometry, same seat adjuster, but springs instead of elastomers...

At half the price, 3 models for different frame heights, and seat tube shim adapters for any bike, Thudbuster gets my vote.
I'll keep my Thudbusters and keep supporting the guy who invented them instead of the guy who stole (errr - 'improved') the idea....

 

[melodious]

I don't think it matters for electric assist, but for the vast majority of normal bikes, the weight of it may be a factor.

I like it. I think the springs will last much longer than the elastomers.

 

[Matt Gruber]

did you ever try those simple seatpost springs? about $20
wasn't this problem solved 80 years ago with spring loaded seats?
seems every few decades they forget about superior products when they cut costs and weight.
i have a seat i got at kmart 25 years ago that has springs built into it.
now what do they push? gel seats?
i did have back pain from my scooter seat, so i went into a hardware store, got a spring, pain gone.

 

[Avitt]

The Suntour SP12 NCX is another parallelogram suspension seatpost option:

I've been using one several months, and it's been a godsend for my back (spondylolisthesis). It's a bit less than a Thudbuster, and about 1/3rd the price of the Bodyfloat. It has adjustable spring tension, providing a smooth, progressive feel.

It's probably the heaviest in this class, but on an e-bike, it doesn't matter much.

 

[iperov]

emailed to cirrus, no reply after days.
I think they are dead xD

p.s. Suntour is too heavy.
Canecreek sill best.

 

[TheBeastie]

I just noticed that BodyFloat have a cheaper model available now for $249 USD.
http://www.cirruscycles.com/products/bodyfloat-2-0-aluminum
Next step I would like to see is having it sold worldwide directly by Amazon like the CrankCreek Thudbusters are.

I was originally trying to google up "trek isozone seat suspension seatpost" which was this large chunk of rubber in the seat stay post that would allow the whole back to flex. But its pretty hard to find much about it now as its not on Treks latest 2015 bikes, I did test ride one of these bikes and you really feel it working surprisingly well.
http://www.mymountain.com.au/p/8457818/trek-85-ds.html

 

[4LivesPerGallon]

I had 2 Thudbusters and another "clone" on Ego-2 electric scooters with the Schwinn "noseless" saddle. They were very comfortable; almost necessary on the Ego Cycle 2, for me.

The Thudbuster company bought out their only US competition, then their lawyers allegedly blocked overseas competitors, probably to keep their monopoly product prices high.

These devices raise the seat height to beyond what a 5'5" rider is used to, though, and perhaps a tad dangerous, if the frame was already fitted to the person, originally.

The Thudbusters, my cost $300 each, need to be concealed, so they come with a nice cover, but with a logo that would attract thieves.

Just my two cents.

 

[4LivesPerGallon]

The Thudbuster had less undesirable "rebound" than the $20-$50 spring-type seatposts. Travel was 4" -- more travel, the better.

 

[TheBeastie]

The Thudbuster had less undesirable "rebound" than the $20-$50 spring-type seatposts. Travel was 4" -- more travel, the better.

You can now get the thudbuster LT version brand new from amazon for $137 including delivery.
http://www.amazon.com/Cane-Creek-Thudbuster-Travel-Seatpost/dp/B003NE5IRK

I think the cheap version of the body float needs to come down a bit to complete with Thudbuster.

 

[SprocketLocket]

I found one even more expensive: NitroPro Gas Suspension Seatpost, $350! Doesn't even include free shipping! Oddly, all the reviews I could find, were of people paying $150 for it -- much more like it! How does a product more than double in price in a year or two. The reason I like it, is because it works better with your seat advanced a bit forward, vs the trapezoid ones forcing you back a ways. That would work best for my frame and bars, and as an ebiker like the idea of getting weight more forward vs back, and dogman dan also has said that people should get weight off their rear tire for handling. NitroProGas.com's HTTPS pages don't even work right, making me woner if the company is still in business.

The Sun Tour NCX SP-12 by all accounts is a better design (except for weight, but there is a reason, and it appears worth the extra strength), but I guess TB tries to prevent them from coming stateside.

Does the new BodyFloat set your seating back further? By the photos, it sure looks like it, but I've seen no mention of that. Though doesn't seem as bad setback as ThudBuster (setback mentioned a lot in reviews).

Also: anyone know anything about Airwings suspension seatposts? Advanced tube design, but hard to get info on (mostly sold to Europeans).

 

[WhatcomRider]

Does the new BodyFloat set your seating back further? By the photos, it sure looks like it, but I've seen no mention of that. Though doesn't seem as bad setback as ThudBuster (setback mentioned a lot in reviews).

The setback of the BodyFloat is minimal compared to that of a regular seatpost. In fact on my setup the setback is identical to that of the seatpost that I replaced (Kona Simplicity).

The BodyFloat is currently hand assembled in a small factory in the USA as opposed to being mass produced in a large factory overseas with cheap labor, so naturally the price will be higher than the established competition.

This article explains why the BF is a better design than the TB: http://www.rodbikes.com/blog/just-sit-on-it/

 

[TheBeastie]

So you still happy with your bodyfloat?
I think I need to change over the elastomers on my TB since its been about a year since I put it on.
I think in reality my butt has gotten more comfortable with the suspension seatpost setup and is now getting more fussy and sensitive to it all and wants even more comfort..

 

[Hertzelz]

I boght my Bodyfloat few months ago and I use it with Serfas FSCR saddle on my ebike, fantastic seatpost!

 

[WhatcomRider]

So you still happy with your bodyfloat?

Yes, I have had no recurring back issues since I installed my BodyFloat.
I would definitely recommend you get one if your budget allows.

 

[WhatcomRider]

I boght my Bodyfloat few months ago and I use it with Serfas FSCR saddle on my ebike, fantastic seatpost!

Glad you like it! That looks like a comfy setup.

 

[dogdreams]

I just noticed that BodyFloat have a cheaper model available now for $249 USD.
http://www.cirruscycles.com/products/bodyfloat-2-0-aluminum
Next step I would like to see is having it sold worldwide directly by Amazon like the CrankCreek Thudbusters are.

I was originally trying to google up "trek isozone seat suspension seatpost" which was this large chunk of rubber in the seat stay post that would allow the whole back to flex. But its pretty hard to find much about it now as its not on Treks latest 2015 bikes, I did test ride one of these bikes and you really good feel it working surprisingly well.
http://www.mymountain.com.au/p/8457818/trek-85-ds.html

There is no such thing ad "CrankCreek Thudbuster." Rather, it is Canecreek thudbuster.

 

[The fingers]

$249 is about what my kit cost, donor bike was free. No wonder I have to use a grandpa seat. Maybe I'll glue a whoopie cushion to it. :lol: