9point8 Fall Line Dropper Seatposts

We have a love-hate relationship with dropper posts, because although things are looking up, we’ve yet to find the perfect solution to building a telescoping, remote-controlled tube that allows you to get your seat out of the way at the push of a lever and do so with absolute reliability. We are perhaps being unreasonable, as components that need no service and never break are not exactly commonplace, but we have many dropper post failures behind us that still leave a sour taste in the mouth and we want posts that do better. Coincidentally, so did the good people at 9point8 which is why the company even exists in the first place. When we recently pitted 9 leading dropper posts against each other for our Dropper Post Face Off feature, we left 9point8 out because their technology is already licensed to Race Face and Easton and thus was already part of the test. We have since updated that feature and it turns out the original is still the better choice.

9point8 Fall Line Dropper Post Highlights

• Infinitely adjustable
• Titanium saddle-rail clamping screws and angle-adjust screws. Black-Ti coated for anti-galling, anti-seize performance.
• Convertible between inline and offset configurations (with purchase of conversion kit)
• Split clamp remote control design
• 3 different types of remote levers available
• Rotational anti-backlash design (patent pending)
• Adjustable travel via internal spacers
• Independent adjustment of the seat angle and seat fore/aft position
• Micro-adjustable seat angle
• Mechanical DropLoc™ braking technology (patent pending)
• Locks in push and pull direction
• 2 year warranty
• Weight: 623 grams including “Digit” shifter style lever (verified, as tested)
• MSRP: $447 USD as tested (with “Digit” lever)

Initial Impressions

9point8 wanted the same thing we all want from our dropper posts, which is slip-free performance in any conditions. To achieve this, they looked past the ubiquitous hydraulic locking cartridge design and came up with a mechanical brake that is said to be less sensitive to variations in temperatures and of course not at risk of hydraulic air ingestion, possibly the most common cause of dropper post failure today. It also locks equally effectively in either direction, meaning you are free to pick up your bike by the seat at any time, regardless of what position it happens to be in and without running the risk of actually causing the post to fail. The design of the mechanical brake is licensed to Race Face and Easton and used in their Turbine and Haven dropper posts, respectively. As for 9point8 themselves, they manufacture most parts in their factory in Canada, where the posts are also assembled and tested.

But 9point8 did not stop there. Whether it’s because the dropper post is basically their only product, or simply because they just wanted to throw the kitchen sink at this particular component, the fact remains that the Fall Line is loaded with features. Quick connect cable attachment, independent adjustment of seat angle and fore/aft position which also allows air valve access without modifying the angle of your seat, a design that is convertible between a straight and an offset head, optional clamps for oval seat rails, and a massive range of travel options from just 75 to a whopping 200mm. Additionally, the Fall Line allows travel adjustment via an internal plastic spacer. This enables riders to get the maximum drop for their fit/frame. For example, a 500x175 with an 8mm spacer yields 492x167. 9point8 provides fitment charts and tools to help make these decisions, for those who need or want it. All this in a package that weighs a bit less than most posts in the category, and still stacks up fairly well in terms of pricing. On paper, nobody does better.

Examining the dimensions of the Fall Line, it is about 10-20mm shorter than most other posts of the same travel. Other key numbers like “Collar To Rail” and “Minimum Insert” are in line with most competitors. In terms of weight, the Fall Line tips the scales at 623 grams, about 40-50 grams less than the average in the category (including cable, remote, and hardware), and only 3 grams heavier than our Face Off test winner, BikeYoke’s Revive. Here are the key dimensions of the 9point8 Fall Line @150mm travel:

On The Trail

Installing the 9point is a little bit more involved than some other posts. The quick connect feature requires a fair bit of precision, but if you follow the instructions to the letter, you won’t have any problems. Once installed, the design is solid and will for example remain unaffected by moving the post up and down in the frame or otherwise manipulating the cable or remote. We opted for using the shifter style lever mounted under the bar, in our opinion the superior option for dropper remotes.

Finding the right seat angle and position is a breeze thanks to the design that separates these two adjustments. The hardware is a pleasure to work on, the “Black-Ti” coated bolts spin smoothly and the clamps are rock solid once tightened down to spec (9point8 even include a 4mm torque key in the box, so there goes your last excuse for getting this part wrong). We checked the air pressure and found it around 30 psi, right in the middle of the recommended range of pressures. Based on our experience with the Race Face Turbine post, we initially feared this would be too much, but our concerns were quickly alleviated once we noticed how well controlled the Fall Line is with regards to return speed management. It pops back up with purpose, but a secondary, “bottom out” air chamber provides a soft buffer at the end of the travel.

On the trail, the mechanical brake system is a pleasure to use. The small thumb lever requires only moderate pressure to operate and it gives good control over what the post is doing with tactile feedback and consistent performance. You can press the lever while seated to drop the post, with no extra discernible stickiness as a result. Additionally, the cable tension variations and air leaks we experienced with the Race Face Turbine have so far failed to materialize at all, likely a testament to the quality control and manufacturing tolerances applied by 9point8.

We have been testing the Fall Line for a solid three months now, and although we have yet to subject it to the wrath of winter, we are very impressed with the performance so far. Up or down, the post is 100% solid, with no detectable slippage of any kind – including picking the bike up by the seat or hanging it from the post in the workshop. It has also remained absolutely creak free so far. The thumb lever is easy to manipulate in the heat of the action, and using the Fall Line has become second nature.

So where does all that leave the Fall Line in the big picture? We recently updated our bigDropper Post Face Off featureto also include the Fall Line, and it stormed right up the leaderboard to third place. It is still among the pricier options which held it back a bit here, but it is certainly still among the very best posts available today.

Things That Could Be Improved

As good as the “Digit” remote lever is, we think it could be made even better – with regards to the adjustment range. The side-to-side position of the body of the lever can be adjusted by loosening the clamp and sliding the body back and forth, but this adjustment needs a bigger range to be truly effective. For this tester, we found the lever to be just a bit too short or too long, depending on which side of the brake lever we mounted it on. A bigger adjustment range would take care of this issue and allow every rider to find the absolute sweet spot. Note that we only tested the standalone version of the remote, there are MatchMaker and Shimano I-Spec mounts available which may just alleviate this issue as well.

Long Term Durability

Possibly the single most important aspect of dropper post ownership, durability is certainly the Achilles heel of this product category in general. After three months on the trail, we have yet to detect any kind of degradation of performance in the Fall Line, which bodes well for the long-term outlook. Most posts that are going to be trouble would start showing some signs of it after three months, in our experience. At this point, a 200-lbs tester has done his best to put the Fall Line through some rough riding days, and it’s still asking for more. We would be wary of claiming victory just yet, but based on our own experience and feedback from other riders, 9point8 certainly seems to be doing well in regards to quality.

What’s The Bottom Line?

9point8 took a different approach when designing their dropper post, and it seems to have paid off. The Fall Line is loaded with smart and functional features, well put together, and weighs less than many of its competitors. The innovative mechanical brake also seems less prone to developing reliability issues than many of its hydraulic counterparts, and is a pleasure to use on the trail. A winning formula in our books!

More information at: http://www.9point8.ca.

About The Reviewer

Johan Hjord loves bikes, which strangely doesn’t make him any better at riding them. After many years spent practicing falling off cliffs with his snowboard, he took up mountain biking in 2005. Ever since, he’s mostly been riding bikes with too much suspension travel to cover up his many flaws as a rider. His 200-pound body weight coupled with unique skill for poor line choice and clumsy landings make him an expert on durability - if parts survive Johan, they’re pretty much okay for anybody. Johan rides flat pedals with a riding style that he describes as "none" (when in actuality he rips!). Having found most trail features to be not to his liking, Johan uses much of his spare time building his own. Johan’s other accomplishments include surviving this far and helping keep the Vital Media Machine’s stoke dial firmly on 11.

Photos by Johan Hjord