Review: e*thirteen TRS+ 150 mm dropper post
Benny got his hands on the new TRS+ seatpost. Its fully mechanical design - cable actuated + coil sprung - makes it efficient and reliable.
Many manufacturers have now added dropper posts to their portfolio. No wonder, few other products have changed mountain biking like the telescopic seatpost, providing more safety and versatility. e*thirteen is the latest to join the club. Its TRS+ features a simple, full mechanical design with 4 lock positions. Benny has tested the 150 mm version.
Specifications
| Material | Aluminium |
| Weight | 720 g (incl. cable and remote lever) |
| Travel | 150 mm |
| Max. length | 303 mm |
| Diameter | 30.9 / 31.6 mm |
| Setback | 0 mm |
| Lock positions | 0 mm, 80 mm, 110 mm, 150 mm |
| Technology | Cable actuated, coil sprung |
720 g, incl. cable and remote lever
Simple Installation
The installation of the TRS+ is simple and straightforward. First I taped the cable housing to the end of the hose of my current post to pull it through the frame. Then I installed the remote lever on the handlebar, before cutting housing and cable at the correct length. The cable head is hooked into the bottom of the post instead of the lever, making post removal and cable tension adjustment at the lever very easy.
Simple installation: the cable head is simply hooked into the bottom of the post.
The seatpost head
The seatpost head: the slotted top plate makes saddle installation easier.
The seatpost head has two bolts that fit into the slotted top plate of the clamp. This is great, as the bolts don’t have to be removed completely for saddle installation or removal.
4 set positions: 0 mm, 80 mm, 110 mm, 150 mm
Serviceability
e*thirteen also underlines the post’s serviceability. I did not take it apart, but the coil sprung post in combination with the cable actuation speaks for itself. This dropper post promises to be durable, reliable and to withstand a lot of abuse.
Smooth and exact handling on the trail
The shifter style lever actuates the post very effectively, requiring little force and comparably less than a Rock Shox Reverb remote lever. Although the lever is compatible with a matchmaker adapter for SRAM. I went without one as it fit more ergonomically into my cockpit set-up. Shimano I-Spec adapters are unfortunately not yet available.The cable is clamped at the lever which makes for easy adjustment.
The TRS + comes with a shifter style lever.
The lever is fitted with grip tape. Nice to have, but not really necessary in my eyes. Maybe I will learn to appreciate the benefits on a really rainy day.
The lever has a simple design that promises durability.
The coil sprung post reacts pretty aggressively to the lever commands. E*thirteen claims consistent speeds at all temperatures. I can see this advantage to air sprung systems that are hydraulically actuated, but did not have the chance to test this. The post locks into the four set positions, making noticeable sounds.
Since it’s a mechanical lock, lifting the bike by the saddle will do it no harm unlike an air sprung system.
Smooth operator: The TRS+ can be pushed in with one finger.
Dropping the post is child’s play. The coil gives little initial resistance and pushes in easily, allowing me to focus on the upcoming descents.
Benny's verdict
The e*thirteen TRS+ 150 mm dropper post performs great. Its smooth handling, simple design and shifter style lever make it a true alternative to its hydraulic competitors. The simple and easy installation are another great advantage.
