Ti seatposts from China?

[coffeehound]

Hi all. I'm considering buying a Ti seat pillar on a popular online auction site from vendors located in the Far East. Their prices are roughly half what a frame manufacturer's item might cost secondhand. Does anyone have experience of these types of Ti tube component sellers please? Are the seat posts likely to be of decent quality? Thanks

 

[Sharky]

I've bought wheels from China and they are good quality, but you can get charged for import tax/duty before the post office will deliver. So may not be the bargain it seems.

 

[rogerzilla]

I bought a "J&L" Ti pillar for a Brompton. It was better-finished than a Brompton Ti post (no longer offered) but was alarmingly flexible. I never rode it in anger as I didn't trust it.

 

[Soltydog]

I bought a pair of Ti bottle cages from China off the bay a few years ago & they started to rust after a week or two so I'm wary nowadays. I was lucky, got my last Ti seatpost from Van Nic in the sale for about £40 iirc. I bought my Ti stem from Spa Cycles, some of their Ti components are good value, maybe worth a look at what seatposts they offer & see how they compare with the bay

 

[vickster]

My Ti post on my Spa Sabbath is very nice
These are a good price too if the right spec
https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m9b0s84p3707/ORA-Titanium-Seatpost-270mm-and-350mm

 

[coffeehound]

Thanks for your replies, that's been really helpful. Hadn't thought about the duty / tax! That does make a difference to the equation.. What's the rule on that these days? Used to be about £15 price limit didn't it?

Ah J&L was one brand I was looking at. That's no good if you don't have confidence in the strength is it -- thanks for the warning.

Sorry to hear about your bottle cages, Soltydog -- is Ti meant to never rust? Good tips, thanks, will have a look. Thanks for that recommendation and link too, vickster

 

[StuAff]

Sorry to hear about your bottle cages, Soltydog -- is Ti meant to never rust? Good tips, thanks, will have a look. Thanks for that recommendation and link too, vickster

They weren't titanium

 

[Mark pallister]

Thanks for your replies, that's been really helpful. Hadn't thought about the duty / tax! That does make a difference to the equation.. What's the rule on that these days? Used to be about £15 price limit didn't it?

Ah J&L was one brand I was looking at. That's no good if you don't have confidence in the strength is it -- thanks for the warning.

Sorry to hear about your bottle cages, Soltydog -- is Ti meant to never rust? Good tips, thanks, will have a look. Thanks for that recommendation and link too, vickster

I’ve had stuff from China and never paid any taxes

 

[coffeehound]

@StuAlf -- so they're just putting out steel cages with a slap of Ti-coloured paint and calling them Ti?!

I’ve had stuff from China and never paid any taxes

That's a bit of a bonus. Wonder what the odds are? Prolly best to assume the worst as that's what I usually get

 

[StuAff]

@StuAlf -- so they're just putting out steel cages with a slap of Ti-coloured paint and calling them Ti?!

Or somesuch, yes. Rust= iron. Not any other metal.

 

[ColinJ]

By the way, depending what your bike frame is made of, watch out for the Ti post seizing in place. I forgot to put the required copperslip on my Ti post and it is now completely stuck in my aluminium frame! (Fortunately, the post is at pretty much the perfect height. The only reason that I discovered that it is stuck is because I tried to adjust it by a few mm just to see if it made much difference.)

 

[coffeehound]

^ thanks for the warning, I didn't know that