I'm envisioning a billet seat mast topper...

[Dorman]

I'm going to talk to my CNC guy tomorrow about milling up some seat mast toppers out of 6061. I've got a Dedacciai Corto in my hand that is a lovely 198 grams and just isn't visually doing it for me. My design is for a 35mm seat tube, will have 25mm set back and use the Enve hardware. I'll be double bolting it on the rear and having it milled into a similar shape to the Enve set back posts. Toying with the idea of putting some vertical flutes on it reminiscent of the past. Obviously, he isn't going to want to make ten of these. Well, I guess I just wouldn't want to have to pay for only ten if you get my drift.

Does this interest anyone? Different set backs or tube I.D.'s? Could probably do an extra long version for second owners. I'm thinking natural silver and black ano. for options. Still in the design stage here, but if I find there is some interest it will affect numbers and the resultant cost.

[Dornbox]

Interested but I'm not sure what ID I would want to commit to. 35 works but 31.8 would be better.... I think I could commit to somethign in a 31.8. With that said, I imagine it's going to be pricy either by each or because you'd have to order a fair amount to make it work the design time, setup cost, etc. Keep me posted though, I might be building a 35mm ST mast soon... but I'm hestitant to add that much weight to a bike.

[Dorman]

Precision

Will do. I'm guessing it might be cost/quantity prohibitive as well, but it is worth a shot. These guys make some beautiful stuff. You can see some of their drag bike stuff at the above link.

[edoz]

I'd buy a couple in 31.8, but you'd need more than just me buying a couple to make it worth your while.

[Dorman]

How much of a factor is weight to you guys? It would be pretty simple to make all the same part and just bore different I.D.'s for the one operation. I'll be going out to the shop early next week and see where we are.

[jerk]

How much of a factor is weight to you guys? It would be pretty simple to make all the same part and just bore different I.D.'s for the one operation. I'll be going out to the shop early next week and see where we are.

i'd be down to help out with this. 35mm for our bikes....and we'd be willing to help with design and commit to a substantial quantity.

[Dorman]

I'll be in touch with all of you once I get some pricing info. Any interest in natural silver, or just black ano?

[Dorman]

Craig: email me when you get a chance. Your box is full and I can't produce your off shore address.

[steve garro]

If you can get a Thomson OEM account then you could hardly buy the hardware for a post for what they will sell you one for - got hacksaw?
- Garro.

[Dorman]

Just reporting in. The guys are writing the cnc program for the prototype now. No clue yet on pricing or final design, but I will contact all interested parties when I know anything concrete.

[suspectdevice]

Zero setback please.

[Jamie Medeiros]

I would be interested in the 35mm size. Do you plan on having it professionally tested to CEN or the ANSI standards?

[Dorman]

Zero set back noted.

I hadn't really considered testing outside of exposing myself to injury. Anybody have any experience with this? I'm guessing that you would have to make an awful lot of them to recoup the cost, but if the price isn't prohibitive yeah sure. For that matter, does anyone know what the test would involve for a mast topper?

[Jamie Medeiros]

I know the test for regular seat posts which would most likely be adapted to a topper. From our report from EML.

EN 14766 Paragraph 4.14.7 seat pillar fatigue test:
Test description:
Apply cyclic loading of 277 lb.max/5 lb. min vertically 70 cm from center of seat clamp and 10 degrees below the horizontal
Requirements:
269.8 lb.max/0 - 5 lb. min (-0/+5%)
Frequency <20 Hz
No. of Cycles: 100,000




EML EML tested our seat posts to the CEN standard and it was relatively inexpensive <$200 for the first and $30 for each additional identical post if I remember correctly. You might think about testing, things can fail in unpredictable ways. I know my liability insurance has a $5000 deductible on law suits.

[Dorman]

Cool. That doesn't sound to bad. I will check into it once we get rolling. Guess I better see what my deductible is as well.

[dashDustin]

Anything ever come from this?

[Dorman]

Anything ever come from this?

It's still in the works. The design is done, but to fire up the mill and start making them is going to cost a few thousand dollars, so I have to make quite a few pieces to keep the cost even remotely feasible. I'm guessing spring at this point unless I win the lottery.