Vecnum Nivo 2020
Reviews / Seat Posts
1,682
At a Glance
Dropper posts have been extending rapidly with a race to see who can offer the most drop. 125mm used to be the norm when they first hit the scene, but with short seat tubes on modern frames, anything up to and beyond 200mm is now available. Vecnum has one of the longest drops on the market with their Nivo offering a monstrous 212mm of drop.
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The Nivo is available in 4 lengths which cover a range of drops from 90mm to 212mm and comes as a 30.9 diameter with shims to fit larger posts. There is an indexed and an infinite adjustment (4mm steps) option available too. The Travel Fit version tested here has 32mm of adjustment to fine-tune your travel and the 212mm version weighs in at 511g.
The post uses a mechanical “shutLOC” locking system to hold the post which is essentially a pin that is pulled out when the lever is pushed and then locates into a hole every 4mm. Travel Fit can drop the max travel down by simply removing the saddle and using a hex wrench to unlock the system and drop the saddle slightly. This is a very nice touch and makes the Nivo stand out from the competition.
Insertion lengths are short, and the stack height is a mere 42mm from the collar to the seat rails. The saddle clamp has a one-piece clamping head with titanium bolts and my post also came with tooLOC seat post clamp, which claims to be a better clamp for carbon frames and droppers. You can also add a little colour in the form of two 0-rings, which sit on the collar. The website has a handy configurator to help you choose the right post for your frame and the price of the 212mm model is €439.
On the Trail
The Nivos most notable feature in this size is the whopping 212mm of travel. My extra-large Marin Rift Zone carbon has a seat tube of 430mm (17inch), which means I've been keen to try a super drop post like this. With such a lot of space to play with I didn't need to use the travel adjust, but the simple system of fine-tuning the stroke length by up to 32mm is genius and will help riders get the best fit.
Installation is as easy as one would expect from a cable-operated post, the hardest bit is threading new cable outer through the frame. The cable end is located at the post and threaded through to the lever on the bar where it is cut and clamped. The saddle clamp is great; with titanium bolts and a design that makes seat installation very easy without winding the bolts all the way out. The bolts can also be easily tightened without fear of scratching your post.
The post is mechanical in use, with a more clunky and defined movement than a truly infinite adjustment post. With that comes more noise as the pin locates and a ratchet noise if you don't push the lever all the way before sitting on the post. None of this affects performance and I like the solid reliability of the mechanical post and the lack of any discernable lateral play.
The freedom of having such a long drop is amazing and took a little adjustment in riding style. It allowed me to get lower on the bike, be more stable and more centred on the bike with no need to move as far back in the steeps. It's certainly hard now to go back to a shorter drop having gone to a post of this length.
The lever is rather good for a stock offering, it offers a smooth action and is easy to position in a comfortable place on the bars. The Nivo has settled in to use on my bike like it has been there forever. It's reliable and has been through a winter of grime and mud and come out performing as consistently as ever.
Overall
Vecnum has worked hard to make one of the best dropper posts I have ever used. The mechanical nature may put some off, but the benefits in reliability and performance shone through. Those looking to fit maximum travel to their bike need look no further than the Nivo for an excellent post.
For more information visit Vecnum Related
By Ewen Turner
Ewen Turner is a self-confessed bike geek from Kendal in the Lake District of England. He runs a coaching and guiding business up there and has a plethora of knowledge about bikes with an analytical approach to testing. His passion for bicycles is infectious, and he’s a ripper on the trails who prefers to fit his working life around his time on the bike.
