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review

Thomson Masterpiece Inline Seatpost

8
£159.99

VERDICT:

8
10
A beautifully engineered and finished seatpost that'll stand the test of time
Weight: 
197g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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As the distributor i-ride's website says, 'The Thomson Masterpiece Seatpost isn't for everyone.' If it is for you, though, you won't be disappointed. Forget weight, forget carbon fibre this, aerodynamic that... this is a beautiful piece of engineering that showcases a simple product at its absolute best.

  • Pros: Beautifully machined and finished, really easy to set up, a timeless classic
  • Cons: Some may consider it expensive for an alloy post

Let me lay my cards on the table. I spent a fair few years as a CNC programmer and machinist, so to hold the Thomson seatpost, let alone fit it to my bike, gives me goosebumps. The finish is just exceptional and the attention to detail is second to none.

> Find your nearest dealer here

For a start, the post isn't just machined on the outer diameter, Thomson also does the same for the oval internal one too, to reduce as much weight as it can while claiming to create a seatpost which is over 40 per cent stronger on ultimate strength tests than the strongest production seatposts on the market. Obviously, without a test rig and a shedload of seatposts we can't clarify that, but the Masterpiece is certainly one stiff, solid piece of kit.

thompson_masterpiece_inline_seatpost_-_detail.jpg

According to the FAQs it has a rider weight limit of 91kg but that takes in mountain biking as well, so for road use you could probably use that as more of a guideline... he says to avoid any blame when you end up with a sheared-off post!

Both the head and tube are machined from the same piece of aluminium in one go so there is no bonding or joining anywhere, which increases strength and lowers the weight. Tolerances can be tightly controlled.

thompson_masterpiece_inline_seatpost_-_saddle_clamp.jpg

I was testing the Hope Carbon seatpost at the same time as this one, and when it comes to comfort there is very little in it. The Hope had a little more flex, as most carbon posts have, but the Thomson never felt harsh. I was using the same saddle too, in case you were wondering.

The two-bolt head system here isn't quite as easy to use as the one found on the Hope, but everything was relatively easy to set up for both fore and aft and saddle level. You get plenty of tilt adjustment too, from -5° to +29°.

On its website Thomson says that its clamp will work fine with a 7mm circular rail and you can get an accessory clamp kit for oversized rails up to 7x10mm, but the standard setup worked fine with the Fizik Aliante 00 I was using with oval rails.

Weight-wise, things are pretty impressive for a full aluminium alloy seatpost, with the Masterpiece coming in sub 200g just for the 330mm option we have here. If you don't run a lot of seatpost you can get away with the 240mm option to save a few more grams.

Speaking of options, there are quite a few with the Thomson. The post comes in either silver or black and in a selection of diameters – 27.2mm, 30.9mm or 31.6mm – and you have the choice of the two lengths above.

thompson_masterpiece_inline_seatpost_-_logo.jpg

This test model is the inline model, where the seatclamp sits right on top of the post, but there is a setback option with a bias of 16mm towards the rear.

Like I said at the top of the report, this seatpost won't be for everyone. Some will see it as overpriced, overly heavy and even over-engineered, and to be fair at its full rrp it is really hitting the ceiling for what I'd pay for a decent seatpost.

Take a look around online, though, and you won't be paying anywhere near that. Some places you'll be paying around the £110 mark and for that kind of money this is a really impressive piece of kit.

> Read more road.cc reviews of seatposts here

Admittedly, you can pick up something like Fizik's Cyrano R3 seatpost for nearly half that and it's only about 20g heavier, plus as a previous owner I can confirm it is a very good component.

The carbon Reilly Cycleworks Vector post is £89.99 and just 160g if you want lighter and cheaper, or the Hope Carbon I've mentioned already is a similar weight to the Thomson but £135. There are lots of options out there.

And yet... the Thomson Masterpiece is literally that: a masterpiece in the way it is machined and designed. It's probably engineered to a level way higher than is necessary for road use, and it could probably lose a fair bit of weight if that was its pure usage, but it is a thing of beauty and, just like the latest frames that we are seeing, aluminium still has a lot to give.

Verdict

A beautifully engineered and finished seatpost that'll stand the test of time

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Thomson Masterpiece Inline Seatpost

Size tested: 27.2 x 330mm

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Thomson says, "The Masterpiece is over 40% stronger on ultimate strength tests than the strongest production seatposts on the market. Masterpiece posts weigh approximately 40 grams less than the same size Elite post. This weight reduction is accomplished while maintaining the strength and durability expected of a Thomson seatpost. Thomson accomplishes this weight reduction by machining the seatpost all over, including the oval inner diameter. We are able to hold closer tolerances by machining than by extrusion alone. Machining over an already beautiful design makes the Masterpiece Seatpost a work of art."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

From Thomson:

Certified to: EN 14766 2006 MTB.

The tube and head of the Thomson Masterpiece seatpost is integral-machined from one piece of high strength 7000 series aluminum. The head is not pressed or bonded in. This allows for superior strength and minimum weight.

We have a long 1.614 inch (41 mm) seat rail grip length. This helps prevent seat rail bending from impact loads. Most other seatposts have grip lengths of at least .500 inches shorter than our grip length.

The Thomson Masterpiece seatpost design incorporates a bending fuse to prevent catastrophic failure. All competitive seatposts we tested failed catastrophically with the seat and clamp components, and sometimes pieces of the tube and head flew off in all directions.

The Thomson Masterpiece seatpost has a clamp, head, and upper tube strong enough to withstand 325 foot-lbs of torque. The tube will start to yield and bend at the seat tube clamp at about 230 foot-lbs of torque. Under severe impact the Thomson Masterpiece seatpost will bend slightly but allow the rider to come to a stop or continue the ride.

The Masterpiece seatpost has all parts captive and can easily be attached to a seat without dis-assembly.

Infinite tilt adjustment minus 5° and plus 29°.

Very low profile clamps means no seat interference as the swivel nuts are down between the seat rails.

The designs and materials have passed extensive life and ultimate strength tests. Our ongoing testing program ensures that every production lot of seatposts meets Thomson standards.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
10/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
9/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
7/10
Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Saddle setup was easy and it never moved when clamped into the seat tube. Job done.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

It's a work of beauty that is really easy to set up.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

At full whack it is up against some stiff opposition from carbon components.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

The overall quality and the work that goes into the creation of the Thomson Masterpiece is impressive, and that comes at a cost. That brings the high scores for construction and performance down a notch. It's up to you whether you think it's worth the investment or not, but I can't give it less than 8 overall.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 40  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed

As part of the Tech Hub here at F-At Digital, our senior product reviewer Stu uses the knowledge gained from putting well over a 1,000 products through their paces (including hundreds of bikes) to write in-depth reviews of a huge range of kit. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 160,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. Although, as he spends a fair bit of his time reviewing ebikes these days he's becoming an expert in letting the motor take the strain. He's also waiting for 23mm race tyres to make a comeback!

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3 comments

Avatar
reippuert | 5 years ago
1 like

Thompson products are beautifull, but honestely i do think they are overpriced and under engeneered.

Seatposts are prone to get stuck in metal frames. the rifeled surface appers to be a way overcommimg frames with poor seat tube tolerances. And if if you do have a frame with accurate tolances the post tend to get stuck in there.

As for tourque req you need to be spot  on or the head will crack if your torque wrench is a bit inaccurate.

Same opinions for their stems

Thompson Elite posts: one stuck i Ti seat tube, one cracked in the head.

Thompson X2 stems: two face plates craked, one stem cracked.

In comparison: Fizik's stem and post are much friendlier and appears to survive a serious beating. IN addition, their post clamping mechanism is way superior in terms of adjusting the angle.

Avatar
jacknorell | 5 years ago
0 likes

Used the normal Thompson post on MTBs for years, never any issues. This cuts the weight down nicely, well below many carbon posts! Great brand.

Avatar
Alessandro | 5 years ago
0 likes

I stuck one of these on my summer bike, almost entirely because it looks very pretty and matches my surname. I picked it up for less than £90 (before cashback) and doubt that I would have parted with the figure at the top of this review but I think it looks great and I've never found it uncomfortable (but I've never used a carbon post). 

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