Suntour Vs. Thudbuster (Battle of the Suspension Seatposts)

Recently, a friend of mine wanted to know which of these two seatposts is better: the Suntour seatpost or the Thudbuster seatpost. There’s nothing better than a seatpost that best suits your size and style, so I researched and compared these two across various aspects.

As a whole, if you are looking for an affordable seatpost, choosing the Suntour NCX seatpost would be a wise decision. It only costs $119.95, which is $80.04 less than the Thudbuster seatpost. The Suntour NCX is cheaper, but the quality is still exceptional.

As a general rule, if you want your seatpost to have a higher maximum weight capacity, we highly recommend the Thudbuster ST seatpost. This seatpost can hold a maximum rider’s weight of 330 pounds (150 kilograms).

We created a table outlining the key similarities and differences of Suntour and Thudbuster seatposts in critical areas such as cost, weight capacity, material, warranty period, and reliability.

Suntour vs. Thudbuster

Seatpost	Suntour	Thudbuster
Number of Models	2 (Suntour SP12 NCX and Suntour SP17 NCX)	2 (Thudbuster LT and Thudbuster ST)
Cost of Purchase	$119.95	$199.99
Rider’s Weight Capacity	140-180 pounds (64 kg-82 kg)	Thudbuster LT-250 pounds/113kg Thudbuster ST-330 pounds/150kg
Material	Aluminum	Aluminum
Suspension	Coil spring	Elastomer
Warranty	2 years	1 year
Reliability	Highly reliable	Highly reliable

Cost of Purchase: Suntour vs. Thudbuster

As a general rule, the Suntour NCX seatpost is cheaper than the Thudbuster ST/LT seatposts. The Suntour NCX models cost only $119.95, while the Thudbuster seatpost models cost $199.99, making the Suntour NCX $80.04 cheaper.

The Suntour NCX has two models: the Suntour SP12 NCX and Suntour SP17 NCX. If you plan to buy either model directly from the manufacturer’s website, these two Suntour NCX seatpost models each cost $119.95. However, there are Suntour SP12 NCX seatposts sold on Amazon at a lower price.

The Thudbuster seatpost also has two models: the Thudbuster ST and the Thudbuster LT. If bought from their website, these two models of Thudbuster seatposts both cost $199.99. However, there are also Thudbuster seatposts sold on Amazon at much lower prices.

For instance, this Thudbuster ST is sold for $176.99, and this Thudbuster LT is sold for $164.77.

Rider’s Weight Capacity: Suntour vs. Thudbuster

As a whole, there is a significant difference in the rider’s weight capacity between these two seatposts. The Suntour seatpost models have a maximum rider’s weight capacity of 140-180 pounds (63.5-81.6 kg), whereas the Thudbuster seatpost models have a rider’s weight capacity of 250-330 pounds (113.4-149.7 kg).

Both Suntour seatpost models have a weight capacity of approximately 180 pounds (81.6 kg). However, the two models of Thudbuster seatposts have different weight capacities. The Thudbuster LT can handle up to 250 pounds (113.4 kg), while the Thudbuster ST has a weight limit of 330 pounds (149.7 kg). 

Regardless of their different weight capacities, both Thudbuster LT and Thudbuster ST can be purchased for $199.99.

Material Used: Suntour vs. Thudbuster

As a whole, both Suntour and Thudbuster seatposts are made of aluminum. The Suntour seatpost models are made of aluminum with stainless steel bushing. In contrast, the Thudbuster seatpost models are made of forged aluminum with anodized aluminum axles and flanged PTFE bushings.

The seatpost is the tube that connects the bike’s frame to the saddle. Because of this, your seatpost must be strong enough to hold your weight. Aluminum material is both highly durable and cheap, so the Suntour and Thudbuster seatposts are incredibly reliable.

Suspension: Suntour vs. Thudbuster

As a general rule, Suntour and Thudbuster seatposts have different types of suspensions. The Suntour seatpost models use a coil spring suspension, while the Thudbuster seatpost models use elastomer suspension.

Elastomer suspension uses rubber cushioning which absorbs shock and dampens bumps, giving you a more comfortable ride. The downside of elastomer suspension is that the rubber may wear out over time. You just have to be mindful in selecting the suitable elastomer for your weight. 

Keep in mind that you should not use an elastomer that is softer than the elastomer recommended for your weight.

On the other hand, coil spring suspension uses a coiled metal spring for dampening bumps and hits for ultimate comfort. It is recommended that you use the appropriate size for your electric bike.

Though these seatpost suspensions work well, it is still recommended to stand up when you encounter bigger bumps.

Number of Models: Suntour vs. Thudbuster 

As a whole, both Suntour and Thudbuster seatposts have two available models. The Suntour seatpost models are Suntour SP12 NCX and Suntour SP17 NCX, and the Thudbuster seatpost models are Thudbuster ST and Thudbuster LT.

The two models of Suntour posts differ in size. The Suntour SP12 NCX seatpost models have sizes of 27.2mm and 31.6mm, while the Suntour SP17 NCX seatpost models are both 30.9mm.

On the other hand, the lengths of Thudbuster LT seatpost models are 27.2-390mm and 30.9+31.6mm-420mm, whereas the lengths of Thudbuster ST seatpost models are 27.2-35mm and 30.9+31.6-375mm. 

There is also a significant difference in their weight and the rider’s weight capacity. The Thudbuster LT seatpost weighs approximately 1.65 pounds (750 grams) and has a weight capacity of 250 pounds (113 kg), whereas the Thudbuster ST weighs around 1.29 pounds (580 grams) and has a weight capacity of 330 pounds (150 kg).

If you are interested in learning the similarities and differences between Thudbuster ST and Thudbuster LT seatposts, check out their website.

If you would like to learn how to install your electric bike seatpost, watch the video below.

“With the right seatpost, you won’t worry about humps and bumps.”

-Electric Ride Owner

Warranty: Suntour vs. Thudbuster

As a whole, the Suntour seatpost has a longer warranty period than the Thudbuster seatpost. The warranty period of the Suntour seatpost is up to 2 years, whereas the Thudbuster is up to 1 year from the time of purchase.

Be aware that the limited warranty does not cover natural wear and tear of products and damages due to improper use and maintenance.

Reliability: Suntour vs. Thudbuster

As a general rule, there is no significant difference in the reliability between Suntour and Thudbuster seatposts. Both are highly reliable seatposts. Most owners have not experienced major issues using either of these seatposts.

Suntour and Thudbuster seatposts are both designed for ultimate comfort and performance. They both work well, and they’ll continue working well if maintained properly. It is always best to follow the instructions stated in the product’s manual to keep it in peak condition.

If the products are newly-bought, then you can have confidence in their high reliability. However, if the products are damaged when received, customer support is always available. You can reach out to them and ask them for the guidelines for returning and exchanging their products.

Check out Suntour and Thudbuster seatpost manuals to learn more about their proper use and maintenance.

If you are looking for the best electric bike, check out our article Best Electric Bike Brands (Ranked by Budget Level & Style).

Best Electric Bike Brands (Ranked by Budget Level & Style)